The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-13
LABRADOR INDIANS STRICKEN.
The Once Great Montagnais and Nascapees
Dying In Droves of tho Grip.

Dying in Droves of tho Grip.
QUEBEc. Canada. Nov. 5.-0nce more from
the bleak coast OF Labrador comes q recur-
renee Of the periodical wall OF disease and
death among the miserable remnants Of the
once powerful Montagnais and Nascapee tribes
of Indians. In the times OF Cartier and Cham
plain these Montagnais Indians occupied
Quebec and the surrounding country, as well
as the interior of the great Labrador peninsula.
The steady advance OF civilization has driven
them further and further into the wild
interior, and the gradual decrease of
the game that they hunt and Of the
fur bearing animals that they trap for
the Hudson Bay Company has led to speh
rapid decrease In the numbers of these poor
redskins that the early extinction of the race
seems probable. The half-starved condition
Of many OF their number renders them favorite
subjects for the ravages OF disease. and it is
not surprising to learn that the grip has
claimed many victims among them during the
last few weeks. having in fact attained the pro-
portions OF a veritable plague.
These Indians are a branch OF the Cree fam
lily and are divided into two tribes-the Nasca-
pees or inland Indians. and the Montagnais or
shore Indians. The last OF the Jesuit mission
aries to the Montagnais OF Tadousac-the
learned Father Labrosse-had an ingenious
tittOhy vi tAo Vi hhO ~ .EAhlcl lSutl
Indian. He maintained that when Solomon
decided upon the erection OF his temple at
Jerusalem he despatched vessels to every
known part OF the globe for artists and
materials. One Of these ships was driven by a
storm upon the coast of North America. and
the crew. unable from their ignorance OF navi-
cation to trace their way back. landed and were
! the first inhabitants OF this continent. And in
support OF this theory the Jesuit indicated
what he thought the points of resemblance be-
tween Indians and Israelitess
At the time of the first arrival of Europeans
sionaries among the m, the M%ontagnais were
Of the lowest Algonquin type; Parkman re-
would subsist ON roots. the bark and buds Of
trees. and. that In extreme cases cannibalism
was resoTted to, The Indians Of the interior
quite modern times. No later than 1850
Father Arnaud, who Is still living. met at
her conversion to Christianity by Father
D%rocher. was not onlya noted sorceress Of her
tim was her husband. who had died Of hunger.
as far north as Lake Mistassini, to minister to
s youth thn 81 Il ye sness s. rsSRF IF oRn m rss @aFder OF a
Although stiIl %cIinging to many 9f their old
recent times, however. 1t was the custom
came Impossible for them to follow the
rest OF the party upon their hunting trips.
To carry them about with them was
PTov 81 9%9 SaanGd' ''V aapess SGn Sun ali 'f that
they could manage, They probably justified
the murder upon the ground that IL was more
merciful than to allow the infitm to die alone
OF hunger. Many old Hudson Bay officials
Montreal and Henry Connolly and Allan G.
Cameron. formerly OF the Labrador posts. can
furnish instances. just as the older mission
aries do. OF successful intervention in cases of
dians,, But sometimes humane efforts OF this
kind have been thwarted, and Mr.. Connolly
tells Of an old Indian woman thus ruthlessly
killed close to his post. his first intimation of
the murder being a conversation which he
overheard between two, other squaws. who
were discussing the division of the Victims
poor belongings and her apparent unwilling
ness to die, Usually, however, In such cases
there is q quick and ready understanding Of
the situation. and when the victim feels that
feet resignation to approaching fate.
Among the Indians who hunt In the Gatineau
country and thence to the headwaters OF the st.
Maurice Il was. customary up toa very few years
country. for an aged hunter. hen he felt himself
no longer able to accompany his companionsup
on the chase, to divide his belongings upon the
ground into as many little piles as he had sons.
Then the sons were summoned to select each
the heap that was to be his share OF. his
fathers goods. Upon. him who discovered the
axe beneath his patrimony devolved the duty
the children were engaged in making the ter
rible selection. the old hunter chanted a mourn
full dirge. of which the tollowinl is u FREQ trans
lation: "Withered and old am Il; the fish can
no longer take. the deer can no longer chase,
the rabbit no longer trap. and life Is no more
for me