120 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. chap, xxvui. 



civilisation, if, as the price of their improved condition, 

 they are to give up their homes in tlie forests of theii* 

 ancestors. 



Proceeding still lower down the Gulf coast, I now 

 introduce the valuable experience of ]\Ir. Chisholm, who 

 has lived for forty years in communication with the Mon- 

 tagnais, and for the greater part of that time was in the 

 service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and latterly in the 

 employment of the Canadian Government as overseer of 

 fisheries. 



The Indians inhabiting the coast from the heights of the 

 Saugenay to the shores of Labrador are of the Montagnais 

 tribe ; they are an honest, hospitable, and benevolent race, 

 with much superstition, which can never be erased from their 

 minds for the want of education. There are no divisions in this 

 tribe. It is perfectly united in language, manners, mode of life, 

 customs, habits, and laws, except a slight deviation in the pro- 

 nunciation of some words in their lan^-uawe. 



Medicine feasts were greatly kept up formerly, but the 

 clergy, with much perseverance, put a stop to them on the coast, 

 and at present such feasts are hardly known amongst them. 

 However, the Nasquapee tribe, being little or no ways christian- 

 ised, still keep up their feasts regularly, without intermission. 

 As to games, the only game they play, which may be considered 

 gambling, is dice and the game of bones .... their stakes 

 consisting often of valuable furs, which must be immediately 

 paid up. Their other games are innocent and harmless, such 

 as the hand-ball, club-ball, &c. No particular periodical ob- 

 servances are kept, except when having plenty to eat ; they are 

 contented, light-hearted, and happy. Their mode of living at 

 present creates much expense which was unknown to their 

 forefathers. Their country then abounded with the deer. Por- 

 cupine were so very numerous, that they used to find and kill 

 (when travelling) a daily sufficiency for their food without 

 searching for tliem. Beaver were also plenty, and the white 

 partridge seldom failed to visit our shores yearly, about the 



