428 NOTES OF AN EGGING EXPEDITION TO SHOAL LAKE. 



for liuikliHiX purposes. On the right the forest extends to Lake "Winnipeg, noai 

 vrhich pine and tamarack abound, wliicli, at some future period, ^vill be used for 

 buildiu"' materials in this region. About 5 o'clock we amved at the ridge; 

 unyoking our cattle we gave them some time to drink and feed. In a verj 

 sliort time two or three lires were blazing and several of our party were run^ 

 ning with their tin kettles to bring water, which was soon converted into tea ; 

 after which we sat down in groups to enjoy this evening meal without tlie luxury 

 of plates, knives, or forks, &c. ; some, for the former, using a few poplar leaves; 

 others a bunch of green grass ; and for knives and forks their teeth and lingers. 

 After eating, pipes were called into operation, and after smoking, stretching, and 

 rolling, we, by mutual consent, harnessed our cattle and left this delightful jdace. 

 This ridge runs parallel with the other, and is composed of similar materials — 

 abrupt on the southeast side, but, once on the summit, the declivity towards Shoal 

 lake is imperceptible. A short time before sunset we sighted and were soon 

 after travelling along this irregular sheet of water, neither fresh nor salt, but 

 containing enough of the latter ingredient to render its water very bitter and 

 unpalatable. As we passed along the lalie, I observed a stone pillar, or cairn, 

 formed of small granite boulders thrown loosely together, and on incpiiry of my 

 companions from the lake "What mean ye by these stones?" I was informed 

 here, in 1843. in passing from Red river to Manitowaba to establisli a mission 

 among the natives, the llev. Abraham Cowley and party passed their lirst Sab- 

 bath in the wilderness, and that these stones were set up to commemorate the 

 sermon preached on the occasion. We continued our journey some time after 

 sunset, and finally encamped for the night where we had plent}' of Vtood and 

 good water. On the morning of the 12th we left camp about sunrise, continuing 

 our journev along the lake, intending to 23ass round to the north of that part of 

 it along which we were travelling, then turn to the south through the point oppo- 

 site where we were, and at a distance of five or six miles from us, to a rather 

 deep bay in that point, it being the only place where we found the grebes in any 

 considerable number when I was there in 1865. That year we encamped on a 

 point running into the lake from the south and at some distance to the west of 

 the narrows. We had to find our way to the breeding places, whicli consumed 

 some time, and proved inconvenient on account of its distance from where cir- 

 cumstances compelled us to stop with our carts and oxen. Moreover, on account 

 of a great storm of south wind that sprang up and continued for 48 hours, we 

 were prevented returning to camp with the products of oiu- hunt until both birds 

 and eggs were beginning to spoil, and adding considerably to the distance in 

 going to Manitowaba lake. To avoid these inconveniences I intended, as stated 

 above, to follow the west side of the lake, turn round the north end of that bay, or 

 arm of it, and then proceed south to the bay where Ave formerly made our hunt. 

 On inquiring of om Indian companion as to the kind of soil to be travelled over in 

 going into the point, he represented it as full of quagmires, and altogether unfit 

 to bear oxen and carts. This tale, which in a few daj's after we found to be 

 untrue, and only showing the Indian jealousy of intruders on their hunting 

 grounds, made us stop on the west side, whence we had to go six or seven miles 

 to hunt. 



In the lirst part of the day we secured some eggs and birds — among others a 

 pelican. I remained in camp to clean the eggs and skin the l)irds. The ])elican 

 was a female : she contained four eggs of a large size, with some smaller ones. 

 None of them had any shell, and I am inclined to think that the flock of which 

 she formed a part was on its way north to some breeding place, probably Lake 

 Winnipeg. They have for some years forsaken this place, being continually dis- 

 turbed by egg hunters. After gamming our canoe, my men (an Indian and my 

 youngest son, wlio accompanied me in 1865) set off lor Grebe bay. Late in the 

 evening the wind blew strongly from the southwest, bringing torrents of rain 

 on its wings, against which my only defence was an ox-hide. The rain, with 



