Malobiannah LbNA #17476 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 7, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Grand Falls |
| County: | New Brunswick, CAN |
| State: | New Brunswick, Canada |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | TurtleMcQ  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | The Aroostook Sleuth |
| Last found: | Sep 10, 2005 |
| Status: | F |
| Last edited: | Aug 7, 2005 |
Centuries ago ago, the Malécite (known in English as Maliseet) people lived on the banks of the Wigoudi River in what is now New Brunswick, Canada. There the Wigoudi raged over the rocks, at one place plummeting down a towering gorge to form the waterfall called Le Grand-Sault before continuing on its journey across the lands the Malécite called their home. Five hundred years ago, a battle between the Malécite and their enemy the Iroquois resulted in the deaths of many Malécite people, including Sacobie, their chief.
As they left, the Iroquois abducted a young Malécite woman named Malobiannah. Some say she was the chief's daughter, others that she was to marry the chief's son, who was also killed in the battle. A native daughter of the Wigoudi River, Malobiannah knew its waters far better than the invaders, and so she was put into the lead canoe to guide the Iroquois back to their home through the dark night. If she guided them safely, she was told, her own life would be spared and she would marry an Iroquois warrior as well. Her family dead and their homes destroyed, Malobiannah agreed to her captors' terms. She convinced them to tie their canoes together so that they could rest during the long journey and so they did, as Malobiannah remained alert and navigated them over the river.
In time the Iroquois awoke, startled by the sound of roaring water. Malobiannah assured them that it was only the confluence of the Wigoudi and another great river that they heard, and their journey continued. The roar grew louder, however, and by the time the Iroquois realized that it was not a great river but a great waterfall they were approaching, it was too late. With a vengeful yet triumphant cry, Malobiannah led the 300 Iroquois warriors over the edge of le Grand Sault down to the treacherous rocks that lay 80 feet below. And there the bodies of all 300 were discovered the next morning among the remains of their shattered canoes. Malobiannah's body, however, was never found. Her memory is still honored even today through the telling of her brave sacrifice by her Malécite descendants in the St. John Valley.
The Wigoudi is now known as the St. John River and the town where the falls are located is called Grand-Sault/Grand Falls, but Malobiannah's legacy is as timeless as the falls themselves. Though tempered from their former glory by the dam installed in the early part of the last century, the falls are still breathtaking to watch, especially in the spring when the snow has begun to melt and the water is at its highest.
Start with a trip to the Malobiannah Information Center in Grand-Sault/Grand Falls (the only Canadian town with two official names), where you can learn both the natural and cultural history of the falls and the city now enveloping them. Next, go to the La Rochelle center up the road where you can walk down 250 green steps into the gorge itself to see the famous Puits dans les Rochers (Wells in the Rocks). Be aware that an admission fee is required to access the stairs - $3 cdn for adults, $1 for each child or $7 for a family of four. If you'd rather see the falls up close, you can also buy tickets here for a boat tour that goes up to the base of the falls. The directions to the box will work regardless of which option you choose.
Walk down the stairs and enjoy the view or your boat tour, then take your time climbing back up. Don't re-enter the building when you reach the door, though - continue to your right onto the deck with the small tables and chairs, and then down the ramp that takes you down to grass and then out through a gate to the parking lot. Don't go out the gate quite yet either, though. When you reach the bottom of the ramp, step off to your left, towards the building, and turn to face the ramp (and the gorge, beyond the trees). Tucked under the ramp where it meets the ground, behind some small rocks, you'll find something to remind you of Malobiannah's bravery and sacrifice. To confirm that you're in the right spot, if you face La Rochelle's front doors before entering, the ramp you'll later approach is on the left side of the building. When you're actually looking for the box, the building's rain gutter will be close behind you.
Please be careful seeking and rehiding the box as you'll be in full view of people on the wooden deck and out in the parking lot. You'll also want to take care not to push the box so far under the ramp that others might have a hard time finding it. If you go in winter, you'll want to call ahead to confirm that the center is even open (I wasn't able to find out if it closes for the winter). If you search when there's snow on the ground, please be careful to mess up the snow in other areas, too, so as not to give away Malobiannah's hiding place.
