56 CREES. 



ledge of Christianity and a taste for domestic com- 

 fort and decorum to the remotest posts. The 

 present state of society in the fur countries con- 

 trasts most favourably with the almost general 

 heathenism which prevailed during the murderous 

 contests between the trading companies by which 

 the country was demoralised when I first traversed 

 it thirty years ago. 



The half-breeds, as a class, show great quickness 

 in acquiring a knowledge of letters, as well as skill 

 in the mechanical arts. As joiners, workers in iron, 

 and boat-builders, many of them would rank high 

 among European craftsmen ; and, taught by neces- 

 sity, they have generally the advantage of being 

 able to work at all the several branches of the 

 carpenter's and blacksmith's arts, even to the 

 forging of their tools. 



At the Wesleyan Missionary establishment of 

 Rossville, near Norway House, and round the Epis- 

 copal church at the Pas on the Saskatchewan, native 

 villages have sprung up, and agriculture to a small 

 extent is practised. Though the cerealia and 

 leguminous vegetables thrive well at Red River, 

 and horses, cattle, hogs, poultry, and sheep flourish, 

 agriculture is eschewed by the large section of the 

 population, who are descendants of the Canadian 

 voyagers. The pleasures of the precarious chase are 

 preferred by this part of the community to steady 



