The Drama of the Forests | Page 6

of Indian women were
sitting in the shade, talking to Delaronde's Indian wife. All about, and
in and out of the Indian lodges, dirty, half-naked children romped
together, and savage dogs prowled around seeking what they might

devour. The deerskin or canvas covers of most of the tepees were raised
a few feet to allow the breeze to pass under. Small groups of women
and children squatted or reclined in the shade, smoking and chatting the
hours away. Here and there women were cleaning fish, mending nets,
weaving mats, making clothes, or standing over steaming kettles. Many
of the men had joined the "goods brigade," and their return was hourly
expected. Many canoes were resting upon the sandy beach, and many
more were lying bottom up beneath the shade of trees.
The most important work undertaken by the Indians during the summer
is canoe building. As some of the men are more expert at this than
others, it often happens that the bulk of the work is done by a few who
engage in it as a matter of business. Birch bark for canoe building is
taken from the tree early in May. The chosen section, which may run
from four to eight feet in length, is first cut at the top and bottom; then
a two-inch strip is removed from top to bottom in order to make room
for working a chisel-shaped wooden wedge--about two feet long--with
which the bark is taken off. Where knots appear great care is exercised
that the bark be not torn. To make it easier to pack, the sheet of bark is
then rolled up the narrow way, and tied with willow. In this shape, it is
transported to the summer camping grounds. Canoes range in size all
the way from twelve feet to thirty-six feet in length. The smaller size,
being more easily portaged, is used by hunters, and is known as a
two-fathom canoe. For family use canoes are usually from two and a
half to three and a half fathoms long. Canoes of the largest size,
thirty-six feet, are called six-fathom or "North" canoes. With a crew of
from eight to twelve, they have a carrying capacity of from three to
four tons, and are used by the traders for transporting furs and supplies.
Some Indians engage in "voyaging" or "tripping" for the traders--taking
out fur packs to the steamboats or railroads, by six-fathom canoe, York
boat, or sturgeon-head scow brigades, and bringing in supplies. Others
put in part of their time on an occasional hunt for moose or caribou, or
in shooting wild fowl. On their return they potter around camp making
paddles or snowshoe frames; or they give themselves up to gambling--a
vice to which they are rather prone. Sometimes twenty men or more,
divided into equal sides, will sit in the form of an oval, with their hair

drawn over their faces that their expression may not easily be read, and
with their knees covered with blankets. Leaders are chosen on either
side, and each team is supplied with twelve small sticks. The game
begins by one of the leaders placing his closed hands upon his blanket,
and calling upon the other to match him. If the latter is holding his stick
in the wrong hand, he loses; and so the game goes on. Two sets of
drummers are playing continuously and all the while there is much
chanting. In this simple wise they gamble away their belongings, even
to their clothing, and, sometimes, their wives. When the wives are at
stake, however, they have the privilege of taking a hand in the game.
The women, in addition to their regular routine of summer camp duties,
occupy themselves with fishing, moccasin making, and berry picking.
The girls join their mothers in picking berries, which are plentiful and
of great variety--raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries,
gooseberries, swampberries, saskatoonberries, pembinaberries,
pheasantberries, bearberries, and snakeberries. They gather also wild
celery, the roots of rushes, and the inner bark of the poplar--all which
they eat raw. In some parts, too, they gather wild rice. Before their
summer holidays are over, they have usually secured a fair stock of
dried berries, smoked meats and bladders and casings filled with fish
oil or other soft grease, to help out their bill of fare during the winter.
The women devote most of their spare moments to bead, hair,
porcupine, or silk work which they use for the decoration of their
clothing. They make mos-quil-moots, or hunting bags, of plaited
babiche, or deerskin thongs, for the use of the men. The girl's first
lesson in sewing is always upon the coarsest work; such as joining
skins together for lodge coverings. The threads used are made from the
sinews of the deer or the wolf. These sinews are first hung