A LABRADOR SPRING 
year. Starvation was in those days unknown 
both to Montagnais and Nasquapees, but, these 
eighteen years past, some annually fall victims. 
At the time when the porcupine were so very 
numerous in the forest all over the country, and 
even in the woods lining the seashore, an Indian 
would then consider 50 pounds of flour a 
superfluous weight to carry with him to the 
woods where he intended to pass the winter, 
from his certainty of finding as many porcu- 
pines as he chose to kill, and other animals fit 
for food in proportion; but at present they 
have to carry in as much flour as they can, and 
those who penetrate far inland must carefully 
economize their provisions until such time as 
they reach the large lakes where fish are to be 
found. Another and very serious circumstance 
the Indian has to contend against, is the yearly 
decline of the furred animals to what they 
formerly have been. With all his labours, 
trapping and hunting, he seldom can pay his 
debt at the Company’s posts, and most often 
only meets part of his expenses, which are 
yearly on the increase.” 
This decline in game is chiefly to be attributed 
to the extensive fires already mentioned, which 
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