HABITS OF LABRADOR INDIANS. 261 



delegations on long trips, both in summer and winter, for the 

 purpose of making sure that intruders have not disturbed the re- 

 mains of their friends. 



Although for the most part, these Indians, both as a tribe and as 

 individuals composing it, are quiet and peaceably disposed 

 creatures, on no occasion, probably, would one of them kill a 

 white man, or one of another tribe, more quickly than if in any 

 way interfering with the bodies or burial places of any of their 

 tribe. Socially, the Indians are quiet and peaceable, if treated 

 with respect and kindness, though they are quick to take offence 

 at one who attempts to " bully " them or infringe upon their rights. 



Of the Indians of Labrador I will now say a few words. There 

 are two principal tribes of Indians, not counting the Esquimaux 

 of the extreme northern portion of the plateau, who inhabit this 

 region : the Montagnais who inhabit the coast, especially of the 

 river and Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Nascopies who dwell 

 principally inland and whose visits to the seashore are periodical 

 and chiefly to secure supplies by selling their furs and obtaining 

 credit on their probable winter's catch. Of the origin of these 

 tribes it is not necessary to enter here into any discussion. The 

 Montagnais are probably a part of the Algonquin, and the Nasco- 

 pies are undoubtedly a sub-branch of the same stock. 



The " Montagnards," or " Montagnets," or " Montagnais " are 

 found in abundance chiefly along the shores of the lower St. Law- 

 rence, and they extend more or less abundantly from Quebec, 

 even, as far as Mingan, v/hile stragglers occur even farther down 

 the coast. Tadousac was formerly a great trading post of theirs 

 in the St. Lawrence, and even as early as the middle of the six- 

 teenth century when Jacques Cartier visited this region these Indi- 

 ans flourished and were friendly, as they always have been, to the 

 French colonists. The Montagnais were always active in war, and 

 not so retired as their neighbors of the interior. From their resi- 

 dence on the coast we hear more of them and their exploits as we 

 also know them better. The Montagnais were one of the first 

 Indian tribes to subscribe to Christianity, though nothing has 



