Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-10-26

was unobstructed-plain, open sailing all
the way. The Indians could not have in
tended to deceive him-there must be a
passage somewhere. He took five of his
men and made careful survey of the
whole ground, not returning till he had
thoroughly satisfied himself of the impos-
sibility of getting any further with the
craft which, with much care, he had fitted
up expressly for this expedition. Unwil-
ling, however, to abandon an enterprise on
which his heart was set, and to return
without a sight Of that great lake and its
beautiful islands, Of which the natives had
so much boosted to him, he resolved that
he would offer to accompany the Indians,
in their own canoes, with two Of his party,
the on y ones who We're willing to under
take so perilous a service, if his allies
could be persuaded to venture on the ex-
petition with so small a force. The offer
was gladly accepted. Canoes, arms and
baggage were speedily transported to the
other side Of the rapids, which presented
but slight obstacle to Indian navigation.
Here a muster was made of the whole
party, when they found their force to con-
sist Of a canoes and 60 Indians, besides
the Frenchmcn.
They set out from the rapids of Cham
bly, on the ID Of July and arrived at the
entrance of the lake on the evening of the
next day. [ always felt curiosity and
[ have no doubt you share the same, to
know what the impressions were which
these scenes, so familiar to our eyes, but
which we never tire Of beholding, made on
him who was conscious Of being the first
to look upon them with an approaching
eye to imagine how he must have felt as
they opened before him, one after another,
in al the freshness Of nature, and with the
added charm of perfect novelty. And
here | may as well remark, that the little
fleet of canoes, with which Champlain ex-
plored these waters, were % DAYS in pass
ing up from the falls Of Chambly to IT.
conderoga. During a few OF the last DAYS.
the boats yentured out only by night, and
the days were spent on land We are not
informed how much time they took in re-
tmning-probably not much less. Nearly .
two months, therefore, Of the finest part of
summer were spent by Champlain on the
shores and waters Of this lake, which gave /
him ample opportunity to look about him.
and observe all that was characteristics |
or otherwise worthy Of notice
The first thing which seems to have
struck him was the solitude. the utter lone.
illness that refined everywhere around
Not human benz was to be seen. tbouob
many places were observed which showed
evidence of bavino once been the f,vorito
haunts of Indians. All had retrsataJ ;nto
the deep secluded valleys. places less on.
posed than these inviting spots IN +bo nm
warned attacks Of a stealtbv foe The first
low islands were covered with wood and
abounded in came The river Inv which
thew entered the lake. Is well as the Other
streams fowinr into il were held in updi..
-urbed possession bv multitudes of the
beaver. As Cbamnlain advanced - tho
South. the largsr islands attracted he
lotice.-IO. Il. Is lc9onos IN lorgtb 90
,,rdinr IN his communication T,o,. -
marks of HAVING been formerly ;nhyh;,oI
,ut were now utterly deserted Uo +ool' ,
pecial pain, TO eynIora tina months of +bo
ivers flowing from the main land as the !
oats coasted along the shore and IN ov.
mine the variety OF trees in the nrimoval
orests growing on their banks. Most of 7
hese he found to be not different from the t
lnds ne was familiar with IN France but I
g-tl ntn. Cd -l' ,,tI