nineteen portages and creeks, besides fourteen rapids, which are a great hindrance to the journey. The Indians run down the strong currents without the least fear, and seldom meet with any accident, performing the voyage in one third part of the time they take in ascending, and without any damage to their canoes, which in going against the stream are frequently rendered useless, and they are obliged to make new ones, before they can pursue their voyage; but it is a most convenient circumstance that they are no where at a loss for birch bark, and being also very expert, they will make a canoe in three days sufficiently large to carry three people with necessaries for their support, and room to stow their furs and skins.[1] On this lake there are about one hundred and fifty good hunters, who make a great many packs of beaver, &c. and this was one inducement for settling here, which was increased by the prospect of a plentiful supply of fish, rice, and cranberries, which are winter comforts of too great consequence to be slighted.
Having secured the canoes, and refreshed my men with
good soup, I left them in charge of the goods, and took
two Indians to shew me a convenient place to build a
house, which having fixed on, a building was erected,
fifty feet long, and twenty feet wide, divided into two
separate apartments, one for merchandise, and the other
for common use. The rum being concealed in the woods,
and every thing properly arranged, we put the fishing
tackle in order; and as the lakes began to freeze very fast,
I divided my men into two parties, one half to be employed
in fishing, the remainder (except one man whom I always kept in the house) in providing fuel for winter.
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- ↑ For a brief description of the process of making a birch bark canoe, see McKinney, Tour of the Lakes (Baltimore, 1827), p. 319.—Ed.
