150 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



that the cariboo was one of the finest deer, for sport, in 

 the wide world. 



What a hearty meal is breakfast in the winter camp of 

 a party of hunters in the American backwoods ! The 

 pure air which enters freely and circulates round the 

 camp, heated by the great log fire in the centre, round 

 which we range ourselves for sleep, regardless of the cold 

 without (except, perhaps, on some especially severe 

 passage of cold, when actual roasting on one side will 

 scarcely keep the opposite from freezing), conduce to 

 sound and healthy repose, and a feeling of wonderful 

 freshness and activity on awakening and throwing ofi" the 

 blanket or buffalo robe early in the morning. 



The Indians are already up, one cleaning the guns, or 

 '' fixing " a moccasin, whilst the other is holding the long- 

 handled frying-pan, filled with spluttering slices of bacon, 

 over the glowing embers. Their toilet amounts to nil ; 

 when well they always look clean, though they seldom 

 wash ; though they never use a comb their long, shining, 

 raven-black hair is always smooth and unrufiled. We, 

 with our combs, brushes and towels, step out into the 

 cold morning air and betake ourselves to the little brook 

 for ten minutes or so, and then return with appetites 

 whetted either for venison or the flesh of pig, washed 

 down by potations of strong black tea, which has 

 simmered by the embers, perhaps, for the last half- 

 hour. 



"John," said I, as we reclined on our blankets at 

 breakfast the morning after our unsuccessful cariboo 

 hunt, " did you hear the wild geese passing over to the 

 southward last night ^ I heard their loud * honk ! honk !' 

 several times, and the whistling of their wings as they 



