CHAP. xxm. THE MANITOU RIVER. 41 



water by the Moisie, the St. John, and the Oimamane, or 

 Eomain Eiver ; but the stupendous cataract at its mouth 

 gives it a beauty which the others do not possess. 



The name, Manitou Eiver, is suggestive, but it is pro- 

 bably an abbreviation of Manitousin or Conjuror's Eiver, 

 if the Indian rule be observed of giving new names 

 to places on account of any remarkable event which has 

 happened there. 



Manitou Eiver takes its name from the following 

 incident, which is often described in Montagnais wigwams 

 to eager listeners never weary of repetition. About 200 

 years ago, when the Lower St. Lawrence was first visited 

 by the Jesuits, the Montagnais were at war with the 

 Souriquois or Micmacs of Acadia, who inhabited the south 

 shore of the St. Lawrence and the country now called 

 New Brunswick. A large party of Micmacs had crossed 

 over the estuary of the St. Lawrence at its narrowest 

 point and coasted towards Seven Islands, but, not finding 

 any Montagnais there, they descended during the night- 

 time to the Moisie, and thence to the Manitou Eiver, down 

 which stream a few Montaa;uais bands were accustomed to 

 come from the interior to the coast, to fish for salmon and 

 seals. The Micmacs landed some miles before they reached 

 Manitou Eiver, hid their canoes in the woods, and stole 

 towards the falls of the Manitou, to he in ambush until 

 the Montagnais should descend to the portage or carrying- 

 place round the falls from the interior. Some other Mon- 

 tagnais families were at the same time on their way from 

 the upper waters of the Moisie, where they had been 

 wintering at the same rendezvous, and when witliin a few 

 miles of the Manitou falls they saw the Micmacs' tracks. 



