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1891-92. | CHARACTERISTICS AND MIGRATIONS OF THE HURONS. 
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MIGRATIONS OF 
THE HURONS: ASS TNDICATED' BY sTHEIR 
REMAINS IN NORTH SIMCOE. 
By A. F. HUNTER, M.A. 
(Read 25th September, 1891). 
The tract of land lying between Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay is 
commonly known as the abode of the Huron Indians during the first 
half of the seventeenth century. But, to describe their location more 
definitely, it was on the high ground of the interior of this tract that 
they chiefly dwelt, as appears from their remains found at the present 
day ; in the low parts of the wide valley of the Nottawasaga River, 
between them and the Tobacco Nation, very few traces of aboriginal 
occupation are found. It will be proper to lay special emphasis on the 
fact that the Hurons occupied high ground, because in this respect they 
contrast in a striking manner with the later Algonquins, who subse- 
quently occupied the same district but preferred to haunt the waterways 
during the greater part of the year, and were naturally an aquatic 
people. Corresponding with this difference between the Hurons and 
Algonquins in the choice of locality, there was a similar contrast between 
their places of burial—so marked indeed that it is still impossible to 
confuse them. The Hurons selected places for burial purposes near their 
villages, almost always in dry and sandy soil, and remote from water. 
Of all their ossuaries brought to light in this century, only a few have 
been found where the soil is clay. But the Algonquins buried their dead 
near the river banks and lake shores, in places which they could easily 
reach in canoes. 
The almost complete annihilation of the Hurons at their own villages 
in 1649, has been the most notable event in connection with the history 
of their race. It is possible to see at the present day the very spots 
where the massacres took place ; these are indicated by large numbers 
of iron tomahawks strewing the ground, besides other marks of strife 
which are still visible. In Indian warfare, tomahawks were often hurled 
at the enemy—a practice that has been noted by Catlin [Zz/e Among the 
Indians, chap. 2.] and other writers. Henee we now find patches of 
ground where they are found in abundance. On the accompanying map 
of North Simcoe there is defined the district in which these patches 
