about five feet wide and three feet high. This is closely covered with blankets, so as to prevent evaporation. The patient enters, when his squaw puts in three or four stones, having previously been heated in a fire close at hand. A small brush made of balsam twigs, and a pan of cold water, complete all that is required for the operation. The Indian then sprinkles water with the twigs on the heated stones: the steam causes the perspiration to run in streams from his naked body, and when nearly suffocated he rushes out and plunges headlong into the lake! As nearly all the cultivable land of the peninsula along the eastern shore of Lake Huron has now been taken up by settlers, and as Manitoulin Island contains about threequarters of a million of acres (half of which at least is of good quality and fit for settlement), it was considered by the executive that if this island were resumed by the Crown, and the good land surveyed and offered for sale, it would ere long be occupied by an enterprising and industrious white population. The Indians inhabiting this region, however, have claimed exclusive title to the entire territory, by virtue of a treaty entered into with them in August, 1886, by Sir Francis Head, Governor of Upper Canada. Previous to that arrangement, Manitoulin was in the possession of a few Indians belonging to the Ottawa and Chippawa tribes; while portions of the peninsula and the country east of the Georgian Bay were occupied by scattered bands of these and other tribes. This territory in the hands of a few Indians, as a matter of course, remained uncultivated and useless. The interests of civilization, therefore, absolutely required that this obstacle should be removed, without in any way trespassing upon the right of justice or humanity; hence the benevolent policy of Sir Francis Head in making over the entire island of Manitoulin to these nomadic bands upon certain conditions. Sir Francis obtained a surrender to the Crown of the Indian title to the island, that it may be held for the use and benefit of all these scattered tribes (as well as the Indians then upon the island), who, it was agreed, should remove from the mainland. Although twenty-six years have since elapsed, but few of the Indians occupying the peninsula have repaired to Manitoulin. So far the terms of the treaty have not been complied with and the 1,200 red men now on the island could not possess any equitable or legal claim to the entire territory. The late Government made an ineffectual attempt to induce the Indians to cede the island; and with this object instructed Commissioners to visit Manitoulin during September, 1861. These gentlemen were authorized to offer twentyfive acres of land to each family of Indians, with a sufficient quantity of waste land for firewood, an arrangement which it was opined would have more than compensated them for any imaginary interest they may have had in the island. A surveyor accompanied the Commissioners with the view of making a preliminary exploration of the territory, in order to its subdivision into lots. The mission, however, was unsuccessful. The Indians, without any consultation among themselves, peremptorily refused to acquiesce in the proposed conditions, and asserted that their title to the island was not impaired by the conditional surrender they made to Sir Francis Head in 1836. They would not even discuss the propositions which the Commissioners had to make; and even went so far as to threaten violence to the surveyor if he attempted to survey their settlement, to which they alleged they had a peculiarly sacred title. The Commissioners promised to employ military force to induce compliance, but without effecting any change in their determination. This threat, notwithstanding, the Government did not deem it expedient to carry out. Since the new cabinet came into office, the subject has engaged their attention, and the Honourable Mr. McDougal proposed such a scheme to the Governor-General and the Government as met with their entire approval, and the issue of which has proved so singularly successful. On Thursday, October 2, I left Toronto, C.W., with the Crown Lands Commissioner and other officials, by the Northern Railway, to Colingwood, a distance of 96 miles. Here a special steamer was awaiting us, by which we were conveyed close to Manitoulin Island (signifying the residence of the Great Spirit), where we arrived about noon the next day. Upon landing from a small boat on the island, we were met by the Resident Superintendent, and four Indian chiefs, who wore large silver medals round their necks, presents from different British sovereigns. The chiefs shook hands with the Commissioner, myself, and the other members of our party, and seemed highly pleased to see us. A few words were interchanged on both sides, and explained by the interpreter who accompanied us from Toronto. A number of Indians carried our baggage to the Superintendent's residence, a huge wooden structure built somewhat after the model of Noah's ark, where we took up our quarters, to the evident dismay