BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 269 



agriculture" (i). In 1641 its population "according to the reck- 

 oning of the Fathers" was twelve thousand souls or four thou- 

 sand warriors, living in forty villages and hamlets (2). 



In their manner of living the Neutrals resembled the other 

 branches of the Huron- Iroquois family. They lived in bark 

 houses, dressed in skins, raised vegetables on their farms and 

 supplemented their vegetable diet by game and fish. Though 

 at peace with the Hurons and Iroquois they warred with nations 

 living west of them. They buried their dead with ceremonies 

 similar to those of the Hurons. 



Though the "hamlets" spoken of by Father Dallion were 

 probably composed of the conical bark wigwams, used amongst 

 the Iroquois for temporary shelter, the towns were composed of 

 bark "long houses" similar to those used by both Hurons and 

 Iroquois. A "long house" was framed "like a grape arbor" of 

 poles. The roof and walls were made of sheets of bark tied to 

 the frame- work of poles; but so badly were they fastened that 

 the wind and rain had free access. The earth served as a floor, 

 and after a few years of occupancy this was foul with refuse. 

 Opening into a rude porch at each end was a doorway, closed 

 with a skin curtain. From door to door ran a narrow corridor, 

 in which, at intervals burned a row of fires. Over each fire 

 was a hole in the bark roof through which the smoke was ex- 

 pected to go. It usually failed however to do so and the acrid 

 wood smoke that filled the houses, was in winter the greatest 

 hardships of the missionaries. "I have sometimes for hours, 

 wrote Father Brebeuf, remained in this position (lying on the 

 floor face downward), especially when the cold was so intense 

 that I dare not remain outside, and it seemed to me that my 

 throat, my nostrils and my eyes were, during this time, in a 

 constant state of inflammation. At times I thought I would go 

 blind, my eyes were burning in my head and I could see around 

 me only dimly and in a confused manner". 



Along the sides of the house were the sleeping apartments. 

 These were like horse-stalls, separated by bark partitions, but 

 open on the side next the corridor. Benches, covered with 

 mats or skins served as beds. Hanging from the rafters and 



1. Father Dallion 's letter, quoted as above. 



2. Father Lalement, in Jesuit Relations, 1641, Vol. 21, P. 191, Burrows 

 edition. 



