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.

Next day we entered the Lake, which is of considerable extent ; some 50 or 60 leagues, where I saw 4 beautiful islands 10. 12. and 15 leagues in length, formerly inhabited, as well as the Iroquois river, by Indians, but abandoned since they have been at wav tlie one with the other. Several rivers, also, discharge into the lake, guri'ounded by a number of fine trees similar to those we have in France, with a quantity of vines handsomer than any I ever saw ; a great many chestnuts, and I had not yet seen except the margin of the Lake, where there is a large abundance of fish of divers species. Among the rest there is one called by the Indians of tlie country Chaousarou, of divers lengths. The largest I was informed by the people, are of eight to ten feet. I saw one of 5, as thick as a thigh, with a head as big as two fists, with jaws two feet and a half long, and •a double set of very sharp and dangerous teeth. The form of the body resembles that of the pike, and it is armed with scales that a thrust of a poniard cannot pierce ; and is of a silver grey