PEMMICAN MOSQUITOES. 393 



distances which occur between the hunting-grounds 

 and the forts, and also by the fact that much of the 

 meat is killed in the summer, and could not therefore 

 otherwise be kept sound. Dry meat is the principal 

 component of pemmican. It is pounded fine, 

 almost to powder, often indeed being passed through 

 a sieve to intercept the large fragments, and then 

 placed in a trough where melted fat is poured upon 

 and well mixed with it. The composition is placed in 

 a parchment bag, rammed down, and pressed ; when 

 cool it is like a mass of lead. Fifty-five pounds of 

 the powdered meat mixed with thirty-five of fat make 

 a " piece " of pemmican, which the Canadians 

 facetiously designate "un tam-eau," in allusion to 

 the buffalo, from which a great part is made. 



We remained eight days at Fort Resolution, and 

 were much indebted to Mr. W. M'Miu-ray for his 

 considerate attention to our comfort, which was, not- 

 withstanding, sadly marred by the unfailing attacks of 

 myriads of mosquitoes. Murderous crusades, and 

 innumerable inventions for wholesale slaughter by 

 fire, smoke, water, gunpowder, &c., were of little avail 

 against these pests ; it seemed, as was remarked by 

 one of the seamen, that a thousand insects flocked to 

 the funeral of each one killed, and it was the 

 best way after all to resign oneself to the plague. 



