MOSS EIVEK — SWAMPY INDIANS. 



47 



exposure on Snake Island, seven miles distant, in a north- 

 east direction. The rock is curved, and fractured in 

 places, showing in an exposure 120 yards long and nine 

 feet high, inclinations varying from 20° to 40° east, with 

 short horizontal intervals. Some of the layers are ex- 

 tremely hard, others fissile, others crystalline, with crystals 

 of calc spar between the layers and in the fractures. 



Near the mouth of Moss River we came suddenly upon 

 a camp of Swampys or Muskaigoe * Indians. Several birch 

 bark tents were placed round a small log hut, which these 

 Indians have constructed for their permanent winter quar- 

 ters. This was the first attempt which had come under 

 my notice of Indians constructing a log dwelling-house 

 remote from the settlements, the H. B. Co.'s posts, or Mis- 

 sionary stations. They followed us until we stopped to 

 camp, and asked for a smoke. 



We arrived at the first rapids on Moss Eiver during 

 the afternoon. They have a fall of two feet, and consist 

 of an accumulation of boulders resting on rock. The 

 second rapids are formed by similar obstructions. The 

 river is here 120 feet broad and very shallow. The bank, 

 ten feet above the water, sustains fine aspens, with a 

 very thick undergrowth ; the soil is a clay, and evidently 

 fertile near the river, but in the rear the country passes 

 into muskeg or swamp. In ascending the second rapids 

 the boat had to be lightened, and hauled up by the men 

 walking in the middle of the stream. The temperature 

 for such work was not conducive to comfort or health, 

 and two of the men caught severe colds, with cramps and 

 pain in their limbs. 



Oct. 7 th. — A sharp frost during the night. Ice formed 

 on the oars in the morning. Temperature of air at 

 8 a.m. 30° ; of the river, 42°. The thermometer, during 



* From "muskeg," a swamp; sometimes spelled "muskaig." 



