OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 



23 



received his commission from the English government. 

 The major's son, the present custom-house officer, stands 

 fully six feet and three inches without boots ; is as straight 

 as an arrow, well proportioned, and possessed of a military 

 bearing; while, in addition to all this, he is prompt and 

 courteous in the discharg-e of his official duties. Havine 

 examined our baQrCTao;e on this occasion, he entered our car, 

 where he remained in conversation with us nearly an hour, 

 until our train was ready to proceed. In this conversation 

 he imparted to us much practical information relating to 

 the selection of guides, the Canadian localities in which we 

 would be most likely to find game, etc. In answer to our 

 inquiry in regard to the habits of the Indian guides, he 

 replied, "They are generally lazy, filthy fellows, less desir- 

 able as companions and servants than the native Canadian 

 trappers and backwoodsmen." In support of these views 

 here expressed he gave us a detailed statement of per- 

 sonal observations made while in camp with some friends 

 who had employed Indian guides. The old gentleman 

 spoke particularly of an observation made by himself in 

 the early morning, while the Indian guide was engaged in 

 cleaning the frying-pan preparatory to cooking the break- 

 fast for the hunters. In this instance, the weather being 

 warm, the wardrobe for the body was limited to a single 

 garment, which he now saw the " noble red man" using for 

 the purpose of drying and cleansing the more important 

 cooking utensil. In explanation of the garment, — size, 

 texture, etc., — he added that it was a common towel which 

 the hunters had brought with them for the purpose of dry- 

 ing the hands of the guides while engaged in cooking, etc.. 



