102 Field and Forest Rambles. 



the inmates lie on pallets made of the soft twigs of the spruce 

 with their feet inwards, whilst all are well wrapped up in rugs 

 and blankets. Excepting weekly changes of under-clothing, 

 no doffing of outer garments takes places at bedtime, and 

 the modes and means of ablution are neither effective nor 

 ample, but, on the contrary, primitive in the extreme, as are 

 many other domestic and household arrangements of these 

 hardy and hospitable foresters. Nevertheless the comfort of 

 the log hut is much beyond what we might expect to find in 

 the depths of the primeval forest ; and although every available 

 space is occupied at night, there is no impurity of the atmo- 

 sphere, as an enormous log fire is kept burning constantly, 

 the apartment being thus freely ventilated through the large 

 smoke flue of the roof. 



The diet of the lumberman during the five or six months 

 he is occupied in felling trees in the wilderness consists of 

 occasional fresh animal food, conveyed through the forest, 

 frozen, and on sleighs; or now and then a moose that may 

 have unfortunately yarded in the vicinity ; but the chief fare 

 is salted pork, bread, potatoes, beans, with tea and sugar, to 

 the total exclusion of spirituous liquors of every description. 

 The result is, what with temperate habits, and exhilarating, 

 healthy outdoor occupations, there are created as fine speci- 

 mens of humanity as ever wielded axe or poll. Being away from 

 the temptations of the towns, their simple fare and life have 

 taught them, with the rigours of the climate, to make kindly 

 welcome whatever forest wanderer happens to enter the 

 wicket of the log hut ; and I must say, who have more than 

 once been indebted to their kindness, that nowhere is hospi- 

 tality more genuine than around the log fire of the Cana- 

 dian lumberman. 



After building the camp, the next course pursued is the 

 clearing of lanes in the direction of the banks of streams, 

 where the logs are piled up to await the great thaws of 

 spring, when they are floated to the main rivers. The vast 



