48 TEANSACTIONS. 1906-7. 



Roman Catholics have fine buildings and large schools, as well as 

 at other points, while the English Church has established itself at 

 most of the points. They also have schools at Fort Simpson, at 

 Hay river, and I believe also at several of their other missions. 



The Indian, the halfbreed, the white trader and his employees, 

 and the missionaries constitute the very scattered population of 

 that vast region between the borders of civihzation on the south 

 and the Arctic sea on the north. To endure the rigorous climate, 

 the isolation from civilized life with starvation constantly to be 

 feared and the many deprivations incidental to the wilderness, 

 one would think should have its compensations somewhere, but it 

 must be said that they are not apparent to the ordinary observer. 

 Such a life undoubtedly has some enjoyment for the young, active 

 and vigorous, but for the afflicted and the aged the case is very sad. 



At very many of the points visited we were implored for ad- 

 vice and for medicine by the sick. Many having chronic diseases 

 which simple surgical treatment would cure are compelled to live 

 out a shortened existence, for no physician except by merest 

 chance ever visits them. The Department of Indian Affairs has 

 physicians who attend to the medical wants of those Indians that 

 are under treaty, but throughout the whole valley of the Mackenzie 

 river from Great Slave lake to the sea, nearly a thousand miles, 

 being outside of treaty limits, there is no physician to be had. 

 Surely the people of this country would endorse any action that 

 the Government might take for the relief of the afflicted there, 

 and it has occurred to me that the establishment of a small hospital 

 at Fort Simpson is something that would appeal to the charitably 

 disposed among us if the need of it were only known. 



