Two, not very clean,
coloured silk handkerchiefs were spread on the beach when I asked
for something to put the tea and rice in, and a group of eager
faces bent over me as I lifted the precious contents from the bags,
leaving only enough tea to take us to the post, and enough rice for
one more pudding. An old tin pail lying near was filled with salt,
and a piece of bacon completed the list. A few little trinkets
were distributed among the women and from the expression on their
faces, I judged they had come to the conclusion that I was not so
bad after all, even though I did not smoke a pipe and so could not
give them any of their precious "Tshishtemau."
Meantime I had been thinking about my photographs. Taking up one
of my kodaks I said to the chief that I should like to take his
picture and motioned him to stand apart. He seemed to understand
quite readily and stepped lightly to one side of the little company
in a way which showed it was not a new experience to him. They had
no sort of objection to being snapped, but rather seemed quite
eager to pose for me.
Then came an invitation to go up to the camp. As George
interpreted he did not look at all comfortable, and when he asked
if I cared to go I knew he was wishing very much that I would say
"No," but I said, "Yes, indeed." So we went up while the other
three remained at the canoes.
Even in barren Labrador are to be found little touches that go to
prove human nature the same the world over. One of the young men,
handsomer than the others, and conscious of the fact, had been
watching me throughout with evident interest. He was not only
handsomer than the others, but his leggings were redder. As we
walked up towards the camp he went a little ahead, and to one side
managing to watch for the impression he evidently expected to make.
A little distance from where we landed was a row of bark canoes
turned upside down. As we passed them be turned and, to make sure
that those red leggings should not fail of their mission, be put
his foot up on one of the canoes, pretending, as I passed, to tie
his moccasin, the while watching for the effect.
It was some little distance up to camp. When we reached it we
could see northward down the lake for miles. It lay, like a great,
broad river guarded on either side by the mountains.
