the forefathers of the mohawk settled in canada when it was still ruled by france. it seems that these indians have always been surefooted. more than a hundred years ago an english traveler described their skill: "they will walk on the ridge of a barn or a house as unconcerned as if they were walking on the ground. they walk over deep brooks and creeks on the smallest of poles. today these indians walk on buildings rising high above the ground. they walk on bridges high above the water. one wrong step would mean sudden death.