.334 THE LABRADOK PENINSULA. CHAP. xx. 



CHAPTER XX. 



SEVEN ISLANDS. 



The Chapel Mass The Appearance of the Indians The Dress 

 of the Women Domenique in Chapel Otelne and Arkaske in 

 Chapel A Comparison Past and Present Condition of the 

 Montagnais and Nasquapees Heathen Condition Prevailing 

 Names of Children Mr. Anderson's Journal The Procession 

 The Cross Effect on the Indians A Dinner Party Nasqua- 

 pee Manners The Nasquapee and the Sugar Montagnais Mass 

 - The Graveyard at Seven Islands An Old French Canadian 

 Half -breed His Description of the Nasquapees Nasquapee 

 Squaws buying a Winding-sheet Appe-mus-kis' Wives- Their 

 apparent Insensibility The Squaw's Grief Snow-shoes A 

 Lover's Present Indian Attempt at Gymnastics -- Physical 

 Weakness of the Indians The Nasqnapee and the Compass 

 Louis' Opinion A Montagnais Marriage -- Inconstancy A 

 AVedding Feast Seal, Loon, and Porcupine Explanations A 

 Montagnais Girl's Reason for not Marrying her Lover New Ar- 

 rangements Bound for Mingan Pere Amaud's Departure - 

 The Departure of the Indians Seven Islands Deserted The 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



AT half-past seven on Sunday morning the bell of the 

 Mission chapel tolled for mass. By twos and 

 threes the Indians left their lodges and repaired to the 

 sacred edifice. A little before eight I entered the chapel 

 and found it already full ; the Indians, however, made 

 room for me, and I took my place among them. The 

 appearance of the congregation was very impressive : on 

 one side were kneeling about eighty squaws and young 

 Indian girls, on the other side nearly the same number 



