212 CANADIAN WILDS. 



thousand five hundred percussion caps (they 

 use muzzleloaders). They always take about 20 

 per cent, more caps than are necessary to fire 

 the powder, as they explain, to make up for 

 what they drop. 



The Indians are very partial to loon; but, as 

 a rule, it is the most expensive food they eat. 

 A great number alight on Lake Ka-ke-bon-ga on 

 their way north in the spring. This happens 

 about the time the Indians arrive at the Post 

 to trade their winter catch of furs. 



When a poor unfortunate loon would settle 

 on the lake it was the signal for ten or twenty 

 canoes to put off and shoot or drown him to 

 death. Far more frequently, I fancy, the poor 

 bird expired from want of air than weight of 

 shot. 



To watch these loon hunts from the gallery 

 of our house was picturesque in the extreme, 

 the canoes going, some in one direction as fast 

 as the paddlers could drive them, and then all 

 of a sudden the cry would ascend that the loon 

 had broken water in quite the opposite place 

 from where they were confident he would. Then 

 in a moment, the canoes would be whirled about 

 like tops, and off again in the new direction, 

 possibly to again find they are at fault. 



The wonder to me was there were no casual- 

 ties, as almost incessant firing was kept up, with 



