66 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



them institutions and practices that were almost certainly an out- 

 growth of the "village community," modified by feudalism. The 

 seigniories may be specified amongst the former ; the practice of 

 grouping their dwellings together on the river banks amongst the 

 latter. I am not aware that commvmity of ownership of land pre- 

 vailed at any time to a large extent, but traces of it are clearly dis- 

 cernible in the French settlements in the Northwest. The right to 

 cut hay and fuel on land not owned by any one individual was con- 

 ceded to each member of the little settlement, while its internal 

 affairs were managed to some extent at least on the old community 

 plan. Without raising the question, whether the Metis were justi- 

 fied in their uprisings on the Red River and the Saskatchewan, there 

 can be no doubt that each of these emeutes was due largely to the dis- 

 like of the simple villagers to the introduction of the square-lot sys- 

 tem, and to their dread of interfei-ence with the river-front arrange- 

 ment which suited so well alike their habits of life and their stage 

 of political development. 



Mr. VanderSmissen related from Immermann's Oberhof 

 an incident showing the strong tenacity with which men cling 

 to ancient institutions. 



Mr. Browning, from his recent observation in the North- 

 West, made some remarks on the ownership of land among 

 the Indians. Not being agricultural, but nomadic, they did 

 not exercise the right of proprietorship of the soil. The 

 Crees were the only exception. He gave an account of the 

 ceremonies he had witnessed at the adoption of an individual 

 from another tribe. He then referred to the change made in 

 Scotland by the expropriation of land by the landlords who 

 from the heads of clans became feudal lords. 



Mr. Livingston took exceptiofi to some of the statements 

 made by Mr. Houston, and gave some instances that came 

 under his observation of the serious trouble caused to settlers 

 by the enforcement of the land regulations of the North- 

 West 



Mr. Boyle replied to Mr. Livingston's remarks. 



