CHAP. xi. POINTING WITH THE LIPS. 173 



lips towards an object on shore. It was an otter ; but 

 the noise made by the other canoes alarmed the animal 

 before we got within gunshot. 



Two kingfishers * were flying from one dead branch to 

 another, but none of us thought it worth while to wake 

 the echoes by firing at such game, although the Indians 

 looked at them as if they thought they would make a 

 capital addition to our smoked bacon. 



The manner in which Indians point with their lips 

 is very peculiar, but it is universal among wood Indians, 

 and it arises no doubt from their hands being em- 

 ployed with the paddle, or from a desire not to make 

 any motion which might disturb the object to which 

 they wish to call attention. Long practice enables them 

 to protrude their lips, so as to give them a very un- 

 pleasant appearance ; even when on shore they frequently 

 point with their lips, if their hands are engaged. 



An Indian steering a canoe has neither of his hands at 

 liberty ; from his position being more elevated, he gene- 

 rally discovers a bird or animal in the water before the 

 bowsman. To avoid alarming the animal he gives a jerk 

 to the canoe, his companion looks at him, and his attention 

 is directed to the object by the steersman pointing with 

 his lips, with a forward and upward motion of the head. 



We crossed the next portage in the rain, and, being 

 thoroughly wet, thought it best to move on. The ascent 

 was only fifty-four feet, and the distance to carry eighteen 

 chains, or about a quarter of a mile. Another lake 

 brought us to another portage, also short, and with a rise 

 of fifty-seven feet, which led us into Ojita-scu-tagan, or 



* Alceclo alcyon. Linn. 



