jftloreau 



CHARLES was a half-breed Montagnais In- 

 dian, originally belonging to Escoumains, 

 Saguenay. While still a baby, his father was 

 drowned while out seal hunting. Gabriel Ash- 

 ini "The Rock" and his wife, Charlotte, 

 adopted the boy as their own and brought him up, 

 and this was how it happened that much of his 

 later life was spent at and around Pointe des 

 Monts. 



I knew him intimately. He and I were great 

 friends, and for some three or four winters we 

 hunted within a few miles of each other and often 

 met. Sometimes I and my partner would go and 

 spend a Sunday evening at his camp and he would 

 return the visit later. At such times the best he 

 could afford was spread before us. A standing 

 dish was porcupine cooked on the spit, and 

 smoked or fresh beaver. Hares, grouse and fish 

 were only served when larger game was not avail- 

 able. They were considered too ordinary food 

 for such special occasions. Charles was not cele- 

 brated as a "mighty" hunter, although he was not 

 a bad one either, but he was a celebrity in an- 

 other way. He was a "mighty eater." His gas- 

 tronomic performances were something extraor- 

 dinary. I have heard and read of better ones, 



