CONDITION OF THE BEOTHIKS. 85 



spects resembling the savage tribes of the North 

 American continent, and likely belonging to the same 

 stock. The early explorers, thinking they had dis- 

 covered the eastern shores of Asia or India, called all 

 the inhabitants, both in North and South America, 

 "Indians," and from their complexion the northern 

 tribes were afterwards called " Red Indians." 



The race found in Newfoundland called themselves 

 "Beothiks," which was their tribal name. Their 

 features were those of the continental Indians. They 

 had straight, jet-black hair, high cheek bones, small 

 black eyes, and their skin was copper colored. Their 

 habits of life were also similar in many respects ; they 

 subsisted by hunting and fishing ; their weapons, wig- 

 wams and domestic utensils resembled those of neigh- 

 boring tribes. Among learned men Avho have care- 

 fully studied the few relics which have been preserved, 

 and the meagre and uncertain vocabularies which 

 contain all that remains of their language, there is a 

 difference of opinion as to whether they were a branch 

 of the widespread and warlike Algonquins, who sus- 

 tained themselves and increased in numbers. 



CONDITION OF THE BEOTHIKS WHEN DISCOVERED. 



When Cabot landed on the island, in 1497, the 

 Beothiks were a numerous and powerful people, well 



