CHAP. XXI. INDIAN HUNTERS. 25 



and forwards, round the edges of the pond, to discover where 

 they have hid themselves under the hollow banks, taking es- 

 pecial care not to go near the house until they can find them 

 no longer anywhere else. They then approach it very cau- 

 tiously, replace the stakes with the utmost expedition, throw 

 the covering off the hole, and kill them with spears made for 

 the purpose. When they have a canoe, they will drive the pond 

 in the manner already described without disturbing the house ; 

 and when they suppose the beavers are all in, they place a 

 strong net round it ; then, making an opening, they kill them 

 as they strike out of the house. They will also place a net 

 across a contraction in the pond where there happens to be one, 

 and kill them there in the course of driving. But as it is 

 seldom that the whole crew or family are killed by these means, 

 hermit beavers are always observed to be most numerous in 

 those parts of the country which are frequented by Indians. 

 The mountaineers are also very dexterous in imitating the 

 call of every bird and beast, by which they decoy them close to 

 their lurking-places. And as the destruction of animals is their 

 whole study, there is not one whose nature and haunts they are 

 not perfectly well acquainted with, insomuch that one man will 

 maintain himself, a wife, and five or six children in greater 

 plenty, and with a more regular supply, than any European 

 could support himself singly, although he were a better shot. 

 As these people never stay long in a place, consequently they 

 never build houses, but live the year round in miserable wig- 

 wams, the coverings of which are deer-skins and birch -rinds. 

 They profess the Romish religion, but know no more of it than 

 merely to repeat a prayer or two, count their beads, and see a 

 priest whenever they go to Quebec. 



The Jesuit missions of tlie Saugenay and the King's 

 Posts commenced in 1816. The first mission of Tadousac 

 for the conversion of the Montagnais was under the Pere 

 Dolbeau, and he continued until 1629, when Quebec was 

 taken by the English. In 1661 the Peres Gabriel Dreu- 

 illet and Claude Dablon undertook to ascend the Saugenay 



