120 SITUATION CHOSEN. 



terior, and brought down on rafts by the nearest river; on the 

 border of which the hewing and trimming, which render them fit 

 for the purpose for which they are intended^ are generally though 

 not always done and in the fall of the year. 



The localities chosen for the erection of house or hut are gen- 

 erally two, one for a summer house in some open situation, and 

 the other for what is called "winter quarters ;" and as winter em- 

 braces the greater part of the year, it is important that this latter 

 shall be, as it invariably is, in some sheltered cove on the mainland 

 where, if possible, high cliffs protect it on all sides, except from 

 the sea ; if such a place is not found, as sheltered a place as pos- 

 sible is chosen. When the house is a summer house there are usu- 

 ally cliffs on the north side, or if not cliffs high rocks, and the ex- 

 posure to the sea easterly or southerly. 



A hut is of the rudest make. The sides are of logs, the bot- 

 tom and floor of single boards, the roof of rough rafters, and the 

 top of thin deal or clapboards ; but a house is of different con- 

 struction. 



I shall not stop here to describe Old Fort island, as I shall 

 do so further on. I will simply say that it is the largest of the 

 neighboring islands, — except the one called Esquimaux island, 

 — and is about four miles from the mainland. The owners, or 

 rather the dwellers thereon, regard this as simply their summer 

 abode, while the winter house, is located on the mainland. The 

 name Old Fort is historical ; it being so called in memory of old 

 times in connection with the French and Indian wars. 



The relation between the mainland and the island, as is seen by 

 their names, is very close ; and this little family of settlers have 

 taken possession of both places, which they have held for many 

 years, and set up their abodes thereon ; the winter house being 

 at the elbow of the bend in Old Fort bay. 



The house on the island is placed about forty rods from the wa- 

 ter on the east, on a small bank of rising ground about ten or 

 twelve feet above the sea level at high tide. The whole island is 

 low anywhere, yet the plain here happens to be smooth and well 



