POPULATION OF RED RIVER. 



177 



a very decided diminution in one important source of 

 supply. 



Between the periods of the census taken in 1843 and 

 1849, there was an increase in the European and Cana- 

 dian element to the extent of 74 families, and of the half- 

 breed of 113 families. During the seven years which 

 elapsed between 1849 and 1856, a decrease in the num- 

 bers of Europeans or Canadians — that is, of people not 

 born in Eupert's Land, although British subjects, and 

 originally coming from England, Scotland, Ireland, or 

 Canada, has taken place to the extent of 102 families. 

 The increase in native or half-breed families during the 

 same period was 132. The diminution in the number of 

 European settlers has already worked a change for the 

 worse in the habits and customs of the half-breeds or 

 natives. The tendency of the native population is gra- 

 dually to lose many of the humanities of civilisation, and 

 approach nearer to the savage wildness of Indian life. 

 An influx of European or Canadian blood had a very good 

 effect in arresting this tendency, which circumstances, 

 far more than disposition, have induced and fostered. 



According to origin, the population of Eed Eiver now 

 stands as follows : — 



Rupert's Land — 

 Half breeds . ") 

 Natives . 



Scotland . 



Canada. . 



England . 



Ireland . . 



Switzerland 



Norway . 



Families 



1856. 



816 



116 

 92 

 40 

 13 

 2 

 1 



Families 



684 



129 

 161 

 46 

 27 

 2 

 3 



Families, 



571 



110 



152 

 22 

 5 

 2 

 0 



Period of comparison, 13 years. 



Increase in half-breed families 



„ Scotch 

 Decrease of Canadian 

 Increase of English 



„ Irish 



„ Swiss }J 



„ Norwegian „ 



24,5 



6 

 60 

 18 

 8 

 0 

 1 



In 1843, or thirteen years before the census of 1856. 



VOL. I. N 



