254 IN SIGHT OF MINGAN. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Mingan and surroundings — Hudson's Bay Companies' buildings — Mingan 

 River — Indians of this region; their habits, religion, etc. — "Montag- 

 nais" and "Nascopies" — The Indian trade at the various places along 

 the north shore — Romaine or Olomanosheebo — Natashquan again — 

 French steamer and salmon freezing — Jewelry peddler — Agwanus, Na- 

 bisippi — Terns and gulls — Codfish " schooling " — Esquimaux Point — 

 Indian names, etc. : St. Genevieve Island, Watcheeshoo, Manicouagan, 

 Saddle Hill, Mt. St. John, Washatnagunashka Bay, Mushkoniatawee, 

 Pashasheeboo, Peashtebai — Shooting at the Fox Islands — Mutton Bay, 

 Great Mecattina Islands — Old Fort Island again at last. 



I can well remember the morning when our little schooner headed 

 for the well sheltered harbor of Mingan. We had started from Es- 

 quimaux Point, off which place the vessel had been anchored during 

 the night, about nine o'clock, and, passing the point with its low 

 extension of sand beach and its one hundred and sixty houses, — 

 some of which were of quite unique pattern and pleasing outward 

 appearance, — had fallen in with a light breeze which took us along 

 right merrily through the tide ripples and shallow waters between 

 the long chain of islands seaward, and the mainland on our right. 

 Early in the afternoon we sighted a long, low point of land in the 

 distant horizon, where a small white dot was plainly visible, repre- 

 senting the buildings of the estabhshment toward which we were 

 fast approaching, and which was our destination. There are times 

 when the motion of a contrary tide against the sides of a vessel ap- 

 pears to show that one is fast gaining, when in reality losing ground ; 

 there are also times when such a tide is in the vessel's favor, and a 

 swift, yet almost imperceptible motion, carries her on at a rate of 

 five, six, or even more miles an hour. At times our vessel had each 

 of these motions, now going swiftly, now slowly, as the case might 



