65 



CHAPTEE V. 



THE GRAND PORTAGE TO THE FIRST GORGE OF THE MOISIE. 



Leave the Grand Portage A Check Grandeur and Solemnity 

 of the Scenery Ice, Rocks, and Trees Caribou drinking A 

 Waterfall Its Appearance in the Spring Rocks and Precipices- 

 Beaver Sounding for Beaver Bear- tracks Breakfast Rocks 

 The Forks of the Moisie Pierre's River Tracking Swiftness 

 of the Current First Gorge of the Moisie Bear-paths Ice in 

 the Woods A Canoe Domenique, the MontagTiais Chief 

 Domenique's Account of the Gorge Of the Upper Country Of 

 his Tribe Of Lake Aslnvauipi Of his People and Ancestors 

 Louis' Diplomacy One Cause of the Decline of the Montagnais 

 and Nasquapee Nation* Famine during the early History of 

 Western Canada, 



T)AIN continued to fall at intervals until noon. The 

 JL^ canoes were then brought down from the summit 



O 



of the hill, a road having been first cut through the 

 thick forest to allow them to be passed. At three we 

 started, leaving the examination of the Bapids until our 

 return. With cheerful hearts we left the Grand Portage : 

 it was heavy work, at the commencement of our explora- 

 tion, before the men were in good condition and training. 

 Under any circumstances, it is no trifle to carry baggage 

 and canoes up such steep hills and rocks and over so 

 rough a country, for nearly four miles, besides having to 

 cut roads through a dense forest, and to be at this kind 

 of work from four in the morning until eight at night. I 



VOL. I. F 



