182 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
in the form of dried meat and fat, and when con- 
verted by mixture into pemmican, furnish the 
principal support of the voyagers, in their pas- 
sages to and from the depdts in the summer. A 
considerable quantity of it is also kept for winter 
use, at most of the fur-posts, as the least bulky 
article that can be taken. on a winter journey. 
The mode of making pemmican is very simple; 
the meat is dried by the Indians in the sun, oF 
over a fire, and pounded by beating it with 
Stones when spread on a skin. In this state it 
is brought to the forts, where the admixture of 
hair is partially sifted out, and a third part of 
melted fat incorporated with it, partly by turn 
ing them over with a wooden shovel, partly by 
kneading them together with the hands. The 
-pemmican is now firmly pressed into leathern 
* 
bags, each capable of containing eighty-five 
pounds, and being placed in an airy place 0 
cool; is fit for use. It keeps «in. this state, if 
not allowed to get wet, very well for one yeal: 
and with great care it may be preserved good 
for two. Between three and four hundred bags 
were made here by each of the Companies this 
year. 
There were eight men, besides Mr. Prudens | 
and his clerk, belonging to Carlton House. At 
La Hane there were Seventy Canadians and 
