Steve cool, nervy, tireless. He traps
foxes and shoots partridges in winter. Buys flour and molasses.
Got too windy to travel. Landed at Big Black Island to wait for
lower wind. George used up - lumbago. Put him to bed and put on
mustard plaster. Bought salmon of Joe Lloyd. Lives in 10 x 12
shanty, hole in roof for smoke to escape. Eskimo wife. "Is all
the world at peace, sir?" He came from England. Hungry for news.
Had trout smoking in chimney. A little wood on this island, and
moss, thick and soft. Wind high, and George sick, so did not go
on. Gave George two blankets and tarpaulin. Did not pitch tent.
Wallace and I threw tent down and lay on it. Pulled his blanket
over us and slept. Still sunlight at 11. Whales snorting in the
bay. Big gulls croaking.
Friday, July 10th. - Awoke at 1 A.M. Bright moonlight, made coffee
and milk. Called men. George very bad. Portaged outfit 200 yards
to boat. Found her high. Worked till 4.30 to launch her. Little
wind. Made Pompey Island at 11. Saw many whales and seals.
Caught caplin on fish-hook tied to stick jerking them. Stopped on
Pompey for lunch. Mossy island of Laurentian rock. Saw steamer in
distance. Put off - fired three or four shots. Got only a salute.
Put off in canoe to head her off. She came about. Was the
_Virginia Lake_. Took us on board and brought us to Rigolette.
Mr. Frazer, H.B.C. Agent here, to whom I had letter from
Commissioner Chippman of the H.B. Co., took us in, as the Company's
men always do. Made us at home. Seems fine to be on land again at
a Company post. George better. Eskimo dogs. Eskimo men and
women, breeds lumbermen, trappers, fishermen, two clerks. All
kindly - even the dogs. All talkative and hungry for outside
visitors.
Saturday, July 11th. - Awoke from bad dream of trouble getting
somewhere to realise that I was at a post. Mighty good awakening.
George better. Trying to get data as to Northwest River. No
Indians here. White men and Eskimo know little about it. Capt.
Joe Blake says Grand Lake good paddling. Forty miles long.
Nascaupee River empties into it. Says Red River comes into it
about 15 miles above its mouth. His son Donald came from his traps
on Seal Lake to-day. Says same. Has crossed it about 50 miles
above its mouth in winter. Has heard from some one that Montagnais
Indians say it comes from Michikamau. Does not know. Says it is
shallow. This seems to be what Low has mapped as Northwest River.
Donald says not much game on it. Others who have not been there,
say plenty. All report bear. Man who lives on river just above
Grand Lake in winter to trap, missing. Supposed drowned. Donald
says a chance seal in Seal Lake. Has shot 'em but never killed
one. Little game there to eat. May be fish. Does not know. Does
not fish himself. Takes flour, pork, tea and "risin." Porcupines.
We can live on them. Hard to get definite data; but that makes the
work bigger.
Sunday, July 12th. - Birthday. "Bruise" for breakfast. Hard-tack,
fish, pork, boiled together - good. "Two more early risin's, and
then duff and bruise," is said to be a Thursday remark of the
fishermen. The _Pelican_ came in to-day. Stole in in fog, and
whistled before flag was up. Good joke on Post. Big day.
_Pelican_ goes from here to York, stopping at Ungava on way out and
comes back again. Brings supplies. Captain Gray came on shore.
Has been with company thirty years, in northern waters fifty years.
Jolly, cranky, old fellow. "You'll never get back" he says to us.
"If you are at Ungava when I get there I'll bring you back."
Calder, lumberman on Grand River and Sandwich Bay, here says we
can't do it. Big Salmon stuffed and baked for dinner - bully.
George says he is ready to start now. Prophecies that we can't do
it, don't worry me. Have heard them before. Can do it. WILL.
Monday, July 13th. - This noon the _Julia Sheridan_, Deep Sea
Mission Boat, Dr. Simpson, came. We said good-bye and embarked for
Northwest River. Had good informal supper in little cabin. Good
easy yachting time. Stopped about 11 P.M. behind St. John's Island
for the night.
Tuesday, July 14th. - Landed about 2 P.M. at Northwest River.
Thomas M'Kenzie in charge. Bully fellow, all alone, lonesome, but
does not admit it. Tall, wiry, hospitable in the extreme. Not
busy in winter. Traps some. Wishes he could go with us. Would
pack up to-night and be ready in the morning. Can get no definite
information as to our route. M'Kenzie says we are all right; can
make it of course. Gave away bag of flour. Discarded single
blanket, 5 lbs. can lard. Got at Rigolette yesterday, 10 lbs.
sugar, 5 lbs. dried apples, 4 1/2 lbs. tobacco. Bought here 5 lbs.
sugar. M'Kenzie gave me an 8 lb. 3 in. gill net.
Wednesday, July 15th. - Wind light, southeast all day, light clouds.
Lat. noon 53 degrees 35 minutes. Left Northwest River Post 9 A.M.
Camped early because of rain and stream which promised trout. No
trout caught. Lake looks like Lake George, with lower hills. Much
iron ore crops from bluffs on south side. Makes me a bit homesick
to think of Lake George. Wish I could see my girl for a while and
be back here. Would like to drop in at the Michigan farm too.
Thursday, July 16th. - Fair day. Wind southeast. Lat. at noon 53
degrees 45 minutes. Six miles above Grand Lake on Northwest River.
Started at 5.30 A.M. At 9 rounded point and saw mouth of river.
George and I ferried outfit across northwest arm of lake in two
loads.
