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diff --git a/15126-h/15126-h.htm b/15126-h/15126-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a499f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/15126-h/15126-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1945 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lecture on the Aborigines of Newfoundland by Joseph Noad, Surveyor-General. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + H1 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + H5,H6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + H2 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* centered */ + } + H3 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* centered */ + } + H4 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 100%;} /* small caps, normal size */ + .sc2 {font-variant: small-caps;} /* small caps */ + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 85%; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .img {text-align: center; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} /* centering images */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + .tdright {text-align: right;} /* aligning cell content to the right */ + .tdcenter {text-align: center;} /* aligning cell content to the center */ + .tdleft {text-align: left;} /* aligning cell content to the left */ + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Lecture On The Aborigines Of Newfoundland, by Joseph Noad + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Lecture On The Aborigines Of Newfoundland + Delivered Before The Mechanics' Institute, At St. John's, + Newfoundland, On Monday, 17th January, 1859 + + +Author: Joseph Noad + +Release Date: February 21, 2005 [EBook #15126] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ABORIGENES OF NEWFOUNDLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Wallace McLean, Jeannie Howse and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading (https://www.pgdp.net), from images kindly +provided by www.canadiana.org + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h2><a name="Page_1"></a>LECTURE</h2> +<h3>ON</h3> +<h2>THE ABORIGINES</h2> +<h3>OF</h3> +<h2>Newfoundland,</h2> + +<br /> + +<h4><i>Delivered before the Mechanics Institute, at St.<br /> +John's, on Monday, 17th January,</i></h4> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>THE HON. JOSEPH NOAD,</h2> +<h3><i>Surveyor-General.</i></h3> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<h5 class="sc2">St. John's, Newfoundland:<br /> +R.J. Parsons, Printer.<br /> +1859.</h5> + +<br /> +<a name="Page_2"></a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2><a name="Page_3"></a>Lecture</h2> + +<h3><i>DELIVERED BEFORE THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE AT ST. JOHN'S, +NEWFOUNDLAND.</i></h3> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>THE HON. JOSEPH NOAD,</h3> +<h4><i>Surveyor-General,</i></h4> +<br /> + +<p>Of the various theories advanced on the origin of the North American +Indians, none has been so entirely satisfactory as to command a +general assent; and on this point many and different opinions are yet +held. The late De Witt Clinton, Governor of the State of New York, a +man who had given no slight consideration to subjects of this nature, +maintained that they were of Tatar origin; others have thought them +the descendants of the Ten Tribes, or the offspring of the Canaanites +expelled by Joshua. The opinion, however, most commonly entertained +is, that the vast continent of North America was peopled from the +Northeast of Asia; in proof of which it is urged that every +peculiarity, whether in person or disposition, which characterises the +Americans, bears some resemblance to the rude tribes scattered over +the northeast of Asia, <a name="Page_4"></a>but almost none to the nations settled on the +northern extremity of Europe. Robertson, however, gives a new phase to +this question; from his authority we learn that, as early as the ninth +century, the Norwegians discovered Greenland and planted colonies +there. The communication with that country, after a long interruption, +was renewed in the last century, and through Moravian missionaries, it +is now ascertained that the Esquimaux speak the same language as the +Greenlanders, and that they are in every respect the same people. By +this decisive fact, not only is the consanguinity of the Greenlanders +with the Esquimaux established, but also the possibility of peopling +America from the north of Europe demonstrated, and if of America, then +of course of Newfoundland also, and thus it appears within the verge +of possibility, that the original inhabitants of this Island may be +descendants of Europeans, in fact merely a distinct tribe of the +Esquimaux. At a meeting of the Philosophical Society held in England +some few years ago, the subject of the Red Indians of Newfoundland was +brought under discussion by Mr. Jukes, the gentleman who conducted the +geological survey of this Island; and Dr. King, a name well-known +among scientific men, gave it as his opinion, founded on historical +evidence, going so far back as the period of Sebastian Cabot, that +they were really an Esquimaux tribe. Others are of opinion, founded on +some real or presumed affinity between the vocabulary of the one +people with that of the other, that the Indian tribes of North America +and the original inhabitants of Newfoundland, called by themselves +"Boeothicks," and by Europeans "Red Indians," are of the same +descent.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_5"></a>The enquiry, however, into the mere origin of a people is one more +curious in its nature than it is calculated to be useful, and failure +in attempting to discover it need excite but little regret; but it is +much to be lamented that the early history of the Boeothick is +shrouded in such obscurity, that any attempt to penetrate it must be +vain. All that we know of the tribe as it existed in past ages, is +derived from tradition handed down to us chiefly thro' the Micmacs; +and even from this source, doubtful and uncertain as such authority +confessedly is, the amount of information conveyed to us is both +scanty and imperfect. From such traditionary facts we gather, that the +Boeothicks were once a powerful and numerous tribe, like their +neighbouring tribe the Micmacs, and that for a long period these +tribes were on friendly terms and inhabited the western shores of +Newfoundland in common, together with other parts of the Island as +well as the Labrador, and this good understanding continued until some +time after the discovery of Newfoundland by Cabot; but it was at +length violently interrupted by the Micmacs, who, to ingratiate +themselves with the French, who at that time held the sway in these +parts, and who had taken offence at some proceedings of the +Boeothicks, slew two Red Indians with the intention of taking their +heads, which they had severed from the bodies, to the French. This +wanton and unprovoked outrage was discovered by the Boeothicks, who +gave no intimation of such discovery, but who, after consulting +together, determined on revenge. They invited the Micmacs to a feast, +and arranged their guests in such order that every Boeothick had a +Micmac by his side; at a preconcerted signal every <a name="Page_6"></a>Boeothick slew his +guest. War of course ensued. Firearms were but little known to the +Indians at that time, but they soon came into more general use among +such tribes as continued to hold intercourse with Europeans. This +circumstance gave the Micmacs an undisputed ascendancy over the +Boeothicks, who were forced to betake themselves to the recesses of +the interior and other parts of the Island, alarmed, as well they +might be, at every report of the firelock. What may be the present +feelings of the Red Indians, supposing any of the tribe to be yet +living, towards the Micmacs we know not; but we do know that the +latter cherish feelings of unmitigated hatred against the very name of +"Red Indian."</p> + +<p>When Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1497 he saw Savages, whom he +describes as "painted with red ochre, and covered with skins." Cartier +in 1534 saw the Red Indians, whom he describes "as of good +stature,—wearing their hair in a bunch on the top of the head, and +adorned with feathers." In 1574 Frobisher having been driven by the +ice on the coast of Newfoundland, induced some of the natives to come +on board, and with one of them he sent five sailors on shore, whom he +never saw again; on this account he seized one of the Indians, who +died shortly after arriving in England.</p> + +<p>As soon after the discovery of Newfoundland as its valuable fisheries +became known, vessels from various countries found their way hither, +for the purpose of catching whales, and of following other pursuits +connected with the fishery. Among those early visiters was a Captain +Richard Whitburne, who commanded a ship of 300 tons, belonging to "one +Master Cotton of South-hampton" and who fished at <a name="Page_7"></a>Trinity. This +Captain Whitburne, in a work published by him in 1622, describing the +coast, fishery, soil, and produce of Newfoundland, says, "the natives +are ingenious and apt by discreet and moderate government, to be +brought to obedience. Many of them join the French and Biscayans on +the Northern coast, and work hard for them about fish, whales, and +other things; receiving for their labor some bread or trifling +trinkets." They believed, according to Whitburne, that they were +created from arrows stuck in the ground by the Good Spirit, and that +the dead went into a far country to make merry with their friends. +Other early voyagers also make favourable mention of the natives, but +notwithstanding this testimony, it is evident, even from information +given by their apologist Whitburne himself, that the Red Indians were +not exempt from those pilfering habits which, in many instances, have +marked the conduct of the inhabitants of newly discovered Islands on +their first meeting with Europeans. Whitburne, when expressing his +readiness to adopt measures for opening a trade with the Indians, +incidentally mentions an instance where their thievish propensities +were displayed.—He says, "I am ready with my life and means whereby +to find out some new trade with the Indians of the country, for they +have great store of red ochre, which they use to colour their bodies, +bows, arrows, and canoes. The canoes are built in shape like wherries +on the river Thames, but that they are much longer, made with the +rinds of birch trees, which they sew very artificially and close +together, and overlay every seam with turpentine. In like manner they +sew the rinds of birch trees round and deep in proportion like a brass +kettle, to boil their <a name="Page_8"></a>meat in; which hath been proved to me by three +mariners of a ship riding at anchor by me—who being robbed in the +night by the savages of their apparel and provisions, did next day +seek after and came suddenly to where they had set up three tents and +were feasting; they had three pots made of the rinds of trees standing +each of them on stones, boiling with fowls in each; they had also many +such pots so sewed, and which were full of yolk of eggs that they had +boiled hard and so dried, and which the savages do use in their broth. +They had great store of skins of deer, beaver, bears, otter, seal, and +divers other fine skins, which were well dressed; they had also great +store of several sorts of fish dried. By shooting off a musquet +towards them, they all ran away without any apparel but only their +hats on, which were made of seal skins, in fashion like our hats, +sewed handsomely with narrow bands and set round with fine white +shels. All the canoes, flesh, skins, yolks of eggs, bows, arrows, and +much fine ochre and divers other things did the ship's company take +and share among them." And from Whitburne's time up to 1818 have +complaints been made of thefts committed by the Indians. To the +Northward the settlers, as they allege, had many effects stolen from +them—one individual alone made a deposition to the effect that he had +lost through the depredations of the Indians, property to the amount +of £200.