226 NEWFOUNDLAND 



to enforce laws by which it will be a criminal offence to sell 

 them a siftgle drop of liquor} 



The sanctity of their trapping-grounds is considered 

 inviolate by the Micmacs. They live on fairly good terms 

 with the Newfoundlanders, but let another Indian or a 

 white man come into their trapping area for the purpose 

 of taking fur, and the amiable red man is at once trans- 

 formed into a demon of rage and jealousy. I only saw Joe 

 angry on one occasion, and that was when we were descend- 

 ing a rocky hill to the Gander, some distance above Rolling 

 Fall, when we found two lynx traps made during the 

 previous winter. Joe's eyes blazed, and he gave a grunt 

 of fierce dissatisfaction. When we got to camp he put down 

 my rifle carefully and disappeared into the woods, returning 

 some ten minutes afterwards with a face of thunder and 

 lightning. 



"It is as I thought," he hissed; "they have killed my 

 beavers, and I will get even with the devils," only he did 

 not say devils. Then he proceeded to let loose his passion 

 on the white trappers who had for the first time ascended 

 the Gander, a province which Joe considered his exclusive 

 right, and poured such a torrent of threats and abuse on 

 their heads that I have seldom heard. I think that some- 

 thing will happen to the boats of those unfortunates next 

 time they move into the interior, if nothing worse occurs. 



"Joe is a very good fellow," said Little Bob later, "but 

 I should not care to meet him alone in the winter if I had 

 a pack of 'fur' on my back," a sentiment in which both 

 Frank and Sandy cordially acquiesced. In fact the New- 



' In British Columbia it is an ofifence punishable by severe penalty or imprison- 

 ment to sell liquor to Indians. Why should not this be done in Newfoundland? 

 Surely the people are as sensible and humane. 



