Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/262

 brethren to our tent. The men accordingly came, with some of their children, but the women stood at the door of their camps, and listened to our words. T. Magee then addressed them at some length, as also T. Asance. Our audience listened with serious attention. During this day I went and examined the Mejekun — the deer fence, which these Indians have made for the purpose of taking the deer. It is made by lopping down green saplings, and throwing on small bushes upon the top, so as to prevent the deer from jumping over it. This hedge fence ran from east to west, was about five or six miles long, and ran in a curve, like an Indian bow, the sides running towards the north. On the south side of the fence is a clean footpath on which the Indians travel when in search of game. About the middle of July the deer begin their migrations for the south, and continue to do so until the last of August. Whilst the deer are bending their way towards the south, they come in contact with this fence, where they tarry for some time, and at which the Indian hunters shoot them in great numbers. It is said that early in the spring the deer migrate again towards the north. It is quite evident to me that the reason why these animals make annual travels to the south, is to avoid the deep snow and long winters of the northern regions, and so take refuge in a milder climate along the shores of Lakes Ontario, Erie, and St. Clair, where in former winters the deer used to teem in thousands. Their northern resorts were the regions along the shores of Lakes Huron and Simcoe; Georgian Bay, &c. Alas! for these noble creatures, like their old masters, the poor Indians, they are now fast disappearing before the face of the white man.

Thursday 30th. — Brother Smith went to hunt a few hours and killed two deer. About noon we held a meeting with our Indian brethren, and gave them further instruction on the things of God, and exhorted to a faithful adherence to the