25 



moving its tail. They have also enormous giants living in the solid 

 rock. They also believe that certain ot the animals understand their 

 language, especially the bear who is a close relation of theirs, and an 

 indian never shoots one without first offering an apology for the act. 

 Great respect is paid to to th* bones and flesh of the bear and 

 beaver, their skulls are always scraped clean, and set up on poles facing 

 the sun. 



Cannibalism is abhorred ; the belief being that anyone indulging in 

 human food immediately becomes crazy and is forced to wander about 

 in a starving state until death affords relief ; on suspicion of such an 

 act the suspected party is killed. Maniacs are tied to stakes and 

 allowed to starve to death ; this is a cruel practice but is thought neces- 

 sary for the safety of the community at large, as no proper restraint can 

 be put upon such da gerous persons. 



All the able-bodied men are employed during the summer in trans- 

 porting the furs down the Rupert river to Hudson Bay, and in bring- 

 ing in the stock of provisions and goods for the next season's trade. Six 

 large canoes, each manaed by six men are required to bring in the out- 

 fit, and every capable male is required for this work, only the very 

 young and old remaining behind. 



On the arrival of our men with the provisions, we left the post 

 June 30th, with a large and small canoe, having secured the services of 

 two old indians who were too feeble to undertake the voyage to the 

 coast with the brigade. Passing up the S. E. bay we soon reached the 

 big narrows and continued up the lake through a string of large islands 

 in its centre, until we reached a point opposite the outlet of the Rupert 

 river, when we crossed to the W. shore taking one sounding of 374 ft. 

 Owing to the large stone employed in this operation and a threatening 

 thunderstorm, we were unfortunately unable to tike more. Passing 

 the Rupert, the work of survey was taken up at the place where Mr. 

 MacOuatt finished, and from v there carried completely round the north 

 end and down the east side to the big narrows, where connection was 

 again made with MacOuatt's work, thus completing the work commenced 

 by Messrs. Richardson and MacOuatt. 



From the results of this work, it is found that Lake Mistassini 

 is a loug and narrow body of water, stretching from north-east to 



