210 LAKE MISTASSINI 



forms the ceremonies of marriage and christening as 

 required. 



The name " Mistassini " means " big root," and 

 comes from mistake, which means "great" when 

 joined to a name, and " much " when joined to a verb, 

 and assini, " a rock." It was applied, according to 

 some authorities, because of the immense boulders 

 strewn about the west shore of the lake, and accord- 

 ing to others on account of a rooky eminence in the 

 lake, concerning which they indulge the superstition 

 that it is unsafe to look at it while crossing the 

 water, since to do so is certain to agitate the surface 

 of the lake and raise a dangerous storm. 



