IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) / {■/ V ^ fe O ,<' C^x V C^, i/l u. 1.0 I.I 1.25 -Ilia IIIIIM " IM 111112.2 lU m *40 1.4 2.0 1.8 1.6 i r e. C/f .r e: pelure, on d 1 2 3 37X 1 2 3 4 5 6 (^mms •UttitierHtta A TELE ABORIGINES OF CANADA UNDER THE BHITI3II CROWN, With a Glance at their Customs, Ch.mjacteristics, AND niSTOEY; nv •\vxi.i.iA.x«i: cx.iisr'r. (RjOAD HEFORR THE SoCIETY, 'JUHD MAHfir. 1878.) The question of our relations with the Indian inhabitar ts of this vast countrv shoukl be an interestini:^ one. It should be interesting* firstly ])ecinise on Uis, as Christians, the duty seerns to have been imposed of leading- tlie.se people out of the darkness of heathenism and superstition to a knowledge of the Christian religion, of raising them from their squalor and ignorance to an improved position physically, socially and niontally, and of prepnring tliem for the exercise of those rights of cilixenship which are the birthright of intelligent British subjects of every color and creed. The subject should be especially interesting too, because it has fallen to the lot of the present generation to open out for settlement the great North- West, the future garden of the Dominion, and we are thus brought face to face with the Indian in his native Avilds. It is necessary that the Indian hunting-ground should be in a large mea- sure given up to the plough and sickle of the White man ; it has l)een so ordered by Providence, doubtless for the ultimate good of the Indian himself, as well as the White man ; Init it is not necessary that this result should b>' — 2 — accomplished by a system of spoliation and extermination. On the contrary, animated as we should be by that spirit of justice and fair-play which so strongly characterizes that great nation of which we are proud to form a part — that generous spirit which secures the weak from oppression on the part of the strong — we should see that if we are obliged to encroach upon territory hitherto occupied by the Red man, we give him a fair equivalent for w'lat we get ; that if we deprive him of his accustomed means of subsistence we place within his reach other means, which will finally obtain for him more comfort, more independence, and more happiness, and that we treat him in all respects as men should do who are themselves free-born citizens of an en- lightened, freedom-loving, Christian state. The Indians should in liict be made to feel that under the folds of the Union Jack they are the equals of any in the land, so long as they obey laws framed with the object of protecting the lied man from injustice on the i)art of the AYhite just as fully and firmly as they would aflbrd protection to the "White man if threatened by the Red. The eyes of other nations are upon us, and according to our action in these respects will they judge us ; nay, according to our acticn in this matter will we judge ourselves, nationally and indi- vidually, and according to it too will vre bo judged by posterity. We have, I think, no reason to fed ashamed of the courst^ of the representatives of British authority towards the abo- riginal tribes. Throughout this broad country v/e have at ])resent no portion of them in arms against us, or at enmity with us ; on the contrary, we have xiermanently attracted, so far af^ can be seen at present, their respect and good-will. How then has this result been arrived at ? I propose in this paper to consider as brielly as possibU- the original inhabitants of this country, their distinguish- ing characteristics and customs, and the relations with the -3- European of those who occupied the older provinces during the eventful period of the French regime, to discover the whereabouts of the remnants of these once powerful tribes, their present condition, and what has been done for them by our Government, and finally to consider the dealings of the authorities with the Indian tribes of the great North- West. The term "Indian" originally came to be applied to the aborigines of this continent by Columbus and the early discoverers, because they imagined that the newly-found countries were parts of Asia or the " Indies," and though this w^as soon afterwards found to be an error, the term I had become established, and has since continued in use. The Indians formed a i^oculiar variety of the human spe- cies, diirering, though not \ery widely, from the Mongolian. It has been ascertained upon investigation of the different dialects in iise in North America that there were eight aboriginal mother tongues, and this fact w^ould seem to indicate that there wore the same number of distinct branches or families. The new world is believed to have been peopled from the old, and considering that the Mongol race was situated nearest the point where Asia and America approach very closely to each other, end the points of re- semblance between the two races, it is natttral to suppose that the Indians w^ere of Mongolian extraction, and had originally found their w^ay across the narrow channel which divides the two continents. The points of differ- ence between the two races arc easily accounted for by reason of the change of outward circumstances, and al- though the variety of dialect amongst the Indian tribes would seem to militate against the idea of common extrac- tion and the one route of immigration, yet on the other hand the theory is supported by the strong resemblance there was in the appearance, habits, anl ideas, of all the Indian tribes from the St. Lawrence to the G-ulf of Mexico. The face Was broad and flat, with high cheek-bone?.^, more rounded and arched than in the allied type, -\\-ithout having the visage exi^anded to the same breadth. Th*^ Ibrohead was generally low and narrow, the eyes deep, small, and of dark or light hazel color, the nose rather di- minutive, ])ut x^rominent, with wide nostril?, the mouth hirge, and lips thick, the expression stern and iierco. The stnture, though variable in dilFerent parts of the contineni, was in the country we now inhabit generally a])ove the middle size in the men, thou2:h the women were usuallv below that standard, a fact which may pro])ably be ascribed to the drudgery ihey were obliged to undergo. The colour of the skin was red or copper-coloured, a tint which was not altogether ascribable to the influence of sun, rain, and wind, but is said lo have been to a great extent artificially produced by dissolving the juice of a root with the oil, grease. &c., Avith which they were accustomed to besmear their persons. The hair, like that of the allied type, the Mongols, was coarse, black, ihin, but long, l^ike the latter also, by a curious coincidence, most of them removed it from every part of the head with the exception of a tuft on the crown, which they cherished with much care. Any possibility of beard Avas carefully obviated by pullmg out the hairs i'rom the face as fast as they appeared; tliis probably that there should be no obstacle to the painting ot the lace according to custom. They were capable of long-continued exertion, an individual having been known to travel nearly eighty mih s in a day without symptom of fatigue ; and they were also capable of extraordinary absti- nence from food. Their covering was chiefly the skins of wild animals, whilst their bodies were painted in fantastic fashion, and generally had a representation of the guardian spirit of the individual, the animal that formed the symbol of their tribe, and the enemies w^hom the warrior may have slain and scalped in Ixittle. They subsisted by means of the chase, some tribes only devoting themselves slightly to out {li^riculiure, which consisted chiefly iu growing" maize, luut the labour of w^hich devolved almost entirely on the women. In their native state they were not acquainted with any species of intoxicating' liquor. Their dwellinu's were cabins ov huts made from the ])ark of trees. Of domestic animals they had the doi^-, which they made useful in hunting, and occasionally made a meal of; the horse was unknown until after the arrival of Europeans in the country. Their government Avas democratic in the extreme, in spirit though not in form, each individual being free to do as he pleased, even to the wounding or murder of a neigh- bour with whom he may have had a controversy, thougli in this case the injury would be speedily avenged by the kindred of the injured person, the episode scarcely rullling the general tranquillity, or else the life taken was atoned for by in-esents of a fixed value made up from among the tribe, and especially was this done if the murdered man liad belonged to anotlier tril)e. {Sometimes however such outrages brought on wars betAveen different tribes. But, notwithstanding this individual freedom, the strictest order existed in their communities, the absence of any restraint of law being made up for by a strong feeling of clannish attachment, binding the members of one tribe to each other, and also by that sense of dignity and self-command whicli they considered inseparable from the character of a war- rior. As Parkraan says, in speaking of the Iroquois : " An " explanation of this harmony is to be found als^^ in an in- " tense spirit of nationality, for never since the days of " kSparta were individual life and nntional life more com- " Xdetely fused into one.' They were generous in relieving each other's necessities, and in caring for the children of relatives or members of the same tribe killed in battle. Polygamy was almost un- known among the tribes in the vicinity of the Lakes. They Averc tender in their domestic relations, although all -6 — outward exhibition of this tenderness was studiously sup- l^ressed, as unbecoming the character of warriors. The exertion however of the father for the welfare of his family, and eagerness to avenge their wrongs, sufficiently proved that this apathy was far more apparent than real. The mental faculties of the Indians were developed in a comparatively remarkable degree. The manner in which they would follow out a direct line through the pathless I'orest, the geographical knowledge they attained in their Avanderiiigs, the political acumen they displayed in their measures for the aggrandizement of their own tribe and the humbling of their enemies, their oratorical powers in the use of their unwritten, and limited, but figurative language, were such as to command the admirntion and surprise of Europeans. They believed in the existence of a (Ireat {Si^irit, or Su- preme Ituler of the Universe, though theiv application of the term rendered in our language " Spirit " did not neces- sarily convey the idea of an immaterial nature. The lamented Thomas D'Arcy McClee, in some pretty stanzas, entitled: " The Arctic Indian's Fnith/' outlines the Indian's ideas on this head. " Wo worship the Spiiit tliat walks unseen Through our land of ice and snow ; We know not His face, we know not Ilis ]iIiioc, ]3ut nis presence and power wc know. Does the Buffalo need the Pale-faco Word To find his pathway far ? AVIiat guide has ho to the hidden ford, Or where the green pastures arc '.' Who toacheth the Moose that the hunlcrV gun Is peering out of the shade ? Who teaeheth the doe and the fawn to run In the track the Moose has made ? Him do we follow, Ilim do yro foar, The Spirit of earth and sky ; Who hears with the Wapiti's eager ear His poor rod children's cry ; Whose whisper we note in every breeze That stirs the birch canoo ; AVho hangs the rein-dcor moss on the trees For the food of the Caribou, That Spirit we worship who walks unseen Through our land of ioe and snow ; Wo know not His face, wo know not His place, But His presence and power we know." 13ut though the Indian had some idea of a supreme over- ruling Spirit, his belief was involved in much mystery and superstition. He spiritualized all nature. Birds and beasts, and even inanimate objects, such as lakes, rivers, forests, could be the home of the great Spirit, or might have a spiritual nature, a soul of their own, to be propitiated by prayers and offerings. The Good Spirit was looked to to give good fortune, success in battle, and in the chase, courage amid tortures, &c., whilst any unpropitious event w-as re- garded as the result of the anger of the Good Spirit, or of the machinations of an Evil Spirif:, and the Spirit had ac- cordingly to be appeased by offerings, it might be of a frag- ment of meat thrown into the fire and burned that Ut3 Spirit might partake of it, or an offering of tobacco thrown into a river, or in some other way. The manilou, or guar- dian power, was an object of great veneration. It might be the head or claw of a bird, or a fifih, serpent, or other object which would be impressed on the mind of a youth in a dream after he had undergone a preparatory fast of several days, and which would thereafter be looked upon us his special guardian sj^irit, and expected to aid him in every emergency. They believed In a future life, a brighter land, a hap}>y hunting-ground, where the spirit of the warrior who had borne himself bravely in battle, or unflinchingly undergone torture at the hands of his enemies should at last arrive, after having surmounted several obstacles on the way, to find game in abundance, and perpetual freedom from hun- g;ev and cold, from sickness, and sulfering-, and war. The dim tradition of a creation, and of a general deluge was also lianded down by the Indian from generation to generation. They had great reverence for the dead, whom they in- terred in the richest robes, and with all their arms and or- naments F apposed to be necessary for their use in the happy huntincc-QTOunds, and the bones of their fathers were con- sidered as one of the strongest ties to their native soil. They had great iaith in dreams, and ])efore engaging in war, the chase, or any other undertaking, the dreams of the ]>rincipal chiefs were carefully noted, and the conduct of the tribe shaped in accordance with their interpretation. Charlevoix relat 's that when Sir AVilliam Johnson durinu' the American war was iiogoliating an alliance with a friendly tribe, the chief coniidentiallv disclosed that during his slumbers he hiul been favoured with a vision of Sir AVilliam bestowing upon him th'.