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Table of Contents ECON 321 SPRING 2022 – ASSIGNMENT 3 1 Question 1: (Reading) Nutrition and Residential Schools 3 1.a (3-2-1 report) 3 Question 2: (Regular) Aid and Starvation 4 2.a Adjusting for inflation using a CPI 5 2.b Buying the relief bundle at Walmart in 2022 7 2.c Counting calories 8 2.d Which measure is best? 9 Question 3: (Challenge) Tracking down Hong Yuen 11 Appendix: Government correspondence on the Moisie affair 14 A. J. Smith to D. Laird, Minister of the Interior (April 30, 1874) 14 Memo by L. Vankoughnet (May 4, 1874) 14 Letter from ‘G’ to Alex Fraser & Co. (May 5, 1874) 15 Letter from ‘G.’ to John Holliday (May 5, 1874) 16 Letter from Chief Bartholomew to E. A. Meredith (May 25, 1874) 16 Letter from John Holliday to E. A. Meredith (May 28, 1874) 17 Letter from E. A. Meredith to John Holliday (March 3, 1875) 17 Letter from E. A. Meredith to A. Fraser & Co. (March 3, 1875) 18 Letter from A. Fraser & Co. to E. A. Meredith (March 11, 1875) 18 Letter from John Holliday to E. A. Meredith (March 11, 1875) 18 Letter from E. A. Meredith to John Holliday (March 19, 1875) 19 Letter from John Holliday to E. A. Meredith (May 5, 1875) 19 Unsigned Memorandum (Probably May 6-9, 1875) 19 Letter from E. A. Meredith to John Holliday (May 10, 1875) 19 Letter from John Holliday to E. A. Meredith (June 30, 1875) 20 Letter from E. A. Meredith to John Holliday (August 16, 1875) 20 Letter from John Holliday to E. A. Meredith (October 1, 1875) 21 List of Provisions distributed to Moisie & Seven Islands Indians 22

Read the following paper:

Write a 3-2-1 report on the above paper in the usual fashion.

In 1874, it was brought to the attention[footnoteRef:1] of Canada’s Ministry of the Interior that Indians in the Moisie and Sept-Îles (Seven Islands) regions of Quebec were in danger of starving. As relief, the government sent 8 barrels of flour, 1 barrel of pork, 1 barrel of dried peas, 2 kegs of lard (pork fat), 4 bags of biscuit, one bale of stroud cloth, and one bale of old stock blankets. These were allocated by a non-Indigenous trader, John Holliday, who had done similar work for the government before. He had strict instructions to give relief only to “to those among them who, from old age, sickness, or the number of children in their families may be real objects for Charity […] – as of course where Indians can support themselves by their own labor, it is desirable that they should do so.” [1: All of the background information and quotes in this question are taken from MINGAN RESERVE – SUPPLIES SENT TO STARVING INDIANS OF THE MOISIE, SEPT ILES AREA. (1874 – 1877). Library and Archives Canada: RG10, Volume number: 1929, Microfilm reel number: C-11113, C-11113, File number: 3297. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2073417&new=-8585571460577434633 ]

In 1875, Indigenous people at Moisie, Sept-Îles and Mingan were again in danger of starving. This time, the government had John Holliday buy the supplies for the Indians on the government’s behalf. He was instructed to “procure such supplies as you believe to be absolutely necessary for the Indians, not on any account, however, to exceed in amount the sum of $250, and as much below that sum as the circumstances will justify. These supplies the Supt. Genl. wishes you to distribute in the same judicious manner as has been done by you on previous occasions, always remembering that only Indians in actual want and who are unable to procure subsistence by the work of their hands should receive assistance.”

John Holliday originally missed the inclusion of Mingan, which was 70 miles away from him, and spent $115.07 on supplies for the Moisie and Sept-Îles Indians. He spent this on 19 barrels of flour and 100 lbs. of lard. Assistance was given to 28 individuals, many of whom received 2 lbs. lard and 1 barrel of flour (196 lb.)[footnoteRef:2] to get them through the winter. [2: “Wheat flour: 1 barrel equals 196 pounds”. Statistics Canada. (2008). Symbols. https://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb_r008-eng.htm ]

In this question, you will examine how generous (or not) this relief was, in three different ways: adjusting per capita expenditure for inflation using a consumer price index, calculating the cost of buying 2 lbs. of lard and 196 lbs. of flour in 2022, and calculating the calories and implied days of food provided.

In 1875, John Holliday, on behalf of the government, spent $115.07 to provide relief for 28 Indigenous people at risk of starving. This means that per capita spending on relief was $115.07/28 = $4.11 (approximately).

