— 336 — 



the Kestigouche Indians in our own day. His Excellency 

 had listened with marked attention to one-half of the 

 solemn sing-song address of his duky, loyal subject, 

 who was decked with armlets, fea,thers and medals, 

 when on closer examination he spied, attached to his 

 nose, ears and other portions of his person, bright silver 

 labels, (washed ashore from a wrecked vessel,) ticketed 

 « Rum "— « Brandy "— " Gin "— " Whisky " — " Port " 

 — Sherry." The sight was too much even for the gra- 

 vity of an English Vice-Roy : a loud guffaw ensued 

 among the gubernatorial party, much to the disgust 

 and chagrin of the swarthy son of the forest, who 

 haughtily withdrew. 



Let us have the Professor's opinion on other matters. 

 We saw previously that the importation of the first 

 horse from France took place in 1648 ; it may not be 

 amiss to say that some years later (1665-70) several 

 horses had been sent out as gratuities by the French 

 King to encourage French officers and a better class of 

 colonists, to settle in Canada (1). 



Professor Kalm, in 1749, speaking of horses, says : 

 " All the horses in Canada are strong, well made, swift, 

 as tall as the horses of our cavalry, and of a breed 

 imported from France. The inhabitants have the custom 

 of docking the tails of these horses, which is rather 

 hard upon them here, as they cannot defend themselves 

 against the numerous swarms of gnats, gad flies, and 

 horse flies. They put the horses one before the other in 

 their carts, which has probably occasioned the docking 

 of their tails, as the horses would hurt the eyes of 

 those behind them by moving their tails backwards and 

 forwards. " Well now ! shall we make the avow T al ? A 

 grave doubt hovers over us. Did the Professor ever 

 drive a tandem ? 



" The Governor- General and a few of the chief 



(1) See Appendix, verbo " Horses." 