</p> + +<p>Now whether in such thefts (although they were only of a petty +character) we are to trace the origin of that murderous warfare so +relentlessly carried on by the Whites against the Red Indians, or +whether the atrocities of the former, were the result of brutal +ignorance and a wanton disregard of human <a name="Page_9"></a>life, cannot how be +determined,—we have only the lamentable fact before us, that to a set +of men not only destitute of all religious principle, but also of the +common feelings of humanity, the pursuit and slaughter of the Red +Indian became a pastime—an amusement—eagerly sought after—wantonly +and barbarously pursued, and in the issue fatally, nd it may be added, +awfully successful.</p> + +<p>For the greater part of the seventeenth century the history of the Red +Indians present a dreary waste—no sympathy appears to have been felt +for them, and no efforts were made to stay the hands of their +merciless destroyers. In their attempts to avoid the Micmac, their +dire enemy, they fell in the path of the no less dreaded White, and +thus year after year passed away, and the comparatively defenceless +Boeothick found, only in the grave, a refuge and rest from his +barbarous and powerful foes. During the long period just adverted to, +the Red Indian was regarded by furriers, whose path he sometimes +crossed; and with whose gains his necessities compelled him sometimes +to interfere, with as little compassion as they entertained for any +wild or dangerous beast of the forest, and were shot or butchered with +as little hesitation. And barbarities of this nature became at length +so common, that the attention of the Government was directed to it; +and in 1786 a proclamation was issued by Governor Elliot, in which it +is stated "that it having been represented to the King that his +subjects residing in this Island do often treat the Indians with the +greatest inhumanity, and frequently destroy them without the least +provocation or remorse; it was therefore his <a name="Page_10"></a>Majesty's pleasure that +all means should be used to discover and apprehend all who may be +guilty of murdering any of the said Indians, in order that such +offenders may be sent over to England to be tried for such capital +crimes." In 1797 Governor Waldegrave issued a proclamation of a +similar character, which document also adverts to the cruelties to +which the Indians were subject at the hands of hunters, fishermen and +others.—And again in 1802 a proclamation of a like description was +also issued.</p> + +<p>In 1803 a native Indian was for the first time taken alive—this was a +female,—she was captured at the northern part of the Island, being +surprised by a fisherman while paddling her canoe towards a small +island in quest of birds' eggs. She was carried to St. John's and +taken to Government-house, where she was kindly treated. She admired +the epaulets of the officers more than any thing she saw, but appeared +to value her own dress more highly, for although presents were given +her, and indeed whatever she asked for, she would never let her own +fur garments go out of her hands. In the hope that if this woman were +returned to her tribe, her own description of the treatment she had +received, and the presents she would convey to her people, may lead to +a friendly communication being opened with the Red Indians, a +gentleman residing in Fogo, (Mr. Andrew Pearce) in the vicinity of +which place the woman was taken, was authorised to hire men for the +purpose of returning her in safety to her tribe. She was accordingly +put under the care of four men, and the manner in which they dealt +with her is recounted in the following copy of a letter, written by +one of them, and <a name="Page_11"></a>addressed to Mr. Trounsell, who was the Admiral's +Secretary:—He says,</p> + +<blockquote><p>"This is to inform you that I could get no men +until the 20th August, when we proceeded with the Indian to the Bay of +Exploits, and there went with her up the river as far as we possibly +could for want of more strength, and there let her remain ten days, +and when I returned the rest of the Indians had carried her off into +the country. I would not wish to have any more hand with the Indians, +in case you will send round and insure payment for a number of men to +go in the country in the winter. The people do not hold with +civilizing the Indians, as they think that they will kill more than +they did before.</p> +<p style="text-align: right;">(Signed,) <span class="sc">William Cull</span>." </p> +</blockquote> + +<p>This letter, or at least the latter part of it, is not easily +understood; but there is nothing either in its diction or its tone to +remove the doubt which, at the time the letter was written, was +entertained as to the safety of the poor Indian, and which still rests +upon her fate—a strong suspicion was felt, and which has never been +removed, that Cull had not dealt fairly with her. Cull heard that such +an opinion was entertained, and expressed a strong desire to "get hold +of the fellow who said he had murdered the Indian woman." A gentleman +who knew Cull well, said, "if ever the person who charged him with the +crime, comes within the reach of Cull's gun, and a long gun it is, +that cost £7 at Fogo, he is as dead as any of the Red Indians which +Cull has often shot." Cull received £50 for capturing the woman, and a +further sum of £15 for her maintenance.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_12"></a>In 1807 a proclamation was issued by Governor Holloway, offering a +reward of £50 "to such person or persons as shall be able to induce or +persuade any of the male tribe of native Indians to attend them to the +town of St. John's; also all expenses attending their journey or +passage," and the same reward was offered to any person who would give +information of any murder committed upon the bodies of the Indians.</p> + +<p>In 1809, the Government, not satisfied with merely issuing +proclamations, sent a vessel to Exploit's Bay, in order if possible to +meet with the Indians. Lieutenant Spratt, who commanded the vessel, +had with him a picture representing the officers of the Royal Navy, +shaking hands with an Indian chief—a party of sailors laying goods at +his feet—a European and Indian mother looking at their respective +children of the same age—Indian men and women presenting furs to the +officers, and a young sailor looking admiration at an Indian girl. The +expedition, however, did not meet with any of the tribe.</p> + +<p>In the following year, 1810, several efforts were made to open a +communication with the natives, and to arrest the destruction to which +they were exposed—first, a proclamation was issued by Sir John +Duckworth, stating that the native Indians, by the ill treatment of +wicked persons, had been driven from all communication with His +Majesty's subjects, and forced to take refuge in the woods, and +offering a reward of £100 to any person who should, to use <a name="Page_13"></a>the words +of the proclamation, "generously and meritoriously exert himself to +bring about and establish on a firm and settled footing an intercourse +with the natives; and moreover, that such persons should be honorably +mentioned to His Majesty."</p> + +<p>In the same year a proclamation was also issued, addressed exclusively +to the Micmacs, the Esquimaux, and American Indians frequenting the +Island, recommending them to live in harmony with the Red Indians, and +threatening punishment to any who should injure them; and early in the +same year, William Cull, the same person who has been spoken of, with +six others, and two Micmacs, set out upon the river Exploits, then +frozen over, in quest of their residence in the interior of the +country. On the fourth day, having travelled 60 miles, they discovered +a building on the bank of the river, about 40 or 50 feet long, and +nearly as wide. It was constructed of wood, and covered with the rinds +of trees, and skins of deer. It contained large quantities of venison, +estimated to have been the choicest parts of at least 100 deer—the +flesh was in junks, entirely divested of bone, and stored in boxes +made of birch and spruce rinds—each box containing about two cwt. The +tongues and hearts were placed in the middle of the packages. In this +structure, says the celebrated William Cull, we saw three lids of tin +tea kettles, which he believed to be the very same given by Governor +Gambier to the Indian woman he was entrusted to restore to her tribe. +Whether Cull, by this very opportune discovery, removed the suspicion +that attached itself to the manner in which he discharged the trust +committed to him, does not <a name="Page_14"></a>appear. On the opposite bank of the river +stood another store-house considerably larger than the former, but the +ice being bad across the river, it was not examined. Two Indians were +seen, but avoided all communication with the Whites. The two +store-houses stood opposite each other, and from the margin of the +river on each side there extended for some miles into the country, +high fences erected for the purpose of conducting the deer to the +river, and along the margin of the lake in the neighbourhood of those +store-houses, were also erected extensive fences, on each side, in +order to prevent the deer when they had taken the water from landing. +It would appear that as soon as a herd of deer, few or many, enter the +water, the Indians who are upon the watch, launch their canoes, and +the parallel fences preventing the re-landing of the deer, they become +an easy prey to their pursuers, and the buildings before described are +depots, for their reception.