240 TRAVELS THROUGH LOWER CANADA f 
the Indian nations have no permanent 
of residence, but move about from one sj 
to another, and in the hunting 1 season they alt 
have moveable encampments, which last are 
in general very rude, and insufficient to give 
them even tolerable shelter from a fall of rain 
or snow. The hunting season commences on 
the fall of the leaf, and continues till the snow 
dissolves. 
In the depth of whiter, when the snow is 
frozen on the ground, they form their hunting 
sheds of the snow itself; a few twigs platted 
together being simply placed overhead to pre¬ 
vent the snow which forms the roof from 
falling down. These snowy habitations are 
much more comfortable, and warmer in winter¬ 
time than any others that can be erected, 
as they effectually screen you from the keen 
piercing blasts of the wind, and a bed of snow 
is far from being uncomfortable. To accustom 
the troops to encamp in this style, in case of a 
winter campaign, a party of them, headed by 
some of the young officers, used regularly to 
be sent from Quebec by the late governor, 
into the woods, there to shift for themselves 
during the month of February^ Care was 
always taken, however, to send with them 
two or three experienced persons, to shew 
them how to build the huts, otherwise death' 
might have been the consequence to many. 
