WHISKY-DRINKING AMONG THE NATIVES OF THE NORTH PACIFIC.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 109, 16 January 1873, Page 3

WHISKY-DRINKING AMONG THE NATIVES OF THE NORTH PACIFIC.

TnE so-called whisky which is shamelessly sold to the Indians by traders along the coast, or even by certain unprincipled merchants, contains very little of wliat is wholesome or genuine liquor. What it really does contain is not generally known ; hut I hear on good authority that the bulk consists of water flavoured and coloured with grain whisky in the smallest appreciable quantities. Its strength proceeds wholly from the blueslonp, vitriol, and nitric acid which the manufacturers largely infuse into it. The consequence is that, when the Indians imbibe this drink freely — and they always do so whcne\er they can get it — their naturally fiery temperaments are wrought up into a state of savagery so intense ai to leave no while man's life safe in (heir presence whilethey remain under its influent c. I take it that to deliberately supply tho Indians with such bod^-and-soul-destroyins stuff is not only glaring wickedness but short-sighted unwisdom in the highest degree. The trader who ac^ thus may receive a few valuable skins each time as his bargain, but cacli time ai» vho contributes materially to the demoralisation and pioi ■*(&, extinction of the very races to whom lie looks a* his producers in his trade. In my opinion there ought to be a mere stringent law on that head through the whole of the British colonies. Heavy penalties should be inflicted and enforced too, in the case of any one, no matfor who, infringing it. Moreover, better bargain, I quite think, might be made with the native tribes by means of tho trinkofc traffic, proTided'it were thoroughly understood amongst them that by no means were they in future to obtain the "fnew.itcr" from one party than another. I recollect seeing some tribes on the Eraser Biver pledging themsehes to tl © missionaries who had gone to visit them. Thoj promised never to taste spirituous liquors, and doubtless the pledge whs meant to be kept. But an Indian is the veriest of babies. However ardently lie may have pledged his word, lot his missionary leave the camp only for a few days, and ho is a ready prey to the first pedlar who may chance to tramp in there. The podlar pir'iaps has no evil intentions Woe betide him, however, if he should betray that he possesses tho merest flask of spirit?. The whole tribe will cling to him like bits of steel to a magnet. Should he happen to take a taste himself, it is absolutely impossible for' tho Indians to resist. They will wrest the liquid fire from him, as many as can will gulp it, and then all is o^er with lliom. Again, permanent supervision alone reforms the Indian Now, in a place such *s Queen Cl a' lot to Islando, where no tramps can pass through, an Indiah mission might be inot-t profitably established. But then, ns an indispensable condition of success, every vo«el boat, or (aiioo coining to these Islands, would have to be overhauled and well searched for spirits. More than this, every captain or trader wishing to land here should be lcgallv compelled, before he puts his foot on shore, to bind himself l>y oatli that lie will not supply the natives with spirits. It would bo despotism no doubt. I hate despotic laws as a rule. Yet sometimes they become a rigorous necessity. And here is an evident case, in which tho sole alternative between certain ruin and rescue lies in despotic legislation, ho it as paternal as you will. Only, nothing but despotism, widely forecasting and ever \igilaiit> can save tho woik of perhaps entire 3 ears being thus undone in one single day. — J'oole's Narrative of Discovery in the Xorlh Pacific.

A Connecticut liuly, who couldn't persuade her hu«band to r>( a patent clothes (In or, took the pole away from her oldliulnonel line, and crouching down by the fence, creamed "Murder 1 " I" <*" instant her stnrtled lord came flympout f the house, was caught across the throat by the clothes' 1 no mid bffoiv he could rcuncr hnmelf, it had nearly sawn ) « iiendoll' The next morning s person with his neck all h-jiHta«»e<l up whs seen putting up a patent clothes drytr iv tUc same xdflutwulj aid

It is almost impossible to get a lioise shod without having the fio]cut [away All veterinary sin geons, all hoibeinen, all leading blacksmiths agree that the fiog should not be paied one particle— not even trimmed. Ko matter how plastic the frog i<j, cut it away smooth on all sides, and in tuu tl.iys it will bo dry and hard as a chip. You might as well cut oil all the leaves of trees, and expect them to floiuish, as to pare away the fiog and have a healthy foot. The rough, spongy part of the foot is what the leaves are to the tices— tins lungs. Never have a led hot shoe put upon the foot to bum the level. If you can find a blacksmith that is mechanic enough to level the feet without a led hot non, employ him. The burning process deadens the foot, and tends to' c mtract it "Stil" cried a girl, looking down from the upper slon of a groccn, addressing another girl, who va* tning U> cntev the front door, " we've all been to camp meeting and no lijm» been converted: so when jou want milk on Sundo^, you'll have to come round to the bmk door."