of Captain Ironsides and his family, whose domicile seemed to have been invaded, and which possessed scarcely sufficient accommodation for themselves. A large "Union Jack" floated from a flagstaff erected at one side of the building. The Commissioner brought with him a considerable quantity of stores, both for our own use and for distribution among the Indians. The first meeting of the Indian Council took place on Saturday. The Council Chamber consisted of a loft in the Government storehouse-a plank structure, which, as the storm howled outside, and the waves of the bay laved its sides, caused the old rickety edifice to sway to and fro like a drunken man, until I grew somewhat apprehensive of the consequences. The only furniture was a table and a long form, placed at one end of the room, upon which were seated the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs and his party. Cakes of tobacco and clay pipes were piled in two heaps on the floor, between the Commissioner and the Indians, many of whom eagerly seized the proffered presents, and puffed away until the apartment was dark, and my eyes bedazzled from smoke. About 300 Indians were present, many of whom were dirty and ill-clad. The various chiefs occupied prominent places; some of them stood, while others squatted crosslegged on the floor, smoking their tomahawk pipes. The head war-chief, Assickinack, was attired like an admiral, in a blue cloth coat, with gilt buttons and a gold epaulette, a crimson sash, top boots, and a cocked-hat, ornamented with a plume of blue and white feathers. He wore several large silver medals suspended round his neck, one of which had been presentea by his Majesty George III., in commemoration of the loyal services he rendered during the war of 1812, when he headed a legion of Indians, raised by himself, and led them victoriously against the revolted subjects of the Crown. He is now over 93 years old, and almost blind, and subsists principally upon a small pension received from the Government, which I have reason to think will be augmented during the short time he has to live. Other chiefs were dressed in blanket jackets and crimson leggings, ornamented with bead work. One fierce-looking fellow had his cheeks and eyebrows painted, and wore a head-dress of feathers that extended down his back, while rings of brass glittered round his neck. In a belt he carried a large knife, such as Indian "warriors" generally wear. Among the assembly was Father Chout, the Jesuit missionary, wrapped in a blue cloak, and a red cotton kerchief round his neck. increasing, fearful lest he should come to grief, one of the officials took Asaickinack's arm and removed him from the council. As the possibility of entering into any negotiation seemed hopeless the assembly was adjourned until the following Monday. Meanwhile rumours had spread that some of the Indians had come to the council armed with pistols and knives, for the purpose of intimidation, and that acts of violence were not unlikely to occur at the next meeting. For a time our party felt somewhat apprehensive, and precautionary measures were adopted in case of a revolt, not however that these would have been of much avail did the Indians exhibit any physical manifestations of insubordination. Contrary to our expectations the council on Monday went off as pleasantly as marriage bells; so I congratulated myself on my happy escape from being scalped,-anything but a desirable process, judging from an elaborate description of the operation which I had heard while on the island. As horror gives horrent shapes to thought, so the fiendish face of that painted Indian I have mentioned disturbed my repose by night and haunted me by day. The majority of the chiefs had thought better of the propositions and intentions of the Government and the following morning the new treaty, ceding the island of Great Manitoulin to the Crown upon certain favourable conditions combining immediate and prospective advantages, was duly signed, the signatures o. the chiefs and head-men consisting of symbolic representations, as this savage aristocracy are proud of their heraldry. Much merriment was occasioned by the artistic attempts of some of the chiefs to delineate the objects they intended which consisted of animals, birds and fishes. The proceedings commenced by the Commissioner shaking hands with the chiefs, according to their desire, made known through the interpreter (a son of old Assickinack), who was educated at Toronto College, and is now in the employ of the Indian Department. The Commissioner next essayed to state the objects of his mission, and explained the intentions of the Government towards the Indians on the island. The proposition was met with a storm of indignation; the chiefs of the Waquimakong After the treaty was duly signed and wittribe being most strongly opposed to the relin-nessed, the Superintendent-General of Indian quishment of their reserves. Several chiefs or Affairs informed the chiefs in attendance that head-men, deputed by chiefs, delivered lengthy his father, when a