278 THE LABRADOK PENINSULA. CHAP. xvn. 



' bone.' The thong is weighted with a piece of lead close 

 to the tail, the last bone slipping over it. The players 

 agree upon the stakes, which are placed before them in the 

 lodge, and one of them takes the bones and begins to play. 

 His object is to catch as many as he can on the needle or 

 skewer in a certain number of trials ; the last bone, if 

 caught singly in one of the holes drilled into it, counts 

 the highest ; if the tail is caught, it also counts next to 

 the last bone. 



The other bones count one each, and a skillful player 

 will sometimes catch eight or ten at one throw. 



One morning everyone of the party, with the exception 

 of the Indians, complained of restlessness during the night. 

 This appeared the more strange, as we had all undergone 

 unusual fatigue during the preceding day, and were glad to 

 retire to our tents at an early hour. I have no doubt the 

 inability to sleep arose from drinking too much tea. I 

 was fearful lest the men should be overcome by thirst, 

 and be tempted to drink ice-cold water while the blood 

 was in a very heated state, and with a view to prevent 

 this, I sent the cook forward to the end of the Top of the 

 Eidge Portage to make a large supply of tea. We were all 

 very thirsty, and drank copious draughts of this most re- 

 freshing beverage, besides tea at breakfast, dinner, and 

 supper ; -the consequence was that none of us could sleep 

 for several hours. 



Notwithstanding the precaution I had taken, three of 

 the men drank ice water on the portage, and during the 

 night were seized with vomiting and severe pains. It re- 

 quired several doses of ginger in hot tea to restore them. 



On the morning of this day we arrived at the mouth of 