> ricli laced coat wliicli Ibrmed his full dress. The fuliilnient of this revelation was very inconvenient, yet on being assured that it posi- tively occurred tbe English Commander found it advisable to resign his unilbrin. Soon after however, he unfolded to tlie Indian a dream with which he had himself been favor- ed, and in which the former was seen presenting him with a larije tract of fertile land most comraodiouslv situated. The native ruler admitted that since the vision had been vouchsafed it must be realized, but (Earnestly proposed to cease this mutual dreaming wliirh lie found had turned much to his own disadvantage. But that which x^resented the character of tli<' Indian in its darkest aspect was his warfare. The deadliest enmity occasionally sx^rung up between tribes, caused either by individual acts of xnovocation, encroachments on one another's huntino,' aTounds, the desire of extending' the — — power of a tribe, or even a thirst I'or glory or excitement. The Indians rarely fought pitched battles ; their warfare took the from rather of skirmishes, surprises, ambuscades, and sudden forays into each other's hunting- grounds and villages. When once hostilities had begun the predomina- ting passion was revenge. Having taken measures to learn the will of the Great Spirit, and i^rovided the result wa^ favorable, the war-chief who was elected l)y the warriors on account of his experience, military renown, command- ing stature, ike, immediately entered on a course of pre- paration. He was painted in bright and varied colors, red predominating ; he endured long fasts, and took particular note of his dreams. A huge lire was kindled, whereon was placed the great war-cauldron, into which every one present threw something. Tho chief sang the war-song, and the warriors joined in the war-dance, after which a solemn feast of dogs' llesh was held, during which former exploits were recounted, and those they expected to achieve dilated upon. The females occupied themselves in negotiating for a supply of captives on whom to wreak their A'engeance, and appease the shades of their slain relatives, and all pre- liminaries being completed the leader started on the march singing his war-song, while the others followed, at intervals sounding the war-whoop. On entering hostile territory they crept along in tho deepest silence, keeping close together, watching each twig and tuft of grass for any sign of the trail of an enemy Avhicli tliey were adepts in discovering. As the Indians seldom posted sentries, trusiing entirely for safety to the i")rotection of their guardian spirits, it was an easy matter to surprise a liostile village. Having made their way tlien to the vieinity of tlieir enemy's village without previous discovery, they woidd secrete themselves in tho forest until the small hours of the morn- ing, and then throwing themselves upon tho village like so many fiends, with arrows, tomahawks, and war-clubs, they soon despatched the niajorily of the inlia1)itants. — 10 — They contrived to capture as many fugitives as possible alive, in order that they might be subjected on the re- turn home of ^he war-party to all the refinements of cruel torture that diabolical minds could conceive, tortures in which the women took a chief part, to revenge themselves for the loss of their husbands and brothers in the battle. These tortares were borne with the most heroic courage, the unfortunate captive singing his death-song, recount- ing his warlike exploits, and the cruelties his i:>eople had inflicted on the frieuds of his tormentors, and daring the latter to do their worst. At times it happened that a cap- tive instead of being tortured, was adopted into one of the families of his captors, to replace one who had X^erished in the engagement, and in such case he became thereafter a regular member of the tribe. The Iroquois X>articularly were in the habit of adopting prisoners at times, as they thus were enabled to otfset their large losses in their numerous wars. Sometimes portions of the flesh of prisoners were eaten, but it does not appear that canni- balism as a practice can be charged against the Indians. AVhen necessary for the accomplishment of their ends, they did not hesitate to use treachery; on the other hand many instances are on record illustrative of the sway of the principle of honor among them. An example or two may not be out of place. In 1663 a party of Iroquois was on the way to negotiate a peace with the French, when some Algonquins, stung by their wrongs, formed an am- buscade, and violated the character of the mission by kil- ling the majority of the party. In 1645 two war parties — Huron and Iroquois — met in the forest : the Hurons fought so well as nearly to have gained the day, when the Iroquois called for a i)arley to treat for peace, and when the chiefs of the opposite party had sat down to a council they fell on them, and killed or captured a considerable number. On the Other hand Prirkman relates that an' old Iroquois chief, having been despatched as an ambassador to negotiate a treaty with the Hurons, and having a suspicion that some of the Iroquois were about to attack the Hurons, which they actually did, so felt the stain upon his honor that he committed suicide, and "was iound with his throat gashed from ear to ear, a victim of mortified pride. On another occasion a French Priest, w^ho had been residing with one of the Iroquois nations, and against whom, owing to some action of the French Indians, a feeling had been raised, was, by order of the chiefs, conducted out of the country to a place of safety before this feeling could take form, in accordance with a i^ledge for his safety previously given. The intercourse between the Iroquois and the British Colonists also affords numerous instances of the scrupulous integrity with which the former adhered to the provisions of their treaties, or chains, as they called them, with the latter, a scrupulousness which might put to shame at times the dealings of the AVhitc man with his iellows. ?ndi At the time of the first settlement of Europeans on this continent, it is computed that the native inhabitants of North America did not exceed 200,000 souls. The territory then styled New France, together witii the chief portion of what is now the State of New York, w^as chiefly divided ])etween three great nation^, the Algonquins, the Hurons, and the Iroquois or Five Nations. These were the most important, but there were also other ?. bordinate tribes. In regard to their names and hunting grounds, the following summary is taken from Dr. ^liles' History of Canada : " In that part of New France now called Novfl Scotia, in " Gaspe, and south of the St. Lawrence, the Indians were "oftshoots of the great Algonquin stock, ^eluding those " named Micmacn or Sourifjuois, Elchemins, Abenaquis, and '• Sokukis, to the number of about lour thousand in all. " Further inland, and occup^'ing chiefly the north bank of the *•"" J. Um "*~" St. La^Yrence were the Montagnah of Saguenay and Lake St. John, having- for neighbours to the north the Esqiii- mnux of Labrador and the roii'ions horderinff on Hudson's Bay. In the valley of the river St. Maurice, and occupy- ing ilie north bank of the St. Lawrence, in the vicinity of t'lie site of Three Ilivers, were the Bull-heads or AUikame- gnes. Next to these, extending westwards along the St. Lawrence, and on the banKs of the Ottawa Avere the Al- g'onquin'i proper, including a tribe named Nipissings around Iho lake of that name. • The OUawas and Chippe- was were near the outlet of Lake Sujperior, to the south of which Iny the Foxes, the Sacs, the Men'owonees, the Mas- cotitcns and Kikapoos. The Ilnrons — a term originally used by the Fr(^nch as a nickname — A\hose proper name was Wenihtls, or W/jandols, numbering it is believed not less than 30.000, occupied settlements in the peninsuhi adjacent to Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay, having for neighbors on the south-west tJie Tio7iontates or Peiuns. Next to these latter, to the south, and extending eastward as far as or beyond the Falls of Niagara, were a great many kindred tribes, collectively named the JSeulral Nation, on account of their abstaining from taking any part in th<' wars of their neighbours, and preserving terms of amity with them all. The whole of the above-named tribes, viz : the Micmacs or Sonriquois, Elchemins, Abenaquis, Sokokis, lUontagnais, Bull-heads or Atlikamegues, Algon- (fnins, Ni/nssings, OUaujas, Chippeicas, Foxes, Sacs, Meno- monees, Mascoutcns, Kikapoos, Ilurons or Wyandots, Tio- nonlales or Peluns, together with some other minor tribes south of Lake Erie, and extending to the valleys of the Ohio and the Mississipi are considered as belonging to or derived from the great Algonquin or ^..Igic stock. On the south of the St. Lawrence, west of the river Richelieu, and extending southward and westward along the shores of Lake Ontario, were the principal settlements and hunting-grounds of the Iroq/foi^s, sometimes called Huron- t6 . Irof/iiois, the most famous of all the tribes of Indians con- cerned in the history of Canada and New England. Thov consisted of five considerable tribes: th-^ Mohmckfi, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Caifugas, and the Senecm, lo whom were joined in the year 1712, the Tuscaroras IVoni Carolina. They formed the celebrated league or confede- racy of Fare Nations, having their head-quarters in the north-eastern parts of the State of New York. ^ # # ^ '^ Before the coming of the French intense enmity and unceasing warfare had subsisted between the Tro(/n()i.