CHAP. xx. INDIAN SNOW-SHOES. 345 



examine, and a young Montagnais, who spoke French well, 

 and with whom I was walking at the time, told me they 

 had been a present of a favourite wife to her husband. 

 The front part of the snow-shoes was made of beaver 

 netting that is to say, of network made from the skin of 

 the beaver cut into small thongs ; the second compartment 

 was of caribou sinew ; the third of otter skin. The side 

 or framework of the shoes was ornamented with caribou 

 sinew tassels and small bunches of caribou hair. A 

 present of a pair of snow-shoes is not unfrequently made 

 by a mistress to her lover. Near those I had been 

 admiring were two other pair, but much smaller, and 

 evidently intended for rough work, as they were made 

 of caribou sinew. These belonged to two little children 

 between seven and nine years old, who trudge merrily 

 over the snow in winter, when camp is being moved, or 

 when they go to gather wood, or look after the marten 

 traps, which they are early taught to make. 



Otelne and Arkaske and one or two others joined us, 

 and we all went together to the store of a trader to turn 

 over his things. I saw a twenty-eight pound weight 

 lying on the counter, and, being desirous of testing the 

 strength of the Indians, I asked them to hold it out at 

 arm's length. None of them Avould begin. I therefore set 

 the example myself, and held the weight at arm's length 

 for a few seconds. Otelne then tried, but he could not 

 even bring it up to a level with his eye. Arkaske's turn 

 came next, but he, like Otelne, failed to lift the weight. 

 Two or three Montagnais next tried their strength, but 

 none of them succeeded in raising the weight until the 

 outstretched arm became horizontal. I next caught hold 