boy, was adopted by the and impassioned addresses, wherein they set Chief of the Snake Tribe, and called Whaforth in highly poetical language, and logical saneese (Cat-Fish), and that this was one reason order, the grounds of their dissension. After why he took such an interest in their affairs. each speaker had concluded he shook hands Upon which the Indians, who heard the story first with the Commissioner, and then with all interpreted, cried out in amazement, mingled those round the table. During the sitting of with humour, "Whasaneese! Whasaneese!" the council great excitement was manifested, a name by which he will long be remembered. and horrible yells, and even the war-whoop, Although the majority of the tribes on Maniwere given. Only poor old Assickinack was toulin Island have ceded that territory to the favourable to the proposed arrangement. He Crown, nevertheless they will still continue to expressed his confidence in the Queen and hold reserves, 100 acres of land being, by virtue the Government, and said the Indians were of the treaty, accorded to each head of a family, vastly better off since they had come under and 50 acres to each unmarried person over 21 the protection of the white man; for his part, years of age, a similar number of acres being he was satisfied with the overtures made to granted to each orphan child. After a survey him, and he advised his brothers to accept the of the island has been made, the Government same. The old warrior's address excited wild proposes to sell a considerable portion to white commotion, for he had been a renowned orator settlers, the proceeds to be invested for the in his day, and knew still how to impress an benefit of the Indiau. I am rather apprehen assembly. The painted Indian placed his hand sive, however, that the morals and character of on his war-knife, and made threatening gesticu- the red man will be injuriously affected by the lations, but the chief's two sons stood ready to contiguity and contact of the aggressive race protect their father. A pagan Indian imme- and that the pecuniary benefit accruing from diately came forward, at the desire of his the arrangement will not atone for the moral fellows, and attacked the old man in a very injury he must necessarily receive. abusive speech; and as the excitement was ONE bright May bay, we Hans, a little shepherd boy, was sitting under the shadow of an old oak, watching his flock, and listening to the music of the birds. He was thinking of all sorts of things, and did not know that anybody was near him till a young gentleman, very gaily dressed, with a velvet coat all embroidered with gold, and a velvet cap ornamented with feathers, laid his hand upon him, and said "How now, my little philosopher; wake up, and tell me if there be such a thing as a birds'nest hereabouts." 66 Ay, marry," quoth the boy, "there be birds'-nests enough, as a less wise gentleman might have guessed by the singing." The shepherd made this remark before he had time to notice how bravely dressed, and of what a comely bearing was his youthful questioner. When he noticed these things, he naturally supposed him to be some one of consequence, so he rose up from his grassy seat and made him a low bow. "I ask your pardon, sir," he said, "I thought at first you were one of my own companions. Can I be of service to you?" "You can tell me whether or no there be birds'-nests hereabouts." Many, sir, many. Do you not hear the merry chirping of the birds ?" "And you, who so well know this forest, could lead me to some of these nests, eh ?" "To be sure I could. I saw this morning one of the best-it was a model nest-quite a picture, it was nicely woven of yellow straws, warmly, snugly lined with moss; and in it were five eggs as blue as the sky." Charming, charming!" cried the young gentleman. "I must certainly look at this nest. Five eggs you say-just the thing I have been longing to see. Come, budge, master shepherd, and show me the way to the nest." "Pardon me," Hans answered, "but I may do no such thing. I can neither lead you to them, nor tell you where to find them." "Insolent!" cried the young gentleman, growing red and angry, "I will pay you wellwhat more would you have?" "I would have nothing to do with leading you to the bird's-nest. If you please, I will find some other." "None other!" said the young gentleman. "I have set my heart on looking upon this model nest, and my will is not to be thwarted." 'Indeed, I should be right sorry to thwart it, could I do otherwise. I cannot; therefore I pray you pardon me." 66 While he was speaking, two persons came up, the one attired in a suit of black velvet, with a snow-white collar and a black silk cap; the other all in scarlet and gold lace. "We have been looking for your Highness for more than a quarter of an hour," said he of the black velvet, "and we began to fear-" "We began to fear," said he of the scarlet and gold lace, just for all the world as if he were a parrot, to whose plumage indeed his bright colours bore singular resemblance. 