116 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



the thick forest, which ran out to a point in the 

 angle formed between the lake shore and the 

 southern bank of the river. 



We subsequently found that we had selected 

 a spot for our camp which had been a favourite 

 resort of Indian hunters, possibly for genera- 

 tions, as we found steps cut in the trunk of one 

 of three large pine trees, which grew slanting 

 towards the lake at an angle of twenty-five or 

 thirty degrees. These steps had all the appear- 

 ance of great age, and the tree in the stem of 

 which they had been cut had evidently been 

 used as a look-out post from which to watch 

 for deer. We found that it commanded an 

 excellent view for a long distance along the 

 shores of the lake, and also up the valley of 

 the river. 



We also foimd the wigwam of spruce poles 

 covered with birch bark in which the last party 

 of Indian hunters had lived, some two or three 

 years before the date of our visit. These Indian 

 hunters were, I believe, principally engaged in 

 trapping beavers, and only occasionally shot 

 caribou for the sake of the meat, and Saunders 



