Our Subsistence In The Interior Was
Entirely Animal Food, Deer And Beavers, Which We Shot.
* * * * *
"Resolved, - That the measures recommended in the president's report
be agreed to; and that the three men, Indians of
The Canadian and
Mountaineer tribes, be placed upon the establishment of this
institution, to be employed under the immediate direction and control
of the president; and that they be allowed for their services such a
sum of money as the president may consider a fair and reasonable
compensation: That it be the endeavour of this institution to collect
every useful information respecting the natural productions and
resources of this island, and, from time to time, to publish the same
in its reports: That the instruction of Shawnawdithit would be much
accelerated by bringing her to St John's, &c.: That the proceedings of
the institution, since its establishment, be laid before his Majesty's
Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, by the president, on
his arrival in England.
(Signed) "A.W. des BARRES, Chairman and Vice-Patron."
Footnotes:
[Footnote A: Since my return, I learn from the captive Red Indian
woman Shawnawdithit, that the vapour-bath is chiefly used by old
people, and for rheumatic affections.
Shanawdithit is the survivor of three Red Indian females, who were
taken by, or rather who gave themselves up, exhausted with hunger, to
some English furriers, about five years ago, in Notre Dame Bay. She is
the only one of that tribe in the hands of the English, and the only
one that has ever lived so long among them. It appears extraordinary,
and it is to be regretted, that this woman has not been taken care of,
nor noticed before, in a manner which the peculiar and interesting
circumstances connected with her tribe and herself would have led us
to expect.]
[Footnote B: It should be remarked here, that Mary March, so called
from the name of the month in which she was taken, was the Red Indian
female who was captured and carried away by force from this place by
an armed party of English people, nine or ten in number, who came up
here in the month of March 1809.[Sic: 1819] The local government
authorities at that time did not foresee the result of offering a
reward to bring a Red Indian to them. Her husband was cruelly shot,
after nobly making several attempts, single-handed, to rescue her from
the captors, in defiance of their fire-arms and fixed bayonets. His
tribe built this cemetery for him, on the foundation of his own
wigwam, and his body is one of those now in it. The following winter,
Captain Buchan was sent to the River Exploits, by order of the local
government of Newfoundland, to take back this woman to the lake where
she was captured, and, if possible, at the same time, to open a
friendly intercourse with her tribe. But she died on board Captain
B.'s vessel, at the mouth of the river. Captain B., however, took up
her body to the lake; and not meeting with any of her people, left it
where they were afterwards likely to meet with it.
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