/ 
BARK. CANOES. IT 
will purchase, for the order is but poor. We 
selected a few of the articles which appeared 
most curious, and having received them packed 
up in the neatest manner in little boxes kept 
for the purpose, and promised to preserve them 
in memory of the fair Ursulines, that handed 
them to us, we bade adieu to the superieure, 
and returned to our lodgings. 
It is for their very curious bark-work that 
the sisters of this convent are particularly dis¬ 
tinguished. The bark of the birch tree is 
what they use, and with it they make pocket- 
books, work-baskets, dressing-boxes, &c. &c, 
which they embroider with elk hair, died of 
the most brilliant colours. They also make 
models of the Indian canoes, and various war¬ 
like implements used by the Indians. 
Nearly all the birch bark canoes in use on 
the St. Lawrence and Utawa Rivers, and on 
the nearer lakes, are manufactured at Three 
Rivers, and in the neighbourhood, by Indians. 
The birch tree is found in great plenty near 
the town; but it is from the more northern 
part of the country, where the tree attains a 
very large size, that the principal part of the 
bark, is procured that canoes are made with. 
The bark resembles in some degree that of 
the cork tree, but it is of a closer grain, and 
also much more pliable, for it admits of being 
rolled up the same as a piece of'cloth. The 
VOL. II, 
c 