</p> + +<p>Captain Buchan's expedition, too, which is generally, but erroneously +spoken of as having been made in the winter of 1815 and 1816, in the +course of which two of his men were killed, was also commenced in the +autumn of this same year, 1810. Subsequently, indeed, he made one or +two journeys into the interior, but only on the one occasion did he +meet with any of the natives. The official account of his chief +excursion is dated the 23rd October, 1811, and is as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Buchan went in the autumn, to the entrance of the River Exploits, +and there anchored his vessel, which soon became fixed in the ice. He +<a name="Page_15"></a>then began his march into the interior, accompanied by 24 of his crew +and three guides, and having penetrated about 130 miles, discovered +some wigwams of the Indians. He surrounded them, and their +inhabitants, in number about seventy-five persons, became in his +power. He succeeded in overcoming their extreme terror, and soon +established a good understanding with them. Four men, among whom was +their chief, accepted his invitation to accompany him back to the +place, where, as he explained to them by signs, he had left some +presents, which he designed for them. The confidence by this time +existing was mutual, and so great, that two of Mr. Buchan's people, +marines, requested to remain with the Indians; they were allowed to do +so, and Mr. Buchan set out on his return to his depot with the +remainder of his party and the four Indians. They continued together +for about six miles, to the fire-place of the night before, when the +chief declined going any further, and with one of his men took leave, +directing the other two to go on with Mr. Buchan. They did so, until +they came near the place to which they were to be conducted, when one +of them became apparently panic-struck and fled, beckoning to his +companion to follow him. But the tempers of the two men were +different, the latter remained unshaken in his determination, and with +a cheerful countenance, and air of perfect confidence in the good +faith of his new allies, he motioned to them with his hands to +proceed, disregarding his companion and seeming to treat with scorn +Mr. Buchan's invitation to depart freely if he chose to do so. Soon +afterwards the party reached their rendezvouz—slept there one night, +loaded themselves with the presents and returned <a name="Page_16"></a>again towards their +Wigwams. The behaviour of the Indian remained the same—he continued +to show a generous confidence, and the whole tenor of his conduct was +such as Mr. Buchan could not witness without a feeling of esteem for +him. On arriving at the wigwams they were found deserted, which threw +the Indian into great alarm. Many circumstances determined Mr. Buchan +to let him be at perfect liberty, and this treatment revived his +spirits. The party spent the night at the Wigwams, and continued their +route in the morning. They had proceeded about a mile, when, being a +little in advance of the rest, the Indian was seen to start suddenly +backwards; he screamed loudly and then fled swiftly, which rendered +pursuit in vain. The cause of flight was understood when Mr. Buchan +the next moment, beheld upon the ice, headless and pierced by the +arrows of the Indians, the naked bodies of his two marines. An alarm +had, it is evident, been given by the savage who deserted the party at +the rendezvouz, and it is supposed that to justify his conduct in so +deserting, he had abused his countrymen with a tale which had excited +them to what they perhaps considered a just retaliation. Thus ended an +enterprise which was conducted with an ability, zeal, perseverance and +manly endurance of extreme hardship, which merited a better +success.—When the spring became sufficiently advanced Mr. Buchan +returned with his vessel to St. John's, and at once sought and +obtained permission from the Governor to return in the summer, in the +hope that as the natives came in that season down the rivers to fish +and hunt, he might the more easily fall in with them. In this +expectation, however, he was disappointed, <a name="Page_17"></a>as he only succeeded in +merely discovering some recent traces of them. Captain Buchan, still +sanguine of success, requested permission to winter in St. John's, +that he may be in readiness to take the earliest of the ensuing spring +to go in quest of them again. This was acceded to; but of the +movements of Captain Buchan, in consequence of this arrangement, there +is no record, it is only known that no additional discoveries were +made—but from the facts ascertained by Captain Buchan in his first +excursion, the authorities felt satisfied the number of the Indians +had been greatly underrated. Captain Buchan was of opinion they could +not be less (in the whole) than three hundred persons. Now this is an +important fact, as it goes far to disprove the generally received +opinion that the tribe is extinct, inasmuch as that opinion was formed +from the representations of the decreased numbers of her tribe, made +by the Indian woman taken in 1823, but the accuracy of the whole +statement there is much reason to doubt. In the course of this +narrative we shall be brought to the details of her statement, when a +closer comparison of the conflicting accounts can be made.</p> + +<p>The several proclamations issued, in favor of the Red Indian, seem to +have been entirely disregarded—the work of extermination proceeded, +and the Government again thought it necessary to express its +abhorrence of the murders that were continually being perpetrated, and +to threaten punishment to the guilty. Accordingly a proclamation, in +the name of the Prince Regent, was issued by Sir R. Keats in 1813, to +the same effect, and offering the same <a name="Page_18"></a>reward as the previous ones. +For the next four years, or from 1814 to 1818, no additional efforts +were made for the benefit of the Indians; but complaints were made by +various persons during that period,—residents to the northward,—of +thefts, which it was alleged were committed by the Indians. In +consequence of these repeated losses, the person who had sustained the +greatest injury, amounting to about £150, made application to the +Government for permission to follow the property and regain it, if +possible. This permission being given, a party of ten men left the +Exploits on the 1st of March, 1819, with a most anxious desire, as +they state, of being able to take some of the Indians, and thus, +through them, to open a friendly communication with the rest. The +leader of the party giving strict orders not on any account to +commence hostilities without positive directions. On the 2nd March a +few wigwams were seen and examined, they appeared to be frequented by +the Indians during spring and autumn for the purpose of killing deer. +On the 3rd a fire placed on the side of a brook was seen, where some +Indians had recently slept. On the 4th the party reached a store-house +belonging to the Indians, and on entering it they found five traps +belonging to and recognized as the property of persons in Twillingate, +as also part of a boat's jib—footsteps also were seen about the +store-house, and these tracks were followed with speed and caution. On +the 5th the party reached a very large pond, and foot-marks of two or +more Indians were distinctly discovered, and soon after an Indian was +seen walking in the direction of the spot where the party were +concealed, while three other Indians were <a name="Page_19"></a>perceived further off and +going in a contrary direction. The curiosity of the whole party being +strongly excited, the leader of them showed himself openly on the +point. When the Indian discovered him she was for a moment motionless, +then screamed violently and ran off—at this time the persons in +pursuit were in ignorance as to whether the Indian was male or female. +One of the party immediately started in pursuit, but did not gain on +her until he had taken off his jacket and rackets, when he came up +with her fast; as she kept looking back at her pursuer over her +shoulder; he dropped his gun on the snow and held up his hands to shew +her he was unarmed, and on pointing to his gun, which was some +distance behind, she stopped—he did the same, then he advanced and +gave her his hand, she gave her's to him, and to all the party as they +came up. Seven or eight Indians were then seen repeatedly running off +and on the pond, and shortly three of them came towards the party—the +woman spoke to them, and two of the Indians joined the English, while +the third remained some one hundred yards off. Something being +observed under the cassock of one of the Indians, he was searched and +a hatchet taken from him. The two Indians then took hold of the man +who had seized the Indian woman, and endeavoured to force her away +from him, but not succeeding in this, he tried to get possession of +three different guns, and at last succeeded in geting hold of one, +which he tried to wrest from the man who held it; not being able to +accomplish this, the Indian seized the Englishman by the throat, and +the danger being imminent, three shots were fired, all so +simultaneously that it appeared as if <a name="Page_20"></a>only one gun had been +discharged. The Indian dropped, and his companions immediately fled. +In extenuation of this, to say the least of it, most deplorable event, +it is said, "could we have intimidated him, or persuaded him to leave +us, or even have seen the others go off, we should have been most +happy to have been spared using violence—but when it is remembered +that our small party were in the heart of the Indian country, a +hundred miles from any European settlement, and that there were in our +sight at times, as many Indians as our party amounted to, and we could +not ascertain how many were in the woods that we did not see, it could +not be avoided with safety to ourselves. Had destruction been our +object, we might have carried it much farther."</p> + +<p>The death of this Indian was subsequently brought before the Grand +Jury, and that body having enquired into the circumstances connected +with it, in its report to the Court makes the following +statement:—"It appears that the deceased came to his death in +consequence of an attack on the party in search of them, and his +subsequent obstinacy, and not desisting when repeatedly menaced by +some of the party for that purpose, and the peculiar situation of the +searching party and their men, was such as to warrant their acting on +the defensive."</p> + +<p>Now, taking the foregoing report as given by the leader of the +expedition, and in which there can be no question but that the conduct +of the English party is as favourably represented as it possibly could +be, yet does the statement detailed afford no <a name="Page_21"></a>excuse for the Indian, +and is the word "obstinacy" as applied by the Grand Jury, applicable +to him?</p> + +<p>It may not be forgotten that the Indian was surprised in the "heart of +his own country"—treading his own soil—within sight of his +home—that home was invaded by armed men of the same race with those +who had inflicted on his tribe irreparable injuries—his wife was +seized by them—his attempts to release her, which ought to have been +respected, were violently resisted,—and then, maddened by the bonds +and captivity of his wife, he continues, with a courage and devotion +to her which merited a far different fate, singly his conflict with +ten armed men—he is shot, and his death is coldly ascribed to his +"obstinacy." Had the Indian tamely permitted his wife to have been +carried away from him—had he without feeling or emotion witnessed the +separation of the mother from her infant child, then indeed little +sympathy would have been felt for him—and yet it is precisely because +he did show that he possessed feelings common to us all, and without +the possession of which man becomes more degraded than the brute, that +he was shot. Thus perished the ill-fated husband of poor Mary March, +and she herself, from the moment when her hand was touched by the +white man, became the child of sorrow, a character which never left +her, until she became shrouded in an early tomb. Among her tribe she +was known as "De mas do weet,"—her husband's name was "No nos baw +sut."