for the better. The old French settlers
in general
are poor economists, and proud withal — live mise-
rably at
home, yet appear grand abroad. It is said
they live much on boiled fish,
supping the broth with-
out either bread or salt. They are superstitiously
reli-
gious, going to mass more than two hundred days
in the year. They
have two large worship houses
here, and a number of crosses, set up on the
banks of
the river and other places, to evince their christianity.
Walked up the river about four miles, to
a
place called Bloody Bridge, from a
contest which
happened there between the British, Canadians, and
Indians, where many fell. We called at a respect-
able French farmer's, who
took us into a curious
garden of fruit, flowers, &c. also into his
house,
where were pictures, representing Christ on the
Cross, old
Saints, &c. John Elliott talked
French
to them; they appeared pleased, and behaved polite-
ly. Though
much apparent superstition and idola-
try are indulged amongst them, yet I
hope many
are looking beyond it to the more substantial parts
of true
worship: although I have seen them after
mass, frolicking and horse racing
in the road pass-
ing the worship house, or as it were, at the door,
the remaining part of the day, to their reproach.
The buildings on the
banks of the river, though low,
being mostly a story and a half, are
beautiful, and
the farms fertile — but their fuel and rails are all to
be drawn about four miles. On our return, we fell
in with several Chipawa camps — they had
tents of
mats curiously wrought of flags, reeds, rushes, &c.
Their
canoes were made of bark, with great skill and
ingenuity.