here, but in every cold country, the greater part of animals, during winter, acquire a kind of hair or down, much longer, thicker, softer, and consequently much warmer than their summer-dress; during the latter season they are, as in other countries, of different colours; but during the former they assume the colour of snow. The feathered tribes are numerous. Many which, during summer, abound in this country, abandon it in winter, proceeding then southwards to more temperate climates. Of those that remain, several, like the quadrupeds, assume, during winter, the white dress, which in that season is here most universal. Game abounds so much, that it is nothing uncommon for 10,000 geese to be killed during a winter at the factories. The seas and lakes abound in fish, particularly whales, morses, seals, cod and white fish, pike, perch, carp, and trout. These might, perhaps, be made the source of more wealth, and become of infinitely greater utility to mankind than the furs which form almost the only trade in this part of the British colonies.

Inhabitants.] The aboriginal inhabitants of the various parts of this country may be generally divided into the Southern Indians, the Northern Indians, and the Esquimaux.-The Southern Indians inhabit the country situated between the S. coast of Hudson's bay and the territories of Canada, and that part of the western coast of the bay lying to the S. of Churchhill river, and reaching inland to the lake of Athabasca. For a general description of these tribes, and the other principal North American tribes, we refer the reader to a former chapter. The chief of these tribes are the Ne-heth-a-wa, the Assinne-poetic, the Fall, the Sussee, the Paegan,

and the Blood Indians.

Northern Indians.] The Northern Indians inhabit that large tract of country lying between the 59th and 68th parallels of N. lat., and which extends upwards of 500 miles from E. to W. Their country is bounded by Churchhill river on the S., by the country of the Athabasca Indians on the W., and by Hudson's bay on the E. The Northern Indians subsist by hunting and fishing, but are by no means skilful in these operations. In summer they eat berries of the whortle and other species, and occasionally feed on a kind of unctuous clay. They are quiet and patient, very limited in their ideas and powers of understanding, and so indolent, that numbers of them perish every year from famine. Suicide is not uncom

mon among them. Their women are low in stature, and of a delicate shape; they are rather the slaves than the companions of the men. It is nothing uncommon to see them carrying a burden of eight or ten stone weight, or dragging a much greater weight in a sledge. They have also to dress the deer-skins, cook the victuals, make the clothing, pitch the tents, carry home the fish and game when killed, and perform all the drudgery of drying and preserving them for use. A plurality of wives is customary, every man taking as many as he chooses, or can maintain; six or eight are sometimes seen in one family, and they are kept or put away at the pleasure of the husband. The Northern Indians, from scarcity of fuel, are often obliged to eat their food raw; indeed they sometimes do this from choice, especially when the meal is of fish.

Esquimaux.] The Indian tribes are thinly scattered over the surface of North America as far N. as the parallel 68. Here they are succeeded by the Esquimaux, a race entirely dissimilar in manners and character. This name, which has been given them by the Indians, signifies 'eaters of raw flesh.' Their colour is not that of copper, but the tawny brown which distinguishes the inhabitants of the more northern parts of Europe; they

all have beards, and some of them have been observed with hair of different colours, in some fair and in others red. These marks, by which they are so evidently distinguished from the Americans, have inclined several philosophers to believe that they are of European descent. The red and fair hair found in the N. of Europe more frequently than in any other country of the world; but above all, their language, which is said to be a dialect of that spoken in East Greenland, the inhabitants of which are believed to have emigrated from Europe, give to this conjecture a considerable appearance of probability. The Esquimaux are dwarfish in size, and more bold and crafty than the Indians; but they use their women much better, and display a higher degree of intelligence. They occupy the shores of the Polar sea, and live chiefly by catching whales, an operation which requires them to combine in large parties, and to this circumstance Dr Richardson attributes the superior capacity they display for civilization." It is a singular fact that tribes of this description, agreeing in form, features, and manners, and apparently of kindred race, occupy the whole shores of the Polar sea in Europe, Asia, and America. One would almost suppose that this variety of the human species had been created expressly to tenant those frozen regions to which their mode of life appears to attach them, as the Negro seems adapted by an opposite organization to the scorching beats of the torrid zone."

The Esquimaux seen by those who have visited Hudson's straits, are always clothed in skins. They have boots or stockings reaching the knees; breeches loose at the knees, and drawn round the waist with strings, in form of a purse; on their body they wear a kind of coat, which is drawn on like a shirt, and has a hood to cover the head, and two flaps, one before and another behind, descending considerably lower than the border of the other parts of the garment. The seams of these garments are neatly and strongly sewed with the dried sinews of deer and other animals, and their borders ornamented with stripes of the most beautiful furs. The dress of the women is little different from that of the men: their hoods are somewhat larger, the flaps of their upper garments before and behind descend farther, and their boots are wider, and extended with whalebone, so that, on some occasions, they are used as cradles for their children.

