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OF THE

NATIVE INDIAN POPULATION

Or

BRITISH AMERICA.

FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE: BY

CAPTAIN J. H. LEFROY, R. A.

TORONTO! PRINTED BY HUGH SCOBIE, 16, KING STREET EAST, TORONTO.

NATIVE INDIAN POPULATION

BRITISH AMERIOA.

There are probably few persons who, in the course of their reading in history, have not dwelt with peculiar interest upon the glimpses we catch through the mists of the past, of whole races of men that have vanished from the face of the earth, leaving no heirs or representatives to inherit the richer blessings of our age: of nations whose part in the great drama of human life we can never ascertain, whose sages are forgotten, whose warriors lie with “the mighty that were before Agamennon” in the obscurity of oblivion. Then we may remember “how small a part of time we share” whose interests are so momentous for eternity; and may recognize, in the force of our sympathy, in the eagerness with which we interrogate the monuments that have descended to us; in the curiosity which all their reserve cannot baffle; a testimony to the truth of the declaration of the sacred historian, that the Creator ‘hath made of one blood all the nations upon earth’; as well as the tie of relationship which unites all the descendants of our common parents, whatever their place in the stream, or their fortunes on the stage of life.

Naturalists have been able to number some half-dozen birds or animals that have become totally extinct within the period of authenti¢e history. We have lately seen what general rejoicing, the discovery of a living specimen of one previously ranked in that number (the Apteriz), has created among them. The skull, the foot, and a few rude pictures of the Dodo, have furnished ample material for a quarto volume. How many might be written on the varieties of the human race that have ceased to exist within the same period! The Dodo was perfectly common atthe Isles de Bourbon two centuries ago, it was neglected, hunt- ed down, exterminated accordingly: and the Dutch seamen who made an easy prey of whole flocks, twenty or thirty at a time, in 1602, (the Dodo, page 15,) no more suspected that we should now be ransacking all the museums of Europe for scraps to elucidate its affinities, than the first settlers of Newfoundland did that we should also be seeking in vain for one relic of its aborigines. When happy and hospitable crowds welcomed the Spaniards to the shores of Hispaniola, those cavaliers little dreamt that in three centuries or less the numerous and warlike Caribs of that Island, like the Gauchos of the Canaries, would be extinct, as completely so as the Architects of the Cyclopean remains of Italy, or the race that preceded Saxon

4 and Dane, and Celt, in the occupation of the British Isles. In half a century there will be no trace of a native race in some of the British colonies in the east. ‘The natives of Van Dieman’s Land, for example, who numbered 210 in 1835, were reduced to 88 in 1848.* It even appears doubtful, whether that most interesting of all savage races, the Maoris of New Zealand, with its wonderful force of character, and faculty for civilization, will not die out faster than it can conform to its altered condition. Like those silent yet ceaseless operations of nature, which are wearing down, while we speak, the solid matter of every moun- tain chain, and water course on the globe, and substituting the luxuriant vegetation of the tropical coral reef for the barren waste of the sea; so, slowly and imperceptibly, are the great changes effected, by which one race supersedes another in the occupation of portion after portion of the globe, bringing higher qualities, a different moral and physical organization, to work out higher destinies, and fulfil higher endsof the same controuling Providence.

These reflections have been suggested by the subject of the paper which I now propose to lay before this Society, containing the result of some enquiries I have made with a view to forming something like an authentic estimate of the number of the Indian race inhabiting the British possessions in America. A portion only, it is true, of the whole race, yet one which by reason of the great extent of those possessions, is commonly regarded as a very important one. If, as I think, it ean be shown, that number is vastly smaller than most persons would suppose, and very rapidly diminishing, under cireumstances which are nevertheless by no means unfavourable to its preservation; then it must be admitted that the prospects for the race at large are anything but encour- aging—that the time may not be far remote when posterity may be counting its last remnants, and wishing that we in our day had been more alive to the facts, and more industrious in setting up marks by which they might measure the ebbing tide, and comprehend the destiny about to be consummated.

What constitutes density of population, is a question not easy to answer, when it relates to civilized communities, so wonder- fully has Providence ordained that with fresh demands, and the heavier pressure of necessity, fresh resources should be found in nature for human sustenance; but in reference to uncivilized man, linked to nature by stronger ties, and having his .existence bound up as it were, with those of her provisions which do not greatly vary from age to age, and are not so beyond our means of estimation, it does not seem impossible to assign limits beyond which his numbers can never far extend, and within which there

* Our Antipodes by Colonel G, Mundy, 1852—Vor. IT.

