EXPEDITION TO THE LAURENTIAN HILLS. 183 



branches droop, and, when the waters are high, touch tlie 

 waves. Back of the cedars are the hemlocks and pines, and 

 beyond these, on the uplands, the hard-wood timber. In au- 

 tumn, when the tints are changing, this arrangement forms 

 beautiful pictures. The dark-green of the pines and hem- 

 locks mingles far up the hills, in all picturesque ways, Avith the 

 splendors of birches, beeches, and maples. The Avaters of the 

 lake and the cedar fringe form a base to the scene. Over all 

 comes the play of sunshine and shadow. 



To this region, in the autumn of 1865, several members of 

 the Oneida Community Avent on a trapping excursion, under 

 the lead of the old trapper and hunter, Mr. John Hutchins, 

 AA'hose character and adventures haA^e been sketched on pre- 

 vious pages. Their departure from home Avas announced by 

 the editor of the " Circular" in the folloAving terms : — 



" On Monday next, September 25th, an expedition will set out 

 from the Oneida Community for the backwoods of Upper Canada. 

 The object is trapping, and the company go prepared for a six 

 months' campaign in the woods. Tlie expedition consists of — 



"John H. Noyes, Perfectionist and Inventor; 



" John Hutchins, old Maine trapper and hunter ; 



" John P. Hutchins, son of the latter, and member of the Oneida 

 Community ; 



" Theodore L. Pitt, ex-Editor of the ' Circular ' ; 



" George Campbell, ex-Financier of the Oneida Community." 



The objects of our expedition, more fully stated, Avere as 

 folloAvs : 1. A pi-actical acquaintance with life in the Avoods, 

 and its healthful influences ; 2. Trapping and acquaintance 

 with trappers ; 3. Fur-buying and study of the fur-trade. 

 The programme included within its possibilities a Avinter cam- 

 paign in the Avoods, and an outfit Avas prepared accordingly. 

 As this outfit Avas made under the supervision of Messrs. 

 Hutchins and NeAvhonse, and Avas the result of their combined 

 wisdom, it is perhaps Avorth copying, for the benefit of others 

 planning similar expeditions. It Avas as follows : — 



OUTFIT. 



Guns ; ammunition ; fishing tackle ; two good salmon 



