NAVIGATION OF INLAND WATERS BY NIGHT. 473 



parallel with the shores. In fine weather they perhaps 

 crossed from one headland to another, but otherwise, 

 though past masters in the art of managing boats, 

 they rarely ventured far from land, and never (except 

 perhaps on a war party) travelled by night. This 

 latter is a thing travellers are rarely justified in 

 attempting upon unknown waters, on lakes because of 

 storms, or on rivers because of dangerous rapids. It 

 is always prudent and better in every way to land 

 and encamp for the night. If it is desired to prevent 

 strangers finding the camp, this can be effected by 

 travelling close to the shore for some time after dark, 

 and then landing and retreating a little way into the 

 bushes. This is however seldom necessary. 



Camping on islands situated in extensive lakes is 

 also a bad plan where it is not absolutely necessary. 

 Instances have frequently been known of storms spring- 

 ing up by night, and parties of travellers being detained 

 in these places for days before they could venture to 

 re-embark, while food running short has caused them 

 to be nearly starved before they could effect their 

 escape. 



On the other hand, nothing can be more delightful 

 under favourable circumstances than a canoe voyage 

 along fine lakes and rivers. In a great forest country 

 like North America, the streams literally form the 

 liquid highway of communication. There are lovely 

 vistas of river scenery ; their banks (in former days at 

 all events) generally teem with four-footed game and 

 land birds, while their surfaces are even still frequently 

 covered with flocks of aquatic fowl, and a vast abun- 

 dance of magnificent fish swarm in shoals beneath the 

 current, or disport themselves upon the shallows. The 





