igoo] SovvTER — Archeology of Lake DEscHfiNEs. 231 



Apart from the foregoing', it is not unlikely that when the 

 primeval forest stretched in unbroken continuity between the 

 waters of the Ottawa and the Gatineau, many a red inhabitant of 

 the river front, in times of trouble, found an asykim on some of 

 these streams and saved his hair from the covetous hands of 

 unwelcome visitors, by availing- himself of the strateg^ic advantages 

 of these intricate waterways in a practical application of the old 

 Indian proverb that "water leaves no trail. 



Although much important work ha-; been accomplished in con- 

 nection with the beach workshops already alluded to, there still 

 remains a large amount of useful information to be derived from a 

 careful examination of Indian burial places, at various points 

 along the lake. One of these is said to be situated near Blueberry 

 Point, a short distance above Bell's Bay ; another may be found 

 on what are known as the Sand Hills, between Bucham's and 

 Constance Bays, on the Ontario side of the lake, near the mouth 

 of Constance Creek ; while a third is situated near the foot of the 

 old Indian portage on Conroy's Island at the Chat's Falls. 



A most important burial place, however, and the only one I 

 have so tar examined, is that of the Lighthouse Island above 

 Aylmer and opposite the Queen's Park at Pointe aux Pins. At 

 this place I have assisted at the exhumation of several skeletons, 

 which has given me a fairly accurate insight into the mode of 

 sepulture which obtained among the aboriginal people of Lake 

 Deschenes. 



This island, which is about an acre in extent, and rises at its 

 highest point to some fifteen feet above the summer level of the 

 lake, is composed of sand, gravel and boulders. It is of glacial 

 origin and was obviously left in its present position by the reces- 

 sion of the vast glacier which at one time occupied this part of the 

 Ottawa valley. Its area was at one time much greater than it is 

 at present, but the upper side is being worn away by the ice 

 shoves every spring and the subsequent high water. 



There is abundant evidence to show that the island has been 

 used as a burial place from very early times down to a period so 

 comparatively recent as to come within the memory of those of the 

 generation that is now passing away. 



It is clearly evident that the interments are all intrusive, a 



