THE MOOSE. 171 



Hnrons are degenerate savages, brutalisecl, servile, 

 and with the most filthy tendencies one can possibly 

 imagine. Moreover, there is really very little pure 

 Indian blood in their veins, for their contact with 

 the Canadians and the French has resulted in adul- 

 terating the purity of their race very considerably. 

 This it is easy to see from the mongrel look of 

 all who have taken the place of the pure Hurons. 

 Their physiognomy, moreover, has assumed an 

 expression which is far from characteristic of the 

 race from whom they are supposed to be descended. 

 Their dress consists of a blanket, fastened round 

 the waist by a coloured girdle, woollen gaiters 

 fastened round their legs, moccasins made of 

 moose skin, and a woollen cap, dyed red or blue. 

 Winter or summer, tliis was the dress of the 

 Hurons, whose greatest merit was the ease with 

 which, on their snow shoes, they could traverse im- 

 mense distances. 



Our blankets and buffalo skins were pretty heavy, 

 so we confided them to three Indians, with a special 

 charge to find their way to an encampment which 

 was indicated. We then put on om' snow shoes, 

 and led the van. Though the weather was sharp- 

 ish, the exercise soon made us feel as if we were in 

 the dog-days. However, it was a splendid morn- 

 ing, and the sun shone brilliantly, even incommo- 

 ding us by the brightness of its rays. The storm 

 of the previous night had laid the snow in light 



