THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. 221 



the schools would need to be increased in number in 

 certain districts, but the absence of any law relative to 

 education, and of zeal in the people themselves, renders 

 it utterly impossible to do more. I venture to assert 

 what all reasonable and impartial persons must, in view 

 of what is done, acknowledge, that the result far tran- 

 scends the means which we can command. The truth is 

 that, but for the unselfish zeal of some who devote them- 

 selves without fee or earthly reward to the arduous and 

 meritorious task, it would be absolutely impossible to 

 keep up the schools. So far, scarcely one child in ten 

 has paid for his schooling, although the charge does not 

 exceed ten shillings per annum, and I am certain that if 

 we insisted on the payment of even that trifling sum, 

 many of the scholars would leave the schools ; such is the 

 carelessness and indifference of the parents in that respect, 

 notwithstanding our oft-repeated entreaties and the sacri- 

 fices which are made in that behalf. This indifference 

 concerning the education of their children and neglect 

 of the many advantages afforded them is a standing 

 reproach which may be justly cast on our population." 



AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. 



Immediately on the banks of Eed Eiver and the 

 Assinniboine, and extending rearwards to the public road, 

 thence into the prairies beyond, the farms of the settlers 

 are laid out in narrow strips, so as to give to each a 

 small frontage on the river. 



The houses are generally built close to the edge of the 

 prairie, where it is abruptly cut by the winding channel 

 of the river, and is thought to be high enough to protect 

 them from occasional floods ; but where the boundaries 

 of the prairie retire from the present river channel, they 