Their canoes are of two kinds; the larger sometimes capable of carrying upwards of 40 persons, the smaller seldom carrying more than one. They are very different in their forms. The small canoe is extremely long in proportion to its breadth; and both ends, which are a little raised, terminate in a sharp point; the frame consists of slender ribs, supported by spars, the whole length of the canoe, and fastened with bandages of split whalebone; above and below, it is covered with skins dressed into a kind of parchment, and sewed tightly to the frame, leaving only one circular hole, equally distant from the two ends, just sufficient to receive one person, and fitted with a kind of hoop to tie round the waist, to keep him firm in his seat, and prevent the water from entering. Seated in this manner with his paddle, which has a blade at both ends, and with which he strikes on each side alternately, he proceeds at a rate not less than seven or eight miles an hour. Harpoons and other fishing-instruments are secured upon the upper side of the canoe with straps of leather. The large canoes are in shape more like our boats; their length is generally equal to four times their greatest breadth, and the stem is somewhat more pointed than the stern, which is round. Like the smaller canoes these are composed of ribs, held together by long spars, and covered with skins, which

are sewed to the upper spar on the ledge, and leave the whole upper part open. These are called women's boats, because they are not navigated by men, and are used only for transporting their families and effects from place to place. They have no seats, so that those who row them must stand.

The Esquimaux are tractable in their commercial dealings; to such Europeans as have fallen in their way, they have shown themselves expert and intelligent. Their religious notions are similar to those of their brethren of Greenland. Several missionary stations have been likewise formed amongst them by the Moravian brethren, by whose means many of these miserable beings have been converted to Christianity, taught to read, and furnished with the Holy Scriptures in their own tongue.

Settlements.] In this country there are but few white inhabitants. The Hudson's bay company have six settlements: viz. Churchhill, York Fort, Severn House, Albany Fort, Moose Fort, and East Main.

Commerce.] The regions round Hudson's bay were not long discovered before they were found to abound in furs; and these furs, being greatly in demand, yielded very extensive profits to those who could procure them in sufficient quantities. In 1600, a company was embodied by charter to trade to Hudson's bay for furs. This company, for some time after it was instituted, is said to have exerted itself with much vigour, and to have taken measures, not only for its own immediate emolument, but for the ultimate benefit of the country which afforded it so much wealth. In more modern times, however, they have been accused of having adopted a line of conduct less conducive to the advantage, either of their own country, or of that with which their trade is conducted. They bring home annually, upon an average, about 47,600 skins. Their imports are valued at about £29,340, from which the revenue receives about £3,734. Their exports generally amount to £16,000. A rival body, called the NorthWest Company, has been recently erected at Montreal. In addition to the fur trade carried on by these companies, the annual produce of the fisheries on the coast of Labrador, has been calculated at about £50,000.

Historical Notice.] When the French laid claim to that extensive country which, in their maps, they called Canada, part of New Britain was included within their limits, and the settlements of the Hudson's bay company were often disturbed by their inroads. The French were apprehensive that these settlements might allure the Indians towards them, and thus turn from the former an advantageous branch of commerce. Every opportunity, therefore, was seized to distress them; and, in 1686, during a profound peace, the Chevalier de Troyes invaded the territory claimed by the company, and made himself master of all the English settlements, except Port Nelson; but, during the first war thereafter, in 1693, they were all recovered by the English. They were again reduced by the French, in 1711; but, in 1713, were restored to the British by the peace of Utrecht.

CHAP. II.-CANADA.

Boundaries and Extent.] CANADA, in its present boundaries, differs from Canada, or the province of Quebec, in its former dimensions; and both are different from that extensive country which was denominated Canada by the French. It is situated between 42° 30′ and 50° N. lat. ; and between 64° and 97° W. long. It is bounded on the N. by New Britain; on the E. by the gulf of St Lawrence, and part of New Bruns

wick; on the S.E. and S. by several districts of the United States, the district of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and the lakes. The western boundary has never been accurately defined.

Upper Canada, formerly called the Upper Country, is situated on the N. side of the great lakes; and is separated from New York by those lakes, and the river St Lawrence. It extends between 42° 30′ and 50° N. lat. Lower Canada lies E. from Upper Canada, on both sides the river St Lawrence, between 45° and 50° N. lat., and 64° and 71° W. long. The division of this country into the two provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, took place by an act of 31 George III. They are separated from each other by the river Utawa; or more accurately by a line which commences on the N. bank of the lake of St Francis, on the river St Lawrence; runs thence in a northerly direction to the Utawa river; and then due N. till it reaches the boundary of Hudson's bay.

