to North America] % 1 7 



defcritfd the Ilinefe Lake in my ftxteenth Letter, 

 The Lake Errie is juftly dignified with the illu- 

 ftrious name of Conti ; For affuredly 'tis the fineft 

 Lake upon Earth. You may judge of the goodnefs 

 £>f the Climate, from the Latitudes of the Countries 

 that furroundit. Its Circumference extends to two 

 hundred and thirty Leagues; but it affords every 

 where fuch a charming Profped, that its Banks are 

 deck'd with Oak-Trees, Elms, Chefnut-Trees, Wal- 

 nut-Trees, Apple-Trees, Plum-Trees , and Vines 

 which bear their fine clutters up to the very top of 

 the Trees, upon a fort of ground that lies as fmooth 

 as one's Hand. Such Ornaments as thefe, are fuf- 

 ficient to give rife to the raoft agreeable Idea of a 

 Landskip in the World. I cannot exprefs what 

 vaft quantities of Deer and Turkeys are to be found 

 in thefe Woods, and in the vail Meads that lye up* 

 on the South fide of the Lake. At the bottom of 

 the Lake, we find wild Beeves upon the Banks of 

 two pleafant Rivers that difembogue into it, with- 

 out Catara&s or rapid Currents. It abounds with 

 Sturgeon and white Fifh ; but Trouts are very fcarce 

 in it, as well as the other Fifh that we take in the 

 Lakes of Hurons and Ilinefe. Tis clear of Shelves, 

 Rocks, and Banks of Sand ; and has fourteen or 

 fifteen fathom Water. The Savages affure us, that 

 'tis never difturb'd with high Winds, but in the 

 Months of December, January, and February , and e* 

 ven then but feidom, which indeed I am very apt 

 to believe, for we had but very few Storms, when 

 I wintered in my Fort in 1688, though the Fort 

 lay open to the Lake of Hurons. The Banks of this 

 Lake are commonly frequented by none but Warri- 

 ours, whether the Iroque(e, the Ilinefe, the Oumamis^ 

 &c and 'tis very dangerous to flop there. By this 

 means it comes to pafs, that the Stags, Roe-Bucks 

 #nd Turkeys, run in great Bodies up and down the 

 IliQar^ all round the Lake, In former times the Et? 



mronon-u 