</p> + +<p>In an official report Mary March is described as <a name="Page_22"></a>a young woman of +about twenty-three years of age—of a gentle and interesting +disposition, acquiring and retaining without any difficulty any words +she was taught. She had one child, who, as was subsequently +ascertained, died a couple of days after its mother's capture. Mary +March was first taken to Twillingate, where, she was placed under the +care of the Revd. Mr. Leigh, Episcopal Missionary, who, upon the +opening of the season, came with her to St. John's. She never +recovered from the effects of her grief at the death of her +husband—her health rapidly declined, and the Government, with the +view of restoring her to her tribe, sent a small sloop-of-war with her +to the northward, with orders to her Commander to proceed to the +summer haunts of the Indians; from this attempt, however, he returned +unsuccessful. Captain Buchan, in the <i>Grashopper</i>, was subsequently +sent to accomplish the same object. He left St. John's in September, +1819, for the Exploits, but poor Mary March died on board the vessel +at the mouth of the river. Captain Buchan had her body carried up the +lake, where he left it in a coffin, in a place where it was probable +her tribe would find her,—traces of Indians were seen while the party +was on its way up,—and in fact, although unaware of it, Captain +Buchan and his men were watched by a party of Indians, who that winter +were encamped on the river Exploits, and when they observed Captain +Buchan and his men pass up the river on the ice, they went down to the +sea coast, near the mouth of the river, and remained there a month; +after that they returned, and saw the footsteps of Captain Buchan's +party made on their way down the river. The Indians, then, by a +<a name="Page_23"></a>circuitous route, went to the lake, and to the spot where the body of +Mary March was left—they opened the coffin and took out the clothes +that were left with her. The coffin was allowed to remain suspended as +they found it for a month, it was then placed on the ground, where, it +remained two months; in the spring they removed the body to the burial +place which they had built for her husband, placing her by his side.</p> + +<p>A narrative of the circumstances which attended the capture of Mary +March was published in Liverpool in 1829, and written, as is alleged, +by a person who formed one of the party when the capture was effected. +Although this narrative contains some inaccuracies, yet it bears +internal evidence of being the production of a person who really +witnessed the scenes he describes, and though differing in several +particulars from the account as before detailed, yet it describes many +events which the leader of the party may have omitted, and states +nothing absolutely irreconcileable with his account—with some +omissions, not necessarily connected with the main object of the +expedition, this second record of the circumstances associated with it +is now inserted, in so far at least as the same were published:—</p> + +<br /> + +<div style="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;"> +<p class="cen">TRIBE OF RED INDIANS.</p> + +<p class="cen"><i>To the Editor of the Liverpool Mercury</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sc">Sir</span>.—Observing among the details in the <i>Mercury</i> of September + 18, that of "Shawnadithit, supposed to be the last of the Red + Indians," or Aborigines of Newfoundland, I am tempted to offer + a few remarks on the subject, convinced as I am that she cannot + be <a name="Page_24"></a>the last of the tribe by many hundreds. Having resided a + considable time in that part of the north of Newfoundland which + they most frequented, and being one of the party who captured + Mary March in 1819, I have embodied into a narrative the events + connected with her capture, which I am confident will gratify + many of your readers.</p> + +<p> Proceeding northward, the country gradually assumes a more + fertile appearance; the trees, which in the south are, except + in a few places, stunted in their growth, now begin to assume a + greater height and strength till you reach the neighbourhood of + Exploits River and Bay; here the timber is of a good size and + quality, and in sufficient quantity to serve the purposes of + the inhabitants:—both here and at Trinity Bay some very fine + vessels have been built. To Exploits Bay it was that the Red + Indians came every summer for the purpose of fishing, the place + abounding with salmon. No part of the Bay was inhabited; the + islands at the mouth, consisting of Twillingate, Exploits + Island, and Burnt Islands, had a few inhabitants. There were + also several small harbours in a large island, the name of + which I now forget, including Herring Neck and Morton. In 1820 + the population of Twillingate amounted to 720, and that of all + the other places might perhaps amount to as many more;—they + were chiefly descendants from West of England settlers; and + having many of them been for several generations without + religious or moral instruction of any kind, were immersed in + the lowest state of ignorance and vice. Latterly, however, + churches have been built and schools established, and, I have + been credibly informed that the moral and intellectual state of + the people is much improved. While I was there the church was + opened, and I must say that the people came in crowds to attend + a place of worship, many of them coming fifteen and twenty + miles purposely to attend.</p> + +<p> On the first settlement of the country, the Indians naturally + viewed the intruders with a jealous eye, and some of the + settlers having repeatedly robbed their nets, &c., they + retaliated and stole several boats' sails, implements of iron, + &c. The settlers, in return, mercilessly shot all the Indians + they could meet with:—in fact so fearful were the latter of + fire-arms, that, in an open space, one person with a gun would + frighten a hundred; when concealed among the bushes, however, + they often made a most desperate resistance. I have heard an + old man, named Rogers, living on Twillingate Great Island, + boast that he had shot, at different periods, above sixty of + them. So late as 1817, this wretch, accompanied <a name="Page_25"></a>by three + others, one day discovered nine unfortunate Indians lying + asleep on a small island far up the bay. Loading the large + guns<a name="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1"><sup>[A]</sup></a> + very heavily, they rowed up to them, and each taking + aim, fired. One only rose, and rushing into the water, + endeavoured to swim to another island, close by, covered with + wood; but the merciless wretch followed in the boat, and + butchered the poor creature in the water with an axe, then took + the body to the shore and piled it on those of the other eight, + whom his companions had in the meantime put out of their + misery. He minutely described, to me the spot, and I afterwards + visited the place, and found their bones in a heap, bleached + and whitened with the winter's blast.</p> + +<p> I have now, I think, said enough to account for the <i>shyness</i> + of the Indians towards the settlers, but could relate many + other equally revolting scenes, some of which I shall hereafter + touch upon. In 1815 or 1816, Lieutenant, now Captain Buchan, + set out on an expedition to endeavour to meet with the Indians, + for the purpose of opening a friendly communication with them. + He succeeded in meeting with them, and the intercourse seemed + firmly established, so much so, that two of them consented to + go and pass the night with Captain Buchan's party, he leaving + two of his men who volunteered to stop. On returning to the + Indians' encampment in the morning, accompanied by the two who + had remained all night, on approaching the spot, the two + Indians manifested considerable disquietude, and after + exchanging a few glances with each other, broke from their + conductors and rushed into the woods. On arriving at the + encampment. Captain Buchan's poor fellows lay on the ground a + frightful spectacle, their heads being severed from their + bodies, and almost cut to pieces.</p> + +<p> In the summer of 1818, a person who had established a salmon + fishery at the mouth of Exploits River, had a number of + articles stolen by the Indians; they consisted of a gold watch, + left accidentally in the boat, the boat's sails, some hatchets, + cordage, and iron implements. He therefore resolved on sending + an expedition into the country, in order to recover his + property.</p> + +<p> The day before the party set off, I arrived accidentally at the + house, taking a survey of numerous bodies of woodcutters + belonging to the establishment with which I was connected. The + only <a name="Page_26"></a>time anyone can penetrate into the interior in the winter + season, the lakes and rivers being frozen over; even the Bay of + Exploits, though salt water, was then (the end of January) + frozen for sixty miles. Having proposed to accompany the party, + they immediately consented. Our equipments consisted of a + musket, bayonet, and hatchet; to each of the servants a pistol; + Mr. —— and myself had, in addition, another pistol and a + dagger, and a double-barrelled gun, instead of a musket: each + carried a pair of snowshoes, a supply of eight pounds of + biscuit and a piece of pork, ammunition, and one quart of rum; + besides, we had a light sled and four dogs, who took it in + turns in dragging the sled, which contained a blanket for each + man, rum and other necessaries. We depended on our guns for a + supply of provisions, and at all times could meet with plenty + of partridges and hares, though there were few days we did not + kill a deer. The description of one day's journey will suffice + for all, there being but little variation. The snow was at this + time about eight feet deep.</p> + +<p> On the morning of our departure we set off in good spirits up + the river, and after following its course for about twelve + miles, arrived at the Rapids, a deer at full speed passed us; I + fired, and it fell; the next instant a wolf, in full pursuit, + made his appearance; on seeing the party, he halted for an + instant, and then rushed forward as if to attack us. Mr. —— + however, anticipated him; for taking a steady aim, at the same + time sitting coolly on an old tree, he passed a bullet through + the fellow's head, who was soon stretched a corpse on the snow; + a few minutes after another appeared, when several firing + together he also fell, roaring and howling for a long time, + when one of the men went and knocked him on the head with a + hatchet.