356 The Natural History 



fectly well, the principle Guide they have to instruct them, 

 being altogether Natural, which is a short Moss that grows 

 on some Trees exactly on the North side thereof. 



They have likewise JSTames for eight of the thirty two 

 Points, and call the Winds by their several Xames as we 

 do, but indeed more properly; for the NortliAYest Wind 

 they call the cold Wind, the North-East, the wet Wind, the 

 South, the warm Wind, and so agreeably of the rest, accord- 

 ing to what Weather is produced by each of them. 



It frequently happens that they have large Rivers or 

 Lakes to pass over, and if the Weather be so foggy, as it 

 sometimes happens, especially in the Spring and fall of the 

 Leaf, that they cannot see what Course to steer, in this case 

 they being on one side of the River or Lake, they know what 

 course such a Place (which they intend for) bears from 

 them : Their Method in such cases is this, they get a gTeat 

 many Sticks and Chunks of Wood in their Canoe, and set 

 off directly for their intended Port, and as they proceed, 

 they keep throwing over Board a piece of Wood, which di- 

 rects them; for by seeing how the Stick bears from the 

 Sterne of the Canoe, they observe to keep right aft; this is 

 their Compass, by which they will go over a Water of ten 

 or twenty Leagues abroad. 



They know the Head of any River, though ^ve, six, or 

 seven hundred Miles off, although they were never there 

 before, as is often proved by their appointing to meet on the 

 Head of such or such a River, where perhaps not one of 

 them ever had been, yet they shall rendezvous there exactly 

 at the time prefixed. If they meet with any Obstructions 

 in their Journey, they leave certain Marks in the way, that 

 those who come after them will understand how many have 

 passed before them, and which way they are gone. It is not 



to 



