CAMPING ON THE NEPIGON 155 



two none at all. Two birch-bark canoes are loaded 

 with our tents, duffle and provisions. If any 

 reader imagines that to camp out is to go half 

 starved, let him cast his eye over this list of eat- 

 ables: ham, bacon, potatoes, flour, eggs, baked 

 beans, canned soups, chicken, beef, peaches, apri- 

 cots, maple syrup, preserves of various kinds, con- 

 densed milk, bouillon, etc., etc. However, we 

 needed all our provisions, and even more, for a 

 camp appetite is sure to be large, vigorous, and 

 in a chronic state of discontent. 



Now we are off. The river at this point has 

 broadened out into a beautiful lake. Yonder, upon 

 the eastern shore, nestles the Roman Catholic mis- 

 sion house. All of our guides, as well as the ma- 

 jority of the six hundred Indians upon the reserva- 

 tion, are members of this communion. No one 

 who talks with them can doubt that their religion 

 is real. It affects their lives and controls, in some 

 measure, their actions. Yonder, toward the south, 

 a great mass of red rock lifts itself high in the air, 

 and for many years it gave the name of " Red 

 Rock " to this section. The Indians paddle and 

 jabber. It is comforting to be told by Aleck that 

 there are no " swear words " in the Ojibway lan- 

 guage; but for this assurance we should have 

 thought our guides horribly profane. The language 

 sounds rough and full of imprecation. How our 

 conception of the morose and taciturn Indian 

 vanishes in the presence of these light-hearted, 



