@he Scientific Guguiver. 
NOVEMBER, 1888. 
Notes on Vancouver and tits 
Newghbourhood. 
By Mrs. ALICE BODINGTON. 
HE Indians of this part of the North Pacific coast are 
remarkable for their utter dissimilarity to the Red 
Ind'an of song and story. The last-named noble 
savage may still be seen at prairie stations, ragged and 
unspeakably dirty, with possibly a gay, striped English 
blanket over his rags. Contact with civilisation 
produces in him only utter degeneration; he is prevented 
by the benevolent paternal government of the North-West 
Territory from drinking himself to death, so he dawdles away his 
whole time in laziness. But he is undoubtedly picturesque ; his 
wild, unkempt, black hair, high features, striped blanket, and rags 
make him a fine artistic study—at a safe distance. For he is very 
dirty, and his hospitality to the lower forms of life is unbounded. 
The Indians of Vancouver and the neighbourhood form a 
striking contrast, in most respects, to the above description. They 
are short and sgwat in figure; their legs often bowed, through 
much sitting in boats; their features appear strongly Mongolian 
in type. The aquiline nose, thin face, and high cheek-bones, so 
familiar in the loved stories of adventure of our childhood, have 
disappeared, and one sees a race with flat, broad faces and great 
shapeless thick lips. I have never yet seen one of these Indians 
in rags; they are warmly and comfortably clad in clothes of 
European cut, which many of our poor might envy them. The 
secret is not far to seek, for unlike the noble Red Man, the 
Indian of the coast rivals a Chinese in industry. Not only does 
he supply the market with game and fish, and work at the salmon 
canneries, but he turns his hand to any sort of honest labour 
Vou, III. II 
