THE MusaQuasuH. 162 
—3 

good position and giving him as good as three hands to work 
with, when he would skin one very quickly. Then taking a 
withy stick from a pile of hazel bush butts, about fhree or 
three and a half feet long, 
part six inches longer than the other, slip the hide over 
would bend it to fit, leaving one 
(turned inside out) use the long end below as a spreader, and 
it was ready for drying, and the market. Their tent was 
open, showing the inside very tidy, their washing hanging 
upon the trees. A small beech, with its branches lopped off 
was well decked out with bright tin dippers, pails, fry pan, 
etc., while beneath a thick spruce that had its branches 
trimmed off below, was sitting the quiet sister, her deft fingers 
rapidly moving, making beautiful fancy baskets, a number 
already finished hanging upon the green branches. 
The novelty of the scene was the gir/s; comely, though 
they were brownies; dressed alike, and at first as we stepped 
ashore at the father’s invitation, we took them for twin 
Indian maidens, with bright, black eyes, hair black and shiny, 
braided, and the long, thick plaits hanging down over the 
scarlet shawls that were each fastened in front with a large 
silver brooch, from which were ever swaying, as they moved 
about, small chains with little charms attached, making 
altogether a bright picture, coming upon them in a moment, 
as we did, so unexpected, and the scene being quite unusual. 
What was a little unlooked for from our red brother as we 
stopped and saluted them all, was the invitation to land. 
‘«Spose stopum rest little time, brudder,” (which we did). 
They had been out two weeks, and asking the girls if they 
enjoyed camping and canoeing, one of them, her black eyes 
sparkling, ‘*Oh yes,” she answered, ‘‘ guess me likum much ; 
allus go wid fadder and take care of him; cook, wash, 
