familiar to them, and they then prefer it to the uncultivated manner of living in which they were brought up.[1]
A few days after my return to Lac la Mort, a band of
Savages arrived from the Red Lake, called by the Indians,
Misqui Sakiegan, and some from Lake Shabeechevan,
or the Weed Lake, about five days march beyond
Lake Manontoye. Red Lake is so called on account
of a remarkable circumstance which happened to two
famous warriors of the Chippeway nation, who were
hunting by the lake side, and as they were looking out
for game, perceived at some distance an enormous beast,
that appeared much larger than any animal they had ever
seen; his pace was slow and heavy, and he kept constantly
by the water side. They followed him as close as they
thought prudent, determined at all hazards to use their
best endeavours to kill him. As they approached, they
had a clearer view, and discovered that his body was
covered with something like moss; this increased their
surprise, and after consulting together, they continued
advancing towards the beast, and fired large shot, without
appearing to make any impression. They [81]
fired again with as little effect as before; then retreated
some distance, sat down and sung their war songs, addressing
themselves to the Master of Life, and desiring
his assistance to enable them to conquer it, as they believed
it to be the Matchee Mannitoo, or bad spirit, in the
shape of this monster. They then got up and pursued
him, both firing at the same time: the shot proved suc-
————
- ↑ Indian slavery among the French was first practiced in the Illinois country, and (1709) was authorized by edict for Canada. Slavery was abolished for Upper Canada in 1793; and by 1800 had ceased in Lower Canada. See Lafontaine, "L'esclavage en Canada," Montreal Historical Society Proceedings, 1858; Canadian Institute Transactions, 1889-90 (Toronto, 1891); and Proceedings, 1897, p. 19.—Ed.