</p> + +<p> And now, ye effeminate feather bed loungers, where do you + suppose we were to sleep? There was no comfortable hotel to + receive us; not even a house where a board informs the + benighted traveller that there is "entertainment for man and + horse;" not even the skeleton of a wigwam; the snow eight feet + deep,—the thermometer nineteen degrees below the freezing + point. Every one having disencumbered himself of his load, + proceeded with his hatchet to cut down the small fir and birch + trees. The thick part of the trees was cut in lengths, and + heaped up in two piles; between which a sort of wigwam was + formed of the branches: a number of small twigs of trees, to + the depth of about three feet, were laid on the snow for a bed; + and having lighted the pile of <a name="Page_27"></a>wood on each side, some + prepared venison steaks for supper, while others skinned the + two wolves, in order, with the dear skin, to form a covering to + the wigwam; this some opposed, as being a luxury we should not + every day obtain. Supper being ready, we ate heartily, and + having melted some snow for water, we made some hot toddy, that + is, rum, butter, hot water and sugar; a song was proposed, and + acceeded to: and thus, in the midst of a dreary desert, far + from the voice of our fellow men, we sat cheerful and + contented, looking forward for the morrow, without dread, + anxious to renew our toils and resume our labours. Alter about + an hour thus spent the watch was appointed, and each wrapped in + his blanket. We vied unconvincing each other, with the nasal + organ, which was in the soundest sleep; mine was the last + watch, about an hour before daybreak. The Aurora Borealis + rolled in awful splendour across the deep blue sky, but I will + not tire my readers with a description. When the first glimpse + of morn showed itself in the light clouds floating in the + eastern horison, I awoke my companions; and by the time it was + sufficiently light we had breakfasted, and were ready to + proceed. Cutting off enough of the deer shot the night before, + we proceeded on our journey, leaving the rest to the wolves. + Each day and each night was a repetition of the same; the + country being in some places tolerably level, in general + covered with wood, but occasionally barren tracts, where + sometimes for miles not a tree was to be seen.</p> + +<p> Mr. —— instructing the men in which way he wished them to + act, informing them that his object was to open a friendly + communication with the Indians, rather than act on the + principle of intimidating them by revenge; that if they avoided + him, he should endeavour to take one or more prisoners and + bring them with him, in order that by the civilization of one + or two, an intercourse might be established that would end in + their permanent civilization. He strictly exhorted them not to + use undue violence: every one was strictly enjoined not to + <i>fire</i> on any account. About three o'clock in the afternoon the + two men who then led the party were about two hundred yards + before the rest;—three deer closely followed by a pack of + wolves, issued from the wood on the left, and bounded across + the lake, passing very near the men, whom they totally + disregarded. The men incautiously fired at them. We were then + about half a mile from the point of land that almost + intersected the lake, and in a few minutes we saw it covered + with Indians, who instantly retired.<a name="FNanchor_B_2"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_B_2"><sup>[B]</sup></a> The alarm was given; we + soon reached the <a name="Page_28"></a>point; about five Hundred yards on the other + side we saw the Indian houses, and the Indians, men, women, and + children, rushing from them, across the lake, hereabout a mile + broad. Hurrying on we quickly came to the houses; when within a + shirt distance from the last house, three men and a woman + carrying a child, issued forth. One of the men took the infant + from her, and their speed soon convinced us of the futility of + pursuit; the woman, however, did not run so fast. Mr. —— + loosened his provision bag from his back and let it fall, threw + away his gun and hatchet, and set off at a speed that soon + overtook the woman. One man and myself did the same, except our + guns. The rest, picking up our things, followed. On overtaking + the woman, she instantly fell on her kness, and tearing open + the cassock, (a dress composed of deerskin lined with fur,) + showing her breasts to prove that she was a woman, and begged + for mercy. In a few moments we were by Mr. ——'s side. Several + of the Indians, with the three who had quitted the house with + the woman, now advanced, while we retreated towards the shore. + At length we stopped and they did the same. After a pause, + three of them laid down their bows, with which they were armed, + and came within two hundred yards. We then presented our guns, + intimating that not more than one would be allowed to approach. + They retired and fetched their arms, when one, the ill-fated + husband of Mary March, our captive, advanced with a branch of + fir tree (spruce) in his hand. When about ten yards off he + stopped and made a long oration. He spoke at least ten minutes; + towards the last his gesture became very animated, and his eye + "shot fire." He concluded very mildly, and advancing, shook + hands with many of the party—then he attempted to take his + wife from us; being opposed in this he drew from beneath his + cassock an axe, the whole of which was finely polished, and + brandished it over our heads. On two or three pieces being + presented, he gave it up to Mr. ——, who then intimated that + the woman must go with us, but that he might go also if he + pleased, and that in the morning both should have their + liberty. At the same time two of the men began to conduct her + towards the houses. On this being done, he became infuriated, + and rushing towards her strove to drag her from them; one of + the men rushed forward and stabbed him in the back with a + bayonte: turning round, at a blow he laid the fellow at his + feet; the next instant he knocked down another, and rushing on + ——, like a child laid him on his back, and seizing his dirk + from his belt brandished it over his head; the next instant it + would have been buried in him, had I not with both hands + seized <a name="Page_29"></a>his arm; he shook me off in an instant, while I + measured my length on the ice; Mr. —— then drew a pistol from + his girdle and fired. The poor wretch first staggered, then + fell on his face; while writhing in agonies, he seemed for a + moment to stop; his muscles stiffened: slowly and gradually he + raised himself from the ice, turned round, and with a wild gaze + surveyed us all in a circle around him. Never shall I forget + the figure he exhibited; his hair hanging on each side of his + sallow face; his bushy beard clotted with blood that flowed + from his mouth and nose; his eyes flashing fire, yet with the + glass of death upon them,—they fixed on the individual that + first stabbed him. Slowly he raised the hand that still grasped + young ——'s dagger, till he raised it considerably above his + head, when uttering a yell that made the woods echo, he rushed + at him. The man fired as he advanced, and the noble Indian + again fell on his face: a few moments' struggle, and he lay a + stiffened corpse on the icy surface of the limpid waters.—The + woman for a moment seemed scarcely to notice the corpse; in a + few minutes, however, she showed a little emotion; but it was + not until obliged to leave the remains of her husband that she + gave way to grief, and vented her sorrow in the most + heart-breaking lamentations. While the scene which I have + described was acting, and which occurred in almost less space + than the description can be read, a number of Indians had + advanced within a shore distance, but seeing the untimely fate + of their chief, halted. Mr. —— fired over their heads, and + they immediately fled. The banks of the lake, on the other + side, were at this time covered with men, women, and children, + at least several hundreds; but immediately being joined by + their companions all disappeared in the woods. We then had time + to think. For my own part I could scarcely credit my senses as + I beheld the remains of the noble fellow stretched on the ice, + crimsoned with his already frozen blood. One of the men then + went to the shore for some fir tree boughs to cover the body, + which measured as it lay, 6 feet 7½ inches. The fellow who + first stabbed him wanted to strip off his cassock, (a garment + made of deer skin, lined with beaver and other skins, reaching + to the knees,) but met with so stern a rebuke from ——, that + he instantly desisted, and slunk abashed away.</p> + +<p> After covering the body with boughs, we proceeded towards the + Indian houses—the woman often requiring force to take her + along. On examining them, we found no living creature, save a + bitch and her whelps about two months old. The houses of these + Indians are very different from those of the other tribes in + North <a name="Page_30"></a>America; they are built of straight pieces of fir about + twelve feet high, flattened at the sides, and driven in the + earth close to each other; the corners being much stronger than + the other parts.—The crevices are filled up with moss, and the + inside entirely lined with the same material; the roof is + raised so as to slant from all parts and meet in a point at the + centre, where a hole is left for the smoke to escape; the + remainder of the roof is covered with a treble coat of birch + bark, and between the first and second layer of bark is about + six inches of moss; about the chimney clay is substituted for + it. On entering one of the houses I was astonished at the + neatness which reigned within. The sides of the tenement were + covered with arms,—bows, arrows, clubs, axes of iron, (stolen + from the settlers) stone hatchets, arrow heads, in fact, + implements of war and for the chase, but all arranged in the + neatest order, and apparently every man's property carefully + put together. At one end was a small image, or rather a head, + carved rudely out of a block of wood; round the neck was hung + the case of a watch, and on a board close by, the works of the + watch, which had been carefully taken to pieces, and hung on + small pegs on the board; the whole were surrounded with the + main spring. In the other houses the remainder of the articles + stolen were found. Beams were placed across where the roof + began; over which smaller ones were laid: on these were piled a + considerable quantity of dried venison and salmon, together + with a little codfish. On —— taking down the watch and works, + and bringing the image over the fire, the woman surveyed him + with anger, and in a few minutes made free with her tongue, her + manner showing us that she was not unused to scolding. When Mr. + —— saw it displeased her, he, rather irreverently, threw the + log on one side: on this she rose in a rage, and would, had not + her hands been fastened, have inflicted summary vengeance for + the insult offered to the hideous idol. Wishing to pacify her, + he rose, and taking his <i>reverence</i> carefully up, placed him + where he had taken him from. This pacified her. I must here do + the poor creature the justice to say, that I never afterwards + saw her out of temper. A watch was set outside; and having + partaken of the Indian's fare, we began to talk over the events + of the day. Both —— and myself bitterly reproached the man + who first stabbed the unfortunate native; for though he acted + violently, still there was no necessity for the brutal + act—besides, the untaught Indian was only doing that which + every <i>man</i> ought to do,—he came to rescue his wife from the + hands of her captors, and nobly lost his life in his attempt to + save her. —— here declared that he would rather have + <a name="Page_31"></a>defeated the object of his Journey a hundred times than have + sacrificed the life of one Indian. The fellow merely replied, + "it was only an Indian, and he wished he had shot a hundred + instead of one." The poor woman was now tied securely, we + having, on consideration, deemed it for the best to take her + with us, so that by kind treatment and civilization she might, + in the course of time, be returned to her tribe, and be the + means of effecting a lasting reconciliation between them and + the settlers.