5

is no reason that they should much vary, unless by the operation of external causes. However, I have no intention of attempting such an estimate here. We have evidence in the great Earthen Works of Ohio, requiring an immense number of hands for their erection, that at some period a considerable population occupied the fertile vallies of that region. We know that Agricultural pursuits prevailed among many tribes, which have since almost completely abandoned them; but with all this, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion, based on the desolating habits of Indian warfare, on the severity of the climate, and on the degraded posi- tion of the female sex, that upon the whole, the population of the middle and northern portion of the continent must, at all times, have been small in proportion to its area, and never on a par with the simplest of all natural resources, the animal life of the region. The materials for a specific estimate of their numbers at any one early period, are exceedingly scanty. The early tra- vellers dealt in round numbers to an alarming extent. “ Que dit un Canton @’ Iroquois” says de Ja Hontan, “det un douzaine milliers, dames. It s’en est trouve jusqua quatarze mille et Pon calculait ce nombre par deux mille Vieillards quatre mille Femmes, deux mille Filles, et quatre mille EHnfans.” And as there were then five such cantons or Nations, this people, if the Baron or his authorities can be trusted, counted considerably less than two centuries ago, from sixty to seventy thousand souls. Yet he gives as informants persons who had lived twenty years among them. Little reliance can be placed on the estimate—the ancient Coureurs des Bois were addicted to romancing, and the habit of perverting facts in reference to the more remote tribes they visit- ed, by way of discouraging rivalry in their lucrative trade, must have clung to them when discussing those nearer home. Equally apochryphal, I caniot but suspect, must be the 20,000 warriors whom King Oppecancanough somewhat earlier, is related to have led against the settlers in Virginia. Yet these and other similar estimates, which it would be easy to multiply, if they fail to fur- nish a numerical basis for comparison, convey a general idea of populousness which, as compared with what is known to our times, would justify anything that can be said as to the decline of the race. “There are abundant proofs,” says Catlin, “in the History of the country, to which I need not at this time more particularly refer, to show that the very numerous and respecta- ble part of the human family, which occupied the different parts of North America, at the time of its first settlement by Anglo Americans, contained more than fourteen millions, who have been reduced since that time, and undoubtedly in consequence of, that settlement, tosomething less than. two millions.” (Catlin IT,

wb

6

p- 288.) In the elaborate alphabetical enumeration of Indian tribes and Nations, upward of 400 in number, prefixed to Drake’s well-known Book of the Indians: 10th Edit. 1848,.—we find the estimated numbers of a large proportion of them stated, but being of a great variety of dates, and the data probably of very varia- ble authority, no general estimate can be based on it, without an analysis much more laborious, than the result is likely to be accurate.

In the course of a couple of summers spent a few years ago in the Hudson’s Bay territory, I took pains to arrive at an estimate of the actual numbers of Indians inhabiting that country, by enquiries among the resident traders, and by procuring when- ever possible, a specific statement of the number of hunters fre- queuting each Post, the number of young unmarried men, and an estimate of their families, The two first were, no doubt, ascertained very correctly, as far as the enquiry went; the last does not admit of much doubt. With respect to the districts which I visited but from which I did not procure these data, it is not difficult to base a tolerable approximation on the informa- tion derived from observation and inquiry, and in respect to those which I did not visit, which however form but a small part of the territory, I am guided in the estimate by the facts that where there are no trading posts, there are no Indians, and that where there are trading posts, all the Indians of the district frequent them, habit having rendered the articles of European trade es- sential to their existence; consequently we may infer the num- ber frequenting any given post, pretty nearly, when the scale of the establishment is known. There are, perhaps, a few exceptions to this remark in the district of Mackenzie’s River, where our intercourse with many tribes is of recent origin; but it is true aimost everywhere else. Whenever a conjectural addition was made, by well-informed persons, on the spot, to the more precise numbers, it has been included in the following enumeration.

The British territory in relation to its native population, may. ‘ be divided into four regions. irst—-The region west of the Rocky Mountains, and north of the parallel of 49.9. Second, ' —The region east of the Rocky Mountains, but north of the par- allel of 55 ° ; the whole of which is inhabited by tribes of a com- mon origin, and grouped by Ethnologists under the generic designation of “Tinné.” Third—The region from the parallel of 55° to 49°, occupied partly by tribes of what is called the Eythinyuwuk or Algonquin stock, and partly by tribes of an intrusive race kindred to the Iroquois or Five Nations. Lastly, ~—the British.Colonies. : -

7

Bepinniny with the Second of these subdivisions, .we have» North of Latitude 55° : Bo

™ "str — Men. | ‘Total,

eomvedaanlcic deta

(1) Exquimaux—ZJnu-it not included- - + - - (Unknolwn.

