312 ANTHROPOLOGY. 



The great majority of Canadians who, more particularly in the early 

 limes of the colony, left the settlements as traders, hunters, voyageurSj 

 or engagfa were single meu who cut themselves loose from kith and kin 

 to seek fortune in congenial pursuits at the advanced posts and among 

 the Indians. As already intimated, they were not strict monogamists. 

 They would sometimes abandon the mother of their offspring to the care 

 of her tribe and seek a second or a third wife (wherever chance carried 

 them,) to be perhaps forsaken like the first. Such conduct, favorable to 

 the production of a numerous progeny, was very objectionable to the 

 missionaries, who combated it with all the weight of their influence. 

 They generally succeeded in giving the sanction of law and religion to 

 one of their illegitimate unions, so that, however loose in his morals, the 

 voyageur had one lawful wife who, after the vicissitudes of a toilsome 

 life, would share with him in his declining years the comfort and rest 

 of the settlements. 



It may be apposite to our purpose to notice here the contrast between 

 the French and the English colonies in their relations with the Indians. 

 The latter, independent of the Indians from whose intercourse they 

 could derive no benefit, regarded them simply as an obstacle to their 

 progress, a natural foe, against which they waged a war of extermina- 

 tion. The former, from the first, recognized in the red man a fellow be- 

 ing, and as such entitled to consideration. They heated him with 

 firmness, tempered by strict justice. Of a more gentle and sympathetic 

 nature, t lie French felt kindly disposed towards the natives and had 

 less repugnance to overcome to associate with them. Their religion, 

 also, as exemplified in the self-immolating life of the missionaries, must 

 have taught them impressive lessons of tolerance and Christian charity. 



As the result of their intercourse with the Indians there was not in 

 New Fiance a single tribe whose alliance and friendship they did not 

 win and retain, even long after their. power had passed away. They, 

 however, as already stated, had less wortlfy motives to conciliate them. 

 Having neglected agriculture for the sake of trade, the Indians were 

 necessary auxiliaries. It was only through them that furs could be 

 procured and prosperity maintained in the colony; only with their help 

 that the King could extend his dominions westward and check the 

 encroaching English and Dutch colonies. The cultivation of their 

 friendship was therefore earnestly enjoined upon all the officials of New 

 Prance, <>n political and commercial grounds, while the missionary 

 preached forbearance 1 and justice in the name of humanity. 



The tribes of Canada, of the Lakes, of the Winnipeg Basinj and of the 

 Illinois country, all belonging to the great Algonquin family, were most 

 subjected to French influence. It was among them that the coureurs 

 <lc hois loved to rove; with their guidance the voyagers explored the 

 northwest, and it is from them that the great majority of half-breeds 

 derive their Indian blood. 



Earlj in i he eighteenth ceutury, after all the lakes had been explored 



