MISSISSAGUAS OF ALNWICK, CHEMONG AND RICE LAKE.

Health and Sanitary Condition. - The Indians have enjoyed very good health during the past year, a mild epidemic of measles being the only infectious disease, and it was confined principally to the children and with no serious results. They have been vaccinated and are quite clean in their surroundings.

Occupation. - General farming is carried on to a certain extent by all, and during the season a number engage in the herring-fishing. A great deal of wood is taken out during the winter, and the women earn a good deal by the sale of their baskets.

Buildings. - The buildings are fairly good, most of the people having very comfortable houses.

Stock. - The horses are much better of late years, and the Indians are gradually getting more cattle.

Education. - There are good brick schools at French Bay, Scotch Settlement and Saugeen, the teachers of which are well qualified for their position and take a very great interest in the progress of their pupils. All the elementary subjects, such as reading, spelling, geography, grammar, writing and arithmetic, are taught in each of the schools. The schools at French Bay and Scotch Settlement are comfortably furnished and well heated and heated. The school at Saugeen is a model of comfort and convenience, being furnished with patent seats and desks, slate blackboards, heated by furnace and having large play-rooms in the basement. There are ninety children of school age and the average attendance is about fifty.

Religion. - There are two churches on the reserve, both of the Methodist denomination. The one at Saugeen is of brick and well furnished, having cost about $5,000. The other building is of wood and is located at French Bay. Service is held by the missionary in each church every Sunday and an extra service is held in the evening conducted by the Indians themselves. They are quite regular in their attendance, and are quiet and attentive.

Progress. - They are all fairly industrious and quite law-abiding, and are gradually improving their cattle, buildings and lands. Chief Thos. Solomon has a very comfortable house, and has a fine tract of land under cultivation, and is well provided with horses, harness, wagon, & c. Ben Jackson is another Indian who is doing very well, having quite a number of acres under cultivation. He also has a good house, wagon, harness and horses. He received a prize of $12 last year for having the best cultivated farm on the reserve.

Temperance. - There is very little intoxication, there having been only some two or three eases during the year.

General Remarks. - The fences and outbuildings belonging to the agency have been repaired, and now present quite a pleasing appearance. The scarcity of feed during the past winter was severely felt, but the prospects for the coming harvest are good.

I have, & c.,
JOHN CROWE,
Indian Agent.
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO,
MISSISSAGUAS OF ALNWICK, CHEMONG AND RICE LAKE,
ROSENEATH, 15th August, 1896.

The Honourable
The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs,
Ottawa.

SIR, - Inclosed herewith find tabular statement in connection with the Mississagua Indians of Alnwick, Rice Lake and Chemong, or Mud Lake, for the year ended 30th June, 1896.