74 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



to ten inches in width, these tracks were entirely free of grass 

 or moss. In following them a few hundred paces, I could 

 plainly recognize the prints of the moose, the bear, the wolf, and 

 the fox ; and a few smaller and lesser impressions with regard to 

 the origin of which I was not so sure. The trails were much 

 like the buffalo trails one used to see upon the plains. To my 

 delight, my lodge door was not more than ten paces from that 

 wild Broadway of the Wilderness. 



INDIAN POLITENESS 



After breakfast Oo-koo-hoo suggested that a "lop-stick" 

 should be cut in honour of the white man's visit. Selecting 

 a tall spruce, Amik, with a half-axe in hand, began to ascend it. 

 When he had climbed about three parts of the way up he began 

 to chop off the surrounding branches and continued to do so as 

 he descended, until he was about halfway down, when he 

 desisted and came to earth. The result was a strange-looking 

 tree with a long bare trunk, surmounted by a tuft of branches 

 that could be seen and recognized for miles around. 



Cutting lop-sticks is an old custom of the forest Indians. 

 Such trees are used to mark portages, camping grounds, meet- 

 ing places, or dangerous channels where submerged rocks he in 

 wait for the unsuspecting voyageur. In fact, they are to the 

 Indian what lighthouses are to the mariner. Yet, sometimes 

 they are used to celebrate the beginning of a young man's hunt- 

 ing career, or to mark the grave of a famous hunter. When 

 made to indicate a wilderness rendezvous, the meeting place is 

 commonly used for the purpose of coming in contact with their 

 nearest neighbours or friends, and halting a day or so, while 

 upon their voyage to the post, in order to discuss their affairs — 

 the winter's hunt, the strange tracks they have seen, the strange 

 sounds they have heard, the raiding of their hunting ground, 

 and the like. Always at such meetings a fire is kindled regard- 