£3) Loucheux—Kudohin + 7 nen ee aoe oo

On the Youcon and Tributarics,— os _™ Richardson, Artez-Kutchi - - - | 100

“ 234, Tehue ----+-- 100

“ n the! qathzey meee 230

«authority of Kutchcha - - - - - 90

“ Mr. Murray Zi-Unka - - - - - 20

ue Tanna -+-+--+- | 100

“ 1850, Teytsé ------ 100

“ Vanta -+--+-- 80

“ Neyetsé +-+--- 40

(3.) Dogribs, Hares, Chipewyans, &¢. Tinné,

ort Good Hope, Lowland Indians ~ - - - | 28 | 150 “« Rapid Indians - - « + jl 55 Fort Normon Dasha-Dinne, Dog-rib, Hare - | 140 | 600

Fort Simpson—Hares * + = = - - - - | 107

“ Do. Jrregular « + - - = | 320

“ Dogerib «+ - ~ = - = « 10

“ Do. Trregular- « - - «+ 50

“ Nahanies - = * « « « ~ 2 Do.Irregular +=. - - + - 4 |2400

Fort Liard*—Hay River Inaians, (Hares) - 20

“ Beaver or Chipewyan - - - | 30

“ Slavesor Hares - - - + - 10

Dunvegan Beaver Indians - - - - - - 87

“ Seceanies - - - -~ - » = | 4 Chipewyans- - - - » - - ---.- 12 | 350

Unenumerated Chipewyan Stations - - -

Churchill - - 5 - . ~ - - - - - | 100 | 400 Isle a la Crosset - - ~ - - 1110 | 660

Dogrib and Martin’s Lake Indians,said hy Mr. Isbester, not to be decreasing in numbers. | 150 | 600 7575 en ns ee Sica

*Franklin gave, in 1820, 685 hunters. t Franklin rated them at 200 men and boys. Lo

*

8

The foregoing enumeration, although it embraces a large extent of country, does not bring us into contact with the more numer ous tribes, which are to be found only on the plains, where count- less herds of Buffalo furnish ample means of subsistence. With- out going into any nicety of classification, founded upon affinities of race, upon whieh subject Dr. Latham and Sir John Richard- son, (Arctic Expedition,) have given much information, the tribes are referred to here by the designations they commonly bear among the traders. Mr. Harriet, then, a gentleman who had passed his life among them, estimated the six or seven tribes going by the general name of Blackfeet, as mustering 1,600 to 1,700 tents, at 8 per tent, 13,200.

Mr. Rowand, one of the oldest resident traders, gives them thus :—-Sir John Franklin’s estimate in 1820, is added—

Franklin, 1820.

Blackfeet, proper.....------.----- 300 350

Pe-a-gans ....-.0----- 22-2 ane 400 400

Blood Indians......--..-.-----.- 250 300

Gros Ventre’s, or Fall Indians.__....400 500

Circees .-..-2------ ee enneee 45 150 9

Small voles. { Mountein tribes} 359

1645 at 8 p.t. 13,160 Mr. Shaw allowed to the Blackfeet, only..-...--.-.. 12,000 Considering that these are perfectly independent estimates, they agree remarkably, and we may take by their mean— The Blackfeet tribes.......-....----..--- 12,900 We have next the Assiniboines, a tribe of the Sioux, and said to be of the Iroquois stock: they are distinguished into those fre- quenting the woods, and those frequenting the plains, or Strong- wood and Plain Assiniboines:— Mr. Harriet, in 1842, gave Strongwood.... 80 tents.

Mr. Rowand gave Plain Aissiniboines-_--. - 300 3,200

Mr. Shaw gave, both together_.._._.--- . 4,000

Giving for Assiniboines......------ 3,600 For the Strongwood Crees about Edmonton, rents,

Mr. Rowand gave.-._..-------------- 100___.4,000 t Other Crees of the plains..-.-.-.---.---- 200._-.2,000 Mr. Shaw.gave.._..------------------ eee eee 4,000 ve Crees... 0 ee eee ene eee 3,500 (4.) Ojibbways, or Chippewas of the Saskat- :

chawan—Mr. Rowand..._......------ 20...-- 200

9

I. The aggregate, then, of the tribes inhabiting the Plains, in the British Territory, by competent authorities was, in 1843, not more than 23,400. Catlin’s estimate for the same tribes, is 35,000; but I found that all his numbers were regarded by better authorities (for Mr. Catlin did not visit the region here in question,) as too high.

II. We have next the various divisions of that widely dif- fused race, the Hythinyuwuk or Crees, which form the population of the wooded country east of the Great Plains, and south of the Churchill River, extending however in some instances on to the one, and north of the other. The Crees of the Plains we have already counted. There are a few Crees trading at Fort Chipe- wyan, at Isle a la Crosse, and at Lesser Slave Lake.

