SOURCE OP ST. PETER S RIVER. 143 



our party and our mode of travelling, this was sufficiently 

 expeditious, as we were detained three days by rainy 

 weather, &c. Instead of an experienced crew, one-half 

 of them had never been in a bark canoe before; and 

 the time necessarily consumed by the gentlemen of the 

 party in making observations, delayed the canoes a con- 

 siderable while. On reaching the termination of our voy- 

 age in canoes, we could not help feeling some interest in 

 the fate of our Engages, for although their irregular ha- 

 bits, and their wild pursuits, render them at times disa- 

 greeable companions, yet their independant disposition, 

 their endurance of all hardships and fatigues with the 

 greatest equanimity, and their light and buoyant spirits, 

 excited our astonishment, and won our admiration. Lead- 

 ing a laborious and hazardous life, in a country destitute 

 of game, they generally subsist upon maize boiled with 

 fat. The maize is first cleared of its husk and then boiled 

 in water. One quart of prepared grain, and two ounces of 

 melted suet, form the usual ration of an Engage, unless 

 pemmican can be procured. We were likewise obliged to 

 live for a long while upon this unpalatable food ; the only 

 variety we had was a sort of hasty pudding, made with 

 meal and bufialo grease, and seasoned with service berry. 

 We have not dwelt much upon the details of a canoe life, 

 although they are extremely interesting to those who share 

 in them for a short time, because this subject has been ably 

 handled by other travellers, and by none better than by 

 Sir Alexander Mackenzie, whose account of the fur trade 

 presents a lively and correct delineation of this mode of 

 travelling. On reference to that work, it will be observed 

 that we followed from Lake Winnepeek to Lake de la 

 Croix, the same course which he had travelled. At this 

 place we had the option of continuing by the course which 



