THE MONTAGNAIS INDIANS AND THEIR FOLK-LORE 309 



roams in peace, swimming in the rapids and at the foot of the falls, 

 the only denizen of the place." 



Just over the height of land going from the head- 

 waters of the Ottawa Kiver towards Hudson Bay is 

 Lake Matchi Manitou, or Evil Spirit Lake a beau- 

 tiful expanse of water over thirty miles in circumfer- 

 ence. Its name originated in the following legend, 

 given to Land Surveyor Henry O'Sullivan, of the 

 Provincial Crown Lands Department, by his Indian 

 guides : " Many years ago several Indians in two ca- 

 noes were chasing a large moose, and all at once 

 both the Indians and the moose disappeared. This 

 happened about a quarter of a mile from shore, on a 

 calm day." Since that time the Indians are as much 

 afraid to approach the locality as they are to visit the 

 Windigo Kiver. No inducement can make them go 

 near it. While Mr. O'Sullivan was surveying the lake 

 the Indians pointed out the spot where the fatality 

 occurred, but none of them would accompany him 

 there. 



The great drawback to the work of the missionaries 

 among the Indians is the influence exercised over 

 the other members of the tribe by their jugglers, sor- 

 cerers, or medicine-men. When the Jesuit Father Le 

 Jeune undertook to learn their language, one of these 

 sorcerers proffered his aid, but palmed off upon the 

 missionary, says Parkman, the foulest words in the 

 language as the equivalent of things spiritual. So it 

 happened that while Le Jeune sought to explain to 

 the assembled wigwam some points of Christian doc- 

 trine, he was interrupted by peals of laughter from 

 men, children, and squaws. 