Families. Souls,

At Fort Chipewyan..--..---.------ 26 140 “ Lesser Slave Lake.....---------- 83 341la “ Tsle ala Crosse, and Green Lake... 100 600 “ Cumberland House. .-.---------- 300* “ The Pas, or Basquau....--.------ 150* “ Norway House..--.------.----- 300* “ Oxford House._.......--------- 100* “ York Factory...-..------------ 200* “ Beren’s River,.._..-.-.--------- 100* “ Red River dependencies. -_..----- 2000* « Albany River, Martin’s Falls... ._.-- 500* “ Moose Factory and outposts. -_. --~- 500* “ Lake Tamiscamirg..-..--------- 200*

5431

To this division belong the Chippewas or Ojibwas, Saulteurs and Tetes de Boule of Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and their tributary waters. It was ascertained by the Honourable W. B. Robinson, Indian Commissioner in 1851, that the Indians on the north side of Lake Superior, from the Sault St. Mary to Pigeon River, and inland as far as the possessions of the Hudson’s Bay Company, forming 6 bands, or sub-divisions, were in all 1102 souls; and that the Indians on the north side of Lake Huron, from the Sault to French River, forming 17 bands, amounted to 1,422 souls, giving a total of 2,521. The bands were found to

(a) About one-third half-breeds, * Estimates only. Al.

10

vary: much in number, some comprising no more than 15, some as-‘Imany as 241 souls. We have then— .

SOULS.

Brought forward......--.------------------ 5431 At Fort Alexander—Lake Winnipeg... -.-.---- 200* “ Rat Portage—Lake of the Woods........--- 120* “ Fort Francis—Rainy Lake....-.-.--..---- 400* “ Lake Superior as above....-...--.-------- 1,102 “ Lake Huron as above......--..-------.---- 1,422 8,675

With respect to the Indians in Canada proper, it is stated, in a very interesting Report concerning them, (Journals of House of Assembly, 1844-5, Appendix 2,) that the earliest document received by the Government, which contains any detailed statement relative to the tribes, is one prepared by Major-General Darling, Military Secretary to Lord Dalhousie, in 1828. The total number of Indians who then came under the observation, and within the influence of the Government, in both Provinces, did not exceed 18,000. Iam indebted to Col. 8.P. Jarvis, late Indian Superintendent, for the following authentic returns of their more recent numbers. In 1885, the number of resident Indians receiving presents, as they are improperly called, being rather annuities or rent charges upon the soil of Upper Canada, was stated as follows :—

TABLE I.

Troquois, or Six Nation Indians, 15. | 15. RS including the Mohawks on the-———_———_|_——--—— Bay of Quint..--.--- ---- 598) 727 | 5438 545'2413

Hurons, or Wyandots.-..----- 25, 25 | 10) 18 78

Chippewas._._.-_.--------- 2} 414) 488 | 818) 27611441

Chippewas, called Mississaugas..) 208} 246 | 157) 125) 736 Munsees, Delaware, or Lenne-le-

nape ...---.-------------- 44 51 36] 26) 158 Moravian Indians.......-----| 78 79 | 55) 44) 256

i ee |,

1397| 1566 [1114/1035'5082

The following Table contains a statement in detail of the Indians in Upper Canada in 1838, compiled from a return made in answer to enquiries of the Secretary of State for the Colonies

11

(Lord Glenelg.) The corresponding numbers in 1844 and 1846, where they are given under the same denomination, are added from the returns of the Indian Department.

TABLE II.

Indians of Upper Canada. The details are from the very complete returns of 1838, unless otherwise stated; and where corresponding totals are not given for the years 1844 and 1846, zt arises from a more general form having been adopted in those years.

1St. Clair Rapids-++-+-++++| 113) 124) 84) 6&5 QWalpole Island or Chenail Ecarté.,seeeeerseveees| 47) 60; 28 39 3/R. aux Sables Lake Huion.| 11) 6) 4 10) 2 4|Up.8t.Clair from Saginong.) 80; 92} 68) 52} 312 The same in 1844,+++++++) 218) 234) 159] 130; “ | 7411 684

. a. 5lAmhersthurgsesesseeeeee) 28) 32) 25) 15] 106 494 6|Delaware, River Thames:| 121) 120) ‘79 57| 37 438 Manitoulin Island L. Huron| 64! 61/ 25) 38} 188 Sa,

The same in 1846+¢+++++e+) 284) 330} 229) 2551 * 7 8|LaCloche & Mississaugeen.| 69} 77) 59} 20) 225 se 9|St.Joseph’s Island L.Huron| 23) 26) 17} 24

10 Sault Ste. Marie» eorerers 24. 36 19 20 11|East Shore of Lake Huron. 68] 59) 49) 26) 203 12)0wen’s Sound, in 1846...; 42) 54; 20| 20) « 13\Saugeen, Lake Huron+++-| 55, 57] 55; 51} 218 14/Yellowhead’s Tribe, Rama| 83) 103; 35) 21) 245 15|\John Aisence’s Tribe, do..| 54! 74) 36! 20! 184 16|Lake Nipissing+++++e++++) 18) 16) 10) 15

; MISSISSAUGAS. | 17|River Credit, L. Ontario...| 68) 77| 52 43] 240 ¢

18|Rice Lake+e++ «+ s+eee+| 35| 47| 28 25] 135] 145] 151 19,Mud Lake: Balsam Lake..| 45, 52) 35 27| 159 194 20;\Alnwick; on Rice Lake, |

from Grape Island..++++; 63) Tl} 45, 35) 214 218 21/Bedford,near Kingston 18461 26, 24; 10, 19] « 79

IROQUOIS orn 6 NATIONS On the Grand River.

