272 INDIANS IN NOVA SCOTIA — GILPIN. 



Cape Breton — 



Inverness ...... 138 Victoria 69 



C. Breton 188 Richmond 78 



473 C. B. 1706 Total. 



Thus we find from census returns they are rather increasing. 

 This is owing in part, perhaps, to the census being more correct; 

 but there are other causes that may contribute. Within the last 

 fifty years a greater change in their dress and habits has come over 

 them than when they passed from skins to serge. With regard to 

 the men, the blue hunting frock and gaiter with its scarlet seams 

 have entirely disappeared. The men dress in ordinary clothes, but 

 usually affect a grey tunic and pantaloons, with shoes or high bools. 

 The high pointed cap and short petticoat lingers a little amongst 

 the old women ; but hats and feathers, veils, flounces and high laced 

 boots are rapidly taking their place. Though the artist must 

 mourn, the wild graceful figure lost in the modern navvy, yet no 

 doubt the change is beneficial. Anything that lessens the separa- 

 tion between them and the dominant race into which they must 

 sink, hastens the hour. Another change in their habits is telling 

 greatly upon them, they all now have permanent winter houses. 

 If they do not sleep in beds, they at least sleep on floors of wood 

 during the cold winter, instead of on the hard ground covered by 

 spruce bushes. 



Their summer camps are still as of old. Clothed like ourselves, 

 with a boot keeping the feet dry, and sleeping warm and dry, they 

 cannot retain the old instinctive adhesiveness of race, or the ancient 

 consumptions and palsies that formerly decimated them. Ever 

 mindiug all these changes and these ceaseless influences on their 

 moral and physical condition, we will describe the Mic-Mac Indian 

 of the present hour. His stature is below the medium ; slight, 

 carrying his shoulders overhanging forward and high ; his limbs 

 light, and extremities small ; the tibia or shin bone well curved, 

 but this curve is high in the bor.e and forward as well as outward, 

 and springing as it does from the high boney arch of a very clean 

 instep, has the grace of fitness and beauty which is not found when 



