d
spacious, convenient landing-places. Behind this fringe of marshy
land you see the finest country in the world.

"Our hunters, both French and Indian, were delighted with it. For
an extent of six hundred miles in length, and as much in breadth,
we were told there are vast fields of excellent land, diversified
with pleasing hills, lofty woods, groves through which you might
ride on horseback, so clear and unobstructed are the paths.

"These little forests also line the rivers which intersect the
country in various places, and which abound in fish. The crocodiles
are dangerous here; so much so, that, in some places, no one would
venture to expose himself, or even to put his hand out of his
canoe. The Indians told us that these animals often dragged in
their people, where they could anywhere get hold of them.

"The fields are full of all kinds of game, wild cattle, does, deer,
stags, bears, turkeys, partridges, parrots, quails, woodcock, wild
pigeons, and ringdoves. There are also beaver, otters, and martens.
The cattle of this country surpass ours in size. Their head is
monstrous, and their look is frightful, on account of the long,
black hair with which it is surrounded, and which hangs below the
chin. The hair is fine, and scarce inferior to wool. The Indians
wear their skins, which they dress very neatly. They assured us
that, inland, toward the west, there are animals on which men ride,
and which carry very heavy loads. They described them as horses,
and showed two feet, which were actually hoofs of horses.

"We observed wood fit for every use. There were the most beautiful
cedars in the world. There was one kind of tree which shed an
abundance of gum, as pleasant to burn as the best French pastilles.
We also saw fine hemlocks, and other large trees with white bark.
The cotton-wood trees were very large. Of these, the Indians dug
out canoes forty or fifty feet long. Sometimes there were fleets of
a hundred and fifty at their villages. We saw every kind of tree
fit for ship-building. There is also plenty of hemp for cordage,
and tar could be made in abundance.

"Prairies are seen everywhere. Sometimes they are fifty or sixty
miles in length on the river front, and many leagues in depth. They
are very rich and fertile, without a stone or a tree to obstruct
the plough.