EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE. 263 



I have told you that these poor Indians have never yet seen a missionary, 

 which is saying that they had not a trace of Christianity. Thus disease (I speak 

 of moral disease) has made frightful ravages among these unfortunate tribes. It 

 cannot be denied, and it is my conviction, that we shall assist at the obsequies 

 of the Dog Rib nation, (Plats cotds de Chiens.) The incredible venereal ex- 

 cesses to which these wretched people were formerly addicted has destroyed the 

 constitution, although so robust, of the Indians, and abridged half their existence. 

 Among them young persons are only seen emaciated and frail, with bony and 

 hectic faces. Pulmonary consumption slowly undermines the tribe. During 

 the forty-four days which I passed among them, I ministered to two of them on 

 the death-bed. On my return to Fort Rae I found five graves yet fresh, and 

 upon the journey of the Toaut Onedes river two others ; a tenth savage is dying 

 at the moment of my writing you these lines. If you add to this figure, already 

 unhappily too great, the thirty-four Indians who died during the last winter, you 

 have forty-four deceased in the space of six months, an enormous total consider- 

 ing the number of this tribe, (about 1,200, according to my enumeration.) To 

 pthysis, which appears to be, with the venereal disease, the scourge of this peo- 

 ple, is added influeneza, which extends its ravages especially among the children. 



Poor people, they are very different in their morals from what they were for- 

 merly. The beneficent light of the gospel, in entering their hearts, has opened 

 their eyes to their past excesses ; but as Adam, converted, they carry the chastise- 

 ment of their guilt with them. 



It is to these causes, venereal excess and incestuous unions, that I attribute the 

 general stuttering of these Indians. Among ten there was not a single one who 

 was not a stammerer. 



I have dwelt long upon these Indians, my dear sir. What I have told you 

 is not for the purpose of exposing the scourges of humanity. My duty is to hide 

 them. But they speak eloquently in showing that the theory of the primitive 

 man, the happiness of man free and cut off from religion, is but an Utopia, worthy 

 of the philosophers who invented it. 



Once more I thank you for having afforded me the means of doing a share of 

 good to these poor Indians. They will repay you some day. I refrain. It is 

 time to close this long farrago, which has become tedious. 



Will you, while excusing my loquacity, receive anew the assurances of the 

 distinguished consideration with which I am, sir, your very humble servant. 



