Notes on the Lake St. John Country. 398 
constituents of the Laurentian rocks, forms the fertile soil 
which makes this district of so much importance to the 
province. About twenty years ago, one of the largest bush 
fires on record devastated the whole country on the south 
of the lake from the Descharge to Point Bleu. Many poor 
habitants lost their lives in this conflagration. The burnt 
country soon attracted fresh settlers, and being now more 
easily cleared, and possessing such good soil, this part is 
the most thickly populated. From the comfortable ap- 
pearance of the people and their homes, the well-fenced 
fields and fine crops of wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, &c., it 
is evident that the praise bestowed on this region is no more 
than it deserves. There is said to be another flourishing 
settlement on the western side of the lake on Ashuapmou- 
chuan. At the Indian reserve at Point Bleu there is a 
settlement of Montagnais Indians, pure Indians, veritable 
hunters. Houses have been erected for them, but they 
prefer living in their tents, using the houses as repositories 
for their various belongings. ‘They go into the woods in 
the winter, seeking furs, and are said to endure great hard- 
ships being often in want of food when game is scarce. 
Indeed, it is said, many have died of starvation. The young 
people are, as a rule, healthy looking and round faced, but 
the older people carry signs of their hard life in their bent 
forms and hollow cheeks. It may be noticed that very few 
old men are seen among them. 
As a consequence of the great fire, the trees on the south 
side of the lake are but small. On the north side and in 
the country around the Saguenay, lumbering operations 
have been for many years carried on by the Messrs. Price, 
Brothers, of Quebec, and most of the valuable timber taken 
out. The principal trees are spruce, balsam, white and 
yellow birch. 
Leaving Lake St. John and turning southward, with the 
exception of some good land on the Metabetchouan river, 
there appears to be little to entice the settler till you 
approach St. Raymond, Other fertile spots may be found 
when the country is better known, but at present the 