This number does not tell us much on its own, because in terms of purchasing power, $1 meant something very different in 1875 than it does in 2022.

When economists (and others) come across this problem, it’s common to adjust for inflation using a price index. Unfortunately, Canada’s go-to price index, the Consumer Price Index or CPI, only goes back to 1914.

While the official CPI for the United States only goes back to 1913, the Minneapolis Federal Reserve has put together an estimate[footnoteRef:3] of the U.S. CPI from 1800[footnoteRef:4] onward. [3: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. (n.d.). Consumer Price Index, 1800-. https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator/consumer-price-index-1800- ] [4: Crucially, their prices for 1851-1890 are based on Hoover, E. D. (1960). Retail Prices after 1850. In The Conference on Research in Income and Wealth (ed.), Trends in the American Economy in the Nineteenth Century, pp. 141-190. Princeton University Press. https://www.nber.org/system/files/chapters/c2476/c2476.pdf ]

If you assume that the inflation experience of the U.S. and Canada from 1875 to 2022 are similar enough so that adjusting for U.S. inflation will return a figure that reasonably close to the ‘true’ value we’d get by adjusting for Canadian inflation, then one way to understand how ‘generous’ the relief was, would be to adjust per capita spending for U.S. inflation.

According to the Minneapolis Federal Reserve and the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics[footnoteRef:5], the U.S. CPI was 33 in 1875 and 843.87 in 2022. This means that a basket of consumer goods that cost $33 in 1875 should cost $843.87 in 2022, and by extension that $1 in 1875 bought as much as ($843.87/33 =) $25.69 in 2022. [5: The Minneapolist Fed’s CPI series only goes to 2020 (and includes an estimate for 2021). I used Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) data to adjust the Minneapolis Fed’s 2020 CPI (777.7) for U.S. inflation from July, 2020 (the midpoint of the year) to January, 2022 (the latest estimate available). You can try this yourself using the BLS’s inflation calculator: https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm ]

i. If $33 in 1875 is the same as $843.87 in 2022, how much is the $4.11 per capita expenditure in 1875, in 2022 dollars? Show your work[footnoteRef:6]. [6: You should only need high school math for this: 33 is to 843.87 as 4.11 is to what?]

Answer: $ _____________________

Work:

ii. Do you think the number you calculated does a good job of letting someone in 2022 understand how generous or not generous the government spending on starvation relief was in 1875? Briefly explain your reasoning. For full marks, you should be specific.

(Hint: What do I mean by ‘be specific’? One obvious issue to ‘go after’ would be that the U.S. and Canada don’t have identical inflation histories, so that adjusting for U.S. inflation won’t be the same as adjusting for Canadian inflation. Pointing that out is not enough for full marks. Instead, you should find some evidence that inflation between 1875 and 2022 is different enough in the U.S. and Canada that using U.S. inflation would be misleading, perhaps by comparing both countries’ CPIs for 1914 – 2022, when both countries have well-defined official CPIs. There are other things you could talk about, too. We’re treating the $4.11 as if it were spent on general consumer goods, but the spending in 1875 was on very specific items…)

[Write your answer here, in 5 to 500 words]

Another way to determine how generous or not generous the government’s starvation release spending was, is to calculate how much it would cost to buy the relief ‘bundle’ in 2022.

John Holliday reported[footnoteRef:7] giving relief to 28 Indigenous people. Of these 28, 14 were given 2 lbs. lard and 1 barrel (196 lb.) of flour, 11 were given 2 lbs. lard and no flour, 1 was given 2 lbs. lard and 2 barrels flour, 1 was given 7 lbs. lard and 1 barrel flour, and 1 was given no lard and 1 barrel flour. [7: See the very last page of this assignment for a transcription of Holliday’s account.]

The modal ‘bundle’ was therefore 2 lbs. of lard and 196 lb. (1 barrel) of flour.

At walmart.ca, as of February 13, 2022, 1 lb. (454 g.) of Tenderflake pure lard costs $2.97, and 10 kg. of Great Value Original All-Purpose Flour costs $8.47.

i. If 1 lb. of lard costs $2.97 and 10 kg of flour cost $8.47, what is the total cost of 2 lb. of lard and 196 lb. of flour? Show your work. Hint: Note that there are 1000 g. in a kg. and (about) 454 g. in a lb.

Answer: $____________

Work:

ii. Do you think the number you calculated does a good job of letting someone in 2022 understand how generous or not generous the government spending on starvation relief was in 1875? Briefly explain your reasoning. For full marks, you should be specific.