< and the Indians of Canada— more especially tln^ ITurofis, Algontjuins. and Abenaquis^'wnih. Vihoixi it will be seen the French took part against the Iroquois.' Such were tlu^ wonderful ]K-ople who once roamed owv this continent, a people diilering alike from the barbarians of the old world, and irom what we might have expected in the new, with dark lines thickly drawn perhaps but yet with glimmerings of light and loftier possibilities, a people destined as we shall see from a necessarily rapid sketch of subsequent events to play a very prominent part in the his- tory of our country. Say you that they were blood-thirsty, cruel, vindictive, barbarous ? Perhaps they were, but ]>efore condemning these savages too severelv we must turn our eves towards countries j)rofessedlv Christian, and see what was going on there about the same time. On the 24th August, 1-572, just 37 years after .Tacques Car tier first cast anchor opposite the Indian village of Stadacona, occurred in France the massacre of St. Bartholo- mew, by which from 2."), 000 to 00,000 French subjects were butchered in cold blood during three days. In England, a few years later we find peoi-)le burned at the stake for hold- ing, conscientiously, certain religious opinions ; end in the same country in the following century, we have the " Blooily Assizes" and the infamous Judge Jeflreys, a be. ing whose atrocities were scarcely surpassed by any that — 14-. are recorded against the North American Indians. Indeed very frequently the nobility of character is all on the side of the Indian and the reverse on that of the "White. They "were cruel because they were savage. They knew no better. It was a point of honor with them to torture their enemies ; but, if they did inflict suffering on others they were ready heroically to bear similar tortures themselves if chance ordained it. The barbarities of the Inquisition look place amouj? Christians, and their jiarallel amonfj^ savas'es should not therefore excite^ much surprise. TUE INDIAN AND THE WHITE MAN. Although the first contact of the white man with the Indians of this country was not marked by the cruelties whicii were practised elsewhere, one event occurred which was not calculated to prepossess them in his favor, Jacques- Cartier when re-embarking for France in the spring of 1530, having carried off with him by stratagem Donacona, the Indian Chief at Stadacona, and several of his people, who all died in that country shortly afterwards. In 1608 Samuel de Chanii^laiii the first Governor of Que- bec, landed on the iiresent site of the city of that name, lie found the villages of Stadacona and Ilochelaga, mention- ed by Cartier, to have become ex' "net, owing no doubt to the wars constantly being Avaged amongst the Indians themselves. Colden reports that the Indians known as the Five Nations, according to a tradition extant amongst them- selves, once occupied the neighbourhood of Montreal, (the site of the Indian village of Ilochelaga) whence the Algon- quins drove them. At the time of Champlain's arrival just alluded to, a state of war existed between the Algori' quins and Hurons on the one hand, and the Five Nations on the other, and the former were desirous to obtain the assistance of the Europeans in their favor. Champlain wai» anxious to cultivate friendship with these nations, his 15 — Indeed the side They new no re their Ts they mselves nisitiou L anion cr rith the cruelties 1 which acques- )ring of !ona, the le, Avho oF Que- i name. Liention- oubt to Indians n as the st them- eal, (the Algon- arrival Natiom ain the ain was )ns, his neighbours, in order to extend the fur trade, and to obtain their help in exploring the interior of the country, and in consequence he was readily induced to ally himself with them against the Iroquois or five Nations, a determination which cost his countrymen dearly in after times, as by it he voluntarily arrayed himself against a people who had not so far molested him, and whose implacable and deadly hate he thereby secured lor more than a centurv. This determination on Champlain's part resulted in his imdertaking with the Algonquins and Ilurons three expe- ditions against the Iroquois, in the lirst of which he made a successful attack on them, in the vicinity of Lake George ; secondly, in the following year, he again attacked them suc- cessfully near the mouth of the Bichelieu ; and thirdly iu the summer of 1615, when tlie Ilurons, Algonquins, and French were defeated by the Iroquois in the country of the latter south of Lake Ontario, a defeat which in its conse- quences proved highly disastrous to the vanquished Indian tribes, for the Iroquois waged war against them with slight intermission during the next thirty-five years, until they had destroyed all their settlements, and put an end to their existence as a distinct people. The year 1015 was noted for the arrival of six RecoUet Fathers, who visited the Hurons along with Champlaiii, one going next year amongst the Neutral Nation. In June, 1025, there arrived out live of the order of Jesuits, among \vhom were Charles Lallement and Jean de Brebaail', destined to undergo a (?ruel death at the hands of the Indians iu later vears. These Jesuits, with others who followed them, exliibited a heroic persistency in the work of endeavouring to convert the Indians to Christianity, which the greatest hardshij^s and the most horrid cruelties could not turn from its piirpose. It fell to the lot of several of them to undergo the cruel toitures of the Indians, and -16 — they surprised the latter by the determined courage with which they bore them. In .spite of torture and death the mission was i:)ersistcd in ibi about a quarter of a century, till the destruction of the doomed Hurons by their enemies, the Iroquois, necessarily ended it. About this time too tlie traders at Tadousac and else- where began to supply the Indians with the " fire-water " which has proved such a curse to them over since. in 1036 the Iroquois ijoiietrated lor the first time collec- tively into the midst of the Ilurons, and a desultory w^ar- lure continued, the Iroquois also harrassing the newly erected French establishment at Ville-Marie in 1643 and 1644. In 1645 a peace was made at Three RiA'ers between the French and their allies on the one hand and the Oneida canton of the Irocjuois on the other, which however Avas broken the following year, and then ensued the usual raids, massacres, burnings and torturings of their Indian enemies by the Iroquois, Avho were about this time being supplied w^ith lire-arms and ammunition by the Dutch residents of what is now the State of New York. The colony of Mas- sachusetts having in 1648 applied to the French with a view to arranging for reciprocity of trade, the then French (rovernor, D'Aillebout, sent a deputation to carry out their views on condition that the New Englanders should aid them in putting doAvn the Iroquois. This tlie New Englanders courteously refust^d, uri the Iroquois had never molested tliem ; and this overture on the i)art of the French having become known to the Iroquois, they rushed to arms Avith redoubled fury, Avith tho purpose of exterminating ])oth the Canadian Indians and the French. At this time the Hurons and Algonquins far outnumbered the Iroquois ; indeed the Hurons alone were not much inferior in force, lor the strength of the- live Iroquois nations is estimated to have been no\v considerably less than tliree thousand war- with ith the enturv, lemies, id else- tvater " collec- 'y war- newly 43 and letween Oneida er w^as il raids, enemies Lipplied lonts of witli a Frcnck it their nld aid New I neA'ci' French to arms inating" is time )quoi8 ; 1 force, ated to x\ war- riors.. The superiority of the Iroquois lay in their better organization, bettei discipline. They now, iri 1648, fell upon the establishment at Sillery, where four hundred iamiliesof converted Indians were settled It was Sunday morninu", and most of the inhabitants were at church, when suddenly an indiscriminate slaughter was begun of men, women, and children, the priest himself, after receiving numerous blows, being thrown into the flames of the church. The village was also destroyed by lire. On the 4th of July, 1648, n body of Iroquois fell euddenly upon ihe village of St. Joseph, on the South-eastern frontier of the Huron country, and slaughtered every soul in the place to the number of seven hundred, including the priest, Pere Antony Daniel: on 16th March, 164.9, a similar fate befel the neighbouring settlement of St. Ignace, where about four hundred were killed ; and the next day the same band fell on the village of St. Louis, where most of the inhabi- tants were put to death, in many instances by torture, the ' Jesuits Brebanif and Lallemant, who were in chnrii'e of the settlement, being subjected to the latter fate. A 1*1 or some further hostilities, the Ilurons, utterly defeat- ed and disheartened, agreed with, one accord to leave the coiuitry. A few reluctantly united w^ith their conquerors, others found an asylum with other neighbouring tribes, and the rest sought refuge in the Island of St. Joseph, in Lake Huron, whert? famine and the Iroquois again deci- mated them, until at last a broken remnant of this once i'ormidable nation besought their missionaries to convev them to Quebec, wdiere they could be iinder the x>rotection of the French, and accordingh^ setting out by way of Lake Xipissing and the Ottawa Valley, headed by Pere Rague- neau, they finally reached Quebec in 1650. Here they were Joined the following 3-ear by about four hundred more. They were given land near the South-western extremity of the Island of Orleans. In 1656, however, the Iroquois — 18 — again made a dcscelit on them, and carried off a large number under the very guns of Quebec, after "which cala- mity they were removed to Quebec, and lodged in a square enclosure of palisades close to the fort. Here they remain- ed about ten years, when they were removed to Ste. Foye, and six years afterwards, when the soil was impoverished, and the wood in the neighbourhood exhausted, they again removed, under the auspices of the Jesuits, to Old Lorette, and before the end of the century they formed the village of .Teune Lorette, where their descendants can be found at the present time. The result of all was that not only the Huron countries, but those a])out the valley of the Ottawa, all teeming with i:)opulation, as they had ])eeii, were bo- come howling wildernesses. The Irocjuois, having disposed of the Hurons, turned their attention to the French settlements, until it was no longer safe for the colonists to go about their affairs without arms. They also now attacked the Neutral Nation, and in 1050 completely annihilated them. In 1()53 they, of their own accord, sent deputies to make a peace with the French, Avhich having been concluded, they took advantage of the opportunity, during the next ten years, to destroy succes- sively the Eries, the Ottawas, and the Andastes, of the latter a small remnant only escaping, and the former leaving no trace of its existence but the great Lake which bears its name. The conquerors now held, it was reckoned, undis- puted sway over a country live hundred miles in circuit. In 1670 a number of converted Iroquois migrated to Can- ada, and were located at first at La Prairie ; subsequently as it was found that the soil was unsuited to the cultivation of their i-)rincii:)al article of food, maize, they were removed to Sault St Louis (Caughnawaga) and lands assigned to them, which are occupied by their descendants to this day. A similar Iroquois settlement was made at Lake of the Two Mountains in the same vicinitv. , large 1 cala- square. emaiii- , Foyo, lished, ' again jorette, village •und at ily the )ttawM, ?re bo- t limed ^vas no rithout and ill f their ♦'rench, of the succes- e latter ing no ars its niidis- circuit. Can- [uently ivation moved :ned to is day. le Two • —19 — Into the subsequent calamitous events we shall not now enter very fully. The succession of the English to the Dutch in I*^ew York, the boundary quarrels and border wars, the sickening array of murders, pillagings, and mas- sacres, the butchery at Lachine by the Iroquois, and the terrible massacre at Schenectady, and, later on at Fort William Henry, both by the Canadian Indians, the capture of Quebec in 17o9, and cession at Montreal the following- year, the attempt on the colony in 1775 by the Americans, und the warfare waged by the same power in 1812, all followed in due succession. The Iroquois, especially the Mohawks and Senecas, had ])een the firm allies originally of the Dutch, and after the taking of New York in 1G04, of the English, and their alliance with the latter was never broken by any quarrels or warlike proceedings. The}' acted as a barrier between the British colonists and the French colonists on the North, and materially aided in sweei)ing away the chain of forts Jrom the great Lakes down the Ohio and Mississippi val- leys, by which it ^vas hoped by the French to confine the British colonies to territory on the Atlantic seaboard. They were also xireseni under Sir AVilliam Johnson at the capi- tulation at Montreal iu 17G0. But what was the cost to them of their long periods of war