( 356 ) 



. Befides I perceived no mift above it, but from 

 behind, at a diftance, one would take it for fmoke, 

 and there is no perfon who would not be deceived 

 with it, if he came in fight of the ifle, without 

 having been told before- hand that there was fo fur- 

 prifing a cataract in this place. 



The foil of the three leagues I had to walk a foot 

 to get hither, and which is called the carrying- place 

 of Niagara, feems very indifferent ; it is even very 

 ill-wooded, and you cannot walk ten paces without 

 treading on ant-hills, or meeting with rattle- fnakes, 

 efpecialiy during the heat of the day. I think, I 

 told you, Madam, that the Indians efteem the flefli 

 of thofe reptiles a very great dainty. In general, 

 ferpents are no way frightful to thefe people ; there 

 is no animal you fee oftener painted on their faces 

 and bodies, and they feldom ever purfue them, ex- 

 cept for food. The bones and fkins of ferpents 

 are alfo of great fervice to their jugglers and wiz- 

 ards in divining ; the laft of which they make ufq 

 of for belts and fillets. It is no lefs true what we 

 are told of their having the fecret of enchanting, or* 

 to fpeak more properly, ftupifying thofe animals ; 

 their taking them alive, handling them, and put- 

 ting them in their bofom, without receiving any 

 hurt a circum (lance, which contributes not a lit- 

 tle towards gaining them the great credit they have 

 amongft thefe people. 



I was going to feal this letter, when my people 

 came to tell me, we mould not fet out to-morrow as 

 I expected. So I muft wait with patience, and 

 profit what I can of my fpare time. I am therefore 

 going to refume the article of the wars of the In- 

 dians, which will not be fo foon exhaufted. The 

 6 mo- 



