Adventure and adventurers > Hudson Bay, or, Everyday life in the wilds of North America

THE INDIAN CANOE.
or buffalo robe. The floor is covered with a layer of
small pine branches, which serve for carpet and mat¬
tress ; and in the centre is placed the wood fire, which,
when blazing brightly, gives a warmth and comfort to
the slight habitation that could scarcely be believed.
Here the Indian spends a few days or weeks, according
to the amount of game in the vicinity, and then removes
to some other place, carrying with him the covering of
the tent, but leaving the poles standing, as they would
be cumbrous to carry in his small canoe, and thousands
may be had at every place where he may wish to land.
The Indian canoe is an exceedingly light and grace¬
ful little craft, and well adapted for travelling in
through a wild country,
where the rivers are
obstructed by long
rapids, waterfalls, and
shallows. It is so
light that one man
can easily carry it on
his shoulders over the =
land, when a water¬
fall obstructs his pro¬
gress; and as it only
sinks about four or six
inches in the water, few places are too shallow to float
it. The birch bark of which it is made is about a
quarter of an inch thick; and the inside is lined with
extremely thin flakes of wood, over which a number of
light timbers are driven, to give strength and tightness
to the machine. In this frail bark, which measures
MAKING A PORTAGE.