Hudson's Bay, Or, Every-day Life in the Wilds of North America: During Six Years' Residence in the Territories of the Honourable Hudson's Bay Company |
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agreeable animal appearance arrived banks barrel organs beautiful began blanket blanket capote boat breakfast brigade buffalo bushes canoe capote cloth cold covered Crees dark ducks encampment eyes feet fire fish forest Fort William furs gazed gentlemen Gulf of St Hayes River hour Hudson's Bay Company huge immense Indian inhabitants journey la Loche lake Lake Superior land leggins lève light looked Mecan River miles minutes moccasins morning mouth nearly night Norway House paddled passed pemican Playgreen Lake portage pretty proceeded put ashore rapid Red River rock round sail scarcely scene Seven Islands shore shot sleigh slowly smoke snow snow-shoes sometimes soon spot spring St Lawrence stood stream supper swamps Tadousac tent thing trapper travelling trees voyage voyageurs walk Wapwian warm weather wild wind winter woods yards York Factory
Popular passages
Page 239 - ... hundred wooded isles, or reflecting the wood-clad mountains on its margin, clothed in all the variegated hues of autumn ; and there, glittering with dazzling brilliancy in the bright rays of the evening sun, or rippling among 272 A STARLIT SCENE.
Page 227 - Dr. Rae appeared to be just the man for such an expedition. He was very muscular and active, full of animal spirits, and had a fine intellectual countenance. He was considered, by those who knew him well, to be one of the best snow-shoe walkers in the service, was also an excellent rifle-shot, and could stand an immense amount of fatigue.
Page 28 - Imagine an immense extent of country, many hundred miles broad, and many hundred miles long, covered with dense forests, expanded lakes, broad rivers, and mighty mountains ; and all in a state of primeval simplicity — undefaced by the axe of civilised man, and untenanted by aught save a few roving hordes of Red Indians, and myriads of wild animals.
Page 203 - And while yet in the distance, the beautifully simple paddling song, so well suited to the surrounding scenery and so different from any other air, breaks sweetly on the ear ; and one reflects with a kind of subdued and pleasing melancholy how far the singers are from their native land, and how many long and weary days of danger and toil will pass before they can rest once more in their Canadian homes.
Page 35 - The trade carried on by the Company is in peltries of all sorts, oil, dried and salted fish, feathers, quills, &c.; and a list of some of their principal articles of commerce is subjoined: — Beaver-skins.
Page 63 - Stemaw's traps are set, and he now proceeds cautiously towards them, his gun in the hollow of his left arm. Slowly he advances, peering through the bushes, but nothing is visible ; suddenly a branch crashes under his snow-shoe, and with a savage growl a large wolf bounds towards him, landing almost at his feet. A single glance, however, shows the Indian that both traps are on his legs, and that the chains prevent his further advance. He places his gun against a tree, draws his axe from the belt,...
Page 29 - Britain converted into a wilderness and planted in the middle of Rupert's Land. The Company, in that case, would build three forts in it — one at the Land's End, one in Wales, and one in the Highlands ; so that in Britain there would be but three hamlets, with a population of some thirty men, half-adozen women, and a few children ! The Company's posts extend, with these intervals between, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and from within the Arctic Circle to the northern boundaries of the...
Page 225 - About sunset we encamped in a picturesque spot, near the top of a huge waterfall, whose thundering roar, as it mingled with the sighing of the night wind through the bushes and among the precipitous rocks around us, formed an appropriate and somewhat romantic lullaby. On the following morning we were aroused from our slumbers at daybreak; and in ten minutes our tents were down and ourselves in the canoe, bounding merrily up the river, while the echoing woods and dells responded to the lively air...