summer than to hear the music of the church bells and to see the people wending their way in their boats and canoes over the far-famed Winnipeg River to their churches, men, women and children dressed in their finest; a more orderly and respectable people could not be seen anywhere. Many of them take their dinner with them and remain until the afternoon service. There are two hundred and forty-seven Roman Catholics, two hundred and forty-one Episcopalians and ten pagans belonging to this band.

These people some years ago were like one family, they were brothers, but of late the hostile churches have caused dissensions that have broken up many old friendships, which ought not to be.

Characteristics. - The Indians here who have French blood in their veins are to a great extent an industrious people. They tire much like the habitants of Quebec, not only in character, but in appearance, habits and manners. They nearly all cultivate enough to eat and have some over.

Individual Progress. - Joseph Briere has now about fifteen acres of heavy bush land cleared on which he not only raises wheat, oats and barley, pease, corn, potatoes, beans, onions and other vegetables, but also will this year have enough timothy to keep his cattle. Augustin Guimond, St. Jean Mainville and Maxime Couchene have as fine gardens as one could wish. These people seldom hunt, but during the winter fish in the bay, and sell what they catch to traders. Councillor Joseph Kent, a pure Indian, has a fine farm of about ten acres, raises all kinds of vegetables, with some wheat, barley and oats. He has ten head of cattle, two horses, and some pigs and chickens. He also fishes and hunts a little. Many of his people here have fine gardens.

John Robert Bunn and Duncan Two Hearts are the kings amongst the hunters; they some winters get from three hundred to six hundred dollars' worth of fur. Bunn put thirty dollars and Duncan ten dollars in the post office savings bank list year as a beginning.

Robert Henderson has cattle, a good little farm, a fine schooner of twelve tons burden with which he freights all over the lake and brings in railroad ties or cordwood. He is a busy man, never idle: fishing in winter, boating in summers and, as he states, has three good meals a day, but I know that he always has a little over.

Temperance and Morality. - There has been no case of intemperance on the reserve for some years. The morals of the people have improved; where cases of immorality have occurred they are spoken of with aversion. The chief, council, and ministers of religion have done their best in this respect, and a case of this kind is an exception.

General Remarks. - The Indians of my agency are a law-abiding people. No strangers from a foreign land need be afraid to come among them. Many of them subscribe to newspapers, and are sure to read all matters pertaining to their race. They no doubt sigh for the good old days, and many of the pagans and ignorant, who are a minority among them, still talk of the Stone Fort Treaty, and desire to be spoon-fed but there is no doubt that they are far better off, more civilized, better clothed, better housed and educated. In fact they are new Indians since they have been wards of the Government.

Hospital for Indians. - During the last year the Church of England has, under the Ven. Archdeacon Phair, established an hospital for sick Indians within the St. Peter's Indian Reserve. The house of the Ven. Archdeacon Cowley was purchased for that purpose, and although the work is only beginning, it promises to be of great benefit to the Indians. Dr. and Mrs. Robertson, who are in charge, are great enthusiasts, and the only drawback is want of money to carry on the good work.

I have, & c.,
A.M. MUCKLE,
Indian Agent.