AVERAGE PRODUCE, PRICES, AND WAGES. 107 



Northumberland, which embraces most of the good land 

 on the Miramichi and its tributary waters. 



The average price of cheese is 5^d. a pound, and of 

 butter 9d. The average w^ages paid for agricultural 

 labour are, in summer, from 50s. to 60s. a month, or, by 

 the whole year, £27, 10s. currency, in addition to board, 

 washing, and lodging. Day-labourers receive from one- 

 half to three-quarters of a dollar, with provisions. 



After a hasty survey of the neighbourhood of Douglas, 

 we drove down to the river, and crossed to the town of 

 Chatham, on the right bank. Near the ferry we found 

 a large encampment of Indians, who are about two hun- 

 dred strong, on the ]*Iiramichi River, and own reserves of 

 about 22,000 acres, some of which consist of excellent 

 land. It was amusing to see the little papooses, only a 

 few Aveeks old, swaddled up tight, tied fast to a bit of 

 board, and set on end against the outside of the wigwams, 

 apparently unheeded by anybody. No movement was 

 made by any of the females, nor a sound uttered by the 

 infant, w^ien I took up one of them and affected to carry 

 it off with me to the boat. 



The town of Chatham is about equal in size to Douglas, 

 and, like it, is dependent partly upon the lumber-trade 

 and partly upon the agricultural traffic. On this occa- 

 sion I merely drove through it with the view of reaching 

 Eichibucto, a distance of forty miles south, before night- 

 fall. 



