50 THE LABRADOE PENINSULA. CHAP. iv. 



and then lay down on the snow behind some bushes, 

 and watched for the carcajou. I watched half a day. 

 Towards evening, just as I was thinking of going back to 

 my lodge, I saw him coming along the line. He stole up 

 to the trap, smelt it, and put in his paw ; the fall came 

 down, but he pulled out the bait just as if nothing had 

 happened. I shot him. as he was eating it. It's difficult 

 to make a cache which will keep the carcajou out; 

 they are very powerful, and will break open almost 

 any house. The best way is to tie your pack at the 

 end of the branches of a tree, about twenty feet from 

 the ground; but that is sometimes very difficult, and if 

 the pack is not high enough, the carcajou will jump on 

 it and bring it to the ground. They are cunning creatures.' 



As an illustration of the ingenuity of Indians in 

 preserving their packs of fur or provisions during the 

 winter months where the wolverine abounds, Mr. Ander- 

 son, chief factor of Mingan, told me that when he was in 

 charge of the Post of Neepigon, north of Lake Superior, an 

 Indian came to him to get some provision, but did not 

 bring his furs. 



' Where did you leave your furs ? ' he enquired. 



' Made a cache of them,' said the Indian. 



' But, man, the carcajou will get them; there are plenty 

 in your hunting-grounds,' replied Mr. Anderson. 



' No, no ; no fear, I '11 frighten the carcajou, I think, if 

 he tries to get my pack.' 



' How did you make the cache ? ' 



' I wrapped the furs in birch-bark, and tied the bundle 

 at the end of a large branch twice as high as myself from 

 the ground.' 



