New-York tribune., 1870-02-05
THE CANADIAN-REPORT, OF L. S, consul
BlAKE

THE CANADIAN-REPORT OF L. ), CONSUL
BLAKE.
The following is a synopsis of the report of
Mr. +. n. Blake, u. 8 Consul at Hamilton Ontario sub
milted the Secretary OF State. The introduction to
this report printed exclusively in THE TRIBUNE a
week ago;
THE SIX NATIONS
The SIX Nations of the Grand River" are the most
important division of Canadian Indians. and made up
of portions of the Mohawks, Seneca Cayugas Ononda-
and Oneidas who formerly inhabited Central New
York, and Of the Tuscaroras. who Of the same
stock and migrated at early period North Carolina
and when driven from that rejoned their former
associates in Canada. Their total number is now 2!9b
Great Britain. AZ the close of the Revolutionary war
made no stipulation IN behalf OF her lhdan anes, anu
the country of these tribes included IN the D9unuh
res Of the United States by treaty but official pledges
had been given TO restore them to the conatloh III
they before the Capt Brant, the ceIeOaleu
Mohawk Chief, on behalf OF his tribe rejected now
ever, proposals To live IN the OniteG oiatoe t au
obtained from the CJmmanderD- Chief in Canada grant
of land the lower end OF Lake Ontario Dut aier
ward changed IT for more adTantageos @ put t on t ~
Grand River flowing INTO Lake Erie formal grant Oh
the land bordering this river within six miles OF either
side was given the Moawks and others OF the nations
who desired to share the privilege, aud the pGy o new
York State, which was uufavoraOe TO the ihdIhs teneH
to drive them 10 their new nome in W.
the recommendation Of Brant large tract $4,000 acres
ont the reservation, sold for t4O 10 esta1sh
fund for the benefit Of the Indians ana since
that sale others have been made, reducing the eserV
is now that of moderately welllo-uo agricultural
people. Some Of them are very good farmers ana III
general they have made appreciate progress whh the
last few years. and the whole, IN comfortable ad
Independent circumstances, and the taste Tor "hu
hunting life Is now almost extinct. . 49,
Among them may now he found carpenters, shoe
makers taiors and backSmiihs, and in addition mum
bes have developed talent for trading ana barter III
horses, cattle. and merchandise. There are about
dozen examples at present Of nternaIrlase between
agricultural fair. which was particularly noticeable III
lis cattle department. and altogether quite creutaoe 10
About mile from the town Of Braptford is the Prin
cpal school OF the Nation" established by the New
is "A
suated on farm OF 300 The attendance lncluu
in ho,b sexes was 81 last year Children under
wears were not admitted and the was that OF
plain English cduCatOn though IN cases OF lncHndtl"
I'D aiji,rv nroyision is made for higher grades OF
study The boys receive practical instruction III farming
from the resident farmer ana IL would 9e dtsirsDe 10
superadd instruction in horticulture and lrutrlslng
Tie girls are. addition to the ordinary branches OF
education instructed household work of the estab
lishment including spinning. and sewing by hand aud
machine The children boarded in the school, as 1t
was found impossible TO secure sunhciehty regular
attendance otherwise.
The New.England Society maintains other
schools among the six Nations beside two in other parts
of Ontario This Society has had an existence of between
two and three centuries England, aud its charter
states the purpose Of the Society as the propagation OF
the gospel among the heather nations III or near New
England and the parts adjacent in America Not far
from the chief school established by this company rises
inee of Ontario. 1t built by Brant and his com
pauions, who brought with them from the Mohawk
Valley large Bible and silver set OF cOmnuh0nlate
presented by Queen Anne, and cherished as an invau
The Councilhouse of the Six Nations is and oom
modiOus building. II miles from Brantford. The chiefs
who assemble there appear quite as wen IN ali respects
as the asSemblage In an ordinary town meeting IN gOod
agricultural region On occasions OF special Importance
Mr.. GIbuson, the Visiting superintendent presldes
The number of chiefs attendant Is generally ABOUT sixty
and their discussions held in the language of the Six
Nations but able Interpreter oicated when neces-
sary. IL is in the parliamentary bodies oil the most
highly civilized meeting rarely that the huency and ease
OF these Indians in speechmakug is attained About 600
cling 10 the Great Spirit and the traditions handed
down from time immemOrial. The others who profess
Christianity are chiefly EpiscopaiianS MethodistS ana
Baptists.
