New-York tribune., 1879-06-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE GREAT FUR LAND.
THE GREAT FUR LAND; OR, SKETCHES OF

The author of this work already favorably
known to the readers of periodical literature by his
lively sketches of travelling experience among the
Indians and half-breeds of the Hudsons Bay Terri
tory, some of the popular American magazines
Although the region has already been more or less
fully described by previous writers, Mr.. RobinsonS
narrative exhibits freshness and glow of delinea-
tiou. founded on certain novelty of adventure,
which commands the attention of the reader, and
makes his story as attractive as romance.
His first journey was over the ice of Lake Winni-
peg that had been frozen hard by the cold of the
Northern Winter, and was then in an excellent con-
dition TO test his skill as the conductor of dog
sledge His passenger team consisted OF four long
haired clean-egged, foX-hcaded animals, that had
more the appearance of wolves than dogs The
sledge which carried his provisions, bedding, and
camp-equipage, was drawn by team of inferior
pretensions, with which strength was more OF an
object than symmetry For provisions, he had only
pemmican the pounded dried flesh of the buffalo,
mingled with fat. and black tea. The dogs were
fed on frozen white-iish. The driver was native
Cree who had been tempted into the service by
the offer of Eve golden soveregns This was lank
muscular parsonage whose huge bones stood out
conspcuously from the joints and angles of his stall
wart frame; he had yellow paint on his face; ana
upon his rather bewildering apparel he wore brass
watch chain stretched tight across the pit OF his
stomach, with green blanket strapped over all.
He ran alongside Of the sledge, travelling at the
rate Of forty fifty miles day. The author joined
company with the four dog-trains aud two drivers,
which constitute the Great Northern Packet OF the
Hudson's Bay Company, starting in the morning
amid much cracking of whips, howlng of dogs,
and profane expetiycs discreey yeiled by delivery
in the heathen tongues -
To the novice the spectacle presented by number OF
gayyaccoutred doe-trains gliding merly by isa cheer
the shaggy ran the cdrioe Enthusiastically decorated In
bright warm colors the PASSENGER cosby WI@IPe1 dd ~
comfort the active driver trotuns unweaucdly along
side until the sledge with all its belongings becomes
mere peck Of black the limit Loss eNauSe OF snow
ali cOnspire TO commend Goe-iedglns 70 ht UdSslJl u
speciatoras The ideal OF Winter travel the veriia6e
poetry Of motion The svan-iiEc motion OF The sledeo
rs its thin bottom yields in glaceim curves ana uh0uS
lOus, To ADAPT ltsei 20 lu1i ats Oh sIlaot
IT, IS strangely suggestive # the progress of canoe
over waters family wl"t by passing breeze To he
IN such cradle, ana be scnty Ioc"eI oNtl TX
landscape hour after hour, would seem an luNlhc ne IN
20 DE OF that Intensity which it neither possible to PIC
descrihe of that degree In which al or hNue
touches it. freezes while it is being drunk
in which an instants exposure OF me lace leaves the
cheek the classical nose upon which one prizes An-
favclr with head bowed 10 meet the crushing blast,
goes YEARLY on. az silent a. the river ana forests
through which he rides, and from whose rid bosom no
sound ever comes, 10 ripple ever breaks, no 9Id' no
beast, no human face appcars-a cod Of whichdhaynS
said all this there sense of utter Inability to convey
any adequate idea, except that means suIs ad CeIn
death. with calm and peaceful face turned up 70 lne
".
