MR conMAcx’s EXPEDITION. 273
Red Indians, lay on the banks of the river Exploits, on our return to the sea-coast.
“ The RedIndian Lake discharges itself about three or four miles from its north-east end ; and its waters form the river Exploits. From the lake to the sea- coast is considered about seventy miles; and down this noble river the steady perseverance and intre- pidity of my Indians carried me on rafts in four days; to accomplish which otherwise, would have required probably two weeks. We landed at various places on both banks of the river on our way down, but found no traces of the Red Indians so recent as those seen at the portage at Badger Bay, Great Lake, towards the beginning of our excursion. During our descent, we had to construct new rafts at the different waterfalls. Sometimes we were carried down the rapids at the rate of ten miles an hour, or more, with considerable risk of destruction to the whole party, for we were always together on one raft.
“ What arrests the attention most, in gliding down the stream, is- the extent of the Indian fences to entrap deer. They extend from the lake downwards, continuous, on the banks of the river, at least thirty miles. There are openings left here and there for the animals to go through and swim across the river, and at these places the Indians are stationed, and kill them in the water with spears out of their canoes, as at the lake.
“ Here, then, connecting these fences with those on the north-west side of the lake, is at least forty miles of country, easterly and westerly, prepared to inter«
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