VOYAGE OF FATHER SIMON LE MOINE TO THE COUNTRY OF THE IROQUOIS ONONDAGOES, IN JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1654. [Relation de la N. France es annees, 1653 and 1654.]

On the second day of the month of July, the festival of the Visitation of the Most Holy Virgin always friendly to our undertakings, Father LeMoine departed from Quebec on a voyage to the Iroquois Onondagoes. He passed Three Rivers, and from thence by Montreal, where a young man of good courage, and an old habitant, joined him, with much piety.

I shall follow the Father's

Journal for greater facility.

On the 17th day of July, St. Alexis' day, we left home with this great and holy traveller, and deOn the 18th, following always the course of the River St. Lawrence, impetuous rapids, all strewed with rocks and shoals. and breakers we met nothing but parted for a land unknown to us.

The 19th.

This river grows wider and forms a lake, agreeable to the view, from eight to ten

At night, an army of troublesome musquitoes foreboded the rain which poured down on us the whole of the night. To be in such circumstances without any shelter except the

leagues in length.

trees, which

Nature has produced ever since the creation of the world, is a pastime more innocent

and agreeable than could be anticipated. 20th.

Nothing but islands, in appearance the most beautiful, which intersect here and there this

very quiet river.

The land on the north bank appears to us excellent