Lecture On The Aborigines Of Newfoundland | Page 6

Buchan returned with his vessel to St.
John's, and at once sought and obtained permission from the Governor
to return in the summer, in the hope that as the natives came in that
season down the rivers to fish and hunt, he might the more easily fall in
with them. In this expectation, however, he was disappointed, as he
only succeeded in merely discovering some recent traces of them.
Captain Buchan, still sanguine of success, requested permission to
winter in St. John's, that he may be in readiness to take the earliest of
the ensuing spring to go in quest of them again. This was acceded to;
but of the movements of Captain Buchan, in consequence of this
arrangement, there is no record, it is only known that no additional
discoveries were made--but from the facts ascertained by Captain
Buchan in his first excursion, the authorities felt satisfied the number of
the Indians had been greatly underrated. Captain Buchan was of
opinion they could not be less (in the whole) than three hundred
persons. Now this is an important fact, as it goes far to disprove the
generally received opinion that the tribe is extinct, inasmuch as that
opinion was formed from the representations of the decreased numbers
of her tribe, made by the Indian woman taken in 1823, but the accuracy
of the whole statement there is much reason to doubt. In the course of
this narrative we shall be brought to the details of her statement, when a
closer comparison of the conflicting accounts can be made.
The several proclamations issued, in favor of the Red Indian, seem to
have been entirely disregarded--the work of extermination proceeded,
and the Government again thought it necessary to express its
abhorrence of the murders that were continually being perpetrated, and
to threaten punishment to the guilty. Accordingly a proclamation, in the

name of the Prince Regent, was issued by Sir R. Keats in 1813, to the
same effect, and offering the same reward as the previous ones. For the
next four years, or from 1814 to 1818, no additional efforts were made
for the benefit of the Indians; but complaints were made by various
persons during that period,--residents to the northward,--of thefts,
which it was alleged were committed by the Indians. In consequence of
these repeated losses, the person who had sustained the greatest injury,
amounting to about £150, made application to the Government for
permission to follow the property and regain it, if possible. This
permission being given, a party of ten men left the Exploits on the 1st
of March, 1819, with a most anxious desire, as they state, of being able
to take some of the Indians, and thus, through them, to open a friendly
communication with the rest. The leader of the party giving strict
orders not on any account to commence hostilities without positive
directions. On the 2nd March a few wigwams were seen and examined,
they appeared to be frequented by the Indians during spring and autumn
for the purpose of killing deer. On the 3rd a fire placed on the side of a
brook was seen, where some Indians had recently slept. On the 4th the
party reached a store-house belonging to the Indians, and on entering it
they found five traps belonging to and recognized as the property of
persons in Twillingate, as also part of a boat's jib--footsteps also were
seen about the store-house, and these tracks were followed with speed
and caution. On the 5th the party reached a very large pond, and
foot-marks of two or more Indians were distinctly discovered, and soon
after an Indian was seen walking in the direction of the spot where the
party were concealed, while three other Indians were perceived further
off and going in a contrary direction. The curiosity of the whole party
being strongly excited, the leader of them showed himself openly on
the point. When the Indian discovered him she was for a moment
motionless, then screamed violently and ran off--at this time the
persons in pursuit were in ignorance as to whether the Indian was male
or female. One of the party immediately started in pursuit, but did not
gain on her until he had taken off his jacket and rackets, when he came
up with her fast; as she kept looking back at her pursuer over her
shoulder; he dropped his gun on the snow and held up his hands to
shew her he was unarmed, and on pointing to his gun, which was some
distance behind, she stopped--he did the same, then he advanced and

gave her his hand, she gave her's to him, and to all the party as they
came up. Seven or eight Indians were then seen repeatedly running off
and on the pond, and shortly three