170 



LAKE PARMACHINI. 



Parmachini to keep your table supplied, but large 

 game is gradually diminishing ; still moose, cariboo, 

 and bears are to be found, but I imagine require a 

 great deal of searching for. However, I will tell 

 you of the experience of a backwoodsman, whose 

 conduct I should advise you not to follow. 



Late in autumn he desired to take a boat across 

 the portage to the lake. For that purpose he har- 

 nessed his pony to a sled. With the hope of pick- 

 ing up some wood grouse, he took his gun, each 

 barrel being loaded with small shot. When about 

 half his journey was accomplished he heard a bull 

 moose sounding his challenge call, and in a few 

 minutes afterwards the irate animal made its appear- 

 ance before him. All would have been well if our 

 friend had remained passive, but in an unfortunate 

 moment he was prompted by the evil one to try the 

 effects of bird shot at twenty-five yards upon a beast 

 taller than an ox. In a moment after the devil was 

 to pay, and the ambitious backwoodsman was glad 

 to gain an elevated, but far from dignified, position 

 on an adjoining tree, from which perch he had to 

 witness the death of his pony, and the smashing up 

 into matchwood of his " dug-out." 



I should advise all visitors to Parmachini to take a 

 dog with them, and a good intelligent collie would be 

 as desirable a breed as could be obtained. Plucky 

 terriers are very likely to come to grief in such a 

 country. 



Before leaving civilization your expenses of living 

 say, at a farmhouse, should not cost more than six- 

 teen shillings a week. In the wilds, for two months, 

 the cost of half a barrel of flour, half a side of 

 bacon, two or three cooking utensils, and the trans- 

 portation — that is to say, if you are disposed to 

 rough it — ought to be the only call upon you: 

 purse. 



If determined to live the life of a frontier-man, 



