a large popula-
tion of Indians, and had been for an indefinite period. The borders
of Lake Champlain, Otter Creek, Lemon Fair and other streams,
furnished a convenient location for that purpose.*
Previous to the discovery of Lake Champlain, in IGOO, the
Iroquois, or Five Nations, which together formed a powerful Indian
tribe, claimed and occupied an extensive country south of Lakes
Erie and Ontario, and. the River St. Lawrence, and extending to
and inclilding Lalce Champlain and Western Vermont, and previously
had been undoubtedly settled in this County. It is supposed by
nrany, that their settlement extended as far north as the River
Sorcl, which forms the outlet of Lake Champlain, and that the
*In a conversation, which Philip Battell, Esq., had. several years ago, with
an iatelligent Indian vromaii, she stated that the Indian names of all tie streams
andwaters in this region were familiar'y known among the Indians, and that the
old Indian, who died at Bristol, as mentioned elsewhere, could have given the names.
She said the name of Otter Cicek, was Wunageequ'tuc, which the French called
La Kivierc aux Loutrcs, both which mean The River of Otters. The name of Lake
Dunmorn, she said, was Moosalamoo. Salmon Trout Lake.
5
30 HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
river was called the Iroquois for that reason, and Cliamplain so rep-
resents it. But others suppose, that it was called by that name,
because it came from the country of the Iroquois. When Samuel
Champlain, the French leader, came up the lake on his tour of
discovery, in 1609, the Iroquois had withdrawn from the islands in
the north part of the lake, which now constitute the County of
Grand Isle,