i As early as HJOO their numbers are said to Iiave been reduced to 2,200 warriors, of w^hom not more than 1,200 were of the true Iroquois stock. The rest w^ere a mixture of adopted prisoners — llurons, Neutrals, Fries, and Indians of various Algonquin tribes. AVere tlie Iroquois tlien more cruel and blood-thirsty than the other Indian tribes ? They can scarcely be so charac- terized. As respects ferocity of nature there was no ap- preciable difference between any of these tribes. The Iroquois, by their superior ability, their better organization^ ^20 — their quickness to learn lessons from experience, had suc- ceeded in attaining the power of crushing their onomief, which they then proceeded to exercise. Had the Algon- quins and Hurons succeeded in obtaining the upper hand over their adversaries, the Iroquois, there is no reason to suppose that the extermination of the latter ^vould have been delayed, or that it would have been accomplished with one whit more humanitv. After the capitulation of 1700 many of the Indian tribfs of the West, who had been in amicable relations with the French, were not pleased at the country being given up to the British. Nine-tenths of these Indians were still in the French interest. Th Indians of Quebec hud been glad to have the aid of the French in their contests with the Iroquois, and the Iroquois had looked to the English to protect them against the French, The French required no cessions of land, and in their trade and intercourse with the natives did not leave upon the rainds of the latter tlie impression that they had come to permanently reside in the country, or that they were the A^anguard of a people* who would eventually spread themselves over the land and sweep from it its original owners. The "Western Indians looked with great jealousy upon the evident design of the colonists in Virginia to cross the Allechanies and open up a route for European immigration into the interior of the country, and they were anxious to have the aid of the French in opposing this design ; whilst it suited the views of the latter power admirably that the Indians should be imbued with the desire to drive back the EnGflish. The Indians were amazed then at the down- fall of French power in 1700 ; they were much dissatisfied with this result, and hoped to retrieve it ; and from this dissatisfaction arose one of the most savage and prolonged wars, that of Pontiac in 176-]. . Pontiac was a great Indian war-chief, who was endowed with great courage, intelli- — 21 — g'ence, and system. He formed a project similar to that which Tecumseh entertained some forty years afterwards. He united all the North-western tribes of Ottawas, Chippc- was, andPottowatamies in one g-rcat confederacy ai^'ainst the British, and planned a simultaneous attack on all the trading posts in thi'ir possession, and so far succeeded that ton of these forts were surprised about the same time, and all the English soldiers and traders massacred, whilst the French were spared. Pontiac afterwards laid siege to De- troit and kept it in a state of siege for twelv'o months ; it was gallantly defended by Major Gladwyn, imtjl relieved l)y Gen. Bradstreet with o,000 men. The Indian tribes afterwards had to sue for peace, and Pontiac r.>turned to Illinois, where he was afterwards murdered throusidi pri- vate animositv 1:)V a Peoria Indian. The opposition of ]*oiitiac: haviuii* been subdued, and the Indians having been shown, by a great display of military force, that the nation with which they had to deal was one capable of carrying out its behests, a new era dawned in the relations of these Indians with British authoritv, an era of greater sympathy, greater trustfulness ; and in tin* inauguration of this better state of things the hand of a wise administrator Avas seen, to wlios-:^ memory the nation owes much, the hand of the Superintendent-General of Indian allairs, Sir William Johnson, the beloved of th(\ Iroquois. He, in 1704, arranged for a general convention of Indian tribes at Tort Niagara, Avhere he collected 1,700 warriors, and prepared Avise measures for a treaty of pcnice, amity, and alliance, which was afterwards extended to other tribes, and resulted in a general pacification, in which the following among other tribes joined : the Chippewas, Mississagies, Pottawattamies, Delawarcs, Shawanecs and Miamies. Ho also took measures to regulate and place on a satisfactory footing all matters of Indian trade, and in his dealings with the tribes exhibited such a pru- o."> dent, conciliatory spirit, combined with justice, iirmness, and moderation, as to gradually gain oyer the good-will of the Indians, and lay the foundation for a more friendly feeling towards the British authorities, which has been growing and ripening ever since. It wifi indeed fortunate that tlie British authorities should choose as the chief of the Indian Department at this juncture so politic and judi- cious a man as Sir William Johnson, and thould associate liim with otiiers, as subordinates, similarly minded. At tlu' time of the Revolutionary war a large proportion of the "Western tribes took sides with the British. This was owing jiartly no doubt to a more friendly feeling having by this time sprvmg up. It was owing also to an idea that the British would com? out most successfully in the struggle and a desire to })e on the winning side ; and also to a hope that the British would help them afterw^ards to confine the mo (» Soutliern settlements to the territory to the East of the valley of the Ohio. The Irocpiois, with slight exception, remained lirm in their allegiance to Great Britain, their ancient ally, and suti'ered severely during the Vs^ar, being defeated and driven out of their country by (len. Sullivan. A portion of them, including the Mohawk tribe, afterwards came over to Canada, along with their famous chief Tyendiiiaga, better known as Col. Brant, and had lands granted them by tht; Britisli Government w^here their descendants are to bo found at the i)resent day. The Revolutionary war sounded the doath-kncll of this celebrated leairue, and we do not hear of them as a bodv taking part in the next struggle. Their celebrated chief Tyendinaga, or Col. Brant, so-called from having held a lieut. -colonelcy in the British army, was a man of wonder- i'ul ability and skill. In his youth he had been a pupil at Dr. AVheelock's school ; he was emj^loyed as an interpreter and translator at the missionary station at Fort Hunter, and was brother to the Indian wife of Sir "William Johnson, 23 rmiiess, -will of riendly s been rtunate :liief of 1(1 judi- ssociate •portion . This feeling 50 to ail fully in le ; and erwards •itory to is, Avith ;o Great 'ing the ntry by I oh aw k ;h their nt, and : where lit day. of this a body }d chief held a wonder- pupil at erpreter Hunter, ohnson, who was revered by the Iroquois as their leader and coun- sellor, and who conducted their affairs with such consum- mate ability, and such beneiit to Eritisli power. Branl became the hero of the Iroquois, and at the time of th<* 1 1 evolutionary war was very active on the side of the Ih'itish, for whom he had a very warm altachiin^at, and whose cause he served till the close of the war. The pf)cl Campbell, in his " Gertrude of "Wyoming," gave him tin? di.scredit of some acts of crueltv which were committed 1)V others. In the later editions of the work the charge is withdrawn, it having been ])rovi*(l that r)ran( was not oven ])r(;sent. In the war of 1812a largo proportion of the AVosterly Indian tribes took sides with the British. The ureat chief Tecumseh was intimatelv connected with this wa *. He was a Shawanee chief, and a valiant warrior, born in Ohio in 1770. He is said from his earliest years to have given (nidence of the superior pow'ers "s^hich afterwards charac- terized him. lie had a high reputation for integrity ; his ^vo^d was inviolable. He has been described as " stamped a hero by the hand of nature, and equally d'stinguished l)y policy and eloquence.'' "With the aid of his brother he had. about the year 1804, conceived the idea of uniting all the Western Indians in a confederacy, to make a simultaneous attack upon the frontier settlements, in order to prevent further encroachments on the lied man's territorv. It is difficult to say, of course, but yet it is just possible, that if the United States had had a. master-hand such as Sir William Johnson at this time, Tecumseh might have been prevented, through friendly intercession, from using his great iniluence against them. Tecumseh proposed to Governor Harrison that they should both go together to Washington to lay before the President in person his grie- vances on the land question, and ask the President s deci- sion. This proposition the Governor refused. Tidings of — 124- t^e proposed movement against the "White settlements had been of course brought to Gen. Harrison, and it is suppo- sed that deceptive information afterwards reached him to the effect that large numbers of Indians were assembling at Tippecanoe with hostile intent, and that it would be advisable to disperse them at one:?. He accordingly attack- ed the Indians at Tippecp.noe, killing about 40 and wound- ing a like number. Exasperated by what they considered an unjustifiable outrage, th(». Indians were all the more ready to join the Ib-itish in the \>'nr of 1812, which broke out shortly afterwards. Tecumseh w^as one of those wlio did so. Being importuned by the Americans to attend a council to try and arrange for the neutrality of the Indians in the struggle, he replied : " No, I have taken sides with " the British, and I will suffer my bones to bleach upon " this shore before I will recross that river to joir. in any " council of neutrality." He kept his word. In 1818 a ])attle was fought near Chatham, in which the Americans under General Harrison beat General Procter with consi- derable loss, and in this battle Tecumseh fell, pierced, it is said, by the bullets of Kentucky mounted rillemen whilst lighting bravely for the British at the head of his warriors. THEIR rKESLNT COXDITIOX During the iimo tliat has sinco elapsed, down to the i^re- sent day, the treatment of the Indians by our authorities has continued to bo kind and just. Those who had been located on various tracts of land l)y the French (at Caugh- nawaga, &c.) have been protected in all their rights ; re- serves have been apportioned to other tribes ; wise regu- lations have been made for their government, and measures taken for their general improvement, which can be best judged of by looking at their fruits in the condition of the Indians to-day. All are contented and peaceful, and in one instance only do we find anything to the contrary, viz. : amon^ the Indians at Oka, Lake of Two Mountains, and there the dispute is not with the Government, but with the ^ 25 its had suppo- him to mbling- mid be attack- jvound- sidered e more 1 broko 30 who tteiid a Indians !S with 1 upon in any 1818 a eric an s L consi- 3d, it is ■whilst arriors. horities .d been Caugh- its ; rc- 3 regu- easures be best I of the 1 in one Y, viz. : ns, and vith the Seminary of St. Sulpice. These difficulties being now before the courts, we will not enter further into them here. From the interesting- report for 187G of the Department of the Interior, the Deputy Superintendent-aeneral of Indian affairs, and from other sources, we glean the follow- ing particulars : The total number of Indians in the several proviuces of the Dominion is as follows : — - Oiiiano 15 549 Q^^et^ec 10,804 26,353 Nova Scotia ., 2 091 New Brunswick 1440 Prince Edward Island 299 Manitoba, and the North-AVest territories. 25,945 British Colambia 30 020 Rupert's Land 4 370 92.518 Of the above the Six Nations of Grand Kiver number 3,069 Mohawks, of the Bay of Quinte 822 Oneidas, of the Thames (J04 Besides other scattered bodies. These are remnants of those \vlio supported the British cause during the revolutionary war, and afterwards mi- grated to Canada, and received grants of the land they now occui)y in 17S4. Then there are the — 26 — Cliippewas of Lake Superior.. / 1,875 " " Lake Huron 1,430 " " Saugeeii 341 " " Cape Croker 380 " " Snake Island 131 " " Rama 257 '* " Christian Island 188 Cliippewas and Pottawattamies of Sarnia.. 55 G Chippewas and Munsees of the Thames... 