92 Land Magnetic Observations, 1911-13 



district, unless the managers happen to have had personal experience elsewhere. Canoes 

 and outfit obtained at a given post are such as are specially suited to the district. River 

 canoes where rapids are frequent are not suited for coast work. River Indians of one place 

 are not suitable for other places where the methods of fishing and game hunting are difTerent, 

 nor for coast work, until they have learned the ways of the country. This seldom causes 

 inconvenience, except possibly in times of great scarcity of food, when it may be disastrous. 

 The method of payment of the Indian varies much with the locality. 



In most places visited, any Indian hired had to be transported at the end of his services 

 back to his home under full pay and rationed, unless he were discharged for very bad 

 conduct, or deserted. The means of transportation had also to be furnished. From Fort 

 Severn onwards along the shores of the Hudson and James bays and up the Albany River 

 at least as far as Martin's Falls, the man's family had to be rationed up to the day of his 

 return. The Indians do not like to engage themselves for veiy long trips where the route is 

 unknown to them, and especially where they pass into the territory of other tribes. There 

 are certain times of the year when they are accustomed to be at the posts to meet the Indian 

 agent or when they make their preparations to go away for the winter hunting ; long trips 

 are apt to interfere with their regular work, and may prevent them altogether from join- 

 ing a hunting-party. There were two tribes of Indians met on the trip, the Ojibways and 

 the Crees. The Ojibways inhabited the region of Lac Seul, Lake St. Joseph, Cat Lake, 

 and connecting streams and the Albany. The Indians of the separate localities performed 

 the duties of their particular locality with skill, but were often unskillful in the work of 

 another even nearby locality. The Cranes, an offshoot from the Ojibways, inhabited the 

 region near Windigo Lake and were rather looked down upon by the Ojibwaj's of Lac Seul. 

 Further along, on the branches of the Severn and at Fort Severn, the Crees are met. Very 

 few of the Indians are full-blooded and in some places there is a very striking local tj^^e, 

 most noticeable perhaps along the coast, due to the nationality of the white element. We 

 never had any trouble with the Indians, finding them always friendly disposed. On the 

 rivers most of them are expert, but some are very much better than others in the rapids. 

 They all take pride in not letting anything happen to a white man in a canoe. Very few 

 care to go on the waters of the bay except in very good weather. Very few of them are 

 good shots. 



Supplies can almost always be obtained at Lac Seul, Osnaburgh House, Attawapiskat, 

 and Fort Albany, and generally at Fort Hope and possibly Martin's Falls. At Fort Severn 

 and Trout (Fawn) Lake and Ghost River, on the Albany, supplies may usually be obtained 

 after the year's supplies have reached the posts, which may not be till late sunmier or early 

 autumn. At the inland posts one can not count on being able to get supplies at all. One 

 can not depend upon a supplj' of fish from the streams, nor upon game. Along the coast 

 there are usually plenty of wild fowl, and in places, as near Cape Henrietta Maria, there are 

 large bands of caribou. Moose are occasionally heard and seen near the streams not too 

 far north. Rabbits are numerous, and in places grouse, partridge, and ptarmigan. The 

 Indians eat rat, owl, and other creatures not usually considered good by a white man. It 

 is safer to take a full .supply of food and not trust to the country. A little extra supply of 

 tea and flour will often come in handy in trading with the Indians for fish and meat or to 

 treat passing Indians and make them disposed to give information or render help. Game 

 and fur laws of the country are strict. 



Parties traversing this region usually obtain letters of credit from either the Hudson's 

 Bay Company or from the French fur company of Revillon Freres. Both companies have 

 posts at various points in the district, some of which are only winter posts. The French 

 company having come into the country more recently, have as yet established posts at only 

 the principal points of the coast and important points of the main rivers. As a rule one 

 pays off the Indians by orders on the companies, but in the more southern portions of the 

 region the Indians are becoming used to payments in money. 



