26 kiARMON'S JOURNAL. 



age them with greater dexterity, than any other 

 people. 



Wednesday, 30. Point Claire. Rainy even- 

 ing. For the first time in my life, I am to pass 

 the night in a tent. In the former part of the 

 day, I was employed in marking bales of goods, 

 which are to be sent to the Grand Portage or 

 General Rendezvous. About 12 o'clock, I em- 

 barked on board of one of the canoes, destined for 

 the above mentioned place. The whole squad- 

 ron, which consits of thirty canoes, is divided into 

 three .brigades. One or two Guides or Pilots are 

 attached to each brigade. Their business is, to 

 point out the best course up and down the 

 streams and through the lakes, and to take 

 charge of the canoes and property on board. 

 They attend to the repairs of the canoes, which 

 are frequently broken, and have the same com- 

 mand over the men, attached to their respective 

 brigades, as the commander of a vessel has, over 

 the men on board. The Voyagers, as the men 

 are called, have many of the customs of sailors ; 

 and among them the following. By all those on 

 board, who have never passed certain places, they 

 expect to be treated with something to drink; 

 and should a person refuse to comply with their 

 requisitions, he would be sure of being plunged 

 into the water, which they profanely call, baptiz- 



Dsf 



