i:ï8 An Hijîorlcal Journal of . 



They lay tlie Bark, which is very thick, on flat and very thiîï 

 Def ribtio of the made of Cedar: Thefe Ribs are con- 



ejaip lonoj o ^^^^^ ^^^^ vvhole Leno th by fmall Crofs-Bars, 

 trames of Bark. l- i r i v i ^ 



^ ' which feparate the Seats of the Canoe ; two 



inain Pieces of the fam.e Wood, to which thefe little Bars are 

 few'd> ftreugthen the whole Machine. Between the Ribs 

 pindthe Bark they thrull little Pieces of Cedar, which are thin- 

 î^er ftill than the Rib^, and which help to llrengthen the Canoe, 

 |hç tv/Q Ends of which rife by Degrees, and infenfibly end in 

 ili^rp Points th^it turn inv/ards, Thefe two Ends are exaftly alike; 

 fa that to change their Courfe, and turn back, the Canoe- Men 

 î\eçd only change Hands. He wdio is behind fteers with his 

 Qar, working continually ; and the greatefl: Occupation of him 

 whQis forward, is to take Care that the Canoe touches nothing- 

 tQ burll^ it. They fit or kneel on the Bottom, and their Oars are 

 paddies of five or lix Feet long, commonly of Maple ; but. when 

 they go againft a Current that is pretty llrong, they mufl: ufe a 

 |*ple, and Hand upright. One mud hare a good deal of Pradlice 

 preferve a Ballance in this Exercife, for nothing is lighter, and 

 Cqnfequence eauer to overfet, than thefe Canoes ; the great - 

 ^ft of which, with their Loading, docs not draw more than half 

 a Fopt Water. 



The Bark of which thefe Canoes are made, as well as the Ribs 

 gr^d the Bars, are few'd with the Roots of Fir, which are more plia^ 

 ble, and dry much lefs than the Ozier. All the Seams are gum'd 

 ^^ithin and without, but they mull: be viewed every Day, to fee 

 th^it the Gum is not peeled oli. The largefl Canoes carry twelve 

 Men, two upon a Sear; and 4000/, Weight. Of all the Sava- 

 ,yes, the moil flvilful Builders of Canoes are the Outaouais ; and 

 xVigQmi'^l Ûi^ Algonquin Nations fucceed herein better than the 

 Hjcrons, Few French 2.% y can make them even tolerably; but to 

 guide them, they are at leaft as fafe as the Savages of the Coun- 

 try ; and they pratflife this Exercife from their Childhood. All 

 tjie Çanoescven the fmalleft carry a Sail, and vvdth a good Wind 

 ç^yx make twenty Leagues in a Day. Without Sails they mull be 

 ^Qod Canoe-Men to make twelve Leagues in a dead Water. 

 From the ///// of the Lake to Lake St. François^ is but a good 

 ^ ; J J half League. This Lake which I pafTed the 



■ / '^^^ '^^ i^fi;}^ is feven Leagues long, and three Leagues 

 f rançois, ^.^^ ^1^^ moil in its greateil Breadth, the 



o.n both Sides are low, but they feem to be pretty good. 

 Courfe from Montreal to this Place is a little to the South 

 Weft 5 ^nd the Lake of St. François runs Weft South Weft, and 

 Eç»ft North Eaft. I encamped juft above it, and in the Night I 

 W^i.s v^/akened by fome piercing Cries, as of People complain- 

 ing. I was frightened at firft, but foon recovered myfelf, when 



they 