66 That," went on the black velvet gentleman, some evil had happened to you-we were really quite alarmed." "Nay, you need never trouble yourselves on my account; a sharp eye, a quick foot, a ready hand, are capital preservatives. But I am right glad you are come, for of all the wrongheaded boys that ever I met, I never saw the equal of yonder shepherd." 66 What does your highness mean ?" asked Black Velvet; and Scarlet and Gold began the same question just as the other left off." "Just precisely what I say. You shall adjudge the matter. I am looking for a bird'snest; this boy tells me of one beautifully made, lined with moss, and with five blue eggs in it. Give it me, I say, 'I must not,' he answers. All he can do is to give me another. Another is not the nest I want. I have set my mind on this nest, and I will have it." All this time Hans, now alarmed at his own temerity, but fully determined not to give up, stood looking from one to another, uncertain how to act. They were evidently great folks, and the smallest the greatest. As he stood there, turning his cap round and round, and wondering what would happen, the gentleman in black velvet called to him. 66 "My boy," said he-so cheerfully, "you are acting unkindly towards this young gentleman. He has been brought up in cities, knows little of country life, has never seen a bird's-nest, though he has read much about them. Do him the favour of leading him to the one you mentioned. He will not even touch it, all he requires is to look at it." "I am more sorry than I can tell, sir, Hans replied, "but I must not do it." "This is wrong," said he of the black velvet; we should always confer pleasure when it is in our power to do so. Especially in this case, you should do your utmost to please the young gentleman. Duty as well as courtesy requires it. He is the young Prince Henry." "Prince Henry," cried little Hans, opening his eyes so wide that they looked as if they would never shut again, “O, pardon me, great little Prince, I am most sorry that I cannot show you the bird's-nest-and could not, though you were your own Royal father, whom heaven long preserve." "You are the most troublesome boy I ever saw," said the young Prince. "My dear tutor, what shall we do with him? What say you, Deddler ?" So the gentleman in black velvet was his tutor; and he in scarlet and gold, whom he called Deddler, was his travelling attendant. "Let us question the boy more closely," said the tutor. Tell me, child, why you will not show us the nest. Tell us honestly, and if the reason be good, we will trouble you no more." "May it please you," said Hans, "the honest truth is this-Maurice, the goatherd, showed me the nest, and I promised to let no one know where it was to be found." The tutor was pleased at the boy's reply, but was resolved to test it still further. "Have you a father?" he asked. وو "I have, but he is old and very poor." "This gold piece would be a help to him," the tutor went on, producing a gold coin, and holding it in the full light of the sun. 'Now, this coin shall be yours if you will show us the bird's-nest. We shall not touch it. Maurice need know nothing of it." "But God would," said Hans. Maurice "See how the gold shows in the light, boy." "So does a serpent," cried Hans; go away, tempter." Then he blushed scarlet as the servant's coat, and said, "I meant no offence, sir, I was thinking of our Lord in the wilderness, when the wicked one said to him, 'All these things will I give you."" "Now, if that," said Scarlet Coat, "is not consummate impudence, I don't know what is. Let me settle it, if you please." He put on a very stern face, seized the boy by the collar, lifted up his heavy riding-whip, saying, Now, we have had too many words, sharp blows must do the rest. Talk of your promise, little churl, I promise to lash you within an inch of your life and mean to keep itwithout indeed you lead us to the nest this instant." The boy grew pale, trembled, staggered, and attempted to escape, screaming "Pardon, pardon! Show us the nest, varlet, or and he cracked the whip so loud and sharp it sounded like the report of a pistol. "Oh, I cannot, I dare not, I will not!" Enough!" said the tutor, ordering the servant to desist. "The boy is a good lad-and no harm should be done to him. The Prince agrees with me that he has stood out manfully for truth and honesty, and that neither threats nor promises have been able to turn him from the right path. Come, Hans, ask your friend's permission to show us the nest, and divide the gold between you." 66 A thousand thanks," cried little Hans. "A thousand, thousand thanks-God save the Prince! In the course of the evening, Hans presented himself at the Royal Hunting Lodge, and was kindly received by the young Prince and his tutor. He brought word that Maurice had very readily acceded to the offer, and called him a foolish fellow for not having closed the bargain at once. So they went forth under his guidance, stopped under an alder-tree, where a little yellow bird was singing gaily, and under which was a white thorn bush, in which the nest was concealed. They did