244 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. xv. 



an eye-witness, not three months since, in these same 

 dreary wilds. 



In the spring- of the year, before the geese began to 

 arrive, the caribou left this part of the country, travelling 

 north. Domenique could not follow them, as it was 

 impossible to transport his family across the country 

 when the snow was beginning to go. The ptarmigan, or 

 white partridge, passed away with the deer, and the 

 interval between the disappearance of these animals and 

 the arrival of the geese is always one of suffering to the 

 improvident Indians of this country. 



' What did you eat ? ' I said to Michel. 



He pointed to some patches of tripe de roche which 

 were growing on the rock close to us. 



' Is that all ? ' I asked. 



He advanced a step or two, looked round about him, 

 then said something to Louis. 



'He says they made broth of the birch buds.' 



' Tripe de roche and broth of birch buds ! anything else? ' 



'Nothing.' 



Ask him whether he ever heard of Indians eating one 

 another ? Louis asked the question, but Michel made no 

 answer. Louis however volunteered the information, that 

 Indians did eat one another when they were starving, 

 naively saying, 'if they did not, all would starve.' 



There can be no doubt that instances of cannibalism 

 not unfrequently occur among the Nasquapees in the 

 winter season. Even Pere Arnand, the zealous missionary, 

 states that such is the case. 'On a egalement a. declarer 

 quelques cas d'antropophagie, mais dont les souffrances 

 excessives de la faim avaient ete le seul motif determinant, 