</p> + +<p> After the men had laid themselves down around the fire, and the + watch was set outside, the door, Mr. —— and myself remained + up; and, in a low voice, talked over the events of the day. We + then decided on remaining to rest three or four days; and, in + the meantime, to endeavour to find the Indians. I would I could + now describe how insensibly we glided from one subject to + another;—religion—politics—country—'home, <i>sweet, sweet</i>, + home'—alternately occupied our attention; and thus, in the + midst of a dreary waste, far away from the haunts of civilized + man, we sat contentedly smoking our pipes; and, Englishmen + like, settled the affairs of <i>nations</i> over a glass of rum and + water—ever and anon drinking a health to each <i>friend</i> and + <i>fair</i>, who rose uppermost in our thoughts. From this the + subject turned to "specific gravity." Here an argument + commenced. When illustrating a position I had advanced, by the + ascension of the smoke from my pipe, we both turned up our eyes + to witness its progress upwards: on looking towards the + aperture in the roof what was our astonishment at beholding the + faces of <i>two Indians</i>, calmly surveying us in the quiet + occupation of <i>their</i> abode. In an instant we shouted—"The + Indians!" and in a moment every one was on the alert, and each + taking his arms rushed to the door—not a creature was to be + seen; in vain we looked around;—no trace, save the marks of + footsteps on the snow, was to be discovered, but these seemed + almost innumerable. We fired about a dozen shots into the + woods, and then retired to our dwelling. —— and I then + resolved to take alternate watch, and every half hour, at least + to walk round the house. During the night, however, we were not + again disturbed, save by the howling of wolves and barking of + foxes.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right;">E.S.</p> +</div> +<br /> + +<p>After the capture of Mary March, the next attempt, in order of time, +to discover the Red Indians was made by <span class="sc">James Cormack</span>, Esq., in 1822, +<a name="Page_32"></a>and for that purpose he crossed the whole interior of the +Island—starting from Random Bar on the Eastward on the 6th September, +and finding his way out at St. George's Bay, on the 2nd November +following. During this excursion he suffered great privation,—which +few men could have endured, and which few men indeed, would have +undertaken with only one companion. Mr. Cormack did not succeed in the +main object he had in view, yet was his trouble anything but +profitless. We now possess through his means a general knowledge of +the interior of our Island—together with a specific account of its +soil—its geological and mineralogical aspect—its varied natural +productions—of trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, &c., all named and +methodically described—the kind of animals met with, and a variety of +other useful information.</p> + +<p>In the following year, 1823, and early in the spring of that year, +three females, a mother and two daughters, in Badger Bay, near +Exploits Bay, being in a starving condition, allowed themselves in +despair, to be quietly captured by some English furriers who +accidentally came upon them. Fortunately their miserable appearance, +when within gunshot, led to the unusual circumstance of their not +being fired at. The husband of the elder woman in attempting to avoid +the observation of the white men, tried to cross the creek upon the +ice, fell through and was drowned. About a month before this event, +and a few miles distant from the spot where this accident occurred, +the brother of this man and his daughter, belonging to the same +<a name="Page_33"></a>party, were shot by two English furriers. The man was first shot, and +the woman in despair remained calmly to be fired at, and incredible as +it may appear, this poor woman, far from her tribe—helpless—with her +back to her murderers,—excited in them no feeling of compassion—they +deliberately shot her,—the slugs passed through her body, and she +fell dead by the side of her father. The mind is slow to believe that +so brutal an act as this could have been committed, and is willing to +doubt the correctness of the report, but the proof of its accuracy is +the statement of one of the ruffians who perpetrated the foul act.</p> + +<p>The three females were brought to St. John's, where they remained four +or five weeks, and were then sent back to the Exploits with many +presents, in the hope that they may meet and share such presents with +their people. They were conveyed up the river Exploits to some +distance, by a party of Europeans, and left on its banks with some +provisions and clothing, to find their friends as they best might. +Their provisions however were soon consumed, and not finding any of +the tribe, they wandered down the right bank of the river, and in a +few days again reached the Exploits habitations. The mother and one +daughter died there shortly afterwards, and within a few days of each +other. The Survivor known as "Nancy" here, but among her tribe as +"Shaw-na-dith-it," was received and taken care of by Mr. Peyton, jun. +and family, with whom she remained several years. She was then brought +to St. John's, and as a Society called the "<a name="Page_34"></a>Boeothick Institution" +had then been established, Shaw-na-dith-it became the object of its +peculiar care and solicitude, and it is to this interesting woman we +are indebted for much of the information we possess regarding her +race. She remained under the care of the Boeothick Institution for +about nine months, during the greater part pf which period she was in +bad health. Much attention was shewn her, and attempts were +perseveringly made to communicate to her a knowledge of the English +language, and this she so far acquired as to be able to communicate +with tolerable ease. In person Shaw-na-dith-it was 5 feet 5 inches +high—her natural abilities were good. She was grateful for any +kindness shown her, and evinced a strong affection for her parents and +friends. As she evinced some taste for drawing, she was kept supplied +with pencils of various colors, and by the use of these made herself +better understood than she otherwise could have done. In her own +person she had received two gun-shot wounds at two different times +from volleys fired at the band she was with by the English people at +the Exploits—one wound was that of a slug through the leg. Poor +Shaw-na-dith-it! she died destitute of any of this world's goods, yet, +desirous of showing her gratitude to one from whom she had received +great kindness, she presented a keepsake to Mr. Cormack, and there is +something very affecting under the circumstances in which she was +placed, as associated with the simple articles of which her present +consisted—they were a rounded piece of granite—a piece of +quartz—both derived from the soil of which her tribe were once the +sole <a name="Page_35"></a>owners and lords, but which were all of that soil she could then +call her own; and added to these, was a lock of her hair. This present +has now a place in the Museum of the Mechanics' Institution, and will, +it may not be doubted, be an object of interest to many. +Shaw-na-dith-it lived in Mr. Cormack's house until he left the colony +in 1829, when she was taken to the house of the then Attorney-General. +She died in June following, and was interred in the burial ground on +the South-side. A Newfoundland paper, of the 12th of June, 1829, +notices her death thus:—"Died, on Saturday night, the 6th inst., at +the Hospital, Shaw-na-dith-it, the female Indian, one of the +aborigines of this Island. She died of consumption,—a disease which +seems to have been remarkably prevalent among her tribe, and which has +unfortunately been fatal to all who have fallen into the hands of the +settlers. Since the departure of Mr. Cormack from the Island, this +poor woman has had an asylum afforded her in the house of James Simms, +Esq., Attorney General, where every attention has been paid to her +wants and comforts, and under the able and professional advice of Dr. +Carson, who has most liberally and kindly attended her for many +months, it was hoped her health might have been re-established. +Latterly, however, her disease became daily more formidable, and her +strength rapidly declined, and a short time since it was deemed +advisable to send her to the hospital, where her sudden decease has +but too soon fulfilled the fears that were entertained for her."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_36"></a>Shaw-na-dith-it as before observed, gave much information as to the +state of her tribe, and the following is the substance of the +statement she made with reference to Captain Buchan's expedition to +the Great Lake in the winter of 1811:—</p> + +<p>The tribe, she said, at that time had been much reduced in numbers, in +consequence of the hostile encroachments and meetings of the Europeans +at the sea-coast. But they still had, up to that time, enjoyed, +unmolested, the possession of their favorite interior parts of the +Island, especially the territory around and adjacent to the Great Lake +and Exploits River. There number then it would appear barely amounted +to one hundred and seventy two—and these were encamped in their +winter quarters, in three divisions, on different parts of the margin +of the Great Lake. The principal encampment was at the East end of the +Lake, on the South-side. There were here three mamaseeks or wigwams, +containing forty-two persons. A smaller encampment lay six or eight +miles to the Westward on the North-side of the Lake, containing two +mamaseeks with thirteen people, and another lay near the West end of +the Lake on the South-side, and consisted of two mamaseeks with +seventeen people. It was the principal encampment which Captain Buchan +fell in with. He took it by surprise, and made the whole party +prisoners. This occurred in the morning; after a guarded and +pantomimic interchange for several hours, it was agreed that two +hostages should be given on each side, for Captain Buchan wished to +return down <a name="Page_37"></a>the river for an additional supply of presents, in order +thereby the better to secure the friendship of the Indians.