They thus continue until they are two or tliree days journey from tlie foe, when they advance stealthily by night, all in a body, except tlie scouts, and retire by day into the picket fort where they repose, without wandering abroad, making any noise or building a fire, even for

INTO NORTHERN AND WESTERN NEW-YORK. 5

cooking during that time, so as not to be discovered, should their enemies happen to pass. The only fire they make is, to smoke. They eat dried Indian meal which they steep in water like porridge. They prepare this meal for use when they are pinched, and wlien they are near tlie enemy, or when retreating ; after their attacks they do not amuse themselves hunting, retreating precipitately.

We left next day, continuing our route along the river as far as the mouth of tlie Lake ' . Here are a number of beautiful, but low Islands filled with' very fine woods and prairies, a quantity of game and wild animals, such as stags, deer, fawns, roebucks, bears and other sorts of animals that come from the main land to the said islands. We caught a quantity of them. There is also quite a number of Beavers, as well in the river as in several otlier streams which fall into it. These parts, though agreeable, are not inhabited by any Indians, in consequence of their wars. They retire from the rivers as far as possible, deep into the country, in order not to be so soon discovered.