22;\Mohawks, Upper-+e+e+++| 81; 105) 87, 90) 363 406 231 «6 Lower+e+++ ++} 67, 72 60, 61) 260 336 24) ** fromthe Bay of Quinté) 19} 24) 23 25 88 25| ‘* onthe Bay of Quinté.| 87} 74) 77 99) 337 415

26\Oneidas, Joseph’se++-+e++| 161 19 5 17 57 42] 42 (a) Potawatomies and Ottawas are here incl. ¢ 2d.

12

TABLE IJ.—(Continued. 1838. 18441846

DENOMINATION. Wo-; Under 15. % Men|men B’ys|Girls|Tot. |Tot. |Tot.

NS | ney! eS tenemos | sommes | ewsecvmnems ee | eee

97/Onondagas, Clear Sky++++| 51] 68, 36) 25] 178) 219] 225 28 66 Bear or Barefoot. 17) 28 11| 12) 681 64) 56 29|/Senecas, Nekarontasas..--| 8! 13) 11) 10) 42} -55| ‘70 30 “ Kaghneghtasas.| 13, 18) 13] 10| 54| 52) 43 B1Cayugas, Upper..r+++ee+] 45, 81) 23) 25) 124) 124) 117 gq}

3 Lowere ee esees 105 97; 48} 69) 319) 287} 311 33\Tusvarorageceeeeveeesese| 38 55) 30; 39) 162) 192} 202 34|Aughquagas, Joseph’s....] 13; 22) 18] 17 70) 821 67 35 6 Peter Green++; 23, 22, 20; 22} 87| 75] 68

36lTutulies or Tutiloess+++++| 15 17 6 9 47% 40; 32 37|Minor denominations.»«>++| 12 28) 2 , - OTHER TRIBES. | 38/Ottawas, Manitoulin Island] 26 22

39\Hurons or Wyandots-++--| 34 21| 13) 17 85) 88 40|Munsees or Delawares.-.. Qq 2 1 1 6 gal « 41} ** on River Thames.| 64| 74; 55) 49 242) 242! 157 42| * on Grand River...) 42 54 18} 26 140/127] 122 43'Potawatomies, at Saugeen.| 55) 57) 55) 51 218) “| &§ 44, “ S§t.Clair Rapids, 1844| 141] 170, 101) 94 * | 507| “ 45| “ Upper St.Clair, 1646.) 27, 33) 21) 14 “| “| 95 |Shawanoes, at Amherstb’g} 2) 4) “| gl se | 46|Moravian Indians, River 41 Thames eovenesenereee 4] 42 99 31 143 143 187

The total numbers, as they appear at the foot of the above Returns, exclusive of what are termed visiting Indians, most, or all of whom, come from regions beyond Lake Superior, and, if British Indians, are included elsewhere—are as follows :—

TABLE.

ee rrr

1838, 1844/1846 1847

$$ |_| |_|

Deserving Chiefs: escaseccvecscnvvsccnees 52 31 29 Warlidrs. eereececeaseccssccrenesesscees 38 38 5l Wome ..cecces ccccce seccesesceresss tes 62 4l Al Ordinary Chiefs.++ceeeseeceeee ereeteene 134 162 178 Warsriors .e 20 0 eeeeecnsessasons eeveeoee 0 17121974'!2207 Women .cececrercesvvccescvceseceseseces 91231 2599 Boys 10 to 15 VEATS..eeecereccsscreserdes 422 492 573

5to 9 ee @eaavetaesentoeaeaeteoeage 430 475 595: 1to4 esate eereenes en eeene 553 433 690 Girls 10 to 14 yearssoe+ eccceee eerecvcecen 310 42] 455 5 to 9 iT4 peseonseeeeeeennesenece 449 444 567

lto4 ° 6c Peeeeeanesroessecsernens 497 481 173

ee ee ee

Totalseeces @eeneee secon eeeenteen . 16643'687418756'8862 -~ (b) Two bands called the old and the new, or Young Nanticokes, are included in these ; they numbered 29 and 17 sculs, respectively, in 1844,

LETTS DASE NP APTA Set SPARS GIA AR TELE Ly wg ERAS SE ar EMO te TIS

13

The Chiefs and Warriors in the first class, are those who serv- ed in the last war. The numbers in 1847 are taken from the Quebec Gazette. The apparent increase in 1846 is due to the permanent settlement of many Indians within the Province, previously residing beyond its limits, and was occasioned, as is well known, by the objection made on the part of the United States to our continuing to supply arms and ammunition to friend- ly natives belonging to their territory, the details. of the table however, when they are comparable, give satisfactory grounds for supposing that as regards the small portion of the Indian race inhabiting Canada, the worst is over. ‘They appear to be slight- ly on the increase, and are at the same time acquiring to some extent, the habits of civilized life.*

