CHAr. xxviri. MONTAGNAIS BURYING -GROUND. 115 



be taken of it, these simple memorials of tlie Christian 

 Montagnais will soon perish. A new burying-ground 

 has been recently fenced in close to the mission church, 

 which is a substantial structure of wood capable of holding 

 300 people. 



The Montagnais are quite conscious of their slow but 

 sure decline, as long as they remain during the spring and 

 summer on the coast ; but tliey find it for more easy to 

 procure food, and prefer to live on fish and seals, with 

 the certainty of being always able to avoid starvation, to 

 living in the woods which wide-spreading fires and the fur 

 trade have converted into a desert. 



The following touching appeal to the Canadian Govern- 

 ment was written by the Montagnais of the Moisie Eiver 

 last year. The interpretation is literal, and was made by 

 Mr. Chisholm, formerly in the Hudson's Bay Company's 

 service, who has resided in the country of the Montagnais 

 for upwards of forty years : — 



Can our words meet your views, we Indians ? can our words 

 enter into your hearts, you that govern, we who live here, we 

 who are horn ]iere, and consider ourselves possessors of the soil, 

 hy the will of the Great Creator of the Universe ? Our lands and 

 country now ruined, we can no more find our living ; our rivers 

 taken from us, and only used by strangers. Tln-ough your will, 

 we can only now look on the waters of the rivers passing, with- 

 out permission to catch a fish, we poor Indians. And now what 

 are your intentions towards us ? You have, no doubt, all the 

 means to live, though not we ; would you consider oiu' poverty, 

 and take compassion upon us ? We pray you to send us some 

 help ; our poverty does not arise from laziness and want of 

 energy, hut from being unable any more to procure for our- 

 selves and families food ; and we are all of one mind, that since 

 our hands and rivers afford us no more the means to live, 



