38 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



story: — < He was travelling in a canoe in 

 the English River, and had landed near the 

 Kettle Fall, when the coruscations of the 

 Aurora Borealis were so vivid and low, 

 that the Canadians fell on their faces, and 

 began praying and crying, fearing they 

 should be killed ; he himself threw away 

 his gun and knife, that they might not 

 attract the flashes, for they were within two 

 feet from the earth, flitting along with 

 incredible swiftness, and moving parallel to 

 its surface. They continued for upwards 

 of five minutes, as near as he could judge, 

 and made a loud rustling noise, like the 

 waving of a flag in a strong breeze. After 

 they had ceased, the sky became clear, with 

 little wind.' 



" February 9. — Having got everything 

 arranged, and had a hearty breakfast with 

 a coupe de Veau de vie, (a custom amongst 

 the traders,) I took my departure, or rather 

 attempted to do so, for on going to the gate 

 there was a long range of women, who 

 came to bid me farewell. They were all 

 dressed (after the manner of the country) 



