his being the "harse," or harrow, a term of derision applied to the
slowest canoe. Calling me aside, however, he explained the cause of
his discontent, which was very different from what I had surmised:
his crew, whenever they found themselves sufficiently far in the rear
to be out of hearing, invariably struck up an obscene song, alike
unmindful of his presence and remonstrances; and this day had not only
sung, but indulged in conversation the most indecent imaginable. This
announcement appeared to me the more strange, that most of these young
men had never before quitted home; and I had always understood the
authority of the priest to be, at least, equal to that of the parent.
Although, therefore, I never had any very great reverence for the
(so-called) successors of St. Peter, I yet felt for my fellow-traveller,
and addressed the miscreants who had insulted him in terms of grave
reprehension, threatening them with severe punishment if such conduct
should again be repeated.

We arrived at the post of Lac de la Pluie, on the 8th of June; and,
after a short halt, and carrying our _impedimenta_ across the portage
on which the fort is situated, commenced the descent of Lac de la
Pluie river,--a beautiful stream, running with a smooth, though strong
current, and maintaining a medium breadth of about 200 yards. Its
banks, which are clothed with verdure to the water's edge, recede by a
gradual slope until they terminate in a high ridge, running parallel
to the river on both sides. This ridge yields poplar, birch, and
maple, with a few pines, proving the excellence of the soil. The
interior, however, is said to be low and swampy.

We passed the residence of an old retired servant of the Company, on
the 9th, who, if I may judge from the appearance of his farm and the
number of his cattle, must vegetate very much at his ease.