Smith's Canadian gazetteer - ElectricCanadian.com

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and applications were consequently numerous for a participation in the same
benefits. In 18'5, after Mr. Superintendent Anderson had visited the island,
a scheme was matured and authorised by Sir John Colborne, for forming an
extensive establishment upon it, and for making it the future place of distribution,
instead of Penetanguishine, and Amherstburg, where the remainder of the
western tribes had previously been supplied.
In the spring of that year, ilr. Anderson found, on his visit, five or six
families of the Ottawa tribe, Roman Catholics, from Lake Michigan, settled in
Wequamekong Bay (Smith's sound), where they had cultivated two or three
acres of land, and were living in teniporar}- bark huts; these, and a few wandering
Chippewas, were all the Indians he met with on the island, amounting to
perhaps seventy or eighty persons.
In 1836 the present settlement at Manitowawning, (Hudson's Sound"), about
eight miles distant from Wequamekong, was commenced, some land was cleared
and houses built. It does not appear how many Indians were settled on the
island this year. The first issue of presents at this post was made in the
autumn, and was attended by 2697 individuals. On this occasion the Lieut
Governor, Sir F. B. Head, was present, and formed the view of collecting at
Manitoulin, not the wild Indians from the north of Lake Huron, as had been
at first proposed, but all those who had settled, or were wandering among the
white population, in various parts of LTpper Canada. With this intention he
induced the chiefs of the Ottawa and Chippewa nations then present, to resign
their exclusive rights to the occupancy of the Great Manitoulin, and all the other
islands, estimated at above 23.000, on the north shore of Lake Huron.
He also obtained from the Saugeen Indians the surrender of the greater proportion
of their territory, and proposed their removal to Manitoulin. To other
indians whom he visited in the western parts of Canada, he likewise made the
same proposals; offering them the assistance and encouragement of the government
at this island. These offers, however, do not appear to have been generally
acceptable to the settled Indians, as few or none availed th»mselves of
them. The settlers at the island have, for the most part, come from the United
States, or from the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior.
In 1837, further progress was made in clearing land and building houses;
the number of settlers on the island was reckoned at 268.
In the autumn of 1838, the officers appointed to form the future establishment
of this settlement, including the superintendent, Mr. .\nderson, a clergyman of
tlie church of England, and a surgeon, with several artisans and labourers,
arrived at Manitowawning, and took up their residence there, being the first
white men m ho had wintered in the island. This year the number of Indian
settlers was 307.
In the ibllowing year the clearings were extended; a saw mill was built;
and the number of settlers increased to 6.55. A school was commenced at
Manitowawning, but it was ill attended; the Roniau Catholics at the otlier
settlement would not allow their cliildreu to frecpient it.
In 1840, 732 Indians reported themselves as settlers, of whom only 437 were
christians.
In 1841, many Pottawatamies from the River St. Clair, who had promised to
si-ttle, and some Ottawas and Chippewas from Lake Michigan, returned to their
homes; but the actual number thus reduced was not recorded Some Indiiin
houses, a carpenter's shop, and a smith's, were erected. The school was bt iter
attended, and eight Indian boys wer.' in the course of instruction in dilferent
branches of handicraft. A Si-hool was also opened by a Roman Catholic
schoolmaster in the other settlement.
In 1842, twenty-five Indian houses were built by contract, and a large store,
cooper's shop, and barn, were erected by the mechanics attached to the establishment.
\ saw mill was also nearly finished at Weipiemakong Bay. The
attendance at the Roman Catholic school had fluctuated greatly; at one time as
many as seventy pupils were present, but more frequcutly from five to twenty,