| Summary: | The Indian Department at Ottawa estimates the Indian population at about 25,000. That number is we believe, rather above than below normal count. In eighteen.hundred and seventy one, though no accurate enumeration was made, it was estimated that the Indian population, represented by existing tribes and a few that are partially extinct, was in round numbers about 35,000. In the interval, therefore, there has been a loss of ten thousand. Even in 50 years that is a large decrease and from the fact that the Indian population for twenty years has been, so far as the Departmental returns show, about stationary would seem to indicate that the original estimate was too high. It is our opinion, and the opinion also of those who have made a special study of the Indians and in particular of'the Coast tribes, that there is a sensible decrease, and our conclusions are the result of personal observation. Consumption is making considerable inroads all the time. The Influenza Epidemic claimed a terrible death roll. The birth rate is very low, a .fact to be accounted for, to some extent by the former prevalence of sexual diseases which are° productive of sterility in an unusual degree. The Haider for instance, once a powerful and numerous nation, have in British Columbia, dwindled down to three small communities and their home in Queen Charlotte Island contains many deserted villages which have been long the prey of curio hunters and collectors. They still' continued to decrease up to five years ago as do also the others of the Coast tribes but on the whole, the influences of civilisation within the past twenty -five or thirty _ years,'although not wholly without evil results, have tended to arrest decay and some tribes have even been on the increase. it is perhaps inevitable that the red man should gradually retire before the white race, but the abundance and accessibility of food, the mildness of the Coast Climate, and the protection accorded under a very beneficent:, form of government, have given them an advantage as to permanency over all other native races. One thing which has tended largely to their benefit is their position of independence. With the exception of their being in a general way under the aegis of the Indian Department, they receive no special favours such as are accorded to the Treaty Indians, no annuities or financial assistance. They are obliged to maintain themselves by hunting, fishing, trade and labour, the opportunities for which are always at hand. Game is abundant, the seas and rivers teem with fish; during-the canning season they are largely employed at good wages and earn money lumbering, picking hops and in various ways. They are, as compared with their Eastern brethren, industrious and are usually well supplied with the ready cash for all their- necessities. Famine or starvation among our Indians is extremely rare, if indeed it ever occurs. Their trade is highly thought of by the traders and is as a rule a fairly lucrative one. In many places they have comfortable homes and though not remarkable for their cleanliness or intelligence, they possess to some degree the refinements of civilisation. Gardens often adorn the homes, flowers are cultivated and vines are used to cover objectionable sights. Pictures of friends hang upon the wall with bought frames or such as they might make themselves. Though not so picturesque as the Plains Indians they are, sociologically speaking, on a higher plane. Naturally more docile and less nomadic, it was fortunate that owing to the wise policy of the Hudson's Bay Company in dealing with them, when the country came under the organised government, they were prepared to accept the sovereignty of the white man with good grace. If we except some trouble in the early days with the miners on the Fraser River, several murders by the Prince Rupert and the Cowichan Indians, and the Chilcotin massacre, which latter was not without provocation, there have been no atrocities like those which occurred in the United States or on a smaller scale east of the Rocky Mountains in Canada. In fact British Columbia has been remarkably free from disorder of any kind. :hen trouble did occur or threatened to occur it was repressed in its incipiency with a firm but not a cruel hand. Respect for the law, early instilled in a judicious way, was rather by demonstration than by the exercise of force. The worst Indians inhabited the Coast of Vancouver Island and adjacent islands and these had ever in their hearts, the wholesome dread of the Hudson Bay Company gunboat or a man -of -war. It was rarely necessary to call either into requisition. In the early part of last century there were several serious disasters with loss oÎ life to traders on the Coast, but it was before the advent of the Hudson Bay Company or rule of any kind. The tragedies in which the Indians were-concerned, which are still related most graphically by themselves and of which accounts are found in every school. history. of British Columbia, are recorded to have taken place on this Coast when fur trade was at the height of its prosperity One was the destruction in 1803 of the American ship "Boston ", by the natives of Nootka Sound, when almost all the crew were murdered except Jewett the armourer and a sailor called :Thompson. They were kept in slavery four years by the Chief Maquenna of Vancouver Island and Quadra Bay. In 1805 the American-Ship Atahualpa of Rhode Island was attacked by the savages of Millbank Sound and her Captain, mate and six seamen were killed after which the other seamen succeeded in repelling the assailants and saving the vessel. In the sane manner the Tonquin of Boston, six years later in the month of June was attacked by the Eatives whilst it anchored in Clayoquot Sound and all except one of the crew murdered. Probably one reason to account for the Indians of the Coast being .more warlike than the interior tribes was that for a century they had been brought into contact with traders of foreign countries who, in their ships, carried on a system of barter in which rum was more or less a factor and honesty or scrupulous methods formed no part of the consideration. These tribes who traded exclusively with the Hudson-Bay Company learned to trust white men and respect a covenant. Of their Eastern brethren with whom readers outside the Province are more familiar, it may be said that in most respects they are very different. The "Plain Indiän" is tall, lithe and sinewy; has elongated face, aquiline nose and black piercing eyes.' He is built to run, see, and smell at a long distance. He is quick, agile, and. restless. The "Siwash" which is the common way to designate our Indian, is short, thick -set, and heavy in the body and small in the legs,' with a long square flat face or a. head that sits. close to a pair of heavy shoulders There is usually large chest and arm development. Nature has built him to suit _.his occupation - namely - to sit in a canoe and fish. Or it may be perhaps more accurate to say that his occupation has made him what he is. This description applies more particularly to -the Coast tribes but as you go further inland the types more clearly approach that of the Plain Indian. The resemblance of the Siwash to the Japanese is striking and dressed alike it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the nationality. The Indians however are heavier in build and coarser in feature than the Japanese who posses a: tightly knit frame and rounded smooth features. It must be understood however that different nations differ in appearance and minor characteristics.
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