THE MONTAGNAIS INDIANS 
have destroyed the forest and soil alike, and 
partly to the excessive killing by fire-arms. 
The chief occupation of the long season in the 
interior from August to May or June, besides 
the eternal search for food, is trapping of the 
fur-bearing animals, martens, beaver, lynx, 
fox, muskrat, mink and otter. In the pursuit 
of these and others of the family the Indians 
cover great distances, going at times not only 
as far as the Hamilton and Northwest River, 
the southern boundary of the hunting grounds 
of their cousins the Nascaupees, but even at 
times to the waters of the George River in 
Ungava. Occasionally, if they have had a bad 
season, and they are starving, a few come out 
for supplies in April, dragging their canoes over 
the ice or leaving them behind. Occasionally 
this early return to the coast takes place on 
account of their early success in obtaining a 
full supply of furs. 
During the winter they live in the conical 
wigwams already described. In case of death 
the body is usually brought to the coast to be 
given Christian burial, and the little graveyard 
by the Indian church at Mingan is crowded with 
169 
