160 LABRADOR 



band of Indians belonging to the post congregate with their 

 furs, which are soon packed in bundles of one hundred 

 pounds and loaded into large bark canoes for the voyage 

 to the coast. All the active males are required as canoemen, 

 leaving behind only the very aged, cripples, and children. 

 Many of the women accompany the brigade in small canoes ; 

 the remainder scatter about the lakes to convenient fishing 

 places. The post is practically abandoned until the return 

 of the brigade, late in the summer, with canoes deeply 

 laden with provisions, ammunition, and goods for the next 

 season's trade. A few days after the arrival, each Indian 

 has received his outfit and departs for his winter hunting- 

 grounds, leaving the inhabitants of the post to themselves. 

 The early fall is employed in securing a supply of trout 

 and whitefish for the winter, and nets are set on the spawn- 

 ing-grounds for the fish. This ends the work of the year, 

 and everybody becomes a trapper of fur until Christmas 

 time. With the new year, the cutting of fire-wood for the 

 coming year is commenced ; the wood is drawn home with 

 dog-teams. As the spring approaches, the canoes are 

 mended and preparations made for the annual trip to the 

 coast, which is eagerly anticipated, as it means the annual 

 mail and contact with civilization. 



The Ashuanipi, at the entrance to Petitsikapau, bends 

 sharply to the south, where it flows out of a large lake of 

 the same name, situated near the southern watershed, 

 close to the head waters of the Moisie River, which flows 

 southward into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The distance 

 from the bend to the head of the lake is upwards of 

 one hundred and fifty miles, about half of which is un- 

 surveyed. 



