56 CANADIAN WILDS. 



The Indian in the olden days seldom stayed 

 about the posts longer than to barter his furs 

 and got back to his hunting grounds with as 

 little delay as possible. They were fish and 

 flesh eaters, almost every river and lake 

 abounded with the former and the surrounding 

 woods furnished the latter and the Indian got 

 his living from day to day with very little ex- 

 ertion. The Indian has no idea of hording up 

 the treasures of this world and in only two in- 

 stances did I know one to have a bank account. 

 They have an implicit and abiding faith in kind 

 providence to supply their wants as they go 

 thru life and reason that what is sufficient for 

 them will be forthcoming for their sons and 

 daughters. 



As an agriculturist the Indian is a failure. 

 The life is too hard and humdrum for one whose 

 ancestors from away back have lived a nomad 

 life. His sphere of action on a farm is too cir- 

 cumspect and he pines and longs for the free- 

 dom of the wilds. It is a sad and not a success- 

 ful measure, this corralling of the once lords 

 of the country on restricted reservations which 

 in plain English is no better than a prison to 

 them. 



The Indian in his native state is hospitable 

 to a degree. The stranger who comes to his 

 wigwam is given the best and choicest pieces 



