The Habitans profess the Roman Catholic religion with much zeal. Among them I believe may be found many worthy Christians; but they manifest their religious devotion in many peculiar ways. They are fond of social intercourse, and spend a great portion of their time in visiting each other. They reluctantly establish themselves beyond the sound of a chapel bell, and I positively believe that they spend more than half of their time in performing mass and in horse-racing.
The Sabbath is their great holiday, and always decidedly the noisiest day of the week. Their general deportment, however, is inoffensive, and often highly praiseworthy. They are seldom guilty of committing atrocious crimes, and do not often engage in personal conflicts, which are so prevalent in the United States. They treat all men with kindness, and in their language and manners are remarkably polite. The little girl, playing with her doll in her father’s door, would think her conduct highly improper should she omit to drop you a courtesy as you passed along; and even the rude boy, when playing ball or driving his team, invariably takes off his hat to salute the traveller.
The Habitans are particularly fond of the river St. Lawrence, and their settlements extend from Montreal about two hundred miles with the river on the north shore, and perhaps three hundred and fifty miles on the southern shore. Their principal roads run parallel with the river, are about half a mile apart, and generally completely lined with rural dwellings.
The political opinions of the Habitans are extremely liberal, and not much in accordance with the spirit of Canadian institutions. They hate England by nature and the advice of their priesthood, and scruple not to declare themselves actually in love with what they call the American Government. They complain that Englishmen treat them as if they were slaves, while the people of the United States always hail them as brothers. They are an unlettered race, but believe that their condition would be much happier were they the subjects of a President instead of a Queen. That is a matter I consider questionable.
The Grand Portage into New Brunswick—Lake Timiscouta—The Madawaska River.