20 Field and Forest Rambles. 



of the Rocky Mountains, where they are making a last stand 

 against the white man, with whom they have nothing in com- 

 mon, and from whom they borrow only the worst traits of his 

 character. Moreover, so indifferent are the aborigines every- 

 where to the examples of their European conquerors, that to 

 this day, even in the chief cities of Canada, the beau-ideal of 

 fashion with the Indian squaw is a cast-off black hat for a 

 head-dress, and a dirty blanket for a shawl. Thus, shod in 

 her native mocassins, with her battered features and stealthy 

 gait, she may be seen prowling about the streets in broad 

 daylight, at once a conspicuous and sad picture of utter 

 wretchedness and poverty. Such was the first example of a 

 New Brunswick Indian that attracted my attention during a 

 saunter along the streets of the pleasant country town just 

 mentioned. In fact, I can picture almost every item of her 

 attire and aspect ; to wit, the short stature, green and yellow 

 complexion, big coarse features, and capacious mouth, black 

 eyes and hair ; the old battered hat which none but an 

 Irishman would covet, a glaring red cloth round her neck, 

 and blanket across her shoulders. There she stood at the 

 corner of a street, gazing listlessly at the red-coated soldiers 

 just arrived from Europe, who in groups returned the inspec- 

 tion with far greater signs of wonder, and some droll epithets, 

 which I trust, poor creature, for her sake, she did not under- 

 stand. A little further on, and who is that dark-complexioned 

 man staggering forth from a spirit-store ? A stout, sturdy- 

 looking fellow enough, with a bloated countenance, and voice 

 hoarse with sottish gibbering : he has just been twitted by a 

 passer-by on his drunken condition, and has tendered a rude 

 response in broken and all-but-unintelligible English. He sees 

 me, knows I am a fresh arrival, and straightway asks if I 

 " have any cents for a drink." " Bill, you have had enough ! " 

 replies another wayfarer ; at which he again responds ia 

 language not by any means parliamentary, and continues 

 muttering and barking forth exhortations for money. He is 



