16 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA, CHAP. n. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE MOUTH OF THE MOISIE TO THE GRAND RAPIDS. 



Scenery on the Moisie Bay The Climate Brent Geese 

 Leaky Canoes Waterproof Bags Louis, a Moutagnais Indian 

 Louis' Squaw Louis' Marriage Seal Hunting First Camp 

 on the Moisie Louis' Blanket Seals Salmon Fishing Sta- 

 tions on the Moisie Captain Strachau's Station Louis' Father- 

 in-Law Powdered Rhubarb Carefulness of Indians with 

 respect to Medicine Strychnine Its Use by the Fur-Traders. 



[TVROZEN snow in brilliant masses, capping the distant 



mountains, was visible from our canoes on the 



afternoon of the 10th June, as we slowly won our way 



against the rapid current of the Moisie, after leaving the 



fishing station at the mouth of the river. 



A cloudless sky, a hot sun, fitful puffs of wind from the 

 north, cold and turbid water in the river, patches of ice 

 in every sheltered nook on the banks of the beautiful 

 Moisie Bay, where snow had drifted deep during the long 

 winter months, were significant indications of the climate 

 of the country. 



A few Brent geese flying to the north, salmon here and 

 there rising high at June flies, a solitary kingfisher, and 

 a flock of golden-legged plover, were all the signs of life- 

 we saw during the first five miles. 



On the borders of the spruce forest, which came down 

 almost to the water's edge, the birch was just putting 