While I wish there were a much more beautiful place for Malobiannah to await your visit, an hour of careful deliberation at the center led to this being chosen as the best spot for her long-term survival. This is an orphan box - updates after any finds will be *greatly* appreciated.
As they left, the Iroquois abducted a young Malécite woman named Malobiannah. Some say she was the chief's daughter, others that she was to marry the chief's son, who was also killed in the battle. A native daughter of the Wigoudi River, Malobiannah knew its waters far better than the invaders, and so she was put into the lead canoe to guide the Iroquois back to their home through the dark night. If she guided them safely, she was told, her own life would be spared and she would marry an Iroquois warrior as well. Her family dead and their homes destroyed, Malobiannah agreed to her captors' terms. She convinced them to tie their canoes together so that they could rest during the long journey and so they did, as Malobiannah remained alert and navigated them over the river.
In time the Iroquois awoke, startled by the sound of roaring water. Malobiannah assured them that it was only the confluence of the Wigoudi and another great river that they heard, and their journey continued. The roar grew louder, however, and by the time the Iroquois realized that it was not a great river but a great waterfall they were approaching, it was too late. With a vengeful yet triumphant cry, Malobiannah led the 300 Iroquois warriors over the edge of le Grand Sault down to the treacherous rocks that lay 80 feet below. And there the bodies of all 300 were discovered the next morning among the remains of their shattered canoes. Malobiannah's body, however, was never found. Her memory is still honored even today through the telling of her brave sacrifice by her Malécite descendants in the St. John Valley.
The Wigoudi is now known as the St. John River and the town where the falls are located is called Grand-Sault/Grand Falls, but Malobiannah's legacy is as timeless as the falls themselves. Though tempered from their former glory by the dam installed in the early part of the last century, the falls are still breathtaking to watch, especially in the spring when the snow has begun to melt and the water is at its highest.
Start with a trip to the Malobiannah Information Center in Grand-Sault/Grand Falls (the only Canadian town with two official names), where you can learn both the natural and cultural history of the falls and the city now enveloping them. Next, go to the La Rochelle center up the road where you can walk down 250 green steps into the gorge itself to see the famous Puits dans les Rochers (Wells in the Rocks). Be aware that an admission fee is required to access the stairs - $3 cdn for adults, $1 for each child or $7 for a family of four. If you'd rather see the falls up close, you can also buy tickets here for a boat tour that goes up to the base of the falls. The directions to the box will work regardless of which option you choose.
Walk down the stairs and enjoy the view or your boat tour, then take your time climbing back up. Don't re-enter the building when you reach the door, though - continue to your right onto the deck with the small tables and chairs, and then down the ramp that takes you down to grass and then out through a gate to the parking lot. Don't go out the gate quite yet either, though. When you reach the bottom of the ramp, step off to your left, towards the building, and turn to face the ramp (and the gorge, beyond the trees). Tucked under the ramp where it meets the ground, behind some small rocks, you'll find something to remind you of Malobiannah's bravery and sacrifice. To confirm that you're in the right spot, if you face La Rochelle's front doors before entering, the ramp you'll later approach is on the left side of the building. When you're actually looking for the box, the building's rain gutter will be close behind you.
Please be careful seeking and rehiding the box as you'll be in full view of people on the wooden deck and out in the parking lot. You'll also want to take care not to push the box so far under the ramp that others might have a hard time finding it. If you go in winter, you'll want to call ahead to confirm that the center is even open (I wasn't able to find out if it closes for the winter). If you search when there's snow on the ground, please be careful to mess up the snow in other areas, too, so as not to give away Malobiannah's hiding place.
While I wish there were a much more beautiful place for Malobiannah to await your visit, an hour of careful deliberation at the center led to this being chosen as the best spot for her long-term survival. This is an orphan box - updates after any finds will be *greatly* appreciated.