Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-31
THE PEOPLE OF CANADA.
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE rsrrLLrsrscER.

/
nay, have completed my pilgrimage through Lower
Canada, but before leaving the Province will give
you the result of my observations respecting the
people thereof. These are divided into three
classes-the descendants of the French colonists,
commonly called habitans, y the British settlers,
and the Indian tribes The habtans the most numerous
and so peculiar in their appearance and attract
the particular attention of travellers. The usually
tall and slender, of snewy build, and with dark brown
complexion the girls black eyed and disposed be beau
iul while the women are always dumpy, but good
looking Their dress is similar to that of the French peasan
try: the the oldashoned capot on their heads,
every variety of fantastic caps and hats and their feet
moccasn made of cowhide the women wear jackets
manteles which made of bright colors and their
heads either cap hat made in the gpsey fashion
Occasionally they make effort initiate the English
their dress and at such times invariably make themselves
ridiculous
AS class, they devoted principally to agriculture but
their opportunities for obtaining instruction exceedingly
limited their knowledge of the of husbany is precisely
what it was hundred years ago. They to be
y destitute of enterprise, and tread in the beaten steps Of
their fathers. Those who live in the vicinity of Montreal
and Quebec generally supply those markets with vegetables
but those who reside in the obscure parts to be
quite satisfied if they only manage raise enough off Of
their farms Tor the purpose OF carrying them through the
year. They partial to rye Bread and consider
in cooking condition until it has been soued by age and
their standard dish, which they make of on all occasions
is plain pea soup. The consequence is that the pea
ensvely cultivated You seldom find farmer who so poor
be able to sell from five fifty bushels wheat and this
article he appopates to the that people do
their money. Their plough is distinguished for its rude
ness, and their farming implements generally would be
crediable barbarous people If an individual hap
| baya fall Tho
that he might build fence with those very stones and the
consequence that he piles them immense heap the
of the field, and draws his rails distance of perhaps
miles But with all their ignorance of agriculture the
habtans sufficiently careful make their little farms
yield them all the necessaes they require particularly their
clothing and shoes, their Candles soap, and sugar There
but few professional mechanics among them and the
dwelling Of the peasant almost invariably the production Of
his individual labor Their houses distinguished for
pictorial beauty, always story high and generally neatly
whiewashed Their cattle small, and, owing their
neglect feeding and protecting hem exceedingly poor
Their horses nothing but ponies but distinguished for
their oughness The habtans partial the luxury
riding, and their vehicle is rough two-wheeled
cart, and occasionally caash
The establishment which employed for travelling in the
settled parts of Canada fair specimen Of the class the
of the horse ou feet and half high twenty dol
4
My coachman habtan, and in driving over a billy
road certain day. had fine opportunity of studying
the conflicting traits of character which distinguish the
Whenever he wanted his horse he pulled the rens
with all his might and continued utter succession of ho-
be yels. He invariably his animal up the hills and
deliberately cafed him do,n. When angry at his unof
tending beast he showered upon his head variety of oahs
which might be translated follows internal hog, black
toad and heLSh dog and yet, when the animal about
to drop the ground from fatigue and heat he would
him, and do every thing in his power to restore the animal
and ease his conscience. first employed this
bring this place, and said nothing about continuing my
journey On ascertainng however, that bound further
down the st. Lawrence he volunteered his services and
employed him. although he had informed his wife that he
would positively return the night Of the day he left her.
retained him in my employ for two days, and particularly
struck with the anxiety he manifested concerning the dsap
ponment of his wife. He alluded to the improperly of his
conduct least dozen times and usually added But you
give plenty money, Gt only six dollars for taking
forty miles, and ,ciH lug something pretty far my ,c
which will make her very glad guess she won't be sorry"
asked him what it that he intended purchase and
his band, pair Of scissors with some
needless and calico dress" Who can deny that it is not
pleasant study the sunshine Of the human heart "by
which we live J"
The habtans profess the Roman Catholic religion with
much ZEAL Among them believe may be found many
thy Christians but they manifest their religious zeal in many
peculiar ways They fond social intercourse and spend
goody portion of their time in visiting each other They
reluctantly establish themselves beyond the sound of chapel
BELL and positively believe that they spend than half
Of their time in performing and horseracing The Sab
bath is their great hoyday, and always decidedly the
noisest day of the week Their general department. how
ever noensve and often highly praiseworthy They
seldom guilty of committing arocious crimes, and do Of
ten engage the personal conflicts which prevalent
the United States They treat all with Kindness and in
their language and remarkably polite. The
little girl, playing with her doll in her fathers door, would
think her conduct highly improper should she omit drop
you courtesy you passed along and the rude boy
when playing ball driving his team invariably takes off his
hat to salute the traveller.
The hattans particularly fond Of the river St Lawrence,
and their settlements extend from Montreal about wo hundred
miles with the river the north shore, and perhaps
three hundred and fifty miles the southern shore. Their
principal roads parallel with the river, about half
mile apart, and generally completely lined with rural dwell
ngs
The political opinions of the habians extremely liberal,
and not all accordance with the spirit of the Canadian
institution They hate England by nature and the advice Of
their priesthood and scrupe not to declare themselves actual
y in love with what they call the American Government.
They complain that Engishmen treat them if they