NOTES.

NOTE 1.-PAGE 9.

THE name NIAGARA is of Indian origin, and according to a pamphlet published in 1827, by David Casich, a member of the Tuscarora tribe of Indians, who occupied the grounds contiguous to the Falls, its orthography and pronunciation among this people were originally thus: Ony-a-kar-ra, the signification of which is variously given by others as the "Thunder of waters”- "Across the neck or strait of waters”. "—" A fall of water". -"Broken water" -“ Running water”—" The voice of waters." The first is probably the most correct signification.

The Cataract itself is found at forty-three degrees and six minutes, north latitude, and two degrees six minutes west longitude from Washington. Its distance from Lake Erie towards the north, where the Niagara river commences, is twenty miles, and fourteen miles from Lake Ontario, towards the south, where the river terminates.

The earliest reference whatever that we have of the Falls is that of Creuxio, the author of a History of Canada, published in 1660, who has marked it down upon his map, but has not mentioned it, however, in the History itself.

We next find a description of this wonder by Father Hennepin, who visited it in December, 1678. This Hennepin was a Roman Catholic missionary, who having come to Canada in 1676, and remained at Fort Frontenac, in the discharge of his priestly functions, for two years, afterwards accompanied La Salle in his expedition to the Upper Lakes and the Mississippi. His work is entitled, “ A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America, extending above four thousand miles, between New France and New Mexico, with a description of the Great Lakes, Cataracts, Rivers, Plants and Animals; also the Manners, Customs and Languages of the several Native Indians, and the Advantages of Commerce with these different Nations, &c." Dedicated to His most Excellent Majesty, William III., King of Great Britain, &c., by F. Louis Hennepin. London, 1698. His work was first published in Utrecht in 1697. The following are interesting extracts from this account: "Betwixt the Lakes Ontario and Erie, there is a vast and prodigious cadence of water, which falls down after a surprising and astonishing manner; insomuch that the universe does not afford its parallel. 'Tis true, Italy and Suedland boast of some such things, but we may well say that they are but sorry patterns when compared with. this of which we now speak. At the foot of this horrible precipice, we meet with the river Niagara, which is not above a quarter of a league broad, but is wonderfully deep in some places. It is so rapid above this descent, that it violently hurries down the wild beasts while endeavoring to pass it to feed on the other side, they not be

ing able to withstand the force of its current, which inevitably casts them headlong above six hundred feet high.

"This wonderful downfall is compounded of two great cross streams of water and two falls, with an isle sloping along the middle of it. The waters which fall from this horrible precipice do foam and boil after the most hideous manner imaginable, making an outrageous noise, more terrible than that of thunder; for when the wind blows out of the south, their dismal roaring may be heard more than fifteen leagues off.

"The river Niagara, having thrown itself down this incredible precipice, continues its impetuous course for two leagues together, to the Great Rock above mentioned, with an inexpressible rapidity, but having passed that, its impetuosity relents, gliding along more gently for two. other leagues, till it arrives at the Lake Ontario or Fron

tenac.

"Any barque or greater vessel may pass from the Fort to the top of this huge rock above mentioned. This rock lies to the westward, and is cut off from the land by the river Niagara, about two leagues further down than the Great Fall, for which two leagues the people are obliged to transport their goods over land, but the way is very good, and the trees are but few, chiefly firs and oaks.

"From the Great Fall unto this rock, which is to the west of the river, the two brinks of it are so prodigious high, that it would make one tremble to look steadily upon the water, rolling along with a rapidity not to be imagined. Were it not for this vast cataract, which interrupts navi

gation, they might sail with barques or greater vessels more than four hundred and fifty leagues, crossing the Lake of Huron, and reaching even to the further end of the Lake Illinois; which two lakes we may easily say are little seas of fresh water.

"After we had rowed above an hundred and forty leagues upon the Lake Erie, by reason of the many windings of the bays and creeks which we were forced to coast, we passed by the Great Fall of Niagara, and spent half a day in considering the wonders of that prodigious cascade.

"I could not conceive how it came to pass, that four great lakes, the least of which is four hundred leagues in compass, should empty themselves one into another, and then all centre and discharge themselves at this Great Fall, and yet not drown good part of America. What is yet more surprising, the ground, from the mouth of Lake Erie down to the Great Fall, appears almost level and flat. It is scarce discernible that there is the least rise or fall for six leagues together. The more than ordinary swiftness of the stream is the only thing which makes it to be observed. And that which makes it yet the stranger is, that for two leagues together, below the Fall towards Lake Ontario or Frontenac, the lands are as level as they are above it or towards the Lake Erie.

"Our surprise was still greater when we observed there was no mountain within two good leagues of this cascade; and yet the vast quantity of water which is discharged by these four fresh seas, stops or centres here,