bled from their ancient seats, made our progress up
toward the pitch, rough and difficult. We found
logs, pieces of canoes, &c. in abundance, twelve or
fifteen feet above the present level of the water —
also ducks, loons, cormorants, catfish, pickerels, and
various kinds of fish and water fowl, which had
been killed by the dashing of the columns of water,
tumbling off a precipice not less than one hundred and
twenty feet perpendicular. The rocks and stones are
mostly excellent limestone, as are the stones in the
banks for six or seven miles below, where, from
every appearance, I think it is not absurd to sup-
pose the falls once were, but have worn up to the
present barrier, where the river makes a bend, and
the water is divided by an island; though two thirds
of it, or more, pass on the north side of the island. I
think it is not improbable that the lands adjoining,
derive considerable advantage to vegetation, from
the misty vapors which arise, and are exhaled to
the clouds, or blown by the varying winds, on the
neighboring farms. Some of these are exceeding
fertile; abounding with grass and grain. After spend-
ing an hour or two, almost lost in admiration, we
ascended by the way we went down, and rode eight
miles to the landing, where we dined at Benjamin
Canby's.

This forenoon Capt. Hendricks, Little-man,
and three other Oneida Indians came to our camp,
whom we were pleased to see; we refreshed them,
and had friendly conversation, confirming the prin-
ciples of peace and good will to all men.

Here we were within the sound of the martial
trumpet, where I did adopt the Israelitish lamenta-
tion, "By Babels streams we sat and wept, when