CHAP. xi. TEOUT LAKE. 175 



secured all we saw that were within reach. Sometimes they 

 are killed with stones, and it is wonderful to see how pertina- 

 ciously a bird will sit, however near the stone may whiz past 

 it, until it receives such a blow as will knock it over. Even 

 when struck, if not severely injured, it will occasionally remain 

 sitting. 



Two hours more brought us to the Ma-ta-me-gose-ka- 

 tats, or Trout Lake, which lies at the summit, and from 

 which Cold-water Eiver takes its rise. The portage sepa- 

 rating the last two lakes is very steep, wet, and rough. It 

 rises 326 feet, and its summit is 1,556 feet above the sea. 

 The Indians called it the Height of Land Portage ; but it 

 really is nothing more than a spur of the great table 

 land of Labrador, coming from the JSTW. and separating 

 the waters of the east branch of the Moisie from those of 

 the main river. 



Cold-water Eiver, in a course of twenty miles, falls 

 1,430 feet. 



Some idea of the mountainous character of the country 

 may be obtained from this great fall in so short a dis- 

 tance. 



The lichens and the mosses on the portages became 

 more beautiful than ever. These pioneers of vegetation 

 assume the most fantastic forms and brilliant colours. 

 Most commonly they grow in circles, some two and even 

 three feet in diameter. They are found in all parts of 

 the rocks, and add a singular beauty to the wild scene. 

 The lichens and mosses are silently destroying the sur- 

 face rock and preparing it for the disintegrating action of 

 atmospheric agents. I measured the depth of the caribou 

 moss, and found it to be sixteen inches. Other species 

 were of more luxuriant growth still, and in some low and 



