Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-11

their superior intelligence But as the Sabbath is their
most devotional well their principal gala day. It is
the best calculated to witness their excessive happ
ness by mingng with them, whether upon the roads,
crowded with vehicles and talking and laughing groups
Of yy-dressed women and children, or around the
churches where they congregate before and after morn
ing service in immense multudes. With oil their vir
tues the habtans are by means an enterprsng peo
pie, and it would to have been impossible to wean
them from the customs and habits Of their ancestors
In regard to all domestic ties and duties, the habtans
are quite as crcumspect as any class In more renned
communities Husbands and wives live In commendable
harmony and parents usually treat their children with
great kindness Early marriages common; and this
fact together with the healthfunsss Of the climate
counts for the annual increase Of the French population Of
Canada at the rate of five cent while that Of England
only increases at the rate of three per When father
dies his property is divided equally among his children
that the evils necessarily attendant upon the original
narrow shape of the farms greatly increased but the
fathers farm proper usually descends to the oldest son.
with whom the mother domciates for the rest Of her
days. But by far the most interesting and touching
tom peculiar to the ha6an is that of second arrage
called Whenever venerable couple have trod the path
Of life together for fifty years they to banquet
under their roof from every quarter Of the land all their
children and in whose presence reper
formed the ceremony that made them and wife half
century before, when the feasting and the dancing
which continue for two three nights together bespeak
most heartfelt happiness well gratitude; and at
the expiration of every five years from that period until
separated by death the aged pair continue to repeat the
ceremony Of publicly pledgng their Of fidelity and
| truth.
1t may well be imagined from the foregoing description
that our journey from Mets to this city both novel
and agreeabe but there three places which
made particular impression upon my mind and to these
will now alude. And first the parish of Rmon-
ski. 1t is populous than neighbors contains an
unusually large number Of handsome houses and small
inn, kept by Frenchman named Martin, which is first
rate in every particular, and Of made deep m
preston upon who had just escaped from the woods
Those who have taste for business would like Rimonsk
on account of its extensive saw-ms and ship-yards,
which give it thriving character but the lover Of
ry and angling could not remain quiet until he had
pored the valley Of the river Rimonsk 1t is partially
settled throughout its whole length by industrious and
happy class of small farmers and the mountains which
it in covered with thick woods and belong that
range which here boldly swoops down to the St. Law
renee and forms headland resembling the beak Of
eagle, and known by the name Of LIE Bic. But stream
for trout it is unspproachable From personal expe-
rience, however, only speak Of Of its tribua
ries which is without name and into it about
twenty miles from its mouth and runs almost enough
to the parish of Iros Po to as its southern
boundary 1t is not more than dozen miles long, and
through some four five beautiful little lakes upon
which, standing in the bow of canoe managed by
Frenchman, it my privilege to spend entire day
throwing the fly and from whose crystal waters took
taoo hundred and thirty trout Very many Of them exceed
ed two pounds in weight and it frequently the
that half dozen trout would dart after my fly at the
same instant, and, in experimenting with three flies,
caught trout with each fly. 1t the greatest days
sport that ever enjoyed and remember with pleasure
ty, feasted upon the results Of my good fortune.
The parish of Tois Psoles is another place to which
must pay my compliments in passing not much
Of its charming location and the pretty river which
gives 1t its name but because of it's chief nhabtan in
regard to and wealth. all church matters and judicial
proceedings general character and infuence-TELN TE
Tu, Esq. first became acquainted with this gentleman
while upon my last summers tour to the Saguenay river
and the Of Labrador where he has an extensive
numbering establishment whence he took me and my
party at that time to Trois Pistees and where we spent
most delightful week To revisit him and his most
compshed and excellent wife indeed of the chief
incentives to recent journey the Mes portage
But alas! we were most sadly disappointed, for our
worthy friends both absent tour; and yet we
made ourselves perfectly home in their mansion where
every attention paid to by their household 1t
would take long time to relate the story Of former
visit there. During that visit, Of the party has
since very happily expressed it, rambled rode, and
saw the lions of the parish shed for trout in lake and
brook, and came home to bounteous dinners. We had
bouneous breakfasts too and generous suppers. And
what was more most had Felix Tetu both at and
between them ALL Though full Of business, he seemed
to have leisure to be full of pleasure Between them
both he was certainly the most Industrious Of When
he slept had to guess Wake up the dead Of night
there was the light Of Felix Teu, writing letters read
ing the news get up at daybreak there again Felix
Tetu, writing letters looking at the papers When he
came in he always came with festive spirit when he
went out ne seemed to be going to bridal Breakfast
dinner supper were all festive full Of fun, speeches,
theatric gesture, anecdote and song Evenings were
merriment itself. Madame played the piano and
sieur sang or danced his noiseess hornppes, and filled
the house and the hearts of his guests with joy.
member certain CLEANS Of sunshine the meadows
OF my childhood; so shall forever remember the glow
ing smiles Of Monsieur Tetu Happy happy Felix Teu!
sparkling with the wine Of youth and blooming with its
very roses the odorous freshness Of childhood hand in
hand with the powers Of manhood, and walking gaily
down to old age howery with virtues and musical with
genial words and feelings
The river scenery opposite Trois Pstoes particularly
interesting for in the distance have view Of the
mouth OF the famous Saguenay, and in the foreground
number Of picturesque islands, The principal object of
wonderment, however, is rocky slet couple Of miles
from the Shore upon which wooden cross and with
which, to use the language of the friend already quoted
associated the following incident During the Christmas
hoydays some twelve years ago the St. Lawrence roze in
night off against Tros Ptoes the width Of six miles
In the morning. which calm and bright, this extent
OF Ice was seen to be spotted with hundreds Of seals bask
ing in the sunshine AS the could fly peo-
pie from all parts Of the parish fastened enjoy the
promised sport The seals nearest to the land first
killed and drawn off bodily slcds Those further out
were skinned on the spot where they slaughtered
In the course OF few hours the Of the
creatures became general and extended to the outer
edge OF the ice heaps of reekng hides and bubber null
hpying In every drecton pools and paths Of blood all
around-a field of carnage shocking as it novel,
But the wild excitement attending the killing of the seals
was presently to be followed by excitement Of diff
ferent kind 1t seems if the genius of the Deep Of
Tended by the eusion Of blood silently determined to
turn the sudden good fortune of the people Of Notre
Dame des Anges into deadly snare southerly wind
sprung up, which, working with the ebbng tide broke
the main field of ice from the shore and foated off
the stream This was happily discovered in time
cure, though with the loss Of large portions Of their
booty the escape OF oil except few parties Of the
ardent and adventurous who too distant be
i Of heir ngfhf III ha-