474 



they are all permitted, by regulation, to ply 

 with their boats, on condition of receiving no 

 more than the established rates, which are very 

 moderate; in almost any weather they will 

 cross in their canoes, which are large, and very 

 strong, being made from the trunk of a tree 

 hollowed out, or more frequently of two joined 

 together, and firmly secured on the inside ; 

 they are managed with great dexterity, and 

 sometimes take as many as eight passengers 

 besides the three or four men who work them. 

 In the winter, when large masses of ice are 

 floating up and down with the tide, and often 

 w^hen there is a strong breeze, impelled at the 

 rate of three or four knots an hour, this pas- 

 sage is singularly laborious, and to all appear- 

 ance extremely hazardous, yet it is very rare 

 that a fatal accident has happened; in snow 

 storms, indeed, they have been frequently 

 driven several leagues out of their course, 

 either above or below the town, without know- 

 ing whereabouts they were, but have always 

 reached their place of destination sooner or 

 later. It is not an uncommon thing to see 

 several of these large canoes, laden with provi- 

 sions for the market, crossing the river as nearly 

 in a Ime as they are able to keep : the cargoes 

 are generally secured by a strong lashing ; they 

 are provided with strong poles having iron 



