438 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



with this difference, that the arrieros travel by land, the 

 voyageurs by water ; the former by mules and horses, the latter 

 with batteaux and canoes. ***** 



" The dress of these people is generally half-civilized, half- 

 savage. They wear a capot or surcoat, made of a blanket, a 

 striped cotton shirt, cloth trowsers, or leathern leggings, 

 mocassins of deer skin, and a belt of variegated worsted, from 

 which are suspended the knife, tobacco-pouch, and other im- 

 plements. Their language is of the same piebald character, 

 being a French patois, embroidered with Indian and English 

 words and phrases. 



" They are generally of French descent, and inherit much 

 of the gaiety and lightness of heart of their ancestors, being 

 full of anecdote and song, and ever ready for the dance. 

 They inherit, too, a fund of civility and complaisance ; and, 

 instead of that grossness which men in laborious life are apt 

 to indulge towards each other, they are mutually obliging and 

 accommodating; interchanging kind offices, yielding each 

 other assistance and comfort in every emergency, and using 

 the familiar appellations of * cousin' and 'brother,' when 

 there is in fact no relationship. ***** 



" No men are more submissive to their leaders and em- 

 ployers, more capable of enduring hardship, or more good- 

 humored under privations. Never are they so happy as 

 when on long and rough expeditions, toiling up rivers or 

 coasting lakes ; encamping at night on the borders, gossiping 

 round their fires, and bivouacking in the open air. They are 

 dexterous boatmen, vigorous and adroit with the oar and pad- 

 dle, and will row from morning unto night without a murmur. 

 The steersmen often sings an old traditionary French song, 

 with some regular burden in which they all join, keeping time 

 with their oars ; if at any time they flag in spirits and activity. 

 The Canadian waters are vocal with these French chansons, 

 that have been echoed from mouth to mouth, and transmitted 

 from father to son, from the earliest days of the colony ; and 



