LABRADOR JOURNAL 349 



ers; their colour greatly resembles that of our 

 gypsies; probably occasioued, by their being con- 

 stantly exposed to the weather and smokey whig- 

 whams. In features they bear a strong resem- 

 blance to the French, which is not to be wondered 

 at, since they have had an intercourse with the 

 Canadians for so many years, but there are few, 

 I believe, who have not some French blood in 

 them. These j^eople inhabit the interior parts of 

 the country, which they traverse by the assistance 

 of canoes, covered with birch-rinds, in the sum- 

 mer; and of rackets, or snow-shoes, in the winter. 

 Their weapons are guns and bows; the latter are 

 used only to kill moor-game, but their chief de- 

 pendence is on the gun, and they are excellent 

 marksmen; particularly with single ball. They 

 are wonderfully clever at killing deer, otherwise 

 they would starve; and when they are in a part 

 of the coimtry, in the winter time, where deer are 

 scarce, they will follow a herd by the slot, day 

 and night, until they tire tliem quite down; when 

 they are sure to kill them all. I must not be un- 

 derstood literally, that they take no rest all that 

 time, for, if the night is liglit enough, they rest 

 only four or five hours, then pursue again; which 

 space of time, being too short for the deer to ob- 

 tain either food or rest, they are commonly jaded 

 out by the fourth day. The Indians ])aun('h and 

 leave them, tlien go back to theii- families, return 

 inunediately witli bag and baggage, and remain 

 there until they have eaten them all; when, if 

 they have not provided another supply elsewhere. 



