CROSS THE GRANDE RIVJERE A JEAN. 93 



and, as he was unprovided with inexpressibles, 

 the effect was extremely comical. It is curi- 

 ous, by the way, to observe that the notion 

 of testifying respect by appearing in full dress, 

 if in this case the term can be properly applied, 

 is not confined to drawing-rooms and courts. 



Hemmed in by willows on either side, we 

 occasionally got a glimpse of the lake through 

 various little creeks and openings, and shortly 

 crossed the Grande Riviere a Jean, to enter the 

 Petite Riviere a Jean, where the stream was in our 

 favour. Its course was uncommonly tortuous, the 

 banks being bordered by low land, covered with 

 pine, poplar, and willow. The sharp sight of 

 the Indians had detected a moose some distance 

 ahead of us, and La Prise, being expert at ap- 

 proaching those quick eared animals, went in 

 pursuit. Meanwhile we dropped silently down 

 the stream along the opposite side, until a place 

 was found dry enough for encamping. The 

 night was clear and bright ; and the men were 

 earnestly watching the boiling of a kettle of 

 meat, when they were startled by a long shrill 

 whoop, which Louison the interpreter imme- 

 diately answered, announcing, at the same time, 

 that it was the small canoe, and that La Prise 

 had killed his game. The splash of paddles was 

 now heard in the distance ; and in a few minutes 

 the canoe, with its many inmates, glided against 



