CHAP. vi. INDIAN SALMON-SPEAKING. gg 



salmon-spearing in the wilds of Eastern Canada far sur- 

 passes them all in excitement and skill. It unfolds the 

 real character of the Indian in its most striking pecu- 

 liarities. It displays untutored man in the full strength 

 of his natural gifts, expresses his capabilities for intense 

 enjoyment, and shows how he may be roused to exert, 

 for hours together, the utmost activity of body and the 

 greatest presence of mind. 



See how gently they step into their canoe, in the gloom 

 of the evening just passing into night. They whisper 

 one to another, although there is no fear of the sound 

 of their voices disturbing the prey of which they are in 

 search. Watch the one in the bow, trying the flexible 

 clasping tines of his ' negog,' or salmon spear, springing 

 them backwards to see if they have lost their elasticity, or 

 if they can be trusted to hold a powerful fish in their 

 grasp. 



Now he strengthens the long and slender shaft, and 

 lays it tenderly under the bars of the canoe within reach 

 of his hand. He next examines the rolls of birch-bark 

 which he will use for torches, and fastens to the bow of 

 his canoe a cleft stick, in which he will insert one ex- 

 tremity of the flaming roll. Turning round, he asks his 

 companion if he has ' fire ; ' receives a low grunt a 

 reply which is followed by a subdued howh ! howh ! They 

 grasp their paddles, and away the canoe glides, with 

 a looker-on seated in the middle, towards the foot of 

 the rapids near a well-known shallow, or close to the 

 tumbling waters of the cataract where the fish are wont 

 to He. 



The torch is lit, and the spearman, relinquishing his 



H 2 



