THE MONTAGNAIS INDIANS 



wooden racks, generally decorated with drying 

 stockings, mittens and moccasins. On hooks 

 on the rafters were five guns of various makes 

 and ages, the most formidable of which was a 

 great muzzle-loader with a barrel three and a 

 half feet long. Long benches were placed 

 around the room for the convenience of the 

 family and the visitors, and the conversation 

 in the three different tongues was chiefly about 

 salmon, although it may have wandered to 

 other channels in the case of the blushing clerk 

 and the eldest daughter. 



Mingan has an interesting history. The 

 company of the One Hundred Associates, also 

 called the company of New France, was founded 

 in 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu and five partners. 

 Under them was held the " Terre ferme de 

 Mingan," which was described as extending 

 from Cape Cormorant on the west to "La 

 Grand Anse " or "La Baie des Espagnols " on 

 the east, and two leagues back. This eastern 

 boundary has been liberally interpreted by the 

 company as Bradore, while the crown recently 

 contended that it was Agwanus. In 1661, or 

 nine years before the Hudson's Bay Company 

 received its charter, a charter was granted to 



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