not touch the nest, they only looked at it; and the Prince, who had never seen such a thing before in his whole life, was charmed beyond measure. The money was then paid in bright new silver coins by the tutor; and Hans, overjoyed with his good fortune, went away to share it with the goatherd. Inquiries which he afterwards made about the boy turned out so much to his credit that the young Prince was encouraged to befriend him; and from one step to another, inch by inch, he rose up to be a wealthy, talented, and distinguished man. ST. GEORGE AND literature, THE DRAGON. While the lady was in this position, and ex AMONG the heroes of legendaryst famous pecting every moment that the dragon would It is to the history of our own country, however, that he is indebted for the preservation of his memory. His name would long since have lost its charm, but the circumstance of his being adopted, in the fourteenth century, as the patron saint of England, and associated with the most illustrious of European orders," has kept alive his early reputation, and handed it down from generation to generation. It appears that the warrior saint, whose name is connected with the brightest era of English chivalry, was a Christian, and a native of Cappadocia. In quest of adventure, how ever, he made an expedition to Lybia, where the presence of a warrior animated by piety and valour was, at the time, most opportune; for a huge and ferocious dragon was then preying upon the country, and terrifying the heathen inhabitants. Chronicles tell that this dragon lay in a large pond or little sea, and seemed satisfied if the populace furnished him daily with two sheep. Ere long, however, the sheep began to fail, and it became necessary to provide him with a sheep and a human being; but none of the inhabítants were very ambitious of being sacrificed to keep the monster quiet; and the king, who was a Pagan, issued a mandate that the children and young people should be taken by lot. The result filled him with horror; for the first person on whom the lot fell was his own daughter. When this occurred, the grief of the king was intense. He beat his breast, tore his hair, and begged that she might be spared. "For the love of God," he cried, "take gold and silver instead. Take all that I have, but let my daughter live." "How, sir," said his people, can you ask such a thing? It was you who made and ordained the law, and after our children have gone, you want to break it. Nevertheless, your daughter must be given to the beast." The king, on hearing this, shed tears. But perceiving that the sacrifice was unavoidable, he arrayed her as if for her wedding, and leading her to the side of the pond where the dragon was, there left the princess to her fate. appear to devour her, St. George came riding up with his spear in his hand. "Fair damsel," said he, reining up his charger, "what make you here?" 66 "Sir," she answered, pointing towards the dragon with a look of resignation, "go your ways that ye perish not also." Almost as she spoke the dragon came out of the water, and rushed towards its destined victim. St. George, however, was not daunted by the reptile's appearance. Settling himself in his saddle, he laid his spear in rest, spurred his steed-which had been standing with its neck arched and impatiently pawing the ground-bore himself against the dragon, and smiting the monster with his spear, prostrated it in the dust. The princess, finding herself free, made an effort to thank the warrior by whose valour she had been almost miraculously preserved; and St. George delivered the damsel to her father, who was converted to Christianity with all his people and forthwith baptized. At an early period the old Dukes of Aquitaine acknowledged St. George as their patron saint, and their cry in battle was, "St. George for the puissant Duke." After Henry II. married Eleanor, heiress of Aquitaine, their descendants, the Plantagenet kings, adopted St. George as one of their patron saints, and the war-cry of Richard Coeur de Lion when fighting with Saladin the Great. As time passed on, and the Plantagenets became thoroughly English, Edward I. rather preferred his namesake the Confessor. When the third Edward, however, fresh from his victories over the French, instituted the order of the Garter, he placed it under the protection of the Trinity and certain saints, among whom he recognised St. George as the chief, and at the same time founded, in honour of St. George, the chapel which bears his name. When Sigismund, Emperor of Germany, visited England in the time of Henry V., he brought with him the heart of St. George, which with much reverence was kept in the chapel. CHRISTMAS The bells are ringing merrily It is the blessed Christmas time Those Christmas bells, those Christmas bells! It is no time for sadness,- They ring above the quiet graves,➡ CHIMES. Those bells! oh, for how many years Of sorrow, or of mirth; Though other voices had been hushed, Yet they are ringing, ringing still, Oh! many a lonely year hath passed, E'er they will wake from slumber deep |