104 Inasmuch 



verted at night; they lie two and two together, 

 and the smallest men occupy the places under the 

 bow and the stern. In general they sleep be 

 neath the canopy of heaven. Each man has one 

 blanket. The canoe is examined by experienced 

 hands, while some day-light remains, to ascertain 

 whether any rents have been made in the bark by 

 scraping against the rocks in passing through 

 rapids, or otherwise; and the gum which is over 

 the seams is spread, as required, by the applica 

 tion of burning brands. If there has been reason 

 to apprehend more serious injury, some fuller 

 opportunity of day-light is taken, and recourse is 

 had to the keg of resinous gum which is always 

 carried in the canoe, and, perhaps, to spare pieces 

 of bark, of which a supply is also taken. 

 Vast sou- &quot;The longest space of time which we passed 



without seeing a single human being, was five 

 days and a half. This was after we left the moun 

 tain portage at the Kakabeka Falls, where there 

 was a small encampment of Indians, and passed 

 up the Kamenistiquoia into the chain of streams 

 and lakes beyond, before reaching the Rainy 

 Lake. We fell in with straggling Indians, gen 

 erally at wide intervals, all the length of the route ; 

 sometimes in their little canoes, sometimes so 

 journing in a solitary tent of bark, or in little 

 parties which occupied two or three such habita 

 tions. They almost always come alongside of 

 us to barter fresh or dried fish, generally sturgeon, 

 of a very large size, for tobacco, pemmican, or 

 fragments of biscuits. They were all Sauteux, 



