As to the gooseberries--here and farther south--Hearne describes them as "thriving best on the stony or rocky ground, open and much exposed to the sun".

They spread along the ground like vines.
The small red fruit is always most plentiful and fine on the under side of the branches, probably owing to the reflected heat of the stones.

In the bleaker places a hard, black, crumply lichen--the "Tripe de roche" of the French Canadians (_Gyrophoreus_) grows on the rocks and stones, and is of great service to the Amerindians, as it furnishes them with a temporary subsistence when no animal food can be procured.

This lichen, when boiled, turns to a gummy consistence something like sago.

Hearne describes it as being remarkably good when used to thicken broth; but some other pioneers complained that it made them and their Indians seriously ill.