THE IRooUoIs IND;ANs-THE wYANDOTEs.
Outside Of Confederacy, and in Lower Canada.
three settlements of the Iroquos indansat st. Regis ST.
LOUIS, and the Two Mountains They are Roman Catho-
lies. and well advanced in the arts Of civilization.
The Wyandoies or Hurons Of kindred origin with
the Iroquols and a iourshng agricultural tribe,
holding the territory about Lake smcoe and south of the
Georgian Bay but they and the Eres and other tribes,
through the of the IroquOs and internal dssen
sons, were almost e1erminated ana their territory,
from the Huron 10 tie Erie became silent waste In
this large portion OF Canada became denuded OF
Indians and the hatred and warfare resulting ordinarily
from the approach Of whites 10 Indian settlements were
thus in great measure escaped This taken IN connec-
ZION with the friendly migration OF the Nations has
done much, doubtless TO encourage the British Govern
ment the humane policy TO the Indians III Canada.
THE HURoNs-rHE ALGONQIUSs
OF the once powerful HurOns about GO survive in the
province Of Ontario mostly Of mixed blood and another
remnant OF about 800 in the Province Of Qnebec They
are probably the most advanced IN civilization OF all
Canadian Indians but changed through the inter
mixture Of white blood to have almost lost the char
acter OF Indians The theory of the sterty ultimate
extinction Of the mixed Indian and European races APP
pears rented in the fact that such have largely
multiplied in Canada SINCE 1874.
The A gonquins are the race of Indian
in Canada aud comprise the Chppewas the Mssssangas
Ojibways, POttawattomies. and Ottawas of Ontario,
beside half dozen lesser tribes. Many Of them are
beyond the outskirts of civilization aud live Wild life
Others III more favorable localities nave MADE advance
ment In the arts OF peaceful fe bat not to the extent
OF me other tribes m Canada AS ah indeaon however,
Of the spread OF olvzed sentiment among hein-lt is
said that the longer made the slaves they
once were but that the men do the heavy work
while the women attend to the children aud domestic
matters. The AlgOnqnlns, while more Of a nomadc
originally than the roquos or Hurons, have shown
less aptitude under favorable circumstances Tor cviza-
ton. In 1868, the number OF this race little over
increase Of about $50 since 1880 They are for
the most part pagans; and occupying more nOrtherly
districts have fewer natural inducements agriculture
than the other tribes. They live a wandering, hunting
life, and only accessible to those who would cyiize
them Spring and Autumn, when they come down TO
the lower country in $780, the Ag0nqulns surrendered
the whole extent Of their best territory with certain
reservations 10 the Canadian Government for s66iO in
cash and annuity ot s44OO The policy of the Govern
has been such that even these Indians maintain
peaceful character
all the Indian tribes Of Canada the Great Manitonn
leland in the northern part OF Lake Huron but only
few wandering tribes induced 10 accept the situa
tOn and through neglect and trading abuses they nave
Jared rather hardly Yet among the Indians
ON tins island missionaries report a marked advance
ment "a moral and religious point OF view. Under the
treated equals aud associates, and consequently when
surrounded by white civilization, they naturally became
French and Catholic in their changes and this Is true
particularly of the Indians Ia the Quebec district
The Aberaties Of ST. Francis 2G5 In number
They are Keen intelligent race aud are spoken very
highly OF by missionaries The Mc-macs numbering 49l
are small but highly civilized band OF Indians OF
nation numerically stronger in New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia. They encamp along the Lower St. Lawrence aud
are mechanically inclined, making slaves barrelhoops
baskets &C. and displaying shrewdDess III making their
bargains. ,,.. -.
The Montagnais and Nashapecs inhabt the cold and
barren regions of the lower ST. Lawrence and the
of civilization taking it, way Westward has rather left
these tribes IN the The former tribe numbers 1892
tLe latter 2sGO They Of the same stock aud little
las been done cyize them except through the efforts
of Roman Catholic missionaries and IL Is probable that
lille can be done for them unless they transported
10 more favorable CLINE. TwO.thirds OF them are
uapaus and they hunt with bows and arrows, and dress