The Land of the Winanishe 



"Di (deux) lieues;" another, "Trois lieues 

 et encore ; " and the third, " Trois pipes," 

 the time required to smoke a pipe being 

 a measure of distance. As everything in 

 that country is governed by the inexorable 

 " coutume," it is possible that the size of 

 pipes and the quality of tobacco are suffi- 

 ciently uniform to be thus used. On one 

 occasion only did the group questioned 

 agree, and then they sent us several miles 

 out of our way. Finding this out, we 

 debated turning back, when a passer-by 

 directed us to proceed, and to cross a cer- 

 tain bridge which would bring us back to 

 our road more quickly. On nearing the 

 bridge we were warned that it was impas- 

 sable from the high water. Our inform- 

 ant further insisted that we should return 

 several miles, as M. M- , the proprietor, 

 no longer allowed passing across his fields, 

 and had that day so announced from the 

 church steps ; and, as the tenant of M. 

 M , he was bound to obstruct us. 



Despite his shrill remonstrance, we per- 

 severed in our trespassing. As we crossed 

 the farm, our carter was moved to a flight 

 of eloquence. His wrathful thought went 

 back to the old man who had sent us down 

 to the bridge. " What liars they are, 

 gentlemen, in this parish ! Why did that 



53 