Historical Notice.] Canada was discovered by Sebastian Cabot, when, under a commission from Henry VII. of England, he endeavoured to explore a north-west passage to China and the East Indies. The French endeavoured to make settlements for the purpose of fishing on the coasts of Newfoundland, as early as the beginning of the 16th century. These attempts, however, did not succeed. At the beginning of the 17th century, a new source of wealth was discovered in Canada. A French sea-officer, called Chauvin, and a merchant of St Maloes, called Pontgrave, sailed to Canada, and brought thence a cargo of furs which they disposed of to very great advantage. Chauvin made another voyage, equally profitable, but died when preparing for a third. The profits thus acquired convinced the French of the value of possessions in Canada; and Pontgrave was despatched with a powerful armament to make a settlement upon the river St Lawrence. He sailed in 1603, and, although, by perseverance, the colony at length became respectable, it was only by a progress extremely slow, and attended with many discouraging circumstances. In 1608, Quebec was founded, which immediately became the capital of the colony, and has continued to be so ever since. During the infancy of the settlement, the French were involved in almost continual wars with the Indians; and were, several times, on the brink of being exterminated, or expelled from the country. In 1761, the French were driven from the country; and, in 1763, the whole territory of Canada was ceded to the British, in whose hands it has ever since remained.

Coasts.] The sea-coast of Canada and Nova Scotia is equal in extent to that of the United States, and very superior to it for the formation of a navy, and the support of a maritime population. Commencing at the noble bay of Passamaquoddy and its islands, where the American line now terminates, we find the inhabitants mostly sea-faring people. The town of St Andrews is rapidly rising into mercantile importance, and is resorted to by numbers of European fishing and coasting vessels. Hard by is the

The boundary line along the lakes commences from the point where the 45th degree of N. lat. strikes the river Iroquois, or Cataragui, along the middle of said river into Lake Ontario, through the middle of said lake, until it strikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie; thence along the middle of said communication into Lake Erie through the middle of said lake, until it arrives at the watercommunication into Lake Huron; thence through the middle of said water-communication into Lake Huron; thence through the middle of said lake to the water-communication between that lake and Lake Superior passing to the north and east of Isle a la Crosse, until it strikes a line passing across the river at the head of St Joseph's island, and at the foot of the Neebish rapids, which line denotes the termination of the boundary directed to be run by the 6th article of the treaty of Ghent,

town of St John's at the mouth of the fine river of the same name, down which timber is floated in immense quantities for exportation to Great Britain. Ship-building is also carried on in the river to a great extent. The southern and eastern sides of Nova Scotia, from Cape St Mary's to Cape North on the island of Cape Breton, may be called, the fishing-coast, and are peculiarly adapted to produce hardy and enterprising seamen. They abound with numerous and commodious harbours, capable of affording shelter to the largest vessels. The gulf of St Lawrence may be said to be whitened with the canvass of vessels engaged in the timber trade, in the Labrador and coasting fisheries, and in carrying supplies of European and West India produce, not only for the consumption of the inhabitants of this coast, but of the ravidly increasing population of Upper and Lower Canada.

Rivers. The principal river of Canada is the St Lawrence, which is justly entitled to rank in the first class of rivers. Its length, from where it issues from Lake Superior, to its mouth, is 2,500 miles. It is 90 miles wide at its mouth, where it is divided into two channels by the island of Anticosti, which is about 120 miles long and 30 broad. It is navigable for ships-of-the-line as high as Quebec, or nearly 400 miles from its mouth; and for ships of a large size as far up as Montreal, 180 miles above Quebec; while ships of the largest size may be navigated on the lakes through which it flows, at a distance of 2000 miles from its mouth. It receives in its course a great number of smaller rivers, several of which are of considerable size. Of these rivers, which flow chiefly from the north, the following are the most remarkable: the Saguenay, a very deep and rapid river, which takes its rise from the lake St John, and after running a course of 150 miles, falls into the St Lawrence, at Tadousac,-the Montmorency, which abounds in cascades, and flows into the St Lawrence, 8 miles E. of Quebec, the Chaudiere, which flows from lake Megantic, and after running a course of 120 miles, falls into the St Lawrence, 8 miles to the S.W. of Quebec,-the St Ann, a considerable river,the Jacques Cartier,— the Sorel, or Chambly, arising from lake Champlain,-and the Outaouais, Utama, or Grand River, the largest of all the tributary streams of the St Lawrence, it issues from various lakes in Upper Canada, and pours its bright greenish waters into the St Lawrence, a few miles above Montreal. The course of the St Lawrence frequently presents scenes of the greatest beauty, especially in that part called the Lake of the Thousand Islands.' LAKES.] There are many lakes in Canada, but there are four much superior to the rest in magnitude, and which merit a place in a general account of the face of the country. Of these, the chief is Lake Superior, formerly, from its situation, called the Upper Lake.

Lake Superior.] This is the largest body of fresh water in the world, being 400 miles in length, 100 at its greatest breadth, and—according to the most moderate calculation-not less than 1200 miles in circumference. Its shores are rocky and uneven, and it has a rocky bottom. Its waters are pure and transparent; and it has been remarked, that, although during the summer, the waters on its surface be warm, nevertheless, by letting a cup down about a fathom, water may be taken up nearly as cold as ice. It abounds in fish, particularly sturgeon and long trout, many of which are from 50 to 70 pounds weight, and constitute the principal food of the Algonquin Indians on its borders. This lake has five large islands, one of which, called Isle Royal, is not less than 100 miles in length, and in some places 40 in breadth. More than 40 rivers discharge themselves