</p> + +<p>Captain Buchan had no sooner departed with his men and hostages, than +the Indians suspected he had gone down the river for an additional +force, with, which to return—make them all prisoners, and carry them +off to the coast. Their suspicions induced them to break up their +encampment immediately and retire farther into the interior, where the +rest of the tribe were, and where they would be less liable to be +again surprised.</p> + +<p>To ensure concealment of their proceedings, they first destroyed the +two Europeans left as hostages, by shooting them with arrows—then +packed up what clothing and utensils they could conveniently +carry—crossed the lake on the ice the same afternoon, carrying the +heads of the two Europeans with them—one of which they stuck on a +pole, and left it on the north side of the lake; they then followed +along the margin of the lake westward, and about midnight reached the +encampment of their friends—the alarm was given, and next morning +they all joined in the retreat westward. They proceeded a few miles in +order to reach a secure and retired place to halt at, in the hope soon +of hearing something of the two Indians whom Captain Buchan had taken +with him. On the second day the Indians appeared among them, and +stated to them that upon returning with the white men and discovering +the first encampment destroyed, <a name="Page_38"></a>they fled instantly and escaped,—one +of these was Shaw-na-dith-it's uncle. All now resumed the retreat, and +crossed on the ice to the south-side of the lake, where the only +remaining and undisturbed encampment lay. Upon reaching the shore, a +party was despatched to the encampment which lay further to the +westward to sound the alarm. This encampment was then likewise broken +up, and the occupants came east to join the tribe. To avoid discovery, +the whole retired together to an unfrequented part of the forest, +situate some distance from the shore of the lake, carrying with them +all the winter stock of provisions they possessed.</p> + +<p>In this sequestered spot they built six winter wigwams, and remained +unmolested for the remainder of the winter,—about six weeks. They had +conveyed with them the head of one of the hostages; this was placed on +a pole, around which the Indians danced and sang.</p> + +<p>When spring advanced and their provisions were exhausted, some of them +went back to the encampment at which they had been surprised, and +there supplied themselves out of the winter stock of venison that had +been left there.</p> + +<p>After the disaster the tribe became scattered, and continued dispersed +in bands frequenting the more remote and sequestered parts of the +northern interior. In the second winter afterwards twenty-two had died +about the river Exploits, at the Great <a name="Page_39"></a>Lake, and in the vicinity of +Green Bay; in the following years also numbers died of hardship and +want. In 1819 their numbers were reduced to thirty-one, and in 1823 it +consisted of only a remnant of twelve or thirteen. Such is the +substance of Shaw-na-dith-it's statement, and which it is said she +never related without tears.</p> + +<p>In 1827 Mr. Cormack renewed his attempt to discover and open a +friendly intercourse with the Boeothicks, and for this purpose with a +small party, consisting of Europeans and a couple of Micmacs, entered +the country at the mouth of the River Exploits, and took a +north-westerly direction which led them to Hall's Bay. On the fourth +day after their departure, at the east end of Badger Bay, at a portage +known by the name of the Indian Path, they found traces made by the +Indians, evidently in the spring or summer of the preceding year. +Their party had been possessed of two canoes, and they had built a +canoe-rest, on which the daubs of red ochre and the roots of trees +used to tie or fasten it together appeared fresh. A canoe-rest is +simply a few beams' supported horizontally about five feet from the +ground by perpendicular posts. Among other things which lay strewed +about here was a spear shaft, eight feet long, recently made and +stained with ochre—parts of old canoes—fragments, of their skin +dresses, &c. Some of the cuts in the trees, made with an axe, were +evidently of not more than a year's date. Besides these signs, the +party were elated by other encouraging marks. After some further +search, but without meeting with any <a name="Page_40"></a>greater success, the party +determined to proceed to the Red Indian Lake. On reaching this +magnificent sheet of water, they found around its shores abundant +evidence that this had been for a long time the central and +undisturbed rendezvous of the tribe. At several places by the margin +of the lake were found small clusters of summer and winter wigwams, +but all in ruins—one large wooden building, presumed to have been +used for the purpose of drying and smoking venison, was found in a +perfect state. The repositories for the dead were found perfect, and +in one of these the party discovered the remains of the ill-fated Mary +March, whom the Indians had placed by the side of her unfortunate +husband. On the north-side of this lake, opposite the River Exploits, +were seen the extremities of two deer fences, about half a mile apart, +where they lead to the water—and in gliding down the river, the +attention of the traveller is arrested by a continuation of these +fences which extend from the lake downwards on the banks of the river +at least thirty miles. After spending several days in wandering round +the margin of the lake, and having fully satisfied themselves that no +encampment of the Indians was to be found there, they returned. +Subsequently to this excursion, a party of men under the direction of +an Institution termed the "Boeothick Institution," which was +established with the view of benefiting the Indians, were sent on the +same errand, but they too returned after a fruitless search, and with +this attempt ends all efforts that have been made to open a +communication with the Red Indians.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_41"></a>And now what opinion may be reasonably formed after a careful +consideration of all the foregoing facts? Shall it be concluded as +many, nay, as most people have done, that the Red Indians are wholly +extinct? The mind is slow to entertain so painful a conclusion, and +more especially as there is some reason to hope that the tribe, to +some extent at least, yet survives.</p> + +<p>If indeed Shaw-na-dith-it's statement is to be taken as of +unquestionable authority, and is not to be subjected to any scrutiny, +then indeed but slight hopes can be entertained of the existence of +any of her race; but if the information she supplied be compared with +that conveyed to us through various other sources, then a very +different conclusion may be most legitimately reached.</p> + +<p>And first let Shaw-na-dith-it's recital of the circumstances connected +with Captain Buchan's visit to the Great Lake in the winter of 1810 +and 1811 be contrasted with that gentleman's own statement of the same +facts.</p> + +<p>Shaw-na-dith-it when entering into the particulars of the condition of +her tribe at the period just referred to, said it consisted of no more +than seventy two persons, and whom she thus further described: In the +principal encampment, that which Captain Buchan surprised, there were +in one mamaseek or wigwam four men, five women and six children—in a +second mamaseek there were four men, two women and six children—in a +third mamaseek there were three men, five woman, and seven +<a name="Page_42"></a>children—in the whole forty-two persons. In the second encampment +there were thirteen persons, and in the third seventeen persons, +making in the whole seventy-two; the two smaller encampments being +several miles distant from the larger one. Now, compare this account +with what Captain Buchan saw, bearing in mind that it was only the +larger encampment he surprised,—of the two smaller ones, it does not +appear that he was at all aware, Shaw-na-dith-it states the encampment +contained forty-two persons, of whom nineteen were children. Captain +Buchan asserts in his official Report, that it contained seventy-five +persons, and it is by no means clear that in this number he included +any of the women or children, as in another part of his report, he +estimates the number of the Red Indians as consisting at least of +three hundred persons—an opinion formed solely from the appearances +which the one encampment presented. Then we have the testimony of a +writer, an anonymous one it is true, yet it is evidently the testimony +of a person who was present at the scenes he describes, and he tells +us that in 1819 he estimated the number of Indians he saw, at from +three to four hundred, including women and children. Then again, we +find Mr. Cormack, in 1827, declaring "that hundreds of Indians must +have been in existence not many years ago," otherwise it would be +impossible to account for the great extent of deer fences which he +found so late as the period above-named, yet in being. And lastly, we +have the opinions of the Micmacs, who are so satisfied of the +continued existence of the Red Indian tribe, that <a name="Page_43"></a>they can with +difficulty be made to comprehend that it is possible to entertain a +doubt of a fact, which to them appears so palpable. Their opinion is +that the whole tribe of Boeothicks passed over to the Labrador some +twenty or twenty-five years since, and the place of their final +embarkation, as they allege, is yet plainly discernable.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Royal Gazette</i>, dated the 2nd September, 1828, there appears a +statement referring to the Red Indians, of which the following is a +copy:—"Nippers Harbor, where the Red Indians were said to have been +seen three weeks ago, and where one of their arrows was picked up, +after having been ineffectually shot at one of the settlers, is in +Green Bay." This accumulation of facts, all of a widely different +character from Shaw-na-dith-it's testimony, would seem, to render the +latter more than doubtful, and it ought to be borne in mind that +Shaw-na-dith-it acquired a knowledge of the English language very +slowly; and though it is said that before her death she could +communicate with tolerable ease, yet it would be incorrect to assume +that she could, without fear of mistake, make such a detailed +statement as that which is attributed to her; but even allowing that +which is most uncertain,—allowing that she expressed herself with +tolerable clearness, and admitting that the parties to whom she made +her communication fully understood her broken English, and were +acquainted with the Boeothick words, which it was her wont to mingle +in all she said—admitting all this—yet even in this view of the +case, it may not be difficult to <a name="Page_44"></a>suppose a reason for her giving an +incorrect account of the state of her tribe. Shaw-na-dith-it knew from +bitter experience, that all former attempts made by Europeans to open +a communication with the Red Indians, had to the latter issued only in +the most disastrous and fatal results. She knew too the antipathy her +own people had to the whites,—so great was this, that she feared to +return to them, believing that the mere fact of her having resided +among the whites for a time would make her an object of hatred to the +Red man.