Michigan historical collections. [Vol. 17]

UP THE MOHAWK RIVER, MAY.

573

bed of the water, and twenty feet above its level. Rocks and stones
are lying in a very irregular position, but so smoothed, and worn
into curves of many shapes, like ovens, large kettles, and some worn
down like a hollow gum, six or seven feet deep, and bear every
appearance of the rocks in the bed and on the sides of the river
at present. This afternoon, we engaged seven wagons to transport
our stores and boats, one mile across these falls. We were
kindly received by our friend Porteous, and the superintendent of
the canal, a very intelligent man, major Frederick Augustus De Zang;
where I drank tea and lodged. He emigrated from Saxony, and
married Caleb Lawrence's daughter, of New York.. Though this
place is so rocky and wild, it is said a rattlesnake has not been
found at any time, north of Canada creek. On the east side of
that water, about seven miles distant, they abound to such a degree
that the settlers there are obliged, in their own defence, to keep
large herds of swine, of three or four years old-and such is the
sagacity of the swine, that they will set their foot on the head of the
reptile, and begin at the tail to eat.
Below these falls, for three miles, the water is an amazing depth
-perhaps eighty feet deep. Here our setting poles were of no
account, and our oars and paddles were not sufficient to.propel the
boat against the wind; so that at one time I did not know but
we should here have made our beds. But through the abounding
mercy of Him "who holdeth the winds in his fists, and measureth
the waters in the hollow of his hand," we got through to comfortable lodgings. The three preceding nights we lay on our mattresses,
except the general, who was accommodated with a bed.
13th. The wagons assembled about sunrise, took our baggage and
boats about one mile, to the still water above the falls. We dined at our
friend Porteous's-embarked in the afternoon--passed the Wolf Riffle
and one other piece of strong water-about six miles, to the German
Flats-on the way, passed several block houses, and one meeting
house. Here we were but six miles north of the head waters of
the Susquehanna. But it felt to *me a land of darkness and a
land of blood. Many of the people had had their relations killed
and scalped, whose spirits remain rough, and much exasperated
against the Indians.
14th., Proceeded forward, and that evening reached Fort Schuyler,
where is erected a wooden bridge, whose arch is one hundred and
twenty feet wide, without any support from below. The butments are
of framed timber, without stone in any part of them. The sweep of