The following Table, of the number of Indians in Lower Can- ada, is taken from the Report presented to the Legislative Assembly, 1845, (Journal 1844—5—-App. 2) to which reference has been made before :-—

__ Boys. Girls. . Wo-|15/ 9 |un-/15) 9 un- DENOMINATION. (Men/men| to | to [der|:to | to (der |Tot.

10; 5 {5 /10) 5| 5

Iroquois, Caughnawaga-«) 266] 306 sy 67| 72| 53] 66| 64] 955 33) 35

St. Regis, L. St. 35] 33; 17] 33) 54) 450 Mountains..e++see; 87 103 it ee near Three Rivers.}| 25] 34 10; 3) 3 92

Franciseeeesccees| 118] 127 6c Lake of Two . 19) 24! 22) 21; 23) 316 Algonquins, Lake of Two | . - Mountainseesee+} 95) 116] 23; 20) 19) 29] 26 332 5} 9

Nipissings, Lake of Two Mountains ..esseeesees! 75, 85] 23) 15] 12) 1'7| 29, 7 263 Abenaquais, St. Francis«+/ 100] 111} 14) 27} 32) 14] 26] 26) 353 6° —s Becanc@ure+| 24, 33) 7 5) 3 2 7 2 84 Hurons or Wyandots, la Jeune Lorette.s+eesese, 64; 55) 8 6) 11; 16] 13; 16) 189 Tetes de Boule, St. Mau- TICE.,eeese sevccoseee} BI; 22) 1 10; 8| 6 6 3 86 Micmacs, Abenequois, and Amaleites, of uncertain residence,esecscescees| 65] 66) 11) 7 3] 28] 180

* The fact that the Mohawk Chief, John Brant, was once elected member of the House of Assembly, although he lost his seat for want of sufficient freehold property, deserves to be remembered.

B

14

It is to be regretted that the Lower Canadian returns do: not distinguish the Lroquois according to the distinct nations of that once powerful confederacy. It will be observed, however, that the above numbers, combined with those of the Upper Canada return for 1846, make the number of chiefs and warriors still to amount to 1,220, and the total number to 4,801*. That their ancient loyalty to the British Crown is unabated, was shown by many incidents of the Canada rebellion, and by the language of their chiefs on the very interesting occasion of the meeting to restore General Brock’s Monument in 1841. There is no native race entitled to claim, on so many grounds, the interest and res- pect of British inhabitants of Canada.

_ The following numbers of Indians in the several Counties, taken from the Census Returns of 1852, are added, to bring down the information on that subject to the latest date. It is evident, however, that the enumerators in Upper Canada did not always distinguish them from the rest of the population. There are, for example, none returned for the Counties of Lambton and Essex, on the St. Clair,—thus the total is far below the truth— but the list appears to be complete for Lower Canada.

UPPER CANADA. LOWER CANADA. 1852. 1852. Brant ......----.----- 1758/Beauharnois .._...----- 754 Carleton......---.---- 20|Bonaventure, ...-..--~- 451 Dundas --.-.-.------- 54,/Champlain _._...-.---. 31 Grey ....- eee ween ee 374|Drummond ._..-.-_--- 27 Grenville -....--.-.--- 48|Huntingdon ......-.-.- 1259 - Haldimand_.........--. 310/Kamouraska._.....__.- 55 Kent.......--.-.----- 259|L’Islet -- 2 2 21 Northumberland. ..._-. - 222/Megantic __..-..-.-.-.- 14 Peel ..-.-.-----..---- 12|Montmorency --.-..----- 26 Perth .......----..--- 8 Ottawa__.--- 2 ele 5 Portneuf...-..--.-.... 12 Quebec. __....2.--. eee 218 Rimouski .._.....2-.-- 103 Saguenay -.-...------- 663 Terrebonne_....--..-.-- ll Two Mountaims._.._..-- 408 38065 4058

*The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinté are included, but the Delaware of the Thames are excluded, as never belonging to the Six Nations although at‘present associated with them in all the returns of the Indian Department.

Td

‘Tho number of Indians on the lower St. Lawrence, frequent- ing the King’s posts of the Hudson’s Bay Company, is not known, but must be insignificant. I believe this to be also the case of the Indians in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but have no access, at present, to authentic returns.

We have still to consider the population west of the Rocky Mountains, in New Caledonia.

