New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-12
WINTER TRAVELLING IN THE UPPER
PENINSULA.
From The Detroit ..Irsrti'sr.

As our readers well know the residents Of the Up
per Ponpsula almost entirely shut out from the
rest of the world during the Winter months and until
within two three years the only mode of egrcss has
b,en by srow-shces and dog trans
The mails are carried by Indians and hall ibreeds,
wbtO the travelling ia good, their backs and when
il lie bad, by dog trsins.
The snow fails to a depth of from two to five SIX
feet Tie snow shoes used by the about eight
or ten inches i'll width, ard from two and half to
four srd half feet length. They fat, and
made of a bow of maple wood, round at the toe and
coming 10 point at the heel where the ends are fast
ened by thong Of raw deer skin. The spsce is lsd
by lacework of raw deer moose skin strings, With
the exception Of small space immediately in front of
a crosspece of wood upon which the ball OF the foot
rests. The shoes used by women are smaller than
these used by the men, and Of different shape The
feet OF the person using the shoes are encased in
moccssins Of buckskn, sufficiently large to admit
three -four thicknesses of blanket The blanket is
used not only TO keep the feet warm bat also to pre-
vent the from being chatsd the strings of b1ck
skin VIII h are passed over them, and by which the
shoes are fastened 10 the feet.
The dog trains used are made Of fat board about
half an inch in thickness, ten inches in width, and
from Elk 10 ten ard twelve feet in length, and are
turned up in front. AZ e4ch side of the train rope
is fastered, running the whole length OF 1t, and a
treiI cloth of is used, considerably larger
than the train. The articles 10 be carried placed
on the cloth from end Of the train to the other.
1he cloth is then wrapped over them, and laced up by
Of string passing under the ropes at the sie
For tramp, the edibes carried are lsually-some
-four pilot bresd salt pork tea ard sugar, and cook
ing utenss, fin kettle and frying pan. The food
fer the dogs is generally tallow and meal. Toe
bsdelotte are, single blanket 20 each man. In1ians
or bslfbTe,ds are employed 40 guides and assistants
dorirg tramp.
ImsgGe white man aud an Indian about starting
Oh tramp OF three or four hundred niles through
forest unfrequented by all living beings except sid
birds ard animals The provisions are packed Jon
the tran, the dogs harnessel 70 il, shead O
the her to the number Of foar or i've. The Iadi.o
takes the esd, with his snow-shOes, the dogs toDov
with the train, snd the palefa - brings up the rear
with yels TO the dogs in front Of him. Tramp tramp
tramp, until poor, when halt i made; the train is
unpacked, the kettle, tea and sugar is produced,
fire, lighted and, after taking e1p OF tss,
the word is given and sg.in the tramp con-
nences. Tne psrty makes smother halt IN ums
to prepare the camping ground before the night ses
in. Tie dogs left standing III their harness, the
Indian takes the and cuts enocgh fuel 20 last until
mon ing, the white snow. shoe for sho yel
and clears away the until the gronnd is rsa-bed.
shelter s then built over tire cleared sp.ce, of pole,
covered With evergreen boughs. The front Of tie
'wigwam is left opsn, aud the ground covered vita
henlock boughs. Immediately opposite the front,
roasrg log FIRE i. built the dogs unhsruessed and the
supper prepared Tse supper is composed of cap of
tea pork cooked r the frying psn AID soms )ur
cooked the fat LET fom tie pork. After s1ppsr the
pipes and tobacco are produced, and the whit mso
smokes n 'front.' OF the hre, while the lodao COOKS the
supper Of corn and tal0w for tho dogs, "a tie sane
ke'e q. kicl the tea had betI made Ls fec HT!es
before. After being satisfied with bis smoke, the
pslesce and Indian wrap their blankets arourdtaen,
and lsy down side by side on the h.mlock boughs,
with their feet 70 tie fre aud sleep weety and a.
soundy rs 4" eer did king upon tae richest damssk."
In the morning, before day. the ii.n prepares t1s
breakfast, which is eaten, AMI the travellers again
move on. The dogs are fed but once q day and the
reason il, they travel much better. A di-tsoes Of
thirty mile. per day is Travelled with by those
cu.tined 10 the use OF snow-shoes. When toward
Spring, the days become longer and the sun hotter,
the travelling is done at night, and the resting a,d
sleeping by day
Tie veteran Indian "snow-shoeer" viii never drink
water or est saow, during the time he is 90 s jolr
pey, ss lie says ii makes him very much weak"
The Indians and half breeds coming in from long
journey their arrival at their place Of destc alton,
WILL If night is and dance is 10 prospect, stay
about until the ban begins 20 TO il, anil dance uu.l
daylight. We have known Of parties Of young men
putting their snow-shoes on Christmas morning,
walking thirty miles TO ball, dancing sll night and
then waking distance Of twelve miles " breakfast