294: MEN 1 HAVE FISHED WITH. 



torn; these were not removed when worn out, but other 

 reinforcements were added outside them until a cross 

 section of a leg might have shown half a dozen strata of 

 bed tick above the original deposit of trousering. 



We had now reached the northern line of our survey 

 at its eastern end, over by Mille-lacs, and were working 

 the upper tier of townships toward the Mississippi. One 

 day I was out with my rifle in the hope of finding game 

 when I came across a wigwam by a small stream. I en- 

 tered without ceremony, in accordance with Indian eti- 

 quette, and found a party of perhaps a dozen bucks and 

 squaws, seated on the ground around a small fire in the 

 centre, over which a sheet iron camp kettle was boiling 

 and sending forth a savory odor. I was hungry after the 

 tramp, although I had bread, pork and beans in plenty, 

 but had not eaten. After giving the mixed French and 

 Indian salute which they commonly used, I invited my- 

 self to sit down, and this was also correct Ojibway form. 

 There was an oppressive silence oppressive to me, at 

 least. 



"The silence of the place was like a sleep, 



So full of rest it seemed; each passing tread 

 Was a reverberation from the deep 



Recesses of the ages that are dead." 



How different these people were from a party of white 

 men waiting for a feast. There was no chat, jest, song 

 or story. For idle men they take life seriously, and yet 

 they are like children in many of their moods. I could 

 never learn to live their way; that impassive, self-con- 

 tained manner seems to be a continual sort of dress 

 parade, so to speak, for they can be roused to enthusiasm 

 by war or the hunt. I can't say that I like such people ; 

 they are not cordial, and seem to be sitting in cold and 

 unsympathetic judgment on not only you, but every 



