30 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



great confidence in the skill of our Iroquois men at 

 navigating rapids, and now in the succeeding eighty 

 miles of the trip there would be ample opportunity of 

 testing it. 



On the morning following our arrival at the Grand 

 Rapid, being the 4th of June, a number of mission 

 scows, loaded with goods for Chippewyan and other 

 mission stations, arrived. As they appeared, following 

 each other in quick succession around a bend in the 

 river, each boat manned by its wild-looking crew of 

 half -naked Indians, all under the command of Schott. 

 the big well-known river pilot, who is credited by Mr. 

 Ogilvie with being the fastest dancer he has ever seen, 

 they drew in towards the east bank, and one after the 

 other made fast to the shore. The boats were at once 

 boarded by Inspector Howard and his men, and a care- 

 ful search made for any illegal consignments of " fire- 

 water." Liquor in limited quantities is allowed to be 

 taken into the country when accompanied by an official 

 permit from the Lieut. -Governor of the Territories, but 

 without this it is at once confiscated when found. Out 

 of deference to those for w r hom these cargoes were con- 

 signed, I had better not say whether a discovery was 

 made on this occasion or not. When confiscations are 

 made, however, the find is, of course, always destroyed. 

 The news of the arrival of the scows was welcomed by 

 us, not because of anything they brought with them, 

 but because we expected to obtain directions from 

 Schott regarding the running of the many rapids in the 

 river ahead, and the transport of the bulk of our canoe 

 loads to Fort Me Murray, below the rapids. After some 

 consideration, rather less than most Indians require to 



