ISLANDS. 51 
but towards midnight the wind died away* 
this circumstance,, however, did not alter the 
determination of the conductor. The men 
were ordered to the oars, and notwithstanding 
that they had laboured hard during the pre¬ 
ceding day, and had had no rest, yet they 
were kept closely at work until day-break, 
except for one hour, during which they were 
allowed to stop to cook their provisions. 
Where there is a gentle current, as in this 
part of the river, the Canadians will work at 
the oar for many hours without intermission ; 
they seemed to think it no hardship to be 
kept employed in this instance the whole 
night; on the contrary, they plied as vigo¬ 
rously as if they had but just set out, singing 
merrrily the whole time. The French Cana¬ 
dians have in general a good ear for music, and 
sing duets with tolerable accuracy. They 
have one very favourite duet amongst them, 
called the rowing duet,” which as they sing 
they mark time to, with each stroke of the 
oar; indeed when rowing in smooth water, 
they mark the time of most of the airs they 
sing in the same manner. 
About eight o'clock the next, and eighth 
morning of our voyage, we entered the last 
lake before you come to that of Ontario, called 
The Lake of a Thousand Islands, on account of 
the multiplicity of them which it contains. 
e 2 