571 Cliippewas, Ottawas, and Pottawattamies of Walpole Island 845 Wyandotts (or Hurons) of Anderdon 76 Manitoulin Island Indians 1,530 The latter, vre x^resumo, made up of different tribos. Besides the above there are various other Indian settle- ments of (liflierent tri])es or nations in the ProA'ince of Ontario. In the Province of Quebec we have the Iroquois of Caughnaw' aga 1,511 " St. Regis 947 Iroquois and Algonquins of the Lake of Two Mountains 506 These are descendants of the Indians converted to Chris- tianity by the early Jesuit Missionaries, and located on these lands by the French during their occupation of the country. Then we have the Ilurons of Lorette, (of whom mention has been made previously) 295 Abenaquis of St. Francis 268 *' " Becancour 67 — 27 — Micmacs of Maria 67 " " Restigouche 451 Montagnais of Lake St. John 1145 " " Moisie, Seven Islands. Bet- siamits, and Mingan 1,800 Naskapoes of Lower St. Lawrence 2,8G0 Algonquins, Nipissings, Ottawas, of the Ottawa and St. Maurice districts, iSjc, .^-c, about , SOO Besides members of various tribes scattered in different parts of the Province. In the Maritime Provinces the Indians are chiefly Mic- macs. There are of Indian pupils attending school : — In Ontario 1,857 In Quebec 304 Of course the chief difficulties to contend with in dealing with the Indian are his constitutional indolence, his natural antipathy to any fixed residence or employment, and his partiality for the " fire-water," a taste w^hich seems to have become ingrained in him ever since he first learned from the white man the use of a beverage "which has proved such a curse to both. It is gratifying to know that in each of these particulars an improvement on the whole sure, if slow, is visible, and that w^ith the supervision and watch- fulness exercised by the authorities, a gradual advance is likely in each generation, until at last the Indian, instead of being a member of a barbarous, heathen horde, wander- ing aimlessly over this vast continent, wull ha\ e attained to the proud position of an enfranchised christian citizen of the first christian nation in the world. ^ 2B — It is generally believed that in these older provinces the Indian race is, from one cause or another, gradually wa- ning and becoming extinct. This idea is erroneous ; iho Indian population is rather on the increase in the older provinces, with the excex)tion of Prince Edward's Island. The revenue which flows into the Indian fund of the Dominion, year by year, is of two classes, viz. : that which is derived from the sale of land, timber, stone, and so Ibrth, and which is x)laced to the credit of Capital account ; and that derived from interest accruing on invested capital, from legislative grants, rents, fines, &c., w^hich is distribut- ed semi-annually amongst the individuals belonging to the various tribes in the Pj'ovinces of Ontario and Quebec. The gross sum standing, on the 30th June, 1870, at the credit of the capital account of the various Trust Funds, which belong exclusively to, and are employed for the benefit of the Indians of Ontario and Quebec, was s$2,923,.335.17, as against 82,884,972.44 on the 30th June, 1875, showing an increase of $88,302.73 since the 1st July, 1875. The interest w^hich accrued during the same period amounted to $155,1)28.71. This last sum has been in part expended for the benelit of, and in part distributed among the various bands in w^hose interest the investments wore made. The funds employed in the Indian service in the Pro- vinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edw^ard Island, British Columbia, Manitoba, and in the North-West Territories, are provided by Legislative appropriations, with the exception of certain insignificant amounts, in the case of some of those Provinces, which have accumulated from the sale or lease of small tracts of land, or from timber dues. The average attendance at the Indian schools of such as are of an age to attend is not found as large as desirable. 29 es the y wa- s; the older and. 3f the which Liid so iount ; apital, tribut- to the uebec. at the Funds, or the J, was June, t July, period in part among- s wore le Pro- dward i-West iations, in the lulated iimbef mch as able. Of all the Indian tribes those of Ontario are the most civilized and prosperous. The value of the personal pro- perty of the Ontario Indians is said to average $20.75 ; er capita ; of their real estate, $385.9-3 ; and of invested capital, $210.00 ; giving an actual value per capita for every Indian in Ontario of $G 16.68, About one-third of their number are children, and of these about a third attend school. The value of the real estate belonging to them has been much enhanced by the general jirosperity of the Province, and the grow^th of towns and villages in the vicinity of the various reserves. The Six Nation Indians of Grand Eiver are settled upon a lleserve of some 52,000 acres of cleared and uncleared land ; they have a prosperous agricultural society, and a fair stock of horses, oxen, cows, &:c. They are christians of various denominations, except about 800 pagans, w^ho do not appear disposed to abandon the ceremonies of their lathers. In regard to education, the departmental report says : — " The good work of the New England Company is zealously prosecuted by the reverend missionaries, and by means of eight Primary Schools under their superintend- ence, and that most excellent ' Mohawk Institute,' in charge of Mr. Ashton ; also, by the "VVesleyan Conference through their missionary and two schools ; and the creditable example of the Mississiguas who maintain two schools, in striking contrast with the apathy of the Six Nations, "vvho still fail in their duty, because having always been provided with schools, they have thought it unnecessary to contri- bute towards their supjiort : they appear of late to be more sensible, that thev must now aid in the cause of education. Mr. Ashton, the Superintendent of the Mohawk Insti- tute, reports 83 pupils in course of instruction, who. while there, are supported and clothed at the expense of the Company, and taught the ordinary branches and vocal music ; the boys work a funn of 300 acres ; the girls do the — 30 — house-work, including baking of bread and making the clothing of the pupils. The statute labor is generally well done, the people desirous of good roads through their Heserve, while the Council votes moneys for both roads and bridges. Drunkenness has diminished, and the tem- perance cause is promoted by several native societies ; whilst the severity of the recent law against selling or giving liquor to Indians has had a good effect." The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are reported to be improving in habits of industry, and generally support their families in comfort. The Chippewas of Saugeen are said to be making fair progress in industrial habits. Letters have been received at Ottawa from the more intel- ligent of them, enquiring as to enfranchisement provided for them under the recent Indian Act, the provisions of which seem to have afforded much satisfaction. Of other bands similar satisfactory reports are made. Many arc employed hunting, trading, maple-sugar making, carrying goods in their boats for traders, &c., the women manufac- turing basket-w^ork and the like, and all in as good circum- stances as can be expected, and with as good opportunities for advancement as it is possible for the Government lo secure to them. In the Province of Quebec the total value of the property (of all kinds) of the Indians is $10.3 per head. About 400 children attend school. At Caughnawaga the men are chiefly engaged in navi- gating steamers and rafts over the Lachine rapids ; some cultivate land, and others voyage to the United States. The w^omen are chiefly occupied in bead-work. The tribe have profited somewhat by the lease of a valuable stone quarry within their reserve to certain contractors in Mon- treal. In spite of repeated fines imposed for the sale of intoxicating liquor in the place, the Indians are still able to -31 — get it, and grave disorders consequently arise. The Indians of the Lake of Two Mountains are chiefly engaged in agriculture ; some voyage to the North-west. The chief occupation of the women is bead-w^ork. The St. Regis Indians are employed in rafting and boating as pilots and hands; cultivating, hunting, making baskets, bead-w^ork, tVc. They do not take much interest in the schooling of their children. The Abenaquis of St. Francis are voyageurs to a large extent. The Indians of Lake St. John are im- X^roving. They are poor, jpartly owning to the high prices of provisions, dry goods, &;c., and because they get less for their furs than is paid at posts whence the transport is less exi^ensive. The Indians of Nova Scotia are generally sober and in- dustrious. Their property (real and personal estate) is rated at $25.50 per head. Out of 381 children 80 attend school. Coopering and fishing are the chief employments. In New Brunswick the value of their property is about -9217 per head. They have no schools, and employ them- selves little with agriculture. The Prince Edward Island Indians have no reserve from the Crown, their lands being set apart through the bene- volence of the Aborigines' Protection Society and of private individuals. They hold real and personal estate to the value of about |24 i^er head ; they have not made much progress. The Tndlan Act, Turning now to the Indian Act of 1870, from which such beneficial results are expected, and which of course applies to all portions of the Dominion, w^e will examine certain of its provisions. In regard to the protection of reserves, section II provides that : — 32 — " No psriton, or Iniian other than an Indian of tho band* shall settle^ reside or hunt upon, occupy or uso any land or marah, or shall settle, reside upon or occupy any road, or allowanco for roads running through any reserve belonging to or occu- pied by saohbiind; and all mortgages or hypothecs given or consented toby any Indian, and all leases, contracts and agreements made or purporting to bo made by any Indian, whereby persons or Indians other than Indians of tho band are permitted to reside or hunt upon suoii reserve, shall bo absolutely void." The next following sections provide for the removal, by the authorities, of any x^erson (white man or Indian) so trespassing', and for his incarceration in g-aol should he re- turn after the first removal : they also provide penalties for any one removing unlawfully from a reserve any timber, stone, mineral, or other article of value. No reserve or portion of a reserve can be sold, alienated, or leased, untill it has been released or surrendered to the crown for the purposes of this Act, and no such release and surrender shall be valid without the assent of the majority of the band in council assembled. The next sections provide for the punishment of any agent giving false information in regard to land, or hinder- ing any person from bidding upon or purchasing lands offered at public sale. Sections 59 and GO are as follows : — " Tho Governor in Council may, subject to tlic provisions of this Act, direct how, and in what manner, and by whom the moneys arising from sales of Indian lands, and from tho property held or to be held in trust for the Indians, or from any timber on Indian lands or reserves, or from any other source for tho benefit of Indians (with the exception tf any small sum not exceeding ten per cent, of the proceeds of any lands, timber or property, which may bo agreed at tho time of the surrender to be paid to the members of tho band interested therein), shall be invested from tirao to time, and how the lyayments or assistance to which tho Indians may be entitled shall bo made or given, and may provide for the general management of such moneys, ami direct what percentage or projjortioa thereof shall bo set apart from time to time, to cover the cost of and attendant upon tho management of reserves, lands, property and moneys under tlie provisions of this Act, and for the construction or repair of roads passing through such reserves or lands, and by way of contribution to schools fro- fjnented by such Indians. Tho proceeds arising from tho sale or lease of any Indian lands, or from the timber, hay, stone, minerals or other valuables thereon, or on a reserve, shall be paid to the Ilecciver General to the credit of the Indian fund." — 33 — The portion of the Act liaviiii? r{'(«'r(Miro to intoxicants iri properly very strini^eiit : — « '• Wlioevcr j^clls, CJ:i;hangcJ< with, barter.