THE INDIANS OF THE LABRADOR 
while the frames are tough and well shaped. 
The summer camp of these Montagnais 
of the interior is usually pitched on a high, 
barren hill, close to a river, from which 
miles of valley, hill and lake may be seen 
and the movements of the deer noted. 
When deer are sighted an interesting scene 
occurs; the whole community, including 
men, women, children and dogs, makes its 
way to the lookout, and though the deer 
may be several miles distant, everything is 

397 
being passed around among men, women 
and children; but down to the smallest 
article, all were returned. Everything in 
our possession came in for its share of 
fingering, curiosity being aroused over the 
merest trifle, as a safety pin, pencil, etc. 
My automatic pistol aroused a storm of 
jabbering, the men fairly prancing with 
glee like so many children as the hammer 
flew back after each discharge, enabling me 
to empty the magazine as fast as I could 
\ ¥ 
(A 
ay / 
\ K 
# 
G 
THE STOCKILY BUILT MONTAGNAIS WHO SUMMER ON THE GULF COAST—-THEY ARE REALLY HALFBREEDS, 
AND, CONSIDERING THEIR ENVIRONMENT, AN INTELLIGENT PEOPLE 
hushed; the squaws quiet the papooses, the 
boys hold the dogs, the men talk in low- 
pitched voices, while the chief gives his 
opinion as to the chances of success, de- 
pending on the wind and the distance to be 
covered. Should conditions prove favorable 
the canoes are manned without a sound, and 
with quick, noiseless strokes the flotilla 
slips away to leeward under cover of the 
bank. Every one remaining then returns 
to his or her appointed task and the work 
of the camp is resumed as if nothing unusual 
had happened. Nevertheless, the return of 
the hunters is anxiously awaited, as might 
be expected. 
When camping with them on the George 
River our outfit was thoroughly investigated, 
everything from a camera to a jack-knife 
pull trigger. When one realizes how in- 
valuable a modern rifle or knife is to these 
people, this trait of honesty seems remark- 
able; but theft is unknown among the 
interior Indians, and caches of provisions 
may be left anywhere inland with the as- 
surance that only in case of absolute need 
will anything be taken. A noticeable char- 
acteristic is the inborn watchfulness of the 
men. No matter how interested they might 
be, and when even posing before the 
camera, their eyes were almost constantly 
searching shore, hill and river, not a moving 
object escaping their keen sight. Their 
life is a continual vigil, for they must not 
miss the deer. 
The stranger living among these people 
must be impressed of their honesty, 
