THE MONTAGNAIS INDIANS 



have destroyed the forest and soil alike, and 

 partly to the excessive killing by fire-arms. 



The chief occupation of the long season in the 

 interior from August to May or June, besides 

 the eternal search for food, is trapping of the 

 fur-bearing animals, martens, beaver, lynx, 

 fox, muskrat, mink and otter. In the pursuit 

 of these and others of the family the Indians 

 cover great distances, going at times not only 

 as far as the Hamilton and Northwest River, 

 the southern boundary of the hunting grounds 

 of their cousins the Nascaupees, but even at 

 times to the waters of the George River in 

 Ungava. Occasionally, if they have had a bad 

 season, and they are starving, a few come out 

 for supplies in April, dragging their canoes over 

 the ice or leaving them behind. Occasionally 

 this early return to the coast takes place on 

 account of their early success in obtaining a 

 full supply of furs. 



During the winter they live in the conical 

 wigwams already described. In case of death 

 the body is usually brought to the coast to be 

 given Christian burial, and the little graveyard 

 by the Indian church at Mingan is crowded with 

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