(Hint: Do you think lard (pig fat) ‘means’ the same thing, culturally and in terms of cooking, now as in 2022? Are there things you could do to prevent starvation with the amount of money calculated above, that you couldn’t do if you were just given the flour and lard?)

[Write your answer here, in 5 to 500 words]

Another way to see how generous (or not) the government relief of flour and lard was, is to try to figure out how long someone could live on the calories provided. It’s commonly reported[footnoteRef:8] that a healthy adult needs at least 2,000 calories a day. [8: See, for example, this quote from a government of Ontario site: “Adults and youth (ages 13 and older) need an average of 2,000 calories a day”. Ontario Ministry of Health. (2021). Calories on menus. https://www.ontario.ca/page/calories-menus# ]

i. If 1 lb. of lard has 4,091 calories, 1 lb. of flour has 1,651 calories, and an adult needs about 2,000 calories/day, how many days eating could be ‘funded’ using just the 2 lb. of lard and 1 barrel (196 lb.) of flour provided by the government? Show your work, and make your answer correct to 2 decimal places. (e.g. ‘1.23 days’.)

Days of semi-starvation diet possible: _______________________

Work:

ii. Do you think the number you calculated does a good job of letting someone in 2022 understand how generous or not generous the government spending on starvation relief was in 1875? Briefly explain your reasoning.

[Write your answer here, in 5 to 500 words]

In your opinion, which of the three numbers you calculated above gives the best idea of how generous (or un-generous) government starvation relief was? Briefly explain your reasoning, and be specific if possible.

A few things you may wish to keep in mind:

· This relief was specifically only for people who could not earn a living in absolutely any other way (or who had a large number of young children).

· Like the Beothuk, the Indigenous people in the affected region migrated between the Interior and the Coast. In Autumn, they would leave for the woods of the Interior, to hunt. They’d come back to the Coast in the spring and summer.

· The winter hunts had failed in 1873 and 1874, and were expected to fail in 1875.

· In 1874, able-bodied Indigenous people affected by the failure of the hunt had found employment chopping wood for the Moisie Iron Company. According to the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, who first drew attention to the issue, this work only allowed for a “scanty subsistence”.

· A letter survives from an Indigenous leader (chief) named Bartholomy or Barthelemy to the Minister of the Interior, regarding assistance. It reads in part:

“Our hunting grounds these many years past, do not as formerly yield us a sufficiency for to live comfortably on, and I do not know what would become of us, unless, for your great care of us. As Mr. Holliday is very well acquainted with those who are most in need, I will from time to time let him know when they require assistance, and he will distribute to us, as is most necessary.

As we leave the coast about the beginning of August to pass the winter in the Interior, we would earnestly entreat of you to extend again your goodness towards us by sending us a small supply of flour about the end of July, to enable us to pass the winter without dread of starvation; it would be great relief with our own endeavours to reach the Coast with safety in Spring.”

i. Of the three numbers you calculated, which one is best at communicating to readers in 2022 how generous or not generous the government’s supplies were? Briefly explain your reasoning.

[Write your answer here, in 5 to 500 words.]

ii. Based on what you’ve learned, do you think the assistance provided by the government in 1875 was enough, and appropriate? Briefly explain your reasoning. For full marks, be specific. (e.g. Don’t just say, ‘No, because it wasn’t a lot of food.’ Instead, say something along the lines of, ‘If the goal was to -----, then the supplies would not have been enough, because --- and ---, which would require ---, and this was not provided for.)

Hint: I’ve transcribed much of the formerly secret government correspondence on the issue as an Appendix. How much of a say did Indigenous people get in how much relief was provided, or of what kind, or in how it was distributed? How much effort was put into making sure it was appropriate?

[Write your answer here, in 5 to 500 words.]

This question will show you how you may combine information from a variety of sources to create a picture of an individual or organization. We will be looking at Hong Yuen & Co. General Vegetable[footnoteRef:9] Dealers. This company was founded in Victoria by Hong Yuen, and is not mentioned after the 1920s. [9: Hong Yuen & Co. did try to start a piggery in 1909, but the neighbours complained.]

We’ll focus on the years 1891 and 1911, because these are years that are unusually rich in information. Both of them are census years, and UVic has online copies of fire insurance maps for both years.

PLEASE ENTER ALL YOUR ANSWERS IN THE TABLE BELOW. ANSWERS NOT IN THE TABLE WILL NOT RECEIVE MARKS.

