ACROSS THE PORTAGES. 7 



exception fringed with trees or brush down to the 

 water's edge. In front of Orillia are situated the two 

 largest of these ; between them is a passage nearly 

 half a mile wide, and through this strait is the 

 direct route to the Chippewa village of Rama. 

 Indian missionary stations are as a rule not much to 

 crack about, for it is difficult to inculcate into the red 

 man the practice of cleanliness and order. 



Like Constantinople, Rama was far more attractive 

 from a distance than it was when you were within its 

 precincts ; this may be accounted for by its position 

 being picturesque, and the indentations of the lake 

 there being numerous and irregular. 



To the northward of Rama, about three miles, I 

 resided with a fellow-countryman ; he knew Scotland 

 as well as I did myself, was quite as keen a fisherman, 

 but was indifferent to field sports when the gun 

 took precedence. This I account for from his being 

 a bad walker, for when I made distant trips, even for 

 the sole purpose of capturing black bass or maska- 

 longe, he invariably found some excuse for not accom- 

 panying me. 



Thus it was that all my earliest voyages, all my 

 earliest journeys of discovery were made alone, and 

 although the pleasure of finding a new lake or river 

 was excessive, still the want of a comrade to discuss 

 their merits and beauties over a social pipe were ever 

 felt. 



As the greater part, and always the most successful 

 of my fishing was performed when afloat, many were 

 the long tramps I had across portages, and through 

 pathless woods, encumbered not only with my 

 fishing tackle and gun, but also with my small 

 hunting canoe. 



Although the weight of a birch bark canoe is not 

 great, still if the weather was warm and close, which 

 it not infrequently was in early autumn, a mile or 

 two with such a load required both patience and 



