42 Recent Literature. [January, | 
ago. Perhaps less consideration was shown to the incipient col- 
ony than the codfish—the white of the Newfoundland egg—be- 
stows upon its own spawn. For not content with leaving the 
infant colony to nature, the mother-country proceeded to dwarf 
and mutilate it, and so retard its development that it is least im 
the list of dependencies of the British Empire. 
How this was done, and how fair are the future prospects of the 
colony, the reader may find in the first part of the book itself 
The second part treats of the physical geography and topography. 
There is much more arable land, valuable forests and a muc 
milder climate in Southwestern and Western Newfoundland than 
is ordinarily supposed. Even the vicinity of St. Johns has a 
much milder winter climate than that of Montreal, the thermom- 
eter scarcely falling below zero; on the other hand the north- 
eastern coast has a subarctic climate akin to that of Labrador. 
The account of the geology of the island is mostly taken from 
the report of Mr. Murray, the director of the Geological Survey 
of Newfoundland, a work still going on. From the chapter on- 
the aborigines it appears that they were the Bethuk tribe, a 
branch of the Algonkin race, and quite distinct from the Mic 
macs, now inhabiting Nova Scotia. So effectually were these 
hapless people exterminated by the settlers, that only a single 
skull remains on the island, which is now preserved in the locat 
museum of St. Johns. The skill of some of the Bethuks t 
drawing is thus described on p. 176, where reference is made to 
a woman of the tribe taken prisoner in 1823: “ She is described 
as six feet high, and having a fine figure; her complexion- 
swarthy, like the Micmacs, and her features handsome. In her 
manners she was bland, affable and affectionate. When a pencit 
and a piece of paper were given to her, she drew a deer perfectly 
at a few strokes, and what was most surprising, she began at the 
tip of the tail.” This woman and her two daughters were the last 
of the red Indians seen alive. She died at St. Johns of consump 
tion, after six years of civilized life. The account of this trids 
their habits and language, has been prepared with evident cafè 
It is interesting that no mention is made in the book of the Es- 
quimaux. There are probably no traces of them in Newfound: 
l This is rather curious, as Esquimiaux have extended along 
the Labrador coast to the Straits of Belle Isle, the survivor hav 
ing been seen by the writer of this notice at Caribou island, neat 
the south-western entrance of the straits, in 1860. If there ate 
yet to be found any trace of the Esquimaux in Newfoundland, We 
hope so competent a man as Mr. Harvey will look them up &™ 
report upon them. ee 
Naturalists and sportsmen will find much to interest them 1 
the chapters on the animals and plants, and that on New und: 
land as a sporting country. 2 
As would be expected, Mr. Harvey has given a full aofi 
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