9 



them. We have been obliged, through dire necessity, to give 

 them our produce at their price, but, to their credit, I may 

 say, that they have uniformly paid an equivalent price, viz., 

 beef per lb., 2 l-2d. ; pork, 3d. to 3 l-2d. per lb. ; hams, 6d. 

 per lb.; eggs, 6d. per dozen; fowls, 2s. per pair (domestic), 

 wild from 4d. to Is. per pair, acording to scarcity; cheese, 

 6d. per lb. ; butter, 7d. to 8d. per lb. ; wheat, at 3s. 6d. per 

 bushel; barley, flour (first quality), 14s. per cwt; second 

 quality, lis. 6d. per cwt. ; pemmican, 3d. to 4d. per lb. ; dried 

 meat, 2 l-2d. to 3d. per lb. The two latter are what we call 

 plain provisions — are made out in the wild prairies out of 

 buffalo meat, and brought into the settlement by hunters who 

 follow that occupation year after year. Our grease also comes 

 from that quarter, sells from 4d. to 6d. per lb., according to 

 scarcity or plenty. A good pair of oxen costs about £14. 

 Cows sell at from £3 10s. to £5, according to size; horses 

 from £16 to £35 each. Hay 4s. per load of 8001b. The 

 shearing of an acre of wheat costs 7s., mechanic's wages 

 range from 4s. to 5s. per day, common clay laborer at harvest 

 seasons from 30s. to 50s. per month. 



POPULATION IN 1855. 



We have at present a population of 5,9 74 souls, divided 

 into three distinct religious denominations. The upper part 

 of the settlement is entirely settled by Roman Catholics, num- 

 bering about 2,100 souls, the middle part of the settlement 

 is settled by the Presbyterian community numbering about 

 780 souls, the lower settlement is inhabited by Episcopalians 

 (3,094). The former have two churches and one cathedral, 

 presided over by a bishop and a staff of priests and lay 

 brothers, with a convent attached to the cathedral, and from 