—Knowing all this, is it a violent deduction to draw from all +the circumstances surrounding this subject, that Shaw-na-dith-it in +very love for her own people, may have purposely given an incorrect +account of the numbers of her tribe—lessening it, in the hope that by +so doing no further search would be made for then. Supposing it +possible that such may have been the case, then, it follows that +Shaw-na-dith-it may not have been, as many persons have presumed her +to be, the last of the Boeothicks.</p> + +<p>Some account of the usages and habits of this people, and of such +particulars as have special reference to them, will now close this +narrative: and first it may be observed that the extensive works which +they completed and kept in repair for a number of years, would seem to +indicate, and that almost beyond a doubt, that the Boeothicks were +once a numerous and energetic tribe.</p> + +<p>That they were intelligent, their buildings, store-houses, &c., would +appear to be a sufficient <a name="Page_45"></a>evidence. Their mamaseeks, for such was the +word they used to describe their habitations, were far superior to the +wigwams of the Micmacs. The dwellings of the Boeothicks were in +general built of straight pieces of fir, about twelve feet high, +flattened at the sides, and driven in the earth close to each other, +the corners being made stronger than the other parts. The crevices +were filled up with moss, and the inside lined with the same material; +the roof was raised so as to slant from all parts and meet in a point +in the centre, where a hole was left for the smoke to escape—the +remainder of thereof was covered with a treble coat of birch bark, and +between the first and second layers of bark was placed about six +inches of moss—about the chimney clay was substituted for the moss. +The sides of these mamaseeks were covered with arms—that is, bows, +arrows, clubs, stone hatchets, arrow heads, and all these were +arranged in the neatest manner. Beams were placed across where the +roof began, over which smaller ones were laid; and on the latter were +piled their provisions—dried salmon, venison, &c.</p> + +<p>That the Boeothicks were a bold, heroic, self-dependant tribe, few +will be disposed to question, when it is remembered that they never +courted the friendship of, neither were they ever subdued by, any +other tribe, or by Europeans—by the combined efforts of both Micmacs +and Whites, their numbers were greatly reduced, if not utterly +exterminated, but they were never conquered.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen"><a name="Page_46"></a>BOEOTHICK DRESS.</p> + +<p>This was peculiar to the tribe, and consisted of but one garment—a +sort of mantle formed out of two deer skins, sewed together so as to +be nearly square—a collar also formed with skins was sometimes +attached to the mantle, and reached along its whole breadth—it was +formed without sleeves or buttons, and was worn thrown over the +shoulders, the corners doubling over at the breast and arms. When the +bow is to be used the upper part of the dress was thrown off from the +shoulders and arms, and a broad fold, the whole extent of it, was +secured round the loins, with a belt to keep the lower part from the +ground and the whole from falling off, when the arms were at liberty. +The collar of the dress was sometimes made of alternate stripes of +otter and deer skins sewed together, and sufficiently broad to cover +the head and face when turned up, and this is made to answer the +purpose of a hood of a cloak in bad weather—occasionally leggings or +gaiters were worn, and arm coverings, all made of deer skins—their +moccasins were also made of the same material; in summer, however, +they frequently went without any covering for the feet.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">BOEOTHICK ARMS.</p> + +<p>These, whether offensive or defensive, or for killing game, were +simply the bow and arrow, spear, and club. The arrow-heads were of two +kinds, viz.:—stone, bone or iron, the latter material being derived +from Europeans, and the blunt <a name="Page_47"></a>arrow, the point being a knob +continuous with the shaft—the former of these was used for killing +quadrupeds and large birds, the latter for killing small birds—two +strips of goose feathers were tied on to balance the arrow, and it has +been remarked by many persons who have seen the Red Indians' arrows, +that they have invariably been a yard long; the reason of this would +seem to be that their measure for the arrow was the arm's length, that +is, from the centre of the chest to the tip of the middle finger, that +being the proper length to draw the bow—the latter was about five +feet long, generally made of mountain ash, but sometimes of spruce.</p> + +<p>Their spears were of two kinds—the one, their chief weapon, was +twelve feet in length, pointed with bone or iron, whenever the latter +material could be obtained, and was used in killing deer and other +animals. The other was fourteen feet in length and was used chiefly, +if not wholly, in killing seals—the head or point being easily +separated from the shaft—the service of the latter being, indeed +mainly, to guide the point into the body of the animal, and which +being effected, the shaft was withdrawn, and a strong strip of deer +skin, which was always kept fastened to the spear head, was held by +the Indian, and who in this manner secured his prey.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">CANOES.</p> + +<p>These varied from sixteen to twenty-two feet in length, with an upward +curve towards each end. <a name="Page_48"></a>Laths were introduced from stem to stern +instead of planks—they were provided with a gunwhale or edging which, +though slight, added strength to the fabric—the whole was covered on +the outside with deer skins sewed together and fastened by stitching +the edges round the gunwhale.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">LANGUAGE.</p> + +<p>The language of the Boeothicks, Mr. Cormack is of opinion, is +different from all the languages of the neighbouring tribes of Indians +with which any comparison has been made. Of all the words procured at +different times from the female Indian Shaw-na-dith-it, and which were +compared with the Micmac and Banake (the latter people bordering on +the Mohawk) not one was found similar to the language of the latter +people, and only two words which could be supposed to have had the +same origin, viz.: Keuis—Boeothick—and "Kuse" Banake—both words +meaning "Sun,"—and moosin Boeothick, and moccasin, Banake and Micmac. +The Boeothick also differs from the Mountaineer or Esquimaux language +of Labrador. The Micmac, Mountaineer, and Banake, have no "<i>r</i>." The +Boeothick has; the three first use "<i>l</i>" instead of "<i>r</i>." The +Boeothick has the dipthong <i>sh</i>.—the other languages, as before +enumerated, have it not. The Boeothicks have no characters to serve as +hieroglyphics or letters, but they had a few symbols or signatures.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">METHOD OF INTERMENT.</p> + +<p>The Boeothicks appear to have shown great <a name="Page_49"></a>respect for their dead, and +the most remarkable remains of them commonly observed by Europeans at +the sea coasts are their burial places. They had several modes of +interment—one was when the body of the deceased had been wrapped in +birch rind, it was then, with his property, placed on a sort of +scaffold about four feet from the ground—the scaffold supported a +flooring of small squared beams laid close together, on which the body +and property rested.</p> + +<p>A second method was, when the body bent together and wrapped in birch +rinds was enclosed in a sort of box on the ground—this box was made +of small square posts laid on each other horizontally, and notched at +the corners to make them meet close—it was about four feet high, +three feet broad, and two-feet-and-a-half deep, well lined with birch +rind, so as to exclude the weather from the inside—the body was +always laid on its right side.</p> + +<p>A third, and the most common method of burying among this people, was +to wrap the body in birch rind, and then cover it over with a heap of +stones on the surface of the earth; but occasionally in sandy places, +or where the earth was soft and easily removed, the body was sunk +lower in the earth and the stones omitted.</p> +<br /> + +<p>Their marriage ceremony consisted merely in a prolonged feast, and +which rarely terminated before the end of twenty-four hours. Polygamy +would seem not to have been countenanced by the tribe.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_50"></a>Of their remedies for disease, the following were those the most +frequently resorted to:—</p> + +<p>For pains in the stomach, a decoction of the rind of the dogberry was +drank.</p> + +<p>For sickness among old people—sickness in the stomach, pains in the +back, and for rheumatism, the vapor-bath was used.</p> + +<p>For sore head, neck, &c., pounded sulphuret of iron mixed up with oil +was rubbed over the part affected, and was said generally to effect a +cure in two or three days.</p> +<br /> + +<p>Brief as the foregoing statement is, yet, so scanty are the materials +which relate to the subject, that it contains substantially all the +facts which can now be gathered together of that interesting people, +the original inhabitants of Newfoundland—a people whose origin and +fate are alike shrouded in mystery, and of whom, in their passage +across the stage of life, but little is certainly known, beyond the +cruel outrages, the bitter wrongs they endured at the hands of the +white man—before whose power, so mercilessly used, the tribe sank, +and was either utterly annihilated, or, as is more probable, a +remnant—worn out, harrassed beyond human endurance—left the homes of +their fathers, and in another land sought that security for their +lives which was denied them in this.</p> +<br /> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">FINIS.</p> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<p>FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="note"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1">[A]</a> +"Large guns." The guns in common use there are what are +made for killing seals. The general size is a barrel of five feet +long, with a bore from seven-eighths to an inch and a quarter.</p></div> + +<div class="note"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2">[B]</a> +What I saw I should estimate at from three to four +hundred, including women and children: of this however hereafter.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lecture On The Aborigines Of +Newfoundland, by Joseph Noad + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ABORIGENES OF NEWFOUNDLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 15126-h.htm or 15126-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/1/2/15126/ + +Produced by Wallace McLean, Jeannie Howse and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading (https://www.pgdp.net), from images kindly +provided by www.canadiana.org + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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