The Attractions of York Factory. 



151 



of their own language, I got two or three of them who can speak 

 English to turn up certain passages and translate them to me, in 

 their own broken way. By looking at a copy of the English trans- 

 lation, I was enabled to see that they were familiar with all the 

 passages which they read, and explained them with the greatest 

 ease. 



The Indian village is located about half a mile to the south of 

 the post, and contains about three hundred inhabitants. There are 



YORK FACTORY— SIDE VIEW. 



about fifteen well-built houses, and a large number of pole camps. 

 The village is alive with children and dogs. They seem to have 

 entered into a contest to see which can make the most noise, but 

 the dogs have out-done the children. A striking feature of the 

 Indian settlement is the large clay oven, in which baking is done, 

 once a week or so, for the entire inhabitants of the place. A fire is 

 made, the oven is heated, and then, each family having its dough 

 ready, the pans are placed in, to the number of twenty or sometimes 

 thirty, the door closed upon them, and when the bread is done the 

 squaws select their respective loaves and carry them home. This 