In 1820 Harmon, who had lived long among them, stated that the number, of all ages, did not exceed 5,000; they have diminished since with fearful rapidity, probably faster in that quarter than in any other. Mr. McGillivray, in Ross Cox’s Travels, of somewhat earlier date, makes the tribes inhabiting the country about Frazer’s River, the most populous part of the eountry, to number no more than 1,012 souls, including tho Chilcotins, Naskotins, Tolkotins, and Atnahs—four tribes. Com- modore Wilkes in 1840, upon a very careful survey, and doubt- less upon much more complete and authentic data, than either of the others, makes the total population of Oregon and New Caledonia together, amount to 19,354 souls, about two-thirds of what M. Duflot de Mofras estimates for Oregon alone. So that ‘on the whole, I consider that 2,000 for the interior of New Cale- donia, (Oregon no longer being British territory,) is an ample allowance.

We have also to include the large Islands of Quadra or Van- couver’s, and Queen Charlotte, together with the seaboard of that region. The population of the former has been estimated at from 10,000 to 20,000, and that of the latter at from 7,000 to 10,008.

By the kindness of Mr. Kane, whose labours as an artist in the . least. kfiown parts of this continent, have yet to be fully appreci- ated, I am enabled to present an abstract of a very full census of Indian tribes inhabiting the north-west coast, which he procured in 1847. Ifit can claim anything like the general accuracy and fidelity of his pictures of Indian life, we need not hesitate to adopt it. (See Table LIL, next page.)

I confess that I was not prepared for the comparative density of population evinced by this table: it makes, in fact, the north- west coast the great céntre of the Indian race at the present day ; and the very detail of the returns from which it has been com- piled, almost provokes a doubt of their accuracy. Mr. Kane had them however from the highest authorities—and his own obser- vation confirms the general fact. I adopt the result therefore as

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entitled to confidence—and it gives for the Indians inhabiting the north-west cost of America, including, however, in part, the Rus- sian Territory, of which the Hudson’s Bay Company has at pre- sent the partial occupation, for trading purposes—a total of no less than 63,840.

TABLE III. a ADULTS, CHILDREN, 4 FA Common Desienation;= — 7. |] s AMONG THE TRADERS. || Men. |Wo’en| Boys. | Girls. | @ | *Nass Indians........ 4) 543) 438| 314 308, 12| 32

Chimseyans ++ +++++/10} '737| (778) 465) 466; 68) 257

Skeena Indians......| 2 131] 72) 64) 59 | 30 Sabassas ..........- 5} 86 474. 407; 243) 194] 111 TMilbankSou :1cdns/ 9| 1007 961 394, 462) 47) 122 tChileat,&c.......... 7 «1249 961 469| 418] 479 §Stekene Indians.....| 8| 562) 410} 240) 190] 144} 59 *Port Stuart,......... 3 180 185 14] 157| 15) 37 IKygarey ......... 6| 431) 454) 414) 436 Il] *QueenCharlotte Sound] 6; 1029} 1035} 962! 1003 257 fAbout QueenCharlotte

Sound .......-.... 25: %370| S890} 9949) 11491]14'72) '735

Cape Scott and vicinity} 4) 730) 875) 1290} 1290] 210) 74

eee ewatee womeneateces | qmpreencceaes | Sones |e | SS

* Trade at Fort Simpson, Vancouver’s Island, and generally reside in its vicinity.

{ Trade at Fort McLaughlin.

} Trade at Sitka, Stikene and Tacca.

§ Trade generally at Sukene, but frequently visit Fort Simpson.

* Trade generally at Fort Simpson.

|| Frequent Fort Simpson, Stikene, Zacea and Sitka.

* Frequent Fort Simpson.

} Frequent Fort McLaughlin.

We may now proceed to reckon up the result, not forgetting that the region under discussion is equal in extent to nearly one-twentieth part of the habitable surface of the globe, and has been generally looked upon as the asylum and stronghold of the race of North American Indians. Excluding the Esquimaux, whose numbers, notwithstanding the great extent of sea-line they occupy, cannot be large—probably not more than two or three thousand, we have the following enumeration :—

Chipewyan tribes—namely, Chipewyans proper, Dog- ribs, Hare or Slave Indians, Yellow Knives, Beaver

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Indians, Da-ha-dinnies, and Carriers............ 7,575 Northern Indians of the Kutchin stock........--... 6,028 Ethiny-u-wuk, Indians of the Plains............--. 23,400 Chipeways and Crees, exclusive of the above.._..... 8,675 Indians of the Seaboard and Islands of the Pacific.... 63,840 Indians of New Caledonia—lInterior.............. 2,000 Indians of Canada_....--. 20-22 ..---- een nen 13,000

Grand Total.........--.---......-~124,518

Or to drop the appearance of precision conveyed by the broken numbers, 125,000, being barely double the number at which de la Hontan estimated the six Nations of the Iroquois alone, in 1690.