*, .supplies or gives to nny iQilinn, or nt^n treaty Indijin in Cnaada, smy kind of intoxicant, or causes or procui-es the camr to be done, or connives or attempts tiicreat, or opens or keeps, or causes to be opened or kept, on any reserve or special reserve, a tavern, Ijousc or building where any into.xi- (lant is sold, bartered, exchanged or given, or is found in possession of any intoxicant iu the house, tent, wigwam or place of abodo of any Indian or non-troaty Indiani risonraent for a jteriod not less tiian one month Sur cxcfeod- ing six months, with or without hard labor, and be fined not less than lifty nor more tlian tJiree hundred dollars, with costs of prosecution, — one moiety of the fino to go to llio informer or prosecutor, and the other moiety to Ilor Majesty, to form part of the fund for the benefit of that body of Indians or non-treaty Indians, with respect to one or more members of which the offonco was committed : and the commander or person in charge of any sloamor or other vessel, or boat, from or on board of which any intoxicant lias been sold, bartered, exchanged, supplied or given to any Indian or non-treaty Indian, shall be liable, on conviction thereof before any judge, stipendiary nuigistrato or two justices of the peace, upon tho evidence of one credible witness other than tho informer or prosecutor, to be fined not less than fifty nor exceeding three hundred dollars fcr each such oS'cuce, with costs of prosecution, — tho moieties of the tine to bo appli-cablc as hereinbefore mentioned; and in default of immediate payment of such fino and costs any person so fined shall be committed to any Common gaol, house of correction, lock-up, or other place of confinement by the judge, stipen- diary magistrate or two justices of the peace before whom the conviction has taketi jilace, for a period of not less than one nor moro than six months, with or without hard labor, or until such fine and costs are paid ; and any Indian or non-treaty Indian who makes or manufactures any intoxicant, or who has in his possession, or oonccalod, of who sells, exchanges with, barters, supplies or gives to any other Indian or non- treaty Indian in Canada any kind of intoxicant shall, on conviction thereof, before any judge, stipendiary magistrate or two justices of the peace, upon the evidence of one credible witness other than the informer or prosecutor, bo liable to imprisonment for a period of not loss than one month nor more than six months, with or tvithout hard labor; and in all cases arising under this section, Indians or non-treaty Indians* shall bo competent witnesses: but no penalty sliall be incurred incase ofsiekne,"!3 where the intoxicant is made use of under the sanction of a medical man or under thtf directions of a minister of religion." Provision is also made for the forfeiture of any keg, barrel, or other receptacle in which such liquor has been contain- ed ; and the punishment, by line or imprisonment, of the Indian or other person in whose possession such keg, &:c.j may be found. — 84 — The Act thou ^oos on to provide that boats or other vessels used in conveying intoxicants, in contravention of this Act, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture ; that articles exchanged for intoxicants may be seized and for- feited ; that Indians intoxicated may be arrested and im- prisoned until sober, and fined, and further punished if they refuse to say from whom they ii'ot the intoxicant.^. The xH'ovision for the enfrauchist'm'mt of the Indians is important : *« Whoncvorany Itultan man, or uirnarriod woman, of the fall age of twenty-ono yo.irs, obtains tho consent of the banil of wliioli he or alio is a member to become cii- franchisod, and whenever nuch Indian has Ix'en assigned by the band a suitable allotment of Itnd for that purposo, the local agent shall report such action of tlii^ bind., and the name of the a])plicant to tho Saporinlondont-(iencral ; wherenpon thf said Snpcrintondent-(icncral, if satisfied that tho proposed allotment of land is C|;iital)le, shall authorize some competent jiorson to report whether tho nppticant Li an Indian wlio, fro'u the de;;rco of civilization to which ho or she has attained, and tho character for intoyrity, morality and sobriety which he or she boars, appears to )i<« rpialified to boeomo a proprietor of land in foe simjtlc ; and upon the favorable report of sueii person, tho Suporintondont-lioneral m;iy juraot such Indian a location tiression that the United States Government is greatly at ,q8 Ifiult ill dealing' with the Indians, and the fact that the Canadians have so little trouble with them has led many to suppose that they have some sovereign method Ihat the states shoidd hasten to adopt, but the truth is that tlie ii)nu^lish are reaping where the French sowed good seed on moderately good ground, w^hilst the Americans are reaping where the English sowed dragon's teeth on wild soil. The writer goes on to deal with the Indian policy of the two countries, and says that the United States cannot adopt the policy of Canada — even if it were perfect — which it is not, as it ^vill not apply, because one country has to do with a people tame, practical, and at peace ; the other, with nu- morous- tribes of fierce, impracticable, and independent savages at war, and inspired by the sx^irit of recent battles. ''Before we can manage them" says the writer, "their " tribal organizations must bo broken up, their habits of " life changed, they must be dismounted from their horses, '' and taught the gentler pursuits of herdsmen and led into " occupations that Avili .sustain them, and remove their " present inducements to rob and plunder ; they must learn " to depend upon honest industry and honest trailic, before '• we reach the ])oint where the Canadians have their '' Indians/' The above is, we think, a fair summary of the arguments advanced. There is no douht the French did suit them- selves more to the Avavs of the Indians, and their desiii'ii of occupying the country was not so apparent, except perhnps to the Iroquois, who saw clearly that the French coveted theii* country to the south of the lakes. The half-breeds too exerted a Ixnielicial influence. Still, the rehUions between the ]!]nglish colonists and the Irotjuois wer(^ (juite as cordial and sincere as thos.^ I)etween the French and their liulians. AVlnni ihe English look Canada they did not immediately obtain Wu} good-will of the Indians, witness ihe war of Fontia*', ])ui they cultivated ihat good-will subsequently Cif) i ihat Lmiiny lat the at the eed OR eapiiiij;' . The tie two jpt the is not, with a ith nu- eiuleiit battles. " iheiv ibils oi' horses, cd into p their t learn before ! their luients thtnn- sign of erhaps oveted eds too ?tween cordial ulians. diately war ol' iK^ntly with cou8ideral)le sueccss. The Iludyon's Bay Co. have (d' course been usefLil in facilitating- the management ol' the Indians of this country, Imi that company represented liritish sovereignty, and estahlished wise regulations, the absence of which might liave entailed a difl'erent state of Ihings. It is not quite correct to say our Mounted Police force is intended to govern the Indians : it is intended to govern both Whites and Indians, the former cpiite as much as the latter. No doubt there arc deplorable (piarrels wilh, and outrasres against the Indian, to be credited to the earlv colonists, for which the British must take their full shai-e of blame up to the time of the Declaration of Independence, merely feeling thankful that since that era the abuses in .the treatment of these original owners of the soil have, like other abuses, passed away; still on the other liand there is a very strong and widespread opinion that the Indian troubles from which the people of the United States are now suflering arc the outcome of " dragon's teeth," sown at a later date than that at which the British weri^ responsible for the management of aliairs in that country ; being sown in fact even in our own day by border rufhans and white savages who systematically violate all treaties with the Indians, and l^y dishonest agents who plunder tliem. These individuals, after having so exasperated the Indians as to lead them to take up arms against the whole white population, seem to save themselves by leaving th(5 neighbourhood, whilst the TJ. S. troops, upon arriving and iinding the Indians eni>-a.'xed in acti\e hostilities against the white settlers, of course endeavour to punish them, and this is commonly the prelude to a general Indian war, in which valuable lives are lost, and much bitter feeling is engendered amongst the Indians against the AVhites, and as a consequence against the Government. The real cul- prits — those jvkite savag'es, who were the original cause of — 40 — ilio trouble, have in the meauiiinf^ escaped, and do not seem to suiter any of the serious consequences of the crimc^s they have committed. The concluding povtion of the article is doubtless correct ; it will have to come to this in iinie. The writer however does not rsay how the resuli he ])orirays is to ])e arrived at ; whether by the law of the sword, or of kindness. We will now quote an article on this sul)]ect from a New York paper reviewinii* the report of the Commissioner of Indian atlairs for 1877, and advocatini^ a remedial system. which is almos'L identical with Ihat now in force in this country : — '•T«K TxDiAx.s AMI Tii;:iit Ti;i:\,tmi:m'. — W'c Ii.ivc rjeolvcl (he ,aniiii:il ri'imrt ol' tlio Coniniisi-ionor of Indian .\ Hairs I'or tho year IS77, and obsorvo dial ho lia3 n(\, dirticnlty in dctcnnininjj the (';i.n?e of our troiildcs witli tho Indiiiii''. Tiic cure Cor thorn wliich lie |)rc!;orib3H ^vill ciinally comincud itself to the mind-^ of all wclI-di^]»os- cd person.". What are his roiuo dies '.' Here are sonic of them : A code of laws fur the Indian reservations, with an iiidian police for their enforcement. The ftivinp; of Hinall farms to Indian families!, liius fosterint, industrial hnbils ainon;; tlicui. The inlroduclion among thorn of the common school pystom, and the encouragement of missionary work to reclaim tiiom from debasing paganijil : Are we, tlio ])urty of the first part, although ]n-ofessing to bo civilized and odu( ntcd, more faithful in tho observance of contracts and bargains than the Indians? Many will agree with us that disinterested parties would prob.ably render a verdict in favorof the f^avage. The report says that these men are einploj-od as scouts by tho army and fouml altogether faithful. They can bo trusted. As much cannot be said of all white men. T!io Commissioner repeats a well known fact when saying that adults are lc.