Michigan historical collections. [Vol. 17]

# I

WESTWARD VIA LAKE ONTARIO, MAY. 577
grimly painted; even his hair was painted and plaited, and stood out
on each side in opposite directions.
Here we had conversation with a man who lives at the Salt Springs
on the Cayuga Lake, which is about ten miles long and seven broad.
He related that when wood was provided, and two kettles set, of sixty
gallons each, he could make five bushels per day; that the fountain
appeared inexhaustible; that excellent fresh water springs were found
within twelve yards of the salt; and that eighteen miles land carriage
would take it to the Chemung river, a branch of the west fork of the
Susquehanna.
We resumed our voyage-passed about a mile of rapid water-and
afterwards eleven miles of still water, to Oswego Falls. Here the river is
about two hundred yards wide, and the water at one pitch all across the
river, falls eight feet, and forms a strong, foaming rapid for one mile
below. The banks of this river are low, and subject to be overflowed.
The land apparently rich.
20th. Drew our boats across the carrying place about sixty yards,
launched in below, and proceeded to Oswego garrison, held by the British.
They expecting us, we were admitted, and dined with the commanding
officer, capt. Wickham. After dinner, we pursued our journey on the sea
of Ontario, fifteen miles to a harbour called Little Sodus. Grand
indeed is the prospect of this great lake. About the middle there is no
view of land northward, eastward, or westward, in the clearest day.
21st. We sailed and rowed, passed the mouth of Great Sodus, to
Apple Boom harbour, twenty-seven miles from Little Sodus. This day
was exceeding warm on the lake, and the journey very lonesome. Day
after day not a face to be seen but our own company. The water of the
lake is clear and cold; much more so than the rivers which empty into it.
Our navigation is along the southern margin of Ontario. The land
appears well timbered and habitable; but I could perceive no springs or
small rivulets emptying into the lake. The shore is composed of high
banks for miles together; then low vallies iii succession, which form bays
and harbours for the boatmen in case of sudden storms of wind, which are
very frequent, and make a surprising commotion in the waters. In these
storms, many adventurers, after enduring amazing difficulties, have
perished, and others have marvellously escaped. We did not venture
more than one mile from shore. The water is from three to ten feet deep
-the bottom appeared as if paved with close jointed flag stones, of seven,
ten, or twenty feet square-or like a street paved with round smooth stones.
22nd. The wind was high and the water rough. We lay in the harbour till four in the afternoon, when we journeyed forward, rowing about
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