Travels in North Àmerîcal 1 9g 



Pike, the Sturgeon, the Aftikameguey or white Fiih, and above 

 all, the Trout. They take three Sorts of the laft, among which 

 fome are of a monftrous Size, and in fuch Numbers, that a Sa- 

 vage with his Spear will fometimes flrike fifty in three Hours 

 Time. But the moft famous of all is the White Filh : It is about 

 the Bignefs and Shape of a Mackerel ; I know of no Kind 

 of Fifh that is better eating. The Savages fay, that it was 

 Michabou who taught their Anceftors to fiih, that he invented 

 Nets, and that he took the Notion of them from the Spiders 

 Web. Thefe People, as you fee, Madam, do not give greater 

 Honour to their God than he deferves, fince they are not afraid 

 of fending him to School to a vile Infeél. 



Whatever Lands appear in Sight hereabout, do not give an 

 Of the Ifle of ^^^^^^ ^ good Country; but there is no 

 n a rTt \ Need of going far to find Soils fit for every 

 J I I • ' Thine. We may fay the fame of the Ifles of 



ff'^C " '^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^'^^ 



oj- tûe a tor. ^ \\x.\\.q after we enter into the Lake Michigan. 



The Oiitaouais^ who are retired thither, fow here Maiz, and they 



have learnt this good Cuftom from the Huronsy with whom they 



have lived a long Time in thefe Parts. The Amikoues formerly 



dwelt in thefe Tflands : This Nation is now reduced to a very 



•fmall Number of Families, which have pafTed over to the Ifland 



Manitoualin, on the North Side of the Lake Huron, It is, 



neverthelefs, one of the mofl; noble of Canaduy according to the 



Savages, who believe it to be defcended from the Great Caflor^ 



which is, after Michahoxi or the Great Hare, their principal Dçity, 



and whofe Name it bears. 



It was He, as they fay further, that formed the Lake NipiJJing ; 

 and all the Falls we meet with in the Great Ri^er of the Ou-, 

 taouaisy which goes out of it, are the Remains of Banks he made to 

 compafs his Defign. They add, that he died at the fame Place, and 

 that he is buried on a Mountain, which is feen on the North Side of 

 Lake Nipij^ng. This Mountain reprefents naturally on one Side 

 the Shape of a Beaver; and this is, no Doubt, what has given Rife 

 to all thefe Stories : But the Savages maintain, that it was the 

 Great Gaflor who gave this Shape to the Mountain, after he haçl 

 chofen it for his Burial-Place; and they never pafs by this Place 

 without paying their llomage to him, by offering him thé Smoke 

 of their Tobacco. 



This is, Madam, what I thought worthy of Note in this PoH:, 



which is fo famous in the Travels and Accounts of Canada, 1 



.return to the Manners and Cuftoms of the Savages; and after 

 having mentioned what concerned their W^ars, I am going to 

 entertain you concerning their Marriages, 



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