«s hopeful cases than tho younger Indians. We must therefore begin with the young if wo would build strongly and permaupntly, and this ghu-ious work belongs pre-eminently to tho churi-ncs of America, and should this very year be entered upon with fourfold more teachers and money. The suggestion is made that these people could easily bo induced to engage largt^y in the cattle buijineei,. for which many of thera exhibit — 41 — coDffiderable aptitude. Reading tbis report we nro further impregoed with the con- viction that all our Indian wars arc of our own creation, hccauso of the rascalities and inhumanities, not of all. but of a number of the agents, and nearly all the traders. This is the root of the eyil. These traders and agents value the dollar more than human blood. Vigorous justice upon them is an important part of the case, and we suggest that reform in our administration of Indian affairs begin with the white offender. It is a national disgrace that the aborigines of the country arc too often left to the tender mercies of haughty and heartless, perhaps licentious, army ofiBcers and traders. We like to record to the credit of the North American Indian what many of the rising generation may not know, namely, that no Indian ever lifted his arm against the Quakers. Does not this prove beyond all cavil the conciliatory power of honest dealings and kind words. Scornful language anc! deeds of violence are dangerous boomerangs. They are like the curses that come homo to roost. Unprincipled adventurers have won some money in the Black Hills and cUe- where, but the nation has to foot big bills as the result of our Indian wars. Have we not gone far enough on that thorny and costly, and above all, God condemned road ?" The Chicag'o Tribune also pays the following flattering compliment to Canada and its Government : — " It speaks well for the eflSciency of the Canadian system of dealing wltli Indians that the Qovernment can safely and without protest distribute arms and ammunition ameng the trib -. In pursuance of a treaty made with the Blackfeet, forty-six of the Chiefs ani- uead men of the tribe have each been furnished a. AVinchoster rifle and 400 cartridges. The United States has not progressed so fur as this in the science of getting along smoothly with its Indian wards." * • NoTX. — Since this paper was written, the following items of information have appeared in the public press, and may well be annexed as illustrating the subjcot : — Thr Provocatioks to the Ikdians — The San Francisco Call of Juno 23 says: ♦' In a formal interview by some white people, interpreters being present, the Ban- nook chiefs complain that they have been provoked to hostilities by the lies, frauds, and outrages practised on them by their Agent, Eeinbart. He made them work, ])romi8ed them pay, and refused to keep his promises. He ' starved, abused them, and lied to them.' This is all corroborated by Piute witnesses, who are friendly with the whites. Having profited by his frauds and lies, the Agent, well knowing; what the consequences would be, saved his own scalp by getting out of the way in time; and now innocent settlers, taken without warning and without any knowledge of the provocation, men, women, and children, scattered over a region twice as largo as the State of Ohio, are paying the penalty of the rascally Agent's crimes with their lives and property. Amid the agonizing shrieks of the holpleij victims of savage warfare, and the smoke that ascends from their burning houses, the real instigator of the war is obscured from (ho public eye, and ouly the Indians are thought of and s-ought to be punished as the criminals. The frauds and lies of the unprincipled Agent, after causing the cruel sacrifice of scores of innocent lives and some millions to the people and Treasury, will be glossed over and forgotten, and he will never be jtunished. His suecess in getting awoy with some thousands of dollars worth of ]ilunder will enoourage other scamps of Agents to imitate his example and cause 6 42 But, to roturn to the North-West. The Dominion Govern- ment, on taking over the country proceeded to establish law and order upon a sure and satislactory foundation, and iindino: that bands of outlaws from the "United States had established posts in those territories, where they sold arms, ammunition and spirituous liquors, and completely demo- ralized the tribes, the Government established the Mounted Police force, a body which has eti'ectually eradicated the evils complained of, and has obtained, by its good conduct, strict discipline, thorough impartiality, a^ d excellent man- agement, a very high place in the respect and regard of the native tribes. So much so indeed, that as a recent reverend visitor to this province said life and property are now«as safe in that territory as in our largest cities, and perhaps we may add sal\?r than in some cities. One serious diiUcidty which is looming up in the near future for the Indians of the North- West is the decrease in number of the bulialo. Until lately the Indian Could other tribes to revolt ami burn, kill ami destroy, as the Bannocks are doing this year, as the Nez Porccs did last, as the Sioux did the year before that, and the Cheyenne? at an earlier date. It would bo a just and Aviso law that would hang any Indiiin Agent or Suiierintendont whoso frauds or stcjilings instigate a triljc to acts of war and murder." JIowTHf; Ix.iAH.s Ai!K KoKiiKi). — A de^iiatch from Tort Thotujou, Dakota, dated .luly 1 Ith, says Indian '^ommis.oionir UoyI dropped on the Crow Agency on that date without notice. He obtained the books and papers of Indian Inspector Ilamuiond, and discovered frauds and robbery unheard of even in Indian Agencies. Dr. Living- ston is Agent at Crow Creek, and he and agent Craven at Cheyenne, and Gregory, at Lower Brule, have been conspirators togother. The robberies of tlio Indians are traced back to 1870. They built a hotel at the (iovernmcnt's expense, and supplied it with beef, jiotatoos, milk, grain and hay from tiio Government warehouse. Li"' 'g- ston was a partner with Indian trader Iludson, whom ho supplied with Indian Good?, which were sold to the Indians ; ho drew pay and rations for throe hundred Indians more than were nt his agency. Livingston owns a controlling interest in three silver mines in Nevada, about all the real property in Yankton, and hasgratiliod his piety by jircsonting stained glass windows and marble fonts to churclies. His agency as well as the others, have been seized. The ring threaten Hammond'^ life for exposing them. (ion. Hammontl has tupcrscdod the agents at Crow Creek, Brule apd Chcycnpj liy army ofliccrs, 43 — count upon a practically unlimited supply of food from th^ immense herds of these animals -which loamed over tln' prairie, and their skins wore also very A'aluable to him l)oUi lor his own use in various ways, and forpurx)Osesof traflic. For the hxst ten years, however, the numbers of the Imflalo have been steadily diminishing, partly owing- to indiscri- minate slaughter on the part of the Whites and Plalf-breeds, and it is calculated that in another decade of years, luiless prompt remedittl measures arc taken, the buffalo, aS a source of supply of food, will be extinct. The Indians, 1o whom the buffalo hitherto has heen indispensable, natural- ly regard this state of affairs with great alarm, and ask how they are to find subsistence when the buffalo is destroyed V His Honor Lieut.-Grovernor Morris recom- mended that a few simple regulations ])e made relating to the hunting and killing of the buffalo, and in this way ho was satisfied that the herds could be preserved for many years, and we believe legislative action has been already taken on this subject. There seems however to be no doubt that wise i^recautions of this nature will only delay, not prevent, the ultimate extinction of the buffalo, and tln^ authorities recognize the importance of preparing the native tribes for the time when unfortunately this result will supervene. This can only be done by encouraging the Indians to turn their attention to agriculture and other industrial pursuits, and it is satisfactory that as a rule they seem to l^e very desirous of obtaining the knowledge ne- cessary to enable them to do so to advantage. His Honor Governor Morris, than whom we shall not desire better authority, states in speaking of the Indians of the Saskat- chewan that, " he was suri)rised to find so great a willing- " ness on the part of the Indians to cultivate the soil, and " so great a desire to have their children instructed. The '• Indians are tractable and docile : the universal demand " is for teachers, and for jiersons to instruct them how to " cultivate the "Touud and to l)uild houses." In Manitol)a — 44 — the Indians have in several instances commenced the culti- vation of the soil, and built houses for themselves. There have been six treaties made between our Govern- ment and the Indians of the North-West, and if we note with satisfaction the confidence and evident good- will with which the latter entered into the treaties, we cannot but admire also the just and conciliatory spirit exhibited by the former in negotiating them. Treaty No. 1 with the Chippewa and Swampy Cree Tribes of Indians was made on 3rd August, 1871. By it these tribes made over to Her Majesty and her successors for ever a certain tract of land specially designated, and Her Majesty agrees and undertakes to lay aside and reserve for the sole and exclusive use of the Indians certain other tracts, sufficient to furnish 160 acres for each family of hve, or in that proportion for larger or smaller families. Her Majesty binds herself to maintain a school on each reserve when desired by the Indians, and to exclude intoxicating liquor. " And with a view to show the satisfactlon'of Ilcr Majesty with the behavior and good conduct of Her Indians, parties to this Treaty, She hereby, tkrough Her Com- missioner, makes them a i)re8ent of five dollars for each Indian man, woman and cliild belonging to the Bands here represented. Her Majesty's Commissioner shall, as soon as possible after the execution of (!ii« Treaty, cause to be taken an accurate census of all the Indians inhabiting the District above described, distributing them in families, and shall in every year ensuing the date hereof, at some period during the month of July, in each year, to be duly notified to the Indians, and at or near the respective reserves, pay to each Indian family of five persons the sum of fifteen dollars Canadian currency, or in like proportion for a larger or smaller family, such payment to be made in such articles ai the Indians shall requir* of Blankets, clothing, prints (assorted colors), twine or traps, at the current cost price in Montreal, or otherwise, if Her Majesty shall deom the same desirable in the interests of Her Irdian people, in cash. And the underaufned Chiefs do hereby bind and pledge themselves and their peo- |)lc strictly to observe this Treaty, and to maintain perpetual peace between thcni- .solvos and Her Majesty's white subjects, and not to interfere with the property or in any way molest the persons of Her Majesty's white or other subjects. 7a io»7hms jyAerro/ Her Majesty'^fl said Commissioner and the said Indian Cliiefs hiive hereunto subscribed and set tlieir hand and seal, at the Ijower Fort Garry, this day and year herein first above mentioned." Here follow the names. — 45 — Treaty No. 2, made on 21st Aug-ust, 1871, with the Chip- pewa Tribe, is similar in purport to the foregoing*. Treaty No. 3, ratified on 3rd October, 1873, with the Saul- teaux Tribe of the Ojibbeway Indians, to the number ol" about 2,700, cedes a certain described tract of land embrac- ing an area of about 55,000 square miles, and reserves aro set apart in the proportion of one square mile to each family of Hyq. Twelve dollars are presented to each man, woman, and child, in extinguishment of all claims preferred, and after a census has been taken Five Dollars are to be paid yearly to each Indian person, and fifteen hundred dollars are also to be annually expended by Iler Majesty in the purchase of ammunition and twine for nets for tho use ol" Ihe Indians. The Indians are still to have the right to pursue their avocations of hunting and fishing throughout the tract sur* rendered subject to regulations, and excepting such tracts as may from time to time be required for settlement, &c., by the Dominion G-overnment or any of the subjects thereof duly authorized. "It is furtlicr agreed between Ilcr Mnjcsty and the said Indians that tho follow- ing articles shall bo supplied to any ISand of said Indians who are now actually cul- tivating the soil, or who shall hereafter commonco to cultivate the land, that is tn say — two hoes for every family actually cultivating; also one spade per family as aforesaid ; one plough for eyory ten families as aforesaid; five harrows for every twenty families as aforesaid ; one scythe for every family as aforesaid ; and also onu axe and one cross-cut saw, one hand saw, one pit saw, the necessary files, one grind- stone, one augur for each Band, and also for each Chief for the use of his Band, one chest of ordinary carpenter's tools ; also for each Band, enough of wheat, barley, jto- tatocs and oats to plant the land actually broken up for cultivation by such Band ; also for each Band, one yoke of oxen, one bull and four cows ; all tho aforesaid arti- i-les to bo given once for all for the encouragomont of the practice of agriculture among the Indians. It 13 FDRTiiKK AoBKKD bctwecn Ilcr Majesty and the said Indians, that e:icii Chief, duly recognized as such, shall receive an annual salary of twenty -five dollars |H'r annum, and each subordinate officer, not exceeding three for each band, shall receive fifteen dollars jtor annum ; and each such Chief and subordinate officer iis aforesaid shall also receive, once in every three years, a suitable suit of (ilotliin^ ; and each Chief shall receive, in recognition of the closing of the treaty, a suitable tiag and medal. — 40 — Ami the undersigncl ChioiT.', on their own behalf and on helialf of all oth«r Indians inhabiting the tract within coded, do hereby solemnly promise and engage to strictly observe this treaty, and also to conduct and behave thomseives as good antl loyal subjects of Her Majesty the Queen. They promise and engage that they will, in all respects, obey and abide by the law ; that they will maintain peace and good order between each other, and also between themselves and other tribes of Indians, iind between themselves and others of ller Mnjesty's subjects, whether Indians or Whites, now inhabiting or hereafter to inhabit any part of the Hnid coded tract ; and that they will not molest the person or property of any inhabitant of such ceded tract, or the property of Her Majesty the Queen, or interfere with or trouble any per- son passing or travelling through the said tract or any part thereof 5 and that they will aid and assist the officers of Her Majesty in bringing to justice and punishment any Indian otfendingagainst the stijjuliitiona of this treaty, or infringing the laws in force in the country so ceded. In WITXES3 M'HKUKOK, Hcv Majesty's said Conmussioners and the said Indian C;hief^! have hereunto subscribed and sot their hands, at the Nortli-AVcst Angle of the Lake of the Woods, this day an I year liorein first above-named." Treiity No. 4 Avas concluded on 15th >September, 1874, bft\yoeii Iler Majesty represented by Her Commissioner.s, Hon. Alexander Morris, Lieiit.