granite, within period whose Guiatoi n Wouu III III
the hours OF winters Daylight II there were DO HEe
means Of making II upon the track
The dogs are goaded to their daily task by the
continued lashings of the drivers whip. While the
stars are still shining bright in the winry sky, the
sledre-dog is rudcly aroused from his slumbers by
the summons of his master. Close by the camp
under the shelter of a stump or fallen tree he has
lain coiled in a round ball during the night Perhaps
too the falling flakes of snow have covered him
with their soft folds, and added to his sense of
warmth. IL is aroused from his dreams of comfort
by blow Of the whip or a kick of the drivers foot,
to find his place in the gaudy gear OF moose-skin and
bells awaiting him. Then comes the start, the
wooded copse is left behind and as day dawns be
plOds along through the snow -
When the Winters day draws TO a close aud the twi-
light landscape mas warned the traveller TO choose ms
Iesug-paee for the night ne seGgedoe hHds rehGI @
battered disgued face loses in some slight degree
Stretches and rolls in powdery snow, then lies down
watch the preparation of the evening meal in faint
hope that some portion may slip from his mas
tcI's hand or be left moment ungarded Soon, now
ever, his watch merges into unconsclousless, and he
sleeps. But the termination of his masters meal, fO-
lowed by sound OF the striking the block Of penn
Incan. the unloading Of the frozen wefsh from the
IroyisOns edge at awakens him TO life and yigOr
lie leaps quickly up, an alert, vicious animal, with
instinct centred IN an eageHcrayng toF food In
ihe plain-cOuntry daily ration Of two pounds o penn
mcan IS thrown him IN the region OF iorest and stream
wner, fish the staple food, he receives two large
Nhitesh In his diet he prefers fish to meat and
betTays It's superiority IN MS WORK HIS one daily
meal soon dispatched no pleasures OF deGutlton are
his. A quick snap, followed by a moments rapid
taIae short snap a few conyulsye throes aud the
frozen fish Is bolted almost whole and the wstfu eyes
turned up Not finding il, he nduges IL
son Of growing and swapping at his fellows then lies
down out In the snow 10 s.eep or Perelance TO dream
fha be broken and hauling shall be no more Thus he
remains till unless old shafter, grim and
gray rising at midnight his launches naugurates
chorus TO the skies or pack Of wolves, seated IKE
senrios huge circle about the camp, challenge hun
by quick barks renew ther hereditary feud.
With the return of Spring the dreary trail of the
dogs is exchanged for the pleasant motion of the
canoe, and the hard drag over the snow for the
quiet gliding upon the forest streams. What the
horse is to the Arab, and the camel to the desert
traveller the birch-bark is to the Indian 1t
Is part OF the savage nature, grown INTO the econ
omy of bis life after generations OF use. The forests
along the river shores furnish the materials for its
construction; birch-bark for its outer covering;
the thews of the jumper to together the sepa-
rate pieces red pine to give rosn for the seams and
crevices. 1t is built close to the hunting lodge on
the shore of the lake or riyer:-
During the Summer season the canoe ia the nome or
the red IL not only boat but mouse ne turns
AZ over him protection when ne camps he carries IL
long distances over land from lake 70 IdAe fIah Dc
yond words Jet he loads IL ooWn % 10 to Tdei & cuse
dies through wood and swamp and Ieedl shailOW-tl
,s rs harvest OF Wild rlce or catches fss OF steals
npoI BIS game dashes down the widest rapids braves
rse,d r waters While tie trees are green, while tie
waters dance ana sparkle and the wild duck dwes IN
the sedgy ponds the orcEDark canoe IS the red mans
home -
Aud how well he knows the moods Of the river! the
multiplicity OF Its pers, and Its eyeT-changng beauty
10 him n Is replete with all wild instincts. He speaks
of il as lie does OF his horse, his dog, VINO VIII 40
whatever ne comm8Dds IL gives hun his test oi supe
liOy bis proof Oi courage 10 guiue NE cdhOo thtoh
some lug eddy. TO shoot some roaring waterfall 10
launch Il by edge of some tercely or
dash down foamiug rapid is 10 he brave and snful
Inoiau The man who does all this, and does II well,
must possess rspIdty OF glance power IN the sweep
of mis- paddle, ami quiet consciousness OF SKILL not at
tanned save by long Years of practice
An exceedingly light ana graceful craft IS the brcl-
bark canoe; type OF speed ant beauty so light that
one man eau easily cary his shoulder over laud