62 A TRIP TO THE LA VAL. 



graceful roofs and white-washed walls shining m the 

 sunlight, produces a picturesque effect. The few English 

 families residing there, and their many friends on visit to 

 them, made an agreeable society, drawn closer together 

 by its seclusion from the world at large ; and bright eyes 

 looked brighter when there were none others by. 



The world of L'Anse a l'Eau was collected on the 

 wharf to witness our departure— the Canadians because 

 they had no better employment, the English that they 

 might bid us adieu. Our pilot-boat, called by the Cana- 

 dians chaloupe, an- open boat some five-and-twenty feet 

 long by seven wide, was crammed full of our numerous 

 traps, plunder or baggage, as it would be variously 

 styled in different parts "of our land of freedom. The 

 fishing rods, and one gun, devoted to the destruction of 

 bears for lack of smaller game, were carefully stowed ; 

 small barrels, at present filled with meat, but destined to 

 return filled with fish, lay side by side with baskets full 

 of more delicate provender ; tents, bedding and innumer- 

 able other articles occupied every inch of room. We 

 were experienced in woodsman life, and had no idea of 

 suffering the want of luxuries that could be easily car- 

 ried with us, and would never trouble us on our 

 return, unless they did it in spite of our teeth. There 

 were preserved soups, meats and fruits, sauces of many 

 kinds, tea and coffee, the latter ground and in bottles of 

 essence ; there were brown, white and maple sugars, 

 concentrated milk, flour, indian and oatmeal, barley, rice 

 and potatoes ; liquors of many kinds, and other things 

 too numerous to mention. For our protection from the 

 weather, we had two tents and waterproof cloth suffi- 



