238 THE LABKADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. xv. 



which the great river Ashwanipi flows towards the 

 Atlantic. Domenique, Bartelemi, and our Nasquapee 

 guide, all told us that the portage which separated the 

 lake before us from the tributary of the Ashwanipi was 

 short and low. It seemed to be a broad valley between 

 two rounded hills, apparently on the same level as the one 

 on which we stood. We estimated the distance of the 

 lake on this side of the Dividing Eidge at less than fifteen 

 miles from us in an air line, and deeply did we regret 

 that the low stage of water in the river prevented us 

 from reaching it. Had we been a fortnight earlier, it 

 would have been possible to pass with half loads, if our 

 canoe did not draw more than six inches of water. The 

 old Montagnais path over the portages was quite as 

 clearly marked here as on the Great Portage. The re- 

 mains of .their camp grounds until we entered the burnt 

 country were also numerous ; and it is worth observing, 

 that even where the moss on either side had been 

 destroyed by fire on sandy ground, the old well-beaten 

 path was plainly visible. 



This is one of the winter hunting-grounds of the tribe 



i_^ t_j 



of Montagnais of which Domenique is Chief. JSTo doubt 

 before the fire occurred, three years ago, caribou moss 

 was very abundant and the deer sufficiently numerous to 

 sustain a few families. How utterly desolate I thought 

 the whole Ashwanipi valley must be if Domenique pre- 

 ferred living last winter on the shores of the lake before 

 us, with such a wide expanse to the north-east and north 

 to choose from ! 



He himself killed in this neighbourhood thirty caribou ; 

 and yesterday Michel pointed triumphantly to the last 



