t ^4 Jn Hîfioricaï Journal of 



ful Valley of Tempe. The Country about Niagara is fkl* froiïî 

 being fo fine, but I think its Cataradis much finer (aj. 



For the reft, I perceived no Mift over it, but from behind. At 

 a Diftance one would take it for Smoke ; and it would deceive 

 any Perfon that fhould come in Sight of the Ifland, without 

 knowing before-hand that there 'is fuch a furprifing Cataraft in 

 this Place. The Soil of the three Leagues which I travelled on 

 Foot to come here, and which they call the Portage of Niagara^ 

 does not appear good : It is alfo badly wooded ; and one can- 

 not go ten Steps without walking upon an Ant-Hîll, or without 



meeting with Rattle-Snakes.--^ 1 believe. Madam, that I 



told you that the Savages eat as a Dainty the Flefh of thefc 

 Reptiles ; and, in general, Serpents do not caufe any Horror to 

 thefe People : There is no Animal, the Form of which is oftener 

 marked upon their Faces, and on other Parts of their Bodies, 

 and they never hunt them but to eat. The Bones and the Skins 

 of Serpents are alfo much ufed by the Jugglers and Sorcerers, 

 to perform their Delufions, and they make themfelves Fillets and 

 Girdles of their Skins. It is alfo true, that they have the Se- 

 cret of enchanting them^ or, to ipeak more properly, of be- 

 numbing them ; lo that they take them alive, handle them, 

 and put them in their Bofoms, without receiving any Hurt ; 

 and this helps to confirm the high Opinion thefe People have of 

 them. 



I was going to clofe this Letter, when I was informed that we 

 Sofne Ch'cum ^^"^^ not depart To-morrow, as I expeéled. 

 ofne 21 cum- j |^^^^ ^j^l^ Patience, and make good 



-^iT^'u '-^Jl Ufe of the Time. I fliall therefore proceed on 



Marcf^ of we ^^^.^^^ ^^^^ Savages, 



^ which v/ill not be foon finifhed.— As foon as 



all the Warriors are embarked, the Canoes at firft go a little 

 Way, and range themfelves clofe together upon a Line : Then 

 the Chief rifes up, and holding a Chkhkoue in his Hand, he 

 thunders out his Song of War, and his Soldiers anfwer him by a 

 treble Hé^ drawn with all their Strength from the Bottom of 

 their Breafts. The Elders and the Chiefs of the Council who 

 remain upon the Shore, exhort the Warriors to behave well, 

 and efpecially not to fufFer themfelves to be furprifed. Of all 

 tKe Advice that can be given to a Savage, this is the moft ne- 

 ceffary, and that of which in general he makes the leaft Benefit, 



(a) Eft nemus Hsmonise prserupta quod undiqj claudit 

 Sylva, vocant Tempe, per quae Peneus ab irno 

 EtFufus Pindo fpumofis volvitur Undis. 

 Deje<Slifque gravi tenues agitantia Fumos 

 Nubila conducit, fummifque afpergine fylvas 

 Impluit, & fonitu plulxjuam vicina fatigat, 



Thil 



