42 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



but in some measure also to the incorrigible idleness 

 and want of thrift exhibited by the French Canadians, 

 and their relatives, the French half-breeds, who form 

 the largest section of the inhabitants. The latter, 

 the most numerous of the two, are also the most 

 unreliable and unprofitable members of society. 

 Desultory, fickle, mercurial, and passionately fond of 

 gaiety and finery, they have an utter distaste for 

 all useful labour, and rarely succeed in raising them- 

 selves into any permanent position of comfort and in- 

 dependence. 



They are so admirabty delineated by Mr. Eoss, in 

 his " History of the Red Hiver Settlement," that we 

 shall be excused for quoting his description. He says, 

 " The Canadians and half-breeds are promiscuously 

 settled together, and live in much the same way. 

 They are not, properly speaking, farmers, hunters, or 

 fishermen, but rather compound the three occupa- 

 tions together, and follow them in turn, as whim and 

 circumstances may dictate. They farm to-day, hunt 

 to-morrow, and fish the next day, without anything 

 like system, always at a nonplus, but never disconcerted. 

 ^They are great in adventuring, but small in performing, 

 and exceedingly plausible in their dealings. Still, they 

 are oftener useful to themselves than others, and get 

 through the world as best they can, without much 

 forethought or reflection. Taking them all in all, they 

 are a happy people." They spend much of their time 

 in singing, dancing, and gossiping from house to 

 house, getting drunk when the opportunity offers. 

 They are a merry, light-hearted, obliging race, reck- 

 lessly generous, hospitable, and extravagant. Dancing 



