The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-09
n an Occasional Correspondent.
Tour TO Ms River RssGsouche.

4 our 70 me htUer fssfEouche.
ArHoL House,
Gloucester County. IN. B } July. 1883
Just above Campbeon, but on the Can adam side OF
the river is located the largest settlement OF Mcmac In
dams remaining in the province Of New Brunswick
The reservation which they occrpy is called Mission
Point and comprises about twelve hundred OF the
best land in the Res,igouche valley, and the owners
thereof number three hundred souls Their houses are
built OF logs covered with shingles boards, and
usually provided with chrnneys stoves, and to a lin
tied extent, with chairs and beds,eads. Fishing and
hunting the chief employmen, OF the men, although
some OF the industrious among them pick up a lit
lie money by numbering, while the take pleasure
in filling garden spot, and keeping COW. They
expert managers of the birch canoe and the al
mos, invariably employed by those who vsit the interior
of the country for business pleasure They ne.
looking race. and OF the beautiful, hav
ing remarkably small feet and bands. They devoted
followers OF the Roman Catholic church, having in the
centre OF their village quite respectable chapel, with
steeple and bell, whose patron is ST. Anne. AT the
pence of The Canadian government they supplied with
priest he speak their language and they
know nothing abou, French, the intercourse between
them is chiefly carried by means Of interpreter.
The OF this person is Sam Sucke, and aside from
being conspicuous member OF the community on &C
count OF his learning he is for being by birth
a cross between The negro and the Indian well the
chief Judge and lawyer in all legal proceedings occurring
IN village, 10
perance man, a strong wrestler, good umberman. a
capital story teller, and expert salmon fisher with
the spear But Mr. Sucke lie also Acknowledged TO be
extensively informed the subject OF The present
| don of the Indian race in New Brunswick and Lower
Canada. He says that there only two tribes
naming in this region the Mcmac and the Meic,es
numbering in all about fifteen hundred soul The former
speak dialect OF the ancient lroquos, from whom they
claim be descended, and inhahit, general thing
the sea OF III provinces while the latter speak
dialect OF The ancient Delawares, from whom they
descended and occupy reservations the interior rivers
| The colonial governments have made many efforts 10
the condition Of these people, and, besides APP
pointing commissioners 10 guard their interests, have oc-
ca,onally given them money, and granted them the
of valuable lands But upon bem matter of course
and as the titles not in the Indians the whites have
trespassed, eating down their valuable timber, and
cupyng their fertile grounds. What wonder then,
that they should still retain their idle and wandering hab.
It's, and frequently become familiar With suffering and
wretchedness 10 this however, there exceptions
and Of them occasionally enjoy little civilized
comfort Excepting when addicted TO ntemperance they
are ino6ensve and kind and Of their expert.
the mysteries Of woodcrsit really very
viceable class Of people.
Notwithstanding the fact that The two tribes OF Indians
above mentioned profess be on the mos, friendly
terms and should be in reality il is quite eviden,
the careful observer that they somewhat Jealous OF
this has hut recently occurred Business pleasure bad
brought small party of Meice Indians ftom the val
ley of The ST. John to the Resgonche, and the meeting
which took place between the vsiies and the Micmacs
WAS managed as follows The former pulled up their
canoes Just before reaching the outskirts Of Mission
poiu'. and, il happened, while in iu view OF small
party of Micmac citizens and while the latter walked
slowly forth 10 extend friendly hand. the vsers treated
Them with apparent Indifference. and simply looked
around upon the beautiful scenery. and upwards The
sky Both parties then performed circle in single file
approached few yards each other, and all took
another quiet look al the scenery and the sky. This
movement repeated three several timcs unit, the
parties had approached within speaking distance when
they mutually to halt and looked earnestly into
each others to read the intentions dc
plc,ed there Another circle performed. bu, now
only BY the vsters, and smile OF recognition
changed; another circle and kindly words spoken
another still. when there followed general and hearty
shaking OF hands. with much talking and laughing and
The climax was capped by msce aneous display in the
way OF embracing and kissing, and SO the ceremony
ended
To expatals scientifically upon The native language OF
the New Brunswick Indians is neither TO my taste nor in
my power, but as they have decidedly original method
of speaking the English language will play the par, Of
reporter and transcrbe the alive of snuff ak ing
parsonage touching his encounter with bear, which il
as follows: "One time go hnnlem moose night come
dark, rain and come fast; no axe for makum wig