Oldal 20 [20]
account is preserved of the wild scenery of the St.
Lawrence nearly two centuries ago.
New York:
“On the 4th, the route passed through the most
delightful country in the world. The rivér was
spangled with islands, on which were only oaks and
hardwood ; the soil is admirable, and the banks of
the mainland on the north and south shores are
equally handsome, the timber being very clean and
lofty, forming a forest equal to the most beautiful
in France. Both banks of the river are lined with
prairies, full of excellent grass, interspersed with an
infinity of beautiful flowers; so that it may be
asserted, there would not be a more lovely country
in the world, than that from. Lake St. Francis to the
head of the rapids, were it cleared.
“Made three leagues up to noon, and halted ata
spot more delightful than any we had yet seen. It
was close to the little channel, which stretches along
the.sault on the north side, and opposite the mouth
of a river by which the people go to Mohawk
(Raquette River.)
“On the Eleventh, a good days
made, having passed all that vast group of islands
with which the river is spangled, and camped at a
point above the river, called by the Indians, Onon¬
dakout* (Gananoqui), up which many of them go
hunting. It has a very considerable channel.”
The narrative concludes with a glowing account
of the Count’s reception of the nations at Cataraqui.
From this time forward, the St. Lawrence became
the highway for French voyagers, who carried on
a traffic with the Indians. They established a post
at La Galette (meaning, in the French language, a
mufhin, or cake), at a spot in the vicinity of Johns¬
town, a short distance below Prescott. This was
the first actual settlement made in Leeds and
Grenville. Some authorities claim that the post
wes situated on Chimney Island, but the strongest
evidence points to the mainland as the resting-place,
after surmounting the rapids. |
jeurney was
French history explains that De la Barre, in
devising schemes for the conquest of the Iroquois,
indicated the necessity of posting troops at Za
Gaktte, as well as at Frontenac; and in the cele¬
brated expedition of that Governor, in 1684, it is
mentioned as one of the stopping places, this indi¬
cating that, at that early date, it possessed a local
. habitation and a name.
In 1720-21, Father Charlevoix, a Jesuit, undertook,
by the command of the King of France, a journey
through Canada. The following is translated from
— =
* Gannonoqui: from the Huron, Ouga-seanoto, a deer,
a letter dated " Catarogui, 14th rian 1721,’ " and
" Above the Buisson, the river is a mile wide, and
lands on both sides are very good and wooded.
They begin to clear those which are on the north
side ; and it would be easy to make a road, which
is over against the Island of Montreal, to a bay,
Which they call Za Galefta. They will shun by this
forty leagues of navigation, which the falls render
almost impracticable and very tedious. A fort would
be much better situated, and more necessary, at Za
Galetia, than at Catarocoui, because a single canoe
Catarocout they may slip behind the islands without
being observed."
The worthy Father then proceeds to give a
description of his journey up the St. Lawrence :
" Five or six leagues. from Za Galetta is an island
called Tonihata (supposed to be ‘Smith’s Island,’ one
mile above Brockville), where the soil appears to be
fertile. An Iroquois, whom they call the OQuaker—
I know not why,—a very sensible man, and very
affectionate to the French, obtained the domain of
it from the late Count de Frontenac, and shows his
patent of concession to whoever wishes to see it
He has, nevertheless, sold the lordship for four pots
of brandy, but has reserved to himself all other
profits of the land, and has assembled here eighteen
I arrived on the
12th, at this island, and paid him a visit. I found
him laboring in his garden, which is not the custom
of the savages, but he affects all the customs of the
French. He received me. very kindly, and wished
but the beauty of the weather invited
or twenty families of his nation.
to regale me;
me to prosecute my journey.
him, and went to pass the night two leagues from
We passed through the
I took my leave of
there, in a very fine place.
Isles (Thousand Isles.) I believe there are about
five hundred. When we had passed these, we had
a league and a-half to reach Cazarocowi (Kingston),”
In the City of Ogdensburg may be seen the ruins
of a broken wall and the foundations of a mission
house, erected more than a century ago by the
French, who, being at the time masters of Canada,
attemped by this means to convert the Iroquois to
Roman Catholic faith, and thus induce them to
espouse the French cause, in the great struggle
going on between La Belle France and England,
for supremacy in the new world. The corner-stone
of the original mission house is now in the posses¬
sion of a citizen of Ogdensburg, and bears the
following inscription :
Ln nomine + Det Omntpotentis,
fTluic habitationi initia dedit,
Frans Picquet, 1749.
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