the bride of one of its braves.  There was about her an air of conscious difference from the others, but this was unrecognised by them.  The faces here were not bright and happy looking as at the Montagnais camp.  Nearly all were sad and wistful.  The old women seemed the brightest of all and were apparently important people in the camp.  Even the little children’s faces were sad and old in expression as if they too realised something of the cares of wilderness life.

At first they stood about rather shyly watching me, with evident interest, but making no move to greet or welcome me.  I did not know how best to approach them.  Then seeing a young mother with her babe in her arms standing among the group, near one of the wigwams, I stepped towards her, and touching the little bundle I spoke to her of her child and she held it so that I might see its face.  It was a very young baby, born only the day before, I learned later, and the mother herself looked little more than a child.  Her face was pale, and she looked weak and sick.  Though she held her child towards me there was no lighting up of the face, no sign of responsive interest.  Almost immediately, however, I was surrounded by nearly the whole community of women who talked rapidly about the babe and its mother.

The little creature had no made garments on, but was simply wrapped about with old cloths leaving only its face and neck bare.  The outermost covering was a piece of plaid shawl, and all were held tightly in place by a stout cord passing round the bundle a number of times.  It would be quite impossible for the tiny thing to move hand or foot or any part of its body except the face.  As one might expect it wore an expression of utter wretchedness though it lay with closed eyes making no sound.  I could make almost nothing of what they said, and when I called George to interpret for me they seemed not to want to talk.

Taking out my kodaks I set about securing a few photographs.  Already the old women were beginning to prepare for the feast they were to have.  Two large black pots that stood on three legs were set out, and one of the women went into the tent and brought out a burning brand to light the fire under them.  Soon interest was centred in the pots.  I had a little group ranged up in front of one of the wigwams, when the lady in purple, whose attention for a time had been turned to the preparations for the feast, seeing what was taking place came swiftly across and placed herself in the very centre of the group.  All apparently understood what was being done and were anxious to be in the picture.