THE FRENCH HALF-BREEDS OF THE NORTHWEST. 325 



care; but the boys, fond of roving' freedom, escape early from their intlu- 

 ence and become often guilty of gross iilial ingratitude. The daughters 

 are more dutiful and generally reciprocate the affection of their parents 



IX. 



LANGUAGE. 



The metis generally speak several languages, one or more Indian dia- 

 lects, French, and often English. In the States most of them under- 

 stand English, and use it when conversing with Americans, but seldom 

 when among themselves. On the lied River, the Saskatekawan, and 

 Milk River settlements, English is only exceptionally spoken. 



All the metis, from Lake Superior westward, speak more or less In- 

 dian ; in Manitoba many prefer it, and this preference becomes more 

 general as we near the Rocky Mountains. The Cree principally, and, 

 in a much less degree, the Chippewa, are the ordinary languages of 

 the half-breeds in the British Northwest. 



The Cree is easily learned, expressive, and euphonious, and for these 

 qualities has become the universal medium of conversation among the 

 Northwestern tribes and their kindred, the metis. In Minnesota the 

 latter speak Chippewa ; in Dakota, Sioux and Cree; and at the other 

 places the dialect of the tribe from which they originated. 



French is understood by all Canadian half breeds ; it is their ordinary 

 language in Michigan, Wisconsin, and around Lake Superior, and every- 

 where their official medium of communication. At all the parishes on 

 Red River, on the Assiuiboin, and even at Saint Albert, on the Saskateh- 

 awan, the sermons are usually preached in French. 



The French of the metis is a patois, somewhat analogous to that of 

 the poorer classes in Canada. It is not comprehensive but contains a 

 large number of peculiar words and expressions grown out of the char- 

 acter of the land they live in, and their mode of life. The pronuncia- 

 tion, although very defective, is not as bad as that of many of the 

 provincial patois of France. It is readily understood by a Frenchman 

 in spite of its grotesqueness, but correct French, unless made very plain, 

 is not readily understood by the average metis. Whether spoken about 

 the lakes, on the Saskatekawan, or in British Columbia, it is very nearly 

 identical. 



Many words in common use are obsolete French, but may still be 

 heard to-day in Normandy and L'icardy; for instance: Alter cri (querir), 

 to fetch; fieur, flour; pa(<il<; potatoe; patir, to suffer; mouiller, to rain- 

 raisonner, to grumble; grouiller (of persons), to stir; brailler, to weep; 

 jongler, to think; magauer, to maltreat; bo;:caue, smoke; moucher, to 

 beat, 



A large number belong to the vocabulary of the prairie: Fourehcr, 

 to branch off ; fourches, forks of a stream; charrette, cart; carriole, 

 sleigh; trahie, sled; embarquer, to get aboard cart or .sleigh; /aire 



