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Page 39
When the retreat is not inhabited, the entrance to it is barred by
sticks, and the hunter proceeds to chisel again, and continues his
operations until the beaver is either taken, or shut out from all his
haunts, in which case he is compelled to return to the house to take
breath, where he is either shot or caught in a trap.
The language of these Indians is a dialect of the Sauteux or Bungee,
intermixed with Cree, and a few words of French derivation. The
greater part of them have a smattering of French or English; but the
acquisition of a foreign language is extremely difficult to them, from
the peculiar formation of their own, which wants the letter r. An
Algonquin pronounces the word "marrow" "manno" or "mallo." Their
dialect has all the softness of the Italian, but is extremely poor and
defective.
CHAPTER XV.
EMBARK FOR THE INTERIOR--MODE OF TRAVELLING BY CANOES--LITTLE
RIVER--LAKE NIPISSING--FRENCH RIVER--OLD STATION OF INDIAN
ROBBERS--FORT MISSISSAGA--INDIANS--LIGHT CANOE-MEN--SAULT STE.
MARIE--LAKE SUPERIOR--CANOE-MEN DESERT--RE-TAKEN--FORT WILLIAM--M.
THIBAUD--LAC LA PLUIE AND RIVER--INDIANS--WHITE RIVER--NARROW
ESCAPE--CONVERSATION WITH AN INDIAN ABOUT BAPTISM.
On the 25th April, 1833, I embarked on board of a steamboat at
Lachine, and reached Hull on the 27th. Here the regular conveyance by
land carriages and steamboat ended, and the traveller in those days
was obliged to wait his passage by the canoes of shanty men, or hire a
boat or canoe for himself. I had recourse to the latter expedient, and
reached the post of the Chats, then in charge of my esteemed friend
Mr. McD----l, on the 30th. Captain Back arrived on the 1st of May,
put ashore for a few supplies and my wards, and immediately
re-embarked.
The brigade arrived on the 2d, and the guide delivered me a letter
from Mr. K----, informing me that I was to consider myself merely as a
passenger, the command of the men being entrusted to the guide by
Governor Simpson's orders. This arrangement relieved me of much
anxiety and trouble; though I would rather have preferred undergoing
any personal inconvenience to being placed under the command of an
ignorant Canadian, who might use his "brief" authority in a way very
offensive to my feelings, without being guilty of anything that I
could complain of.
My fears, however, were disappointed, as he showed every deference to
my wishes, as well as the utmost courtesy to the other passengers,
most of whom were of a rank not likely to find much consideration from
a Canadian boatman; they consisted of a young priest not yet ordained,
an apprentice clerk, three youths who had been at their education in
Lower Canada, and myself.
The brigade consisted of three Montreal canoes, laden with provisions
for the trip, and some tobacco for the southern department; and manned
by sixty Iroquois and Canadians, the latter engaged to winter, the
former for the trip.
The day was far spent when we left the portage of the Chats, and we
encamped in the evening near the head of the rapids. The mode of
travelling in canoes being now well known, I shall not detail the
occurrences of each day, but confine myself to the narration of such
incidents as may be most worthy of notice throughout the voyage. The
moment we landed the tent was pitched by men employed for the purpose;
the other men unloaded the canoes, and carried the goods beyond
high-water mark, where it was piled and covered with oil-cloths.
It is the particular duty of the bowsman to attend to the canoe, to
repair and pitch it when necessary, and to place it in security when
the cargo is discharged. In consideration of these services he is
exempt from the duty of loading or unloading, his wages are higher
than those of the steersman, and he ranks after the guide. The latter
generally messes with the gentlemen, his canoe always takes the lead
in the rapids, but in still water the post of honour is held by the
best going canoe. The guide rouses the men in the morning; the moment
the call is heard, "L�ve, l�ve!" the passengers spring upon their
feet, tie up their beds, and if they are not smart about it, the tents
go down about their ears, and they must finish the operation in the
open air.
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