Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-02-06
In Hudson Bay.

The houses, not more than twenty. five
or thirty in number, are so scattered as
to extend along the river bank for nearly
a mile; and being all painted white, form
conspicuous objects against their dark
background of pine woods. On step
ping ashore at the landing stage we find
ourselves at the foot of flagstaff indi.
eating the headquarters of the Hudson's
Bay company, to whom, indeed, the
whole settlement owes its existence, tho
entire resident population, except the
mission staff, being composed of their
officers and employees. Round this
center are grouped the residences of the
officer in charge and his subordinate es,
and also one or two large warehouses.
Beyond these stretch away to the right
the cottages of the company's laborers.
Every building on the island is of wood,
suitable stone not being easily procur.
able. In shape and size, however. the
dwelling houses are not unlike those of
an English country village, except that
only the larger houses have any upper
story.
Taking now path to the left, and fol-
lowing the bank, we make our way
toward the mission station--easily rec
ognized even at distance by the flag
which floats over it, bearing the letters
G. M. S., this being a station of the
Church Missionary society. On our way
thither we pass the mission church, a
modest structure of wood surmounted
with steeple, and capable of accommo-
dating about three hundred persons.
Leaving this, we soon reach the mission
buildings, which beside the school, in.
clude the residences of the bishop of
Moosonee 0his station being the head
quarters of the diocese) one European
clergyman, and native catechist. Be-
tween the bishops house and water is a
grassy slope on which the Indians erect
their tents during their stay. The resi-
dent population, the bulk of whom are
half castles, number, together with the
few Europeans and Indians, about one
hundred and fifty souls; while the Indi-
ans who visit the place during the sum.
mer are estimated at between four and
five hundred.
We will now see how Sunday is spent
in this little community. AS both Eng
lish speaking people and natives have to
be provided for, the services are begun
early enough in the day to allow of four
being held in all-two in each language.
At 6 80 A. NJ, therefore, the church bell
sounds, and soon a stream of Indians
(most men at this early hour winds its
! way to the church door. Let us take up
our stand here and observe them as they
enter. At the outlying settlements the
Indians dress almost entirely in one style
but here at headquarters, where they
come good deal in contact with Euro
peans, they adopt something of the va
riety of European dress. Some of the
well-to- do Indians ii. e., the most skillfuI
hunters) appear in black cloth suits and
colored neckties, and few even were
English boots, though the majority seem
to prefer the soft deerslin shoes usually
worn in the country. The women nat
urally allow themselves still greater free
dom, and not unfrequently adorn them
selves in dress of glaring hue, with q
striped shawl or beaded Jacket equally
conspicuous, and the whole surmounted
(but this not often) with a straw hat and
colored feathers. QujUer.