CANADA. 



345 



roads. The*e winter tracts they mark out br fixing 

 in the snow small fir trees at short and regular dis- 

 tiinfes, which retaining' their verdure till the spring, 

 appear like walks crossing the country in various di- 

 rections, and have a very curious and striking effect. 

 They generally prefer the bed of a river for this pur- 

 pose, as there is commonly less snow, and less inequa- 

 lity of surface in that direction ; and the principal 

 road between Quebec and Montreal is the frozen chan- 

 nel of the St Lawrence. The river is seldom frozen 

 opposite to Quebec, where the current, being great- 

 ly increased by the narrowing of the channel, keeps 

 the masses of floating ice in constant motion ; but 

 sometimes, perhaps once in the space of every ten 

 years, when there happens to be a concurrence of fa- 

 vourable circumstances, such as a collection of float- 

 ing ice, calm weather, neap tides, and severe frost, 

 the St Lawrence is completely frozen at the place 

 above mentioned ; and, as the ice then serves the pur- 

 pose of a bridge to the inhabitants, it is called by 

 them a pont. Such a circumstance is viewed as a 

 kind of jubilee, and is celebrated with every token of 

 rejoicing. The solid surface of the river is then co- 

 vered with booths for the entertainment and amuse- 

 ment of the vast multitudes, who crowd upon the ice, 

 on their skaits and carioles. But the inhabitants of 

 the Canadian metropolis have much more solid 

 grounds, than merely a love of amusement, for the 

 joyful welcome, which they give to the formation of 

 a pont ; as it greatly facilitates the conveyance of 

 firewood, provisions, &c. to the town ; and as these 

 necessary articles never fail, upon the occurrence of 

 such an event, to be brought in great abundance, and 

 to be very much reduced in price When the river 

 is not frozen, these and other necessaries are chiefly 

 conveyed in canoes, which are formed of one solid 

 piece of wood, generally the trunk of a large tree, 

 hollowed properly in the inside, and formed outward- 

 ly into the shape of a boat. The navigation of these 

 vessels, however, at that season of the year, is exceed- 

 ingly hazardous, and requires a dexterity of manage- 

 ment and coolness of mind, which are very remark- 

 ably displayed by the Canadians. For the time of 

 their excursion, they choose the period of high water, 

 when the masses of ice are nearly stationary ; pro- 

 vide themselves with ropes, boat hooks, and paddles ; 

 and launch the canoe into the water, when they per- 

 ceive an opening amidst the moving sheets. When 

 they encounter one of these in their progress, they 

 instantly jump out upon it, pull the canoe after them, 

 push it across the ice, launch it on the other side, and 

 paddle along till they meet with a similar obstruction, 

 which they surmount in the same manner, and so on 

 till they cross the river. 



The severity of winter in this country is attended 

 with various advantages, especially to the inhabitants 

 of the towns. As the lakes and rivers are then frozen, 

 the conveyance of many articles is thus greatly facili- 

 tated ; and as the people in the country have no other 

 occupation, to which they can apply, they employ 

 themselves in carrying to town all kinds of provisions. 

 The markets are thus supplied from a great extent 

 of country ; fish, for instance, is brought from the 

 United States from a distance of 420 miles; and every 

 article of subsistence is both more plentiful and also 



VOL. V. PART I. 



much cheaper than during summer. By the aid of 

 winter, also, all kinds of animal food are preferred 

 for the use of the colony, without much trouble or 

 ex pence. As soon as the frost has become suffi- 

 ciently intense, the cattle, sheep, poultry, Sec. before 

 they have lost any of the flesh and fat, which they 

 have acquired by summer feeding, are killed, and ex- 

 posed for a short time to the frost ; upon which they 

 become as hard as ice, and, after being packed in 

 casks with snow, will continue, without any other 

 preparation, perfectly sound and good for the space 

 of four or five months. When meat, in this state, is 

 about to be used, it is thawed in cold water ; and 

 would be rendered putrid in an instant, by any warm 

 application. In this way, considerable quantities of 

 fresh fish, especially of what the Canadians call petite 

 morue, and the English tommy cod, are preserved for 

 the market. They are caught by the country peo- 

 ple, during the stagnation of their usual work, by 

 nets or lines, let down through openings made in the 

 ice. Sometimes huts of boards, or even of ice, are con- 

 structed over these openings, with a stove within to 

 keep the fishers warm ; a strong light is then placed 

 near the mouth of the opening, by which the fish are 

 attracted to the surface, and are taken as fast as they 

 can be pulled out of the water. They are quickly 

 frozen by a few minutes exposure to the air ; are thus 

 sufficiently preserved without any salting or drying ; 

 and, upon being thawed in cold water, are found to 

 be thoroughly fresh and wholesome. Fuel, however, 

 is both a scarce and expensive article in Canada, and 

 counterbalances the abundance and cheapness of pro- 

 visions in the winter season. Firewood is generally 

 provided during summer, and is brought to Quebec 

 and Montreal in immense rafts upon the river St 

 Lawrence ; in winter, it is frequently carried on 

 sledges. In proportion as the grounds are cleared, 

 the distance of carriage is increased, and the price, of 

 consequence, augmented. No coal has yet been dis T 

 covered in the country, though it is supposed to exist 

 in the neighbourhood of Quebec ; but it abounds in 

 Cape Breton, from which it would be easy for Cana- 

 da to be supplied. Indeed there is plenty of English 

 coal at Quebec, even at a cheaper rate than in Lon- 

 don, which is frequently brought out as ballast in 

 British vessels ; but is in no great demand in Canada, 

 because the natives dislike its smell, and prefer wood 

 for their stoves, as long as it can possibly be pro- 

 cured. 



During the severity of a Canadian winter, especial- 

 ly when a sharp wind prevails, instances frequently 

 occur of those parts of the body which are most ex- 

 posed to the air, being frost-bitten ; when a mortifi- 

 cation immediately ensues, unless a remedy be in- 

 stantly applied, by rubbing the affected place with 

 snow. The hazard arises chiefly from this circum- 

 stance, that the feelings of the sufferer do not ac- 

 quaint him with his own calamity ; and that the ef- 

 fect is known only by the appearance of the injured 

 spot, which acquires a white colour, while the sur- 

 rounding parts continue red. In the event of such 

 a spot being perceived, humanity dispenses with cere- 

 mony ; and uo one hesitates to apply a handful of 

 snow to the cheek or nose of a perfect stranger, 

 whom the frost has attacked. Sentinels, and persons 



