90 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
that Civilization and Religion have not improved their Characters; the 
Vicinity of a large Town may account for this. Our object in visiting 
La Chine was to see the Canoes start on their Voyage; they were 6 in 
number and were destined to the Timmiskamain Post. The Canoe is 
about 35 feet in Length and 6 in Breadth at midships. They are made 
of Birch Tree Bark not + of an Inch in Thickness. The Bark is lined 
with small splints of Cedar Wood and the Vessel is further strengthened 
with Ribs of the same Wood of which the two Ends are fastened to the 
Gunwales. Several Bars of the same Wood, not Seats, are laid across 
the Canoe from Gunwale to Gunwale. The small Roots of the Spruce — 
Tree afford the wattape with which the Bark is sewed and the Gum of 
the Pine Tree supplies the Place of Tar and Oakum. The Canoes are 
worked with Paddles and the Complement of men is 9. We witnessed 
the whole Process of Loading one of the Canoes. The first Part of the 
Loading is to place 4 Poles or long Sticks at the bottom of the Canoe 
which run the whole Length. These support the whole weight and 
prevent the Bottom being injured. The Pieces or Packs which weigh 
about 90 Ibs. each are then placed in the Canoe and with wonderful 
precision, each Piece seeming to fit. The most weighty Goods are put 
at the Bottom, the Provisions, Cooking Utensils, Liquor, &e., are like- 
wise put in; at the Bow is placed a large Roll of Bark in case of Accident, 
with a supply of Wattape, Gum, &c. A Canoe takes 60 Pieces and this 
with the Weight of Provisions, &c., bring the Gross weight to about 44 
Tons, an immense freight when this frail Conveyance is considered. 
When loaded you wonder where the Men are to sit but at the Word of 
Command they at once place themselves, the Guide at the Bow, the 
Steersman at the Stern; then the Canoe sinks into the water and the 
space between the Water and the Gunwale is not + a Foot. In this frail 
Bark they go for thousands of Miles seldom meeting with serious Acci- 
dents. Mr. McGillivray assured me that during the whole Time he was 
engaged in the Fur Trade $ per cent would pay every Loss. 
Friday the 8th [June]. Dined with Mr. Mackenzie. 
Saturday the 9th [June]. With Mr. Armitringer, very agreeable 
Party and most excellent Dinner. A Mr. Leslie dined there to whom 
the Island of Anticosti in Part belongs. It is at the mouth of the St. 
Lawrence, is 120 miles long and 30 broad. It is full of Rocks covered 
with Woods and has no Harbor. 
Sunday the 10th [June]. Whitsunday. Received the Sacrament 
in the Church of St. Paul’s. The Rev. Mr. Bethune officiating. A 
singular Incident occurred to me. Mr. Henry, an old Gentleman of 85, 
the first Englishman who went in to the Interior of the Hudson’s Bay 
Territory was next to me on my Right. He went first in the year 1760 

