NEW-YEAR'S AT LA BICHE 39 



fish for the dogs (dogs being fed fish in this country in 

 place of meat), because Gairdner told us we should find 

 plenty at Hart Lake, which we would reach the next 

 night. Finally by three o'clock the sledges were packed, 

 " Shot " and John had bade tender farewells to every man, 

 woman, and child about the post, Gairdner and Grierson 

 had wished us the best of luck, and we began our journey. 



TRANSLATION 



9f "LAC LA BICHE, Jan. 2, 1895. 



" My name is Julien.and I have had 

 plenty of misery up to to-day. 



" I do not see well. 

 pW " I have always sore eyes. 



*d b p Q.^ C3 \j .o <. T " I am very much troubled when 



I get no fur. 



" I gain my living by hunting 

 in the woods. 



" I have gained nothing this 

 winter. 

 (5~ ^ ^>-> " I am well to-day." 



CREE AS IT IS WRITTEN 

 [A letter in the characters invented by a Roman Catholic priest thirty years ago] 



