to Nonb America. ^ i 



Pafs was the laft difficulty we had to furmount ; for 

 above it the water was as ftill as that of a Pool, and 

 then our Watermen ply'd with their Oars in ftead 

 of Poles, 



The Maringouins, which we call Midges y areun- 

 fufiferably troublefom in all the Countries of Cana- 

 da. We were haunted with fuch clouds of 'em, that 

 we thought to be eat up ; and fmoaking being the 

 only Artifice that could keep 'em off, the Remedy 

 was worfe than the Difeafe : In the Night-time the 

 People fhelter themfelves from em in Bowers or 

 Arbours, made after the following manner. They 

 drive into the Ground Stakes or little branches of 

 Trees, at a certain diftance one from another, fo as 

 to form a femicircular Figure; in which they put a 

 Quilt and Bedcloaths, covering it above with a large 

 Sheet that falls down to the Ground on all fides, and 

 fo hinders the Infe&s to enter. 



We landed at Fort Frontenac after twenty days 

 failing ; and immediately upon our arrival, Mr. 

 Data our Commander in chief, view'd the Fortifi- 

 cations of the place, and three large Barques that 

 lay at Anchor in the Port. We repair'd the Forti- 

 fications in a very little time, and fitted up the three 

 Barques. This Fort was a Square, confining of large 

 Curtains flanked with four little Baitions ; thcTe 

 Flanks had but two Battlements, and the Walls were 

 fo low, that one might eafiiy climb upon ? em with- 

 out a Ladder. After Mr. de la Salle concluded the 

 Peace with the Iroquefe, the King beftow'd upon him 

 and his Heirs the property of this place ; but he 

 was fo negligent, that inftead of enriching himfelf \ 

 by the Commerce it might have afforded, he was 

 confiderably out of pocket upon it. To my mind 

 this Fort is fituated very advantageoufly for a Trade 

 with the five Ireyuefe Nations : For their Villages lye 

 in the Neighbourhood of the Lake, upon which 

 they may tranfporc their Furs in Canows with more 



eafe, 



