REATMENT OF WIDOWS.

Fort St. James, the depot of New Caledonia district, stands near
the outlet of Stuart's Lake, and commands a splendid view of the
surrounding country. The lake is about fifty miles in length, and
from three to four miles in breadth, stretching away to the north and
north-east for about twenty miles; the view from the Fort embraces
nearly the whole of this section of it, which is studded with
beautiful islands. The western shore is low, and indented by a number
of small bays formed by wooded points projecting into the lake, the
back-ground rising abruptly into a ridge of hills of varied height and
magnitude. On the east the view is limited to a range of two or three
miles, by the intervention of a high promontory, from which the eye
glances to the snowy summits of the Rocky Mountains in the distant
back-ground. I do not know that I have seen anything to compare with
this charming prospect in any other part of the country; its beauties
struck me even at this season of the year, when nature having partly
assumed her hybernal dress, everything appeared to so much greater
disadvantage.

The Indian village is situated in a lovely spot at the outlet of the
lake, and consists of only five or six houses, but every house is
occupied by several families. These buildings are of a very slight and
simple construction, being merely formed of stakes driven into the
ground; a square piece of timber runs horizontally along the top of
this wall, to which the stakes are fastened by strips of willow bark.
This inclosure, which is of a square form, is roofed in by placing two
strong posts at each gable, which support the ridge pole, on which
the roof sticks are placed, one end resting on the ridge pole, and
the other on the wall, the whole being covered with pine bark: there
is generally a door at each end, which is cut in the wall after the
building is erected. These apertures are of a circular form, and about
two and a half feet in diameter, so that a stranger finds it very
awkward to pass through them. In effecting a passage you first
introduce a leg, then bending low the body you press in head and
shoulders; in this position you will have some difficulty in
maintaining your equilibrium, for if you draw in the rest of the body
too quickly, it is a chance but you will find yourself with your head
undermost: the natives bolt through them with the agility of a weasel.

For some time after my arrival here, I had very