84 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. v. 



bark for Dornenique to draw his map on, I asked the 

 cause of the scarcity of game in this country. 



Two reasons were given by the chief : the first being 

 that the Moisie was the old Montagnais path to Ashwanipi 

 and the table land, just as the On-na-ma-ne River which 

 will be described in the sequel was the road to Hamilton 

 Inlet from the coast below Mingan and JSTatisquhan. 

 The deer, and bear, and smaller animals have been killed 

 and frightened off this river and its tributaries. The 

 second reason was that the country towards the dividing 

 ridge was burned. We should have to pass for three 

 days through a bruU, or burnt country, where there was 

 no food for animals. He also said there was much burnt 

 country on the old Montagnais road, in consequence of 

 the fires of the Indians having spread so rapidly through 

 the moss. 



' When your people were numerous,' I said, ' were not 

 the deer plenty ? ' 



' Yes ; plenty.' 



' When did the deer begin to diminish ? ' 



' When the white people bought their skins, and gave 

 us guns and ball to kill them with. Before my people 

 had guns, they could not kill many deer ; it was very 

 hard work to shoot them with arrows, and follow them 

 for miles. My people then only killed for food and 

 for clothing. Since the white man gave us guns, they 

 kill them to sell the skins, and the deer soon pass away.' 



' Are your people ever starved during the winter ? ' 



' Yes ; when they cannot get deer, they must starve.' 



' When deer were plentiful on Ashwanipi, were your 

 people many ? ' 



