Читать книгу Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada 1759-1791, Part I - Adam Shortt - Страница 133

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In order to discuss this point more clearly I shall first take notice of the Savages on the North shore of the River S^t Laurence from the Ocean upwards, and then of such as inhabit the South side of the same River, as far as the present limits of the Government extend on either side of it.

1^st The Savages on the North shore. The first to be met with on this side are the Esquimaux, these are the wildest and most untamable of any, and are emphatically stilled by the other Nations, Savages. They never dress their food but eat fish rotted in the Sun and drink the oil it produces. Travellers represent them hardy, active and expert navigators: In the summer they come with their whole Families in Chaloups to fish in the streights of Belisle, these they leave in the Bays, and go out themselves to a considerable distance in Canoes made of skins wherein they sew themselves up. Their clothes and sails of their Vessels are made of the skins of wild beasts; They are reckoned treacherous, and have had many encounters with the French and Canadians employ'd on the fisheries in those parts. Their Language is not understood but a few words they make use of nearly resemble the dialect of some of the most northern European Nations. A few here have trafficked with them and made a considerable advantage by it, but they never agreed well together; any trade with the Esquimaux however must be precarious; The Coast is rocky and difficult of access, the season for navigation short, and the risks too great to entice adventurers; they have never been known to come on this side of La Forteau.

2^d — The Montagnais or Monsonies inhabit a vast tract of Country from Labrador to the Saguenay; they are again distinguished into those who live in the inland parts call'd Nascapies, and the inhabitants of the water side, for this reason stilled Chuchouxlapishouets. They take as many different names as they have Villages but are all the same people, and speak the same language. As in the interior parts of the Country there are many Lakes and Rivers which communicate with Hudson's bay, the former often trade on that side, which the latter also would have been obliged to do, if the interruption caused by the War, had continued for any time, tho' from the more convenient situation, they would have ever reverted to those who were Masters of the River S^t Laurence, those are the mildest and most tractable of all Savages and never enter into War. Tho their country is extensive their number is inconsiderable; From Labrador to Mingan the Traders do not reckon more than from Eighty to one Hundred Families, and of those who resort to the King's Posts, there may be about 220 Families in all, but as their habitations are easily moved they are ever changing and shifting from one place to another.

A Jesuit Missionary meets them at Tadousac when they come there for the trade and he resides in the neighbourhood all the Year.

3^d...The most civilized of all the Indians in this part of the World are the Hurons settled at a little Village called Jeune Lorette about 3 leagues from Quebec. These are called Roman Catholicks and are a decent well behaved people, it is now many Years since they removed there from their ancient habitations about Lake Huron or Erie, are settled upon lands belonging to the Jesuites, and live in much the same manner as the Canadians. They have excellent good Houses, Cultivate their own lands and live upon the produce: In the Hunting season they go into the woods and hunt themselves or traffic with the more remote Indians for their Pelletries. Some of the Elders have been so tenacious of their Mother tongue, they hardly speak a word of French, but most of the Younger ones speak it tolerably well; indeed it has ever been the policy of the French Government to make them retain that and as much of their ancient customs as possible, that they might prove of greater use to them in case of war with other nations, at the same time they endeavour'd to attach them to their Interest by every tie. A Missionary resides among them, they have a neat Chapel, where divine service is constantly performed at which all the Savages assist with a punctuallity and decorum worthy of imitation by more enlightened people; They seem to be well satisfied with the change of Masters, and were so particularly pleased at their Village having been spared during the Winter 1759, tho' forced by the French to abandon it, that they never could prevail on them to act with any degree of vigor against us. They have at present but 32 Warriors and the whole Village, Men, Women and Children are short of 100. Their number is decreased at least one half within these forty Years, and the Tribe would by this time have been almost extinguished but for the supplies they got by captures in War, and the sale of unhappy infants whose Parents chose to conceal their own shame at the expence of such iniquitous bargains.