I am conscious that this number, for the gross population of so large a portion of the whole Continent, may appear almost incredibly small. In going over carefully and re-considering the de- tails, I do not believe them to be, upon the whole, under estimated ; ‘ no important region of the British territory appears to be omit- ted. Itis presented, therefore, as an approximation, which may at least serve to direct further attention to the subject. It is, of.course, to be taken as representing only a portion of the race. I have no means of estimating the native population of Russian America, and we have not considered the native population of the United States, Texas, Mexico and Oregon. The first of these was estimated in 1835 at 380,000, which, however, I take to be toohigh. Mr. Cuthbertson, a naturalist travelling for the Smith- sonian Institution at Washington, gives the following -for the probable number of Indians on the Upper Missouri, and its tri- butaries, in 1850. (Fifth Annual Report of Board of Regents 1851.) ;

Sioux... .-----------.-------------- 30,000 Cheyene ..-..--------.-------------- 3,000 Ariccareé....-.- +22 eee ene eee eee nee 1,500 Mandan.....-..-.-..-.-2------4---4- 150 Gros Ventres.. ....----..------------ 700 Assiniboine -.....-2-.-.22-.---------. 4,800 O70) 4,800 Blackfoot _........--.-----.-.~---~----- 9,000

Total ..........-.-.-..------- 54,550

Among whom, appear to be included, some of those frequenting the British trading posts, and previously reckoned. It is scarcely possible that the Indians of the Lower Missouri, Texas and Mexico, can make up even an approximation to the 380,000 of

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the Baptist Committee. (Religion in America, p. 56.). Putting the whole together, it would scarcely seem that the: present ageregate can be placed so high as 250,000, instead of the two millions of Catlin. . , ae

t '

To this remnant, then, has been reduced a race supposed to have numbered from ten to twenty millions, not more than three centuries ago. “ War, death or sickness hath laid siege to it,” and is still laying seige at a rate in no degree less rapid than at any former period. Not to mention the cruel destruction effected by the American fur traders and trappers in the South; by utter lawlessness and wanton disregard of humanity; by Florida wavs and wholesale deportations; we find that even in regions where the more obviously depopulating agencies have been held in great restraint, the process goes on. ‘The Indians themselves are fully aware of it, and fully conscious also that the: whites cannot always be directly charged ‘with it. ‘Sir John Richardson ‘has given us a curious mythological ‘tradition which serves to ac- count for it to the Kutchin (p. 239.) A triend of mine, who conferred on the subject with a sage old native of New Caledo- nia, found that his only theory was that the white men’s tobacco poisoned them. The white’s fire water in this case, and-through- out the Hudson’s Bay Territory, is happily guiltless, for none enters the country.* Ifwe charge it, in the case of the Carrier; to the unbounded licentiousness which prevails among thein, ‘we ‘have to account for the same causes not having had the same effect at earlier periods; for, with the sole exception of the In- dians of Virginia, boundless licentiousness: appears to have been the rule among the natives on our first’ acquaintance with them. The travels of Lewis and Clerk beyond: the Mississippi, only half a century ago, fully corroborate the accounts of all travellers “of the seventeenth century in Canada and the more Eastern regions, in respect to this “characteristic.

Doubtless, some causes can be assigned which tend to reduce the physical stamina of the race—such as the substitution of in- ferior European clothing for their native robes of fur; the use of stimulants, tobacco almost universally, alcohol partially; the gradual loss of native arts and appliances, without the acquire- ment of anything better; the introduction of new forms of dis- ease; a marked deterioration in their dwellings, from the skins

* T cannot avoid referring Temperance advocates to the amusing Essay, “Sur ? Yvrognerie des Sauvages,”’ in the Histoire de Peau-de- vie en Canada, 1705 ; re-printed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. It is well.to know that, i n'y a qu'une mesure @yuresse gwils appellent Ganontiouaratonseri, c’est a dire; Yurognerie pleing f°.

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of which they were formerly made, acquiring a market value, but being exchanged for nothing so essential to their health. There are also moral causes tending to depress the race—such as the consciousness of decline; the pressure of new necessities; the hopeless sense of inferiority to the whites in many respects, which, with all their reputed pride, is a general feeling among the Indians, Lastly, we must add the influence of practices which have a frightful prevalence in certain districts. I mean the administration of potions destined sometimes to produce abortion, sometimes to cause absolute sterility, in females. Dr. Hodder, in an Essay on the Poisonous Plants of Canada, ‘read since the date of this paper, has alluded to the former as one of the secrets of the Indians in Canada, which he has not succeeded in discovering, but to which he attributes, in a very great degree, their decrease in number. Many instances of the latter were related to mein the interior—the Crees, more particularly, have a bad eminence as medicine men, which, shews a general dispo- sition among them to these unnatural arts. In fact they are stated to be among the commonest resources of jealousy and re- venge. However, some of these causes have not been found to check the reproductiveness of other races; and it may be doubted whether any or all of them are adequate to explain the broad fact, the final solution of which can probably be found only in the supposition of a design of Providence to make way for one race by removing the other.

aan enema mata nanan en een Te HUGH SCOBIE, PRINTER, KING STREET, TORONTG.