CAMPING ON THE NEPIGON 159 



man and a philosopher he whispered farewell to 

 this world, composed his limbs and calmly awaited 

 death. But it didn't come; so the Doctor proceeded 

 to make a diagnosis of his case. After thorough 

 examination he found that the string stretched 

 from the rear to the front tent pole and upon which 

 various articles were suspended, had broken, and 

 the looking-glass had struck him in the ribs. He 

 took a long breath, went to sleep, and told us the 

 joke in the morning. 



Early the next morning we broke camp and were 

 on our way up the river. In order to get around 

 the rapids a portage of two miles is made at this 

 point. It was a novel sight to see our guides pack- 

 ing the provisions, cooking utensils, etc. The 

 white guide in the Adirondacks would carry it in 

 a pack basket ; but the Indian makes a large bundle 

 which he ties together with the ends of his packing 

 strap some twenty feet long leaving the central 

 and wider portion of the strap to pass over his 

 forehead, thus supporting with his neck the burden 

 which rests upon his shoulders. The average load 

 for a packer is two hundred pounds. When night 

 comes we are at Split Rock, where we camp, and 

 the next day make Pine Portage. Here we camp 

 for a week, and really begin to fish. There is a 

 splendid stretch of broken water right in front of 

 the camp, and good pools within a short distance 

 either up or down the river. The Business Man 

 goes down the river one morning and comes back 



