go down about their ears, and they must finish the operation in the
open air.

Several of our men having already deserted, we encamped upon islands,
when they could be found, or kept watch on the mainland. Our hour
of departure was three o'clock, A.M.; when the weather permitted we
breakfasted at seven, dined at one or two o'clock, P.M., and encamped
at sunset. In calm weather the canoes went abreast, singing in chorus
and keeping time with the paddles. All was then gaiety, and, to
appearance, happiness; but this is one of those bright spots in a
voyageur's life which are few and far between.

We reached Fort Coulonge on the 3d, and it being late, I took up my
quarters with my worthy old bourgeois, Mr. S. Here we received some
additional supplies of provisions for the crews and passengers. We
arrived at Lac des Allumettes on the 5th, where I put ashore merely to
say _bon jour_ to an old acquaintance. We encamped rather early this
evening, to allow the men a little extra rest, on account of the
laborious duty they had performed for some days before. Next day,
when ascending the rapid of Roche Capitaine, the canoe in which I
was passenger came in violent contact with another; but mine only
sustained damage. The bow being stove in, the canoe began to fill; we
however gained the shore, to which fortunately we were close, at a
leap, and lost no time in discharging the cargo. Drying the goods and
repairing the canoe occupied us a good part of the day.

We reached the Forks of Mattawin on the 8th, where we found a small
outpost belonging to the Fort Coulonge district, recently established
for the purpose of securing the hunts of the Indians of this quarter,
who were in the habit of trading with shanty men. Being no longer