maintained throughout, their Indian customs, manners
and language, with the manhood of their ancestors, in an alertness,
strength and power of endurance where-ever these qualities have been
required: in the boating or rafting on our larger rivers and the
hardships of _Voyageurs_ in the North-West.

As a high tribute to this known excellence, the call for Canadian
_Voyageurs_ to assist in the boat navigation of the Nile was accompanied
by a special requirement that there should be a contingent of fifty
Caughnawagas. They responded quickly to the call, performed the task
committed to them in a manner most satisfactory as described in these
pages, and returned to their homes at the end of six months, after a
voyage of more than 12,000 miles, sound and resolute as when they
started, with the loss of but two men.

There is something unique in the idea of the aborigines of the New World
being sent for to teach the Egyptians how to pass the Cataracts of the
Nile, which has been navigated in some way by them for thousands of
years, that should make this little book attractive to all readers,
especially as it is written by one born and bred in Caughnawaga, who,
with the quick eye of an Indian, has noticed many things unnoticed by
ordinary tourists and travellers.

It is written in a most excellent spirit that might wisely be imitated
by other travellers. The writer finds no faults, blames nobody, and
always content, is generous in his acknowledgments for every act of
kindness and proper consideration shown to him and his party, by Her
Majesty's Officers of all ranks in command of the expedition. It was
written off-hand and goes forth to the public as it came from the pen of
the writer, to be judged in its style and the matter contained, by no
standard but its own.

MONTREAL, April, 1885.

OUR CAUGHNAWAGAS IN EGYPT.

When it was made known by Lord Melgund in the early part of September,
1884, that it was the express desire of General Lord Wolseley to have
Caughnawaga Indians form part of the Canadian Contingent, the required
number was soon obtained, in spite of discouraging talk and groundless
fears. Having been introduced to Lord Melgund, I agreed to go and look
after the Caughnawaga boys, although then busily engaged in securing my
crops. I, with a number of others reached the "Ocean King" at Quebec,
having been left behind in Montreal through incorrect information given
me by one of the ship's officers as to t