TO MT. SYLVESTER WITH THE MICMACS 275 



and a half miles to clear the worst of the rocks. In conse- 

 quence, our progress was very slow — sometimes not more 

 than four or five miles per diem were made. 



On the upper part of the Long Harbor River I noticed 

 considerable quantities of a coarse native wild hay, of such 

 a quality, too, that ponies would thrive upon it during the 

 summer months. On the Gander it is found in abundance 

 for the first twenty miles, but disappears immediately above 

 " Rolling Falls," where the country becomes more high and 

 exposed. It is also found in quantities in the Gould Valley 

 (Conception Bay), and about Colinet (St. Mary's Bay), whilst 

 the people of the west coast bring down boat-loads every 

 autumn from Codroy, Fischel's, Robinson's, St, George's, and 

 the Humber Rivers. I have seen a few horses on the Gander 

 in very good condition through living on this native hay, and 

 there is no reason why pony-raising should not be a profit- 

 able industry amongst the people of the south and west 

 coast, if they would only import and breed the right kind of 

 pony. A few of these animals are bred on the west coast — 

 poor weedy beasts, which are destined to transportation for 

 life in the Cape Breton coal mines, and all they are fitted 

 for. But a better class of horse is needed, one something of 

 the rough nature of the Welsh pony or the Norwegian 

 carriole pony, which could live hard, stand snow and bad 

 times, possess some pace, and pick up quickly in the spring 

 and summer on native grass and plants. 



The prospect of a better river in a day or two soon put 

 us in good spirits. The worst was over, said John, and we 

 should only encounter two more days of rough water before 

 finding " steadies " and the inevitable chain of lakes which 

 intersect the summit of the plateaux. All night long the 

 Indians sat up in their stuffy little "tilt," alternately eating, 



