: Niagara: An Aboriginal Center of Trade by Porter Peter A Peter Augustus - Niagara Falls (N.Y. and Ont.) History; Niagara Falls (N.Y. and Ont.) Commerce History

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NIAGARA

An Aboriginal Center of Trade

PETER A. PORTER

Niagara Falls 1906

NIAGARA, AN ABORIGINAL CENTER OF TRADE

The printed story of Niagara dates back only three centuries; and during the first three decades of even that period the references to this wonderful handiwork of Nature--which was located in a then unexplored region of a New World, a Continent then inhabited only by warring tribes of superstitious Savages--are few and far between.

Three facts relating to this locality--and three only--seem to be proven as ante-dating the commencement of that printed story.

That its "Portage" had long been in use.

That it was then, and long had been, a spot for the annual assemblage of the Indians "for trade."

That here, and here only, was found a certain substance which the Aborigines had long regarded as a cure for many human ills.

Before 1600, everything else that we think we know, and like to quote about Niagara, is only Indian Myth or Tradition; possibly handed down for Ages, orally, from generation to generation, amongst the Aborigines; or, quite as probable, it is the invention of some Indian or White man Mythologist of recent times; the presumption in favor of the latter being strengthened, when no mention of the legend, not even the slightest reference thereto, is to be found in any of the writings of any of the authors, who had learnt their facts at first hand, and had then duly recorded them,--until long after the beginning of the eighteenth Century.

It is probably to the latter class--modern traditions--even with all their plausibilities, based upon the superstitious and stoical nature of the Aborigines--that several of the best-known Legends concerning Niagara belong.

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