470 REPORT— 1900. 



detailed investigations respecting the eflfect of environment upon succeed- 

 ing generations. 



In Appendix II. Mr. Hill-Tout follows up his very careful study of 

 the N'tlaka'pamuQ, appended to last year's report, with a similar close 

 investigation of another and markedly different division of the Salish 

 stock in British Columbia, the Sk-go'mic. These people previously in- 

 habited Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet in large numbers, but they are 

 now much reduced, and appear to be rapidly passing away. Over ninety 

 villages at one time inhabited are enumerated. Much attention has been 

 given to the language, which had not heretofore been seriously investi- 

 gated, and which shows numerous grammatical and other peculiarities. 

 Mr. Hill-Tout's work, in fact, constitutes a very important local contribu- 

 tion to the ethnology of the native races of the west coast. 



This report is accompanied by nineteen photographs of Indians, taken 

 by Mr. Hill-Tout, partly of the Sk-go'mic and partly of neighbouring 

 tribes, in which he is now further pursuing his investigations. 



The ancient settlement of Huron Indians at Lorette, near Quebec, 

 has always been an object of great interest to the ethnologist, although 

 prolonged and intimate contact with the whites of the neighbourhood 

 has resulted in marked alterations of a physical and social character. 

 These alterations have progressed so far as to make trustworthy studies 

 an exceptionally difficult matter, but the Committee felt that no oppor- 

 tunity to secure such data as might yet be available should be lost, and 

 in Appendix III. Mr. L. Gerin presents the results of a very careful 

 investigation into the actual social condition of these Indians. He 

 brings this into comparison with their original condition, tracing out 

 the influences which have produced great changes among them during 

 their prolonged residence in the province of Quebec, subsequent to the 

 abandonment of their old home. The condition of this community of 

 Hurons offers a marked contrast to that of the originally similar Iroquois 

 community near Montreal, their evolution in modern times having been 

 almost in opposite directions ; a circumstance explained by their environ- 

 ment in the two cases. The report is accompanied by photographs 

 showing the present conditions of village life, which will be kept on file 

 for future reference. 



APPENDIX I. 

 Early French Settlers in Canada. By B. Sulte. 



Following my statement of last year, I beg to submit, first, the result 

 of my observations respecting the number of actual settlers in 1632-66. 



In 1632 there were twenty-nine men ' in the colony, who were either 

 married or who married soon after, and became heads of families. These 

 are the roots of the Canadian tree. A few Frenchmen engaged in the fur 

 trade formed a distinct group outside of the scope of this paper. 



In 1640 the ' habitants ' numbered 375,' distributed as follows : 



Married men, 64 ; married women (three born in Canada), 64 ; widower, 

 1 ; widows, 4 ; unmarried men, 35 ; boys (30 born in Canada), 58 ; girls 

 (24 born in Canada), 48 ; nuns, 6 ; Jesuits, 29 ; other Frenchmen, 66 ; 

 iotal, 375. 



' I have published a biographical sketch of each of them. 



