Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22

pm. we arrived at the height of land.
A short portage of 800 yards and we put
the canoes into a little lake. which proved
to be the source of the Great George river.
We camped that night where its waters
begin their swift descent to Ungava bay
Some fifty miles below the head of the
river we came upon the Indians. There
were only the women of the tribe there.
The men had gone to Davis inlet. on the
east coast. to trade for their winter sup
plies and had not returned. These people
we found belonged to the Montagnais tribe.
They received US in friendly manner. eag-
erly urging us to remain longer with them.
George Elson spoke to them in their own
tongue, and here we learned that we were
but two days journey from the Nascaupee
camp, farther down the river. The women
speak only their own language. but we
learned that some Of the men speak Eng
fish quite easily.
Sunday morning, August 20, l awoke in
a state of expectancy. We had slept three
times since leaving the Montagnais camp,
and unless the Barren Ground people were
not now in their accustomed camping place
we ought to see them before night. Many
thoughts came of how greatly Mr.. Hub
bard had wished TO see them and what
a privilege he would have thought II to
be able to visit them.
It seemed this morning as If something
unusual must happen. 1t was as If we
were coming into hidden country.
As we padded along at pretty brisk
rate. suddenly George exclaimed, There
1t Is.
There it was indeed, a covered wigwam
high up on a sandy hill which sloped 70
the river and formed the point round which
1t flowed to the lake among the mountains.
Very soon a second wigwam came in sight
At first We saw no one at the camp. Then
figure appeared. moving about near one
of the wigwams, 1t was evident that they
had not yet caught sight of us, but as we
padded slowly along the figure suddenly
stopped. whole company came running
together and plainly our sudden appearance
was causing great excitement. There was
a hurried moving to and fro, and after
a time came the sound Of two rifle shots.
1 replied with my revolver Again they
fred and 1 replied again. Then more
shots from the hill.
AS we drew slowly near the men ran
down toward the landing, but halted above
a narrow belt of trees growing near the
waters edge There. 1t was plain, very
animated discussion of the newcomers was
going on.
We all shouted Bo Jou! Bo jou'' (Bon
jourD
A chorus of be jous came back from the
Hill. George called to them In Indian: I'VE
are strangers and are passing through your
country.
The sound of words In their own tongue
treasured them and they ran down to the
landing. As We drew near we could hear
them talking. I, of course, could not UNI
derstand. word of 1t. but ! learned from
George later what they were saying.
1t was a strangely striking picture they
made that quiet Sabbath morning as they
stood there at the shore with the dark
green woods behind them and ell about
them the great wilderness of rock and
river and lake. They had strongly Indian
faces, and those of the older men showed
plainly the marks OF the battle for life
they had been fighting. They were TALL
1.-THE and actiye-loeking. with certain
air of self-possession and dignity which
almost all Indians seem to have. They
wore dressed deerskin breeches and mecca
sins. and over the breeches were drawn
bright-redsselot leggings. reaching from
ankle to we'll above the knees and held
in place by straps fastened about the waist.
The shirts, some of which were of cloth
and some of dressed deerskin were worn
outside the brooches. and over these q
White coat bound about the edges with
blue or red. Their hair they wore long ana
cut straight round below the ears and tied
about the head was a brfght-colored kerr
chief. The faces were full of interest.
the women and children and old men stood
watching. perhaps waiting till 1t should
develop whether the strangers were friend
ly or hostile
sWhere did you come into the river?s.
the chief asked.
George explained that we had come the
whole length OF the river, that we had
come into It from AFichikamau, which we
reached by way OF the Naacaupee. He was
greatly surprised. He knew the route and
had been at Northwest river. Turning 70