Sir, I take the earliest opportunity to acquaint you of information received at this Department concerning the necessitous condition of the Indians frequenting the interior of the Moise District. The winter hunt has been a failure, and the tardy spring season threatens to bear with unusual severity on these poor people who are at present depending for a scanty subsistence on the proceeds of wood-cutting for the Moisie Iron Company.

Should the opening of navigation on the St. Lawrence permit, a fishing schooner will proceed from Quebec about the 7th proximo. If any relief could be afforded on her arrival at Seven Islands or Moisie, it might serve the interests of humanity.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Obt. Servant,

A. J. Smith[footnoteRef:18] [18: Sir Albert James Smith (1822 – 1883).]

Minister of Marine and Fisheries.

Memo on an application made through the Department of Marine + Fisheries for assistance to be sent to the Indians in the vicinity of the Moise P.Q., owing to the failure of their Winter’s hunt.

The Indians of the Moisie and neighbourhood number about 140 Souls.

Of these there are doubtless many who can earn their own subsistence by the work of their hands; and to whom it would not be an advantage to extend gratuitous aid.

But of course there are others who from old age, sickness, or owing to their having many small helpless children, would require such assistance. For the relief of such cases it is proposed to ship per Schooner leaving Quebec this week, a limited quantity of supplies consigned to Mr. John Holliday, of the Moisie (who has on previous occasions kindly undertaken + discharged to the entire satisfaction of the Department, services of a similar character for those Indians) to be distributed among them, as their need may require, and at such times + in such proportions as Mr. Holliday may think will best meet the object in view.

It is respectfully suggested that supplies to consist of

be ordered from Messrs. Alex Fraser + Co. of Quebec, with which Firm Mr. Holliday is connected, and to whom the Schooner, by which the supplies are to be shipped, belongs; also that some stroud (coarse cloth suitable for coats + trousers) and old Blankets (if not too much fretted by moth) in store in this office be provided to Messrs. Fraser + Co’s care to be shipped along with the other supplies to Mr. Holliday and to whom a letter of introductions, will at the same time be transmitted by the same vessel [?] directing him as to the proper distribution of the supplies.

L. Vankoughnet[footnoteRef:19] [19: Lawrence Vankoughnet worked in various positions in the Indian department, from clerk to Deputy Superintendent General.]

Acting D.S.G.I.A.

[Acting Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs]

Gentlemen, I have to request that you will forward by the first Schooner leaving your port for the Moisie, addressed to John Holliday […] the following supplies for the use of the most necessitous among the Indians of that neighbourhood, and at the same time you will place in the hands of the Capt. Of said Schooner, to be given by hand to Mr. Holliday, the enclosed letter of instructions as to the distribution of said supplies:

Eight (8) Barrels Flour

One (1) Barrel Pork

One (1) Barrel Pease

Two (2) Kegs Lard

Four (4) Bags Biscuit.

I have also forwarded by Express this day, addressed to you, two bales [?] – one of which contains Stroud (coarse cloth) and the other a few Blankets which you will have the goodness to readdress to Mr. Holliday, and forward by the same Schooner to the Moisie.

Your Account for [the] above supplies + c. should be enclosed by this Office and, upon notification from Mr. Holliday of their safe arrival, and of their being satisfactory, payment will be made for the same by Official Cheque.

I am, G.

Sir, as it has been represented to the Supt. Genl. Of Indian Affairs that the Indians of the Moisie may in some cases be suffering from the failure of the Winter hunt; and assistance may be required to be extended to those among them who, from old age, sickness, or the number of children in their families may be real objects for Charity – the Supt. Genl. [has proffered] supplies to meet the object in view and I have accordingly this day addressed a letter to Messrs. Alex Fraser & Co. of Quebec requesting them to ship by the first Schooner leaving that Port for the Moisie the following supplies, the receipt of which you will be good enough to report to this Department their condition when received by you, and the quality of the articles sent.

Eight (8) Barrels Flour

One (1) Barrel Pork

One (1) Barrel Pease

Two (2) Kegs Lard

Four (4) Bags Biscuit

From this Office I also forward to Messrs. Fraser + Co, to be likewise consigned to you by the same Schooner, two bales, one containing one hundred (100) yards of Stroud which can be used for making coats + trousers and the other Blankets, 4 [?] small + large (all being a part of an old stock that were on hand).

In the distribution of these supplies you will be good enough to restrict them to the class of Indians described in the foregoing part of this letter – as of course where Indians can support themselves by their own labor, it is desirable that they should do so.

With this restriction the Department will […] entrust the distribution entirely to your own discretion as to time and preparation of the distribution, in each case to be made When the supplