Harmon's journal. 



33 



and a few wooden dishes and spoons, for which we 

 give them provisions. 



Thursday, 22. Sailed a part of the day, on 

 the above mentioned lake ; but, towards noon, the 

 wind was so high, that we were obliged to encamp 

 on a small island, which is almost destitute of 

 wood. jH 



Friday, 23. The lost Child. This place took 

 its name from the following circumstance. Seve- 

 ral years since, the natives, being encamped here, 

 lost a child, for whom they made diligent search, 

 but in vain. They imagined, however, that they 

 heard his lamentations in the bowels of the earth; 

 whereupon they commenced digging, but to no 

 purpose ; the reason of which they conceived to be, 

 that the Devil, or Bad Spirit, as he is called by 

 the Indians, was continually carrying him from one 

 place to another, in the earth. Many large holes 

 have actually been dug in the earth, as our peo- 

 ple have shown me. 



In the morning we left Lake Nipisangue, and 

 have ever since been descending the French Riv- 

 er, which is a considerable stream. 



In the latter part of the day, we passed a nar- 

 row place in the French River, to which, a num- 

 ber of years since, many of the most abandoned 

 and savage Natives were accustomed to resort 

 every spring, and where they built a kind of Fort, 



5 



