NORTHERN OCEAN 227 



tainous, and chiefly consists of rocks and loose stones ; there 1771. 



must, however, be a small portion of soil [213] on the surface, ^ °^'^™'^''- 



as it is in most parts well clothed with tall poplars, pines, fir, 



and birch ; particularly in the vallies, where the poplars, pine, 



and birch seem to thrive best ; but the firs were as large, and 



in as flourishing a state, on the very summit of the hills, as in 



any other part. 



Rabbits ^ were here so plentiful, particularly on the South 

 and South East side of the lake, that several of the Indians 

 caught twenty or thirty in a night with snares ; and the wood- 

 partridges - were so numerous in the fir trees, and so tame, that 

 I have known an Indian kill near twenty of them in a day 

 with his bow and arrows. The Northern Indians call this 

 species of the partridge Day ; and though their flesh is gene- 

 rally very black and bitter, occasioned by their feeding on the 

 brush of the fir tree, yet they make a variety, or change of 

 diet, and are thought exceedingly good, particularly by the 

 natives, who, though capable of living so hard, and at times 

 eating very ungrateful food, are nevertheless as fond of variety 

 as any people whom I ever saw ; and will go as great lengths, 

 according to their circumstances, to gratify their palates, as 

 the greatest epicure in England. As a proof of this assertion, 

 I have frequently known Matonabbee, and others who could 

 affbrd it, for the sake of variety only, send some of their young 

 men to kill a few partridges at the expence of more ammuni- 

 tion than would have killed deer sufficient to have maintained 

 their families many days ; whereas the partridges were always 

 eaten up at one meal : and to [214] heighten the luxury on these 

 occasions, the partridges are boiled in a kettle of sheer fat, which 

 it must be allowed renders them beyond all description finer 

 flavoured than when boiled in water or common broth. I have 

 also eat deer-skins boiled in fat, which were exceedingly good. 



As during our stay at Anaw'd Lake several of the Indians 



[^ Lepus americanus (Erxl.). — E. A. P.] 

 [* Canachites canadensis (Linn.). — E. A. P.] 



