The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-08-21

S2ss 900

Total s2sS 20;
The river both above and below the Falls, il
Jroad aud deep; giving ample room for large
feet The water never rises more than foot o.
two, and this only after a ling blow up or down
the Lake. The freshols produce no perceptibIc
difference in the volume Of water.
The old Traders say that Il e water has fallen
aboat / feet in the las, ten years; owing proba
bly,, to the wearing down Of the rocks in the ra
pds. There is a small island on the American
-ide about half way down the rapids, and auoth.
81 large island on the Canadian side, which ex.
tends from the head to the foot Of the rapids
The principal volume Of water run, between
these two islands. A canal could probably be
ouit cheaper on the Canadian than on the Amer.
lean side. II is said that the Canadian govern.
ment have sent a corps Of engineers to examine
the route, with a view Of building a canal on
that side. II the Canadian Copper Companies
should be successful in finding an abundance OF
copper ore on the northern shore Of Lake Supe-
iioT, il is most probable that a canal viii first be
built Oh tl:at side Of the Falls.
The rapids present most beautiful appearance
from the American side. Few Of the scenes it,
the West surpass the view hr picturesqueness.
rhe broad sheets of wafer moving so gently
above and below the fus the beautiful range Of
bills around with foliage Of perpetual verdure
the bold volume Of water that goes leaping and
bounding with wild impetuosiy over rocks and
crlgs; all unite to form mingled scene Of calm
beauty and Wild strife, which accords well with
the peaceful pursuits Of the whites and the wild,
prccarious existence Of the Indians who people
the shores.
The fall Of water is UNIFORM the whole distance
Of the descent. So uniform in fact, that notUilE-
vessels Of one hundred tons have descended them
unlnJured, saw small boat, carrying tea men,
90 over them without difficulty. The boat vent
apparently, at the rate of 10 nj = an hour.
The Amarican Fur Company havea very Gne
-mu.n u nr Canadian side Of the Fails, hut a,
p.c-,n ,a,y ov bat l,tIe business OF this point
There are .rv.ul Missionaries stationed here,
.u. ID Haa. nave be. II acre icr twenty years
TUy undoubtedly labor with = Al irr the con
>er,au a 80, pulr hralncu nsd me various de-
nnmiua,ruus Nho contribute Boz .u,lf support, are
unqucsuonably acluated by the purc't motives.
But the number of drunken Indians daily seen in
the slrcets..-thc nightly braSs land the immo-
mIiIy which seeks no disguise, naturally leads all
observer to fear that the pcus Efforts behalf Of
the poor Indian, have not been ur,.od with en-
Jlro success one is almost icd 90 ha.,.,r---uu
bchcdug the degradation Of the Aboras ncs.--
tribes Of Israel aud that the curse of the Almigh-
~ is still resting upon them. Even where they
have inlermarried with the whites, they remain
the same idle, worthless, dissipated, miserable
beings. Du, few of the hai.broeds ever become
worthy and cn,erprising citizens. |, is said that
they unite all the bad qualities Of both races
without retaining the good of either. An old
physician, who has spent much time among the
Ia lians, informs me that he has observed that
physical dcgcncracy is almost the certain conse.
qucnce Of uter.marriogc between the two races
and tina, a large proportion Of the hali'breejs die
young. Even those tina, attain to the age oil
manhood have not the physical strength or power
Of endurance Of either race.
The Indians depend mainly upon fishing for d
living. During tho fall and winter they follow
trapping aud hunting to some extent. but al