-Governor of Manitoba and the North- West Territories, the Hon. David Laird, then Minister of the Interior, and ^Villiam Joseph Christie, Esq., of Brockville and the Cree, Saulteaux, and other Indians, inhabitants of certain territory therein defined. The pro- visions of this treaty are similar to the foregoing. By treaty No. 5, made at Berens' Kiver, 20th September, and at Norway House, on 24th September, 1875, the Saul- teaux and Swampy Cree Tribes cede a certain tract of terri- tory em})racing an area of one hundred thousand square miles, more or less. The provisions are similar to those of the other treaties, with certain slight exceptions. Treaty No. G was made on 23rd and 28th August, and on 0th September, 1870, respectively, with the Plain and AVood Cree Indians and other tribes at Fort Carlelon, Fort Pitt, and Battle Kiver. Reserves to the extent of one square mile for each family of five, or in that proportion, are set aside, and some of the other provisions are even more onerous to Canada than those of the foregoing (< l( • 47 — treaties. The territory included in tliis treaty is approxi- mately estimated to contain 120,000 s(j^uare miles. The Dominion has by these treaties acquired nearly tlie whole of the territory within the fertile belt, and for some distance North of it ; in fact all the lands ]^]ast of the Rocky Mountains with the exception of a small district of about 35,000 square miles inhabited by the Blackfeet Indians, about 4,000 souls. These Indiana are anxious for a treaty lo be made with them.=^ In regard to these Black- feet, the departmental report says :— " It w^ould appear that " the Blackfeet, who some twelve or fifteen years ago num- " bered upwards of ten thousand souls, and were then re- markable as a warlike and haughty nation, have within the last decade of years been greatly demoralized, and re- '• duced by more than one-half their number — partly in " consequence of the poisoned hre-water introduced into '• the territory by American traders, partly by the murder- " ous acts of lawless men from the American territory, and '' partly by the terrible scourge of the Red man, small-pox, " which in 1870 caused great havoc among the Indians in >' this region." The Indians embraced under these six treaties number 17,754. The expenditure in Manitoba and the North-AVestby the Dominion Government during the year ending oOtli June, 1876, was 1203,205 against ^223,525 appropriated. The Indians are gradually settling on the grounds allot- ted to them, and are commencing to understand the neces- sity of devoting themselves to agricultural pursuits, and in some instances considerable i)rogTOsy in this direction has already been made ; the proximity of White settlements is * A treaty with these Blackfeet has, wo bollcvo, boon negotiated since tlic date uf the dojiartmeqtal report now la our Uunds, — 48 also of advaiilajjo, in that they can supi)ly themselves on the same terms as other inhabitants oi" the Provinco "svitli any artieles they may require, and can also find a ready market for the products of the Hunt and of their Fishing. In 1875 the Sioux Indians coming from the United States were, after due consideration, allowed reserves of 80 acres to every five persons, and tracts of country were accordin^*- ly surveyed at the mouth of Oak Hiver comprising 7,03(> acres, and at Bird Tail River near Fort Ellice comi^rising OjSS") acres, with which the Indians interested seemed to 1x3 well pleased, and at once started their gardens and commenced the construction of their dwellino^s. Since this these Sioux have less frequently visited the settlements of the Western part of the Province, Avhere their presence was always the subject of complaints, owing to their begging and thieving propensities, and it is consi- dered that once they get accustomed to living on their reserve, and cultivating the ground, all reason for complaint against them will have disappeared. In regard to these Indians Lieut.-Governor Morris in his report says : — " I *' am sanguine that this settlement wall prove a success, as " these Sioux are displaying a laudable industry in cutting " hay for their own use and for sale, and in breaking up " ground for cultivation." t Another addition of Sioux to the Indian population of that country has recently taken place, being those who liave sought refuge there under Sitting Bull. In some quarters the Dominion Avas promised much trouble and annoyance from these Indians, but so far they have con- ducted themselves very peaceably and quietly, expressing their admiration for the British, their desire to settle down in the country, and their determination to obey the laws in every respect. Indeed it is wonderful what an ascendancy the officers of the Mounted Police have apparently obtain- ed over them, and it is noteworthy that if they profess im- --41> — res on ) with ready ishing. States [) acvefs )rdin,ii- 7,03() irisiiii^ ned to IS and ed the where wince i consi- 1 their Qplaint ) these s:— "I ess, as mtting ing Tip « ion oC who some le and e con- fessing down aws in idancy obtain- \ss im- l)licit confidence in British impartiality, Mnjor Walsh and his oflicers seem also to repose some consideralde con- lidence in their protestations. It is true we have had a report withhi the past few days that Sitting Bull is endea- vouring to stir up a feeling amongst the Blackfeet against the Whites in connection with the Bullalo Protection Act, but it is since said that this report has been started by the llalf-breeds who are enraged at the Police for preventing them from exterminating the Buffalo. Sitting Bull and his ))and may yet give trouble, but no one in Canada doubts that if they should transgress the impartial laws under the protection of w^hich they are now living, they would be sharply and ellectually dealt with, even if it should require another Manitoban expedition under a second Colonel (now Sir Garnet) AVolseley to do it. And there is also reason to believe that in such an event the Indians of the JNorth- AV^est would, to a large extent, stand by the British and Canadian Governments, as it will be remembered that in 1875 the Blackfeet before alluded to were invited by the Sioux from the American side to join them in warring against the Whites, a proposition which they readily d clined, and for so doing received the thanks of the Queen, who directed that they should be oilicially informed of her gratification at this CA^dence of their loyalty and attach- ment. However, it is more than likely that Sitting Bull's band, as w^ell as any other band who may find themselves in that country, will appreciate too highly the laws in force, to lightly violate them. The length of this paper forbids our noticing, otherwise than superficially, the British Columbia Indians. Suffice it to say they are described as a hardy, industrious race ; those of the interior being extensive owners of stock, and having considerable agricultural knowledge, and those on the coast being expert fishermen, and many of them very comfortably oif, though much given to gambling. Ar- e- — oO — raiii^cments as to reserves will have to be made with them similar to those made in Manitoba. "We must not omit to state that missionaries are now also doin^- a good work among the Indians in the North- West and elsewhere, and rapidly extending their inllu- ence. « C )r two extracts from reports may now be appended in cwsing : — . Lieut.-Governor Morris in his report says : — "If the measures suggested by me are adopted, viz., " eflective regulations with regard to the bufialo, the " Indians taught to cultivate the soil, and the erratic half- *' breeds encouraged to settle down, I believe that the solu- " tion oi' all social questions of any present importance in " th Xorth-AYest Territories will have been arrived at.*' {Speaking of the Mounted Police he says : — "The conduct of the men was excellent, and the pre- " sence of the force as an emblem and evidence of the " establishment of authority in the North-West was of '' great value."' Commissioner lleid in his report says : — " I would here mention that previous to my departure " from Norw^ay House there was a very hearty and aj^pa- " rently sincere expression of gratitude, on the part of all " the Indians present, for the liberality extended to them, " and a general and spoken wush that their thanks be con- " veyed to the Queen's Representative in this Province for ^' his kind interest in their welfare." And Commissioner Dickieson savs : — — 51 - (I t( •' Besides the Sioux Chiols, White Cap and Striiidiiisj: Buflalo, who have now lived on our territory lor sonn' years, I met at Qu'Appclle a delegation of Sioux from the United States. =^ =)^ ^ They expressed the most perfect confidence in the British Crovernment, and their desire always to be on good terms with those who lived on this side of the boundary line ; a state of things which has resulted from the manner in which their ancestors were treated, and the report of which has been handed down from father to son for several generations." In conclusion, we see in the North ATest an immense tract of country, peopled by savage and warlike races, with as yet a small white population, and almost the only repre- sentatives of armed authority a handful of Mounted Police. What is it that makes the native tribes so tractable and do- cile that life and property may now be considered safe ? Is it the knowledge that behind the Mounted Police there is force sufficient to crush out all disorder? Is it the pres- tige of British authority as represented by its army ? Partly so no doubt, but not altogether. The reason is to be ascrib- ed rather to equitable laws and generous treatment, and in these respects the Canadian Government is raising up in that vast country a monument to British authority that shall endure for all time, a monument in which strict jus- tice forms the base, kindness the shaft, and the whole power of the British Empire the capital overlooking and adorning the rest. These, and these alone are the secret of the success of British authority in the iNorth-Wesl. tei; j^lDDEISTDUM. Note.— It should be observed that at the time of the dispersion of the great Huron nation, among those who fled from the Iroquois Westward were two considerable bodies, who sought shelter among the other Indian nations at dif- ferent points, and were afterwards heard of co-operating with the latter in the various events which subsequently took place. Representatives of these bodies are still to be found in the West. It was because of the shelter afforded to the Hurons that the Iroquois attacked and destroyed the Ottawas and the Eiies.