HEALTHFULNESS OF CAMP LIFE. 51 



air odorous with the smell of piue and cedar and 

 balsam, and absolutely free from the least taint of 

 impurity ; and when you take all this into account, 

 you will see how very dissimilar are the conditions 

 and surroundmgs of life in the woods to life in the 

 city or village. Acquainted as I am with, many 

 ladies, some of them accustomed to every luxury, 

 and of delicate health, who have " camped out " in 

 this wilderness, I have yet to meet with a single 

 one who ever " caught cold," or experienced any 

 other inconvenience to the bodily health in the 

 woods. 



As to the " physical exertion," there is no such 

 exertion known here. It is the laziest of all 

 imaginable places, if you incline to indolence. 

 Tramping is unknow^n in this region. Wlierever 

 you wish to go your guide paddles you. Your 

 hunting, fishing, sight-seeing, are all done from the 

 boat. Going in or coming out you cross the neces- 

 sary carries, which, for the most part, are short and 

 good walking, and you can take your own time foi: 

 it. In this I refer, of course, to the most frequent- 

 ed parts of the wilderness, and not to the portions 

 seldom visited and more difficult of access. Thero 

 are sections which I have visited by dragging my 

 cedar shell behind me up narrow creeks and through 

 tamarack swamps, middle deep in mud and water ; 

 but no guide w^ould think of taking a party, unless 

 urged by the party itself, into any such region ; and, 



