320 Mr W. E. Cormack's Jmirney in Search of 



been rinded ; these people using the inner part of the bark of 

 that kind of tree for food. Some of the cuts in the trees with 

 the axe, were evidently made the preceding year. Besides, 

 these we were elated by other encouraging signs. The traces 

 left by the Red Indians are so peculiar, that we were confident 

 those we saw here were made by them. 



This spot has been a favourite place of settlement with these 

 people. It is situated at the commencement of a portage, which 

 forms a communication by a path between the sea-coast at Bad- 

 ger Bay, about eight miles to the north-east, and a chain of lakes 

 extending westerly and southerly from hence, and discharging 

 themselves by a rivulet into the River Exploits, about thirty 

 miles from its mouth. A path also leads from this place to the 

 lakes, near New Bay, to the eastward. Here are the remains of 

 one of their villages, where the vestiges of eight or ten winter 

 mamateehs or wigwams, each intended to contain from six to 

 eighteen or twenty people, are distinctly seen close together. 

 Besides these, there are the remains of a number of summer 

 wigwams. Every winter wigwam has close by it a small square- 

 mouthed or oblong pit, dug into the earth, about four feet deep, 

 to preserve their stores, &c. in. Some of these pits were lined 

 with birch rind. We discovered also in this village the remains 

 of a vapour-bath. The method used by the Boeothicks to r£use 

 the steam, was by pouring water on large stones made very hot 

 for the purpose, in the open air, by burning a quantity of 

 wood around them ; after this process, the ashes were removed, 

 and a hemispherical frame-work closely covered with skins, to 

 exclude the external air, was fixed over the stones. The patient 

 then crept in under the skins, taking with him a birch-rind- 

 bucket of water, and a small bark-dish to dip it out, which, by 

 pouring on the stones, enabled him to raise the steam at pleasure*. 



• Since my return, I learn from the captive Red Indian woman Shawnaw- 

 (Uthit, that the vapour-bath is chiefly used by old people, and for rheumatic 

 affections. 



Shawnawdithit is the survivor of three Red Indian females, who were ta- 

 ken by, or rather who gave themselves up, exhausted with hunger, to some 

 English furriers, about five years ago, in Notre Dame Bay. She is the only 

 one of that tribe in the hands of the English, and the only one that has ever 

 lived so long among them. It appears extraordinary, and it is to be regret- 

 ted, that this woman has not been taken care of, nor noticed before, in a man- 

 ner which the peculiar and interesting circumstances connected with her 

 tribe and herself would have led us to expect. 



