IROQUOIS OF ST. REGIS.

Improvements. - The improvements in the water-courses and roads made during the past year have been of great benefit to the people living on that part of the reserve in the draining of their lands and the transport of their produce.

General Remarks. - The affairs of the band generally are in a very satisfactory condition, and the Indians are quiet.

I have, &e. ,
A. BROSSEAU,
Indian Agent.
PROVINCE OF QUEBEC,
IROQUOIS OF ST. REGIS,
ST. REGIS, 29th July, 1896.

The Honourable
The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs,
Ottawa.

SIR, - I have the honour to transmit my report and tabular statement for the year ended the 30th June, 1896.

Location. - The St. Regis Reserve is in the township of Dundee, Huntingdon county.

Area. - It contains an area of four thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine acres.

Tribe or Nation. - The Indians of this band are Iroquois.

Vital Statistics. - This band has a population of one, thousand two hundred and fifty-four, consisting of four hundred and four men, three hundred and fifty-nine women, and four hundred and ninety-one children. The number of births during the year was thirty-eight, deaths twenty, immigrations seven and emigrations two; increase, twenty-three. The immigrations and emigrations have been the result of marriage.

Health and Sanitary Condition. - The Indians mostly die from lung disease. There are frequently cases of whooping cough, measles or chicken-pox among the children. As a rule the Indians keep their premises quite neat and clean.

The vaccination has not been a success, as they are opposed to it.

Occupation. - Basket making, lacrosse-making, hunting, fishing, acting as guides to tourists. Farming in general is in fair progress, improving gradually from year to year.

Buildings, Stock, Farming Implements, & c. - They are still improving their houses and outbuildings. Their principal stock is horses and cattle; no sheep. They are inclined to take more interest in horses than in cows, which I consider is not to their benefit. As to farming implements of all kinds, they are well supplied.

Education. - The number of children of school age is two hundred and eighty-seven, number of schools five, four Roman Catholic and one Protestant; well located for convenience. Grade of teachers, elementary course of studies taught: first, second and third grades. Equipment of schools, good. Discipline and order, fair. Progress of pupils, not satisfactory owing to the lack of interest taken by the parents in sending, consequently progress cannot be expected, for the following reasons: first-they have to learn the English language, which requires years; second - one day at school and three days out of school is not of much use; third - when in school they are taught in English; when out of school they retain to their native tongue; fourth - there are children of school age and over that never have attended school.

Religion. - Roman Catholics, one thousand one hundred and sixteen; missionary, Rev. M. Mainville. Methodists, one hundred and thirty-eight; Rev. E. Tennant, residence, Cornwall, Ont. Two churches - one Roman Catholic and one Protestant. The Indians appear to be sincere in their religious belief.