The French Period 



easy to observe the cause. Sometimes a light fog rises like smoke 1755-60 

 above this cascade, and seems to be a forest on fire. It may be Pouchot 

 seen from Lake Ontario, fifteen leagues beyond Fort Niagara. 

 This is a certain sign of rain or snow, and a sure means for 

 finding the fort which is at the mouth of the river of the portage. 



The noise of the fall, increased by echoes from the surround- 

 ing rocks, may be heard a greater or less distance according to 

 the direction of the wind. It is not unusual to hear it ten or 

 twelve leagues, but as a distant thunder, which rolls very heavily. 

 This made Father Charlevoix conjecture, that in time it had 

 formed a cavern under the fall. He gives further as a reason, 

 that nothing ever rises that has once been carried over. The 

 cause of this fact is, that the whirlpools which are always found 

 at the foot of great waterfalls, are in places where the currents 

 of the river are contracted with great force, and are too much 

 drawn together. 



An anxiety to criticise the Baron de la Hontan, has led 

 Father Charlevoix to deny that fish which are often drawn into 

 the rapids above, are killed in the fall. " They have further 

 assured me," says this Jesuit, " that birds flying over, are some- 

 times enveloped in the whirlwinds formed in the air by the 

 violence of the rapid. But I have observed to the contrary, as 

 I have seen little birds flying very low, directly above the fall 

 and come out uninjured. . . ." Birds of prey might be shot 

 very easily at Niagara in calm weather, but not when the winds 

 are strong in the south bend. Then, as M. Pouchot has observed 

 many times, aquatic birds which follow the course of the river 

 and hover over the rocks, are compelled to find shelter by flying 

 near the surface of the water, but not being able in this position 

 to resist the currents of air, they are precipitated into the basin. 

 It is much the same with the fish that are drawn into the rapids 

 above the falls, which are sensible as far as Lake Erie. A great 

 many animals also perish in the vortices of the water, which are 

 so dreadful above the falls that they cannot swim them. Ten 

 or twelve Outaouais Indians, having wished to cross at this part 



45 



