348 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. xx. 



with Indians : one dark bride wore a pretty Montagnais 

 cap of scarlet and black with edging of silver cord. 

 I looked in vain for the other, but consoled myself with 

 the reflection that she was modestly squatting among 

 the ottffer women and wore no distinguishing bridal 

 array. When the priest came to that part of the 

 service which involves the blessing of the ring, one bride 

 and one bridegroom knelt at the altar-railing ; the second 

 bridegroom looked wistfully at the little sea of Mon- 

 tagnais caps ; the male portion of the congregation 

 glanced around ; an awkward pause ensued, when slowly 

 from among the kneeling squaws a tall young Montagnais 

 girl arose, with a most prominent Eoman nose, thick lips, 

 and slanting eyes ; she advanced to the railing and knelt 

 beside her lover. Amidst a breathless silence both 

 couples were joined together. Montagna^udamsels, like 

 some of their fairer sisters, are fickle ffd changeable. 

 A melancholy instance of unrequited love -on one side, 

 and inconstancy on the other, has occurred at Seven 

 Islands. A girl agreed to be married to a young Indian 

 as soon as the priest came ; the day was fixed, the guests 

 were all invited, and a seal was shot for the wedding 

 feast. 



Loons were purposely kept for three days, and a 

 porcupine was trapped ; preparations on a large scale were 

 made for a great spread. The wished-for hour arrived ; the 

 bridegroom was dressed in his best ; the guests were all 

 waiting at the chapel doors, anxious for the ceremony 

 to be over, so that they might begin the feast, as the odour 

 of seal, loon, and porcupine cooked in the lodges close 



