142 



Harmon's journal. 



their respective winter quarters, and who, like our- 

 selves, are on their way to the New Fort. 



Friday, July 5. Rainy Lake. On the margin 

 of the waters, which connect this lake with the 

 Great Winipick Lake, the wild rice is found, of 

 which I have spoken on a former occasion. This 

 useful grain is produced in no other part of the 

 North West Country ; though Carver erroneous- 

 ly states, that it is found every where. It grows 

 in water, about two feet deep, where there is a 

 rich muddy bottom. It rises more than eight feet 

 above the water ; and, in appearance bears a con- 

 siderable resemblance to oats. It is gathered 

 about the latter end of September, in the follow- 

 ing manner. The Natives pass in among it in ca- 

 noes. Each canoe has in it two persons, one of 

 whom is in each end, with a long hooked stick, in 

 one hand, and a straight one in the other. With 

 the hooked stick, he brings the heads of the grain 

 over the canoe, and holds it there ; while, with 

 the other, he beats it out. When the canoe is 

 thus sufficiently loaded, it is taken to the shore and 

 emptied. This mode of gathering the wild rice, 

 is evidently more simple and convenient, than that 

 which was practised in Carver's day. This grain 

 is gathered in such quantities, in this region, that, 

 in ordinary seasons, the North West Company 

 purchase, annually, from twelve to fifteen hundred 



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