The Penn's Grove record., 1901-08-09
The PENIS Grove Record
D AUGUST 9, 1901.

Basin Depot. Nippissing District

Basin Depot. Nlpplsslng DlsJIlCl'
Canada, July 10Th, 1901.
EDITOR OF THE REcoED:-I left New
York on the 18th Of June and arrived in
Toronto the evening Of the same day at
$50 o'clock. Leaving there two days
later | have since travelled a distance OF
over 500 miles by railroad, steamer and
canoe route through this land Of noun
tains, lakes and natural water ways. To
write a description Of this country, in a
manner calculated to give your readers an
intelligent idea OF what it is like, would
be indeed difficult, as few il any OF them
have traversed a country similar to 1t,
and no writer's pen has as yet described
the boundless wealth Of scenery and soil
tude that nature has seen fit to lavish up
on this vast and partially nneNplored
country.
Since leaving the northern shores OF
Lake Ontario, | have passed by railroad,
crossed by steamer and travelled by
n route 216 lakes, and yet have seen
but five per cent. OF the number Of lakes
in the Province Of Ontario and the Mp
pissing District. These lakes vary IN
size from onemile to twenty miles In
length: all fresh water and vary in depth
from eight to fifty feet. Some are sur
rounded by high rockey mountainous
shores while others are surrounded by
flat land heavily timbered with white
pine, birch, poplar and spruce OF an i'm
mense size. Near the settlements and
railroads the evidence Of the lumbermah ;
ak can be seen, as the great white pine
stumps, from two to four feet in diamet-
err, are the only marks OF what were once
the stately forests OF timber that took
hundreds OF years to mature. This land
is nearly all government land, except IN
a few cases where settlers have taken it
up or a reservation has been set aside Tor
the different tribes Of Indians, who were
the pioneers OF this forest country.
Among the different tribes OF Indians
found here are the Algonquins, %Iroquois,
Chippewas, Ojibbewas, Mississaguas, Mo
hawks, Sangeens, Oneidas and Thawana-
gas, all of which are friendly. Some are
quite industrious, the most Of which are
to be found among the ~Algonquins.
The Indians are the most expert guides
to be found here and the white man
would, in fact, make little progress IN
exploring the country without the aid Of
the Indians, the different tribes OF which
have roamed over it on their various
hunting trips.
Perhaps a description OF one of my
canoe trips and what ! saw coming to
this place would be Of interest. ! came to
Golden Lake, an Algonquin Indian Res
%ervation, via, the Canada and Atlantic
Railroad, the station being on the reser-
walton. Before preparing Tor the trip
made inquiry Of the station agent a to
the best way to proceed. | told him
wanted to secure the services OF w good
Indian guides. lie sent NE with a letter
OF introduction to the Parish Priest,
Father Periault, who very kindly took
the trouble to send for Two Indians whom
he said were the best on the reservation
Perhaps some OF your readers will won
der why | wa sent to the priest Tor III
formation. All the Indians at Golden
Lake reservation are Catholics, and the
priest, who has charge Of their spiritual
welfare, know all the good indians from
the bad ones. In fact, know all about
them and a stranger will do We'll 10
always consult the priest on the reserve
before making selections Of his men,
The two Indians sent Tor soon came
and | told them where | wanted TO %
and what my business was. They seem-
ed to know all about the country and a
bargain was soon made and preparations
for our journey begun, At noon the fol
lowing day we We're ready for the start
and a bright warm day it was, We left
the reservation at the lower end oil Gold
en- Lake at / O'Clock, Our outfit consist
ed of a birch bark canoe, tent, cooking
utensils, provisions for ten days and a n
calibre Winchester rifle, besides some
other minor equipments, The names OF
my Indians were Matthew Bernado, an
Algonquin and Ned Brisque, a Micmac.
| told them when we started that the on
w language to be used on the trip was
English and the first one to speak to the
other in Indian language should forfeit
his allowance of tobacco during the trip.
They soon told me they could not under
stand the language OF one onOther as one
spoke the Algonquin tongue and the 9TH
er the Micmac, which was no little sur
prise to me.
After the usual good bye othe fam
lilies of the men we were off, | taking a
comfortable seat in the bottom OF the
canoe on some blankets. Brisque at the
bow padded and Bernado in the stern,
where the best man is always required in
such cases as ascending and running
defending rapids" shallow dangerous
water caused by the water flowing rapid
ly through narrow gourges over large
rock in the bottom. We passed through
Golden Lake, il miles long and three
miles wide, at its widest point. The hills
rise to an imposing height round this lake
and a few pretty little islands rise from
the centre of the lake, one in particular,
Trout Island, about %one-quarter OF a mile
in diameter either way and covered with
pine. This is called Trout Island lama
gus in Indian) the place where the In
dians go to spear trout which are very
abundant in all the lakes in this part OF
Canada.
We arrived at the head OF Golden Lake
~(Coquanagoon) at 5,25 p, NJ, making the
run in four hours and a quarter. Here
We found an old camping ground and
stopped for supper. As o as we land
al ,,.b,.h ,,,as at, "a cl,ou sandy 1hprp