Toronto to Collingwood. 137 



with dark and tranquil waters, and grand old hills, with 

 silence and solitude, whose supposed spirit is feared and 

 venerated by the red men, and whose matted feathers ac- 

 complish so much good in keeping warm the hunters of the 

 north. Here also are to be found plenty of deer ; these are 

 during the summer months killed when they come into the 

 water at night to cool themselves, or to get away from the 

 flies. You cannot see the deer itself probably, but you will 

 see the light reflected on his eyes, like two balls of fire, as 

 he stands gazing stupefied at the torch, when a well directed 

 shot seldom fails to secure the prize. The deer range 

 through the pine woods at night for the purpose of feeding, 

 remaining hidden in the swamps during the day. They are 

 more tame in summer than in winter, and are fond of feed- 

 ing upon the young green corn in the clearings. 



In the early part of the spring, generally speaking, about 

 April, large quantities of maple sugar are manufactured in 

 this part of Canada ; and the whole sugar making season is 

 one of festivity. The sudden transition from winter to 

 spring is essential to its production, as the sap is then pass- 

 ing in large quantities from the roots. An incision is made 

 into the tree some three feet from the ground, and the liquid 

 that oozes out is received in a trough or vessel below. When 

 a frosty night is followed by a sunny day, three or four 

 gallons a day may be obtained from a single maple. The 

 Indians around Lake Couchiching make large quantities of 

 this sugar, and from the very nature of the business, the 

 making of it is carried on in an encampment where the 

 trees are plentiful. The hunting season is at an end, so 

 that the men are there as numerous as the squaws. Huge 

 fires are built in all directions, and over them are suspended 

 every variety of pot, pan and kettle. The men lounge about, 

 the main part of the work being performed by the females, 

 who not only attend to the kettles, but employ all their 

 leisure time in making the beautiful birchen mocucks or 



