| Note |
DISTRICT NO 8,
PICTOU, N.S., 17th October, 1887.
The Honorable
The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa.
SIR, - In submitting my annual report I have, apart from what will appear in, the tabular statement, only a few remarks to make.
The Indians of my district begin to appreciate the advantage of raising a crop, particularly a potato crop, because they feel it relieves them to a large extent of necessity of begging. It will, however, take years, and perhaps another generation, before farming is adopted by them as their principal mode of livelihood.
file:///C|/marc-houle/2015-2016/Indian%20Affairs%20Reports/1887/1887/1887-0156.htm[2015-04-23 2:23:09 PM]
About one-half the number of Indian families in Pictou County live permanently at Indian Cove, while the other half roam all over the country, making a quasi domicilium at Pine Tree Gut, a place within two miles of their own Indian Island. Here they are sheltered by the nature of the place from the cold blasts of winter weather, and in close proximity to the waters of Merigonish harbor, where they find abundant supply of eels and smelts, and are also among a generous and hospitable people, who will always have an eye to their wants. At the coal mines and at the towns of Pictou and New Glasgow, they all find a fair market for their goods. Their occasional destitute circumstances are caused more by their improvidence and want of economy than by idleness.
The school at Indian Cove is still closed for want of a teacher.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
RODERICK McDONALD,
Indian Agent, District No. 8 |
| Note |
Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Indian Agent, to Thomas White, Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, October 17th 1887, Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December 1887 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1888), 40-41. |