284 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



is to be got by bringing such traps across the Atlantic. 

 To save trouble and room I have frequently purchased 

 my bunch of tins at the very last settlement where a 

 store existed, before turning into the woods. It is well 

 to remember, however, to get the handle of the frying- 

 pan "fixed" so as to double back, and so pack with the 

 plates, mugs, &c., into the big outside tin can, which holds 

 the entire camp service ; otherwise the Indian who 

 carries it through the woods will probably grumble all tlie 

 way, az "[.he stem is constantly catching in the bushes. 



Except in winter, when opportunities occur of getting 

 one's traps hauled in on a sled over some logging road, 



\ everything has to be " backed " through the woods, to 



! the hunting camp, and, consequently, anything pro- 



(' trading from the loads is liable to impede one's progress. 



I Hence the bundles should be as near as possible the 



breadth of the back, all loads being thus carried, with a 



'i strap (the broader the better) encircling the chest and 



I shoulders. 



The Indian, used to the work from infancy, will often 



■; carry a hundred weight by a withy of birch or withered 



bush, which seems as though it would cut to the bone ; 

 but to the white man, unaccustomed to carrying a load 

 thus, a well-l)alanccd bundle and broad carrying- strap are 

 of the first importance, particularly as long journeys are 

 often thus made, and every true sportsman likes to do a 

 fair share of the work. 



A hint may be inserted here that one of the greatest 

 drawbacks to progress under such unavoidable circum- 

 stances is to lose one's temper, and a firm determination 

 should be made at starting to avoid doing so. I grant it 

 is often hard of prevention when two or three consecutive 



