The  passage  by  way  of  the  Niagara,  is  the  most  frequented  on
the  continent  of  America,  because  this  tongue  of  land  commu-
nicates with  three  great  lakes,  and  the  navigation  leads  all  the
Indians  to  pass  this  place,  wherever  they  may  wish  to  go.
Niagara  is  therefore  the  centre  of  trade  between  the  Indians  and
Europeans,  and  great  numbers  come  thither  of  their  own  accord
from  all  parts  of  the  continent.
Vessels  cannot  winter  in  the  Niagara  River,  because  they  are
continually  cut  by  the  ice  coming  from  Lake  Erie,  from  the  month
of  December  to  the  beginning  of  March.  There  might,  however,
be  made  a  port  of  shelter  on  the  west  side  at  Mascoutin  Point.
The  river  from  its  mouth,  to  a  distance  of  three  leagues  above,
to  the  place  named  Le  Platon,  has  a  channel  about  four  hundred
toises  wide;  the  current  is  gentle,  and  it  has  a  depth  sufficient  to
bear  a  frigate  as  far  as  to  the  Platon,  and  to  anchor  any  where
along  this  distance.  It  has  three  bends  in  this  course,  each  of  a
league,  which  gives  a  fine  view  to  Niagara.  The  river  flows  for
three  leagues  between  two  rocks,  almost  perpendicular  and  two  or
three  hundred  toises  high,  with  such  great  force  that  it  cannot  be
navigated  between  the  Platon,  and  the  basin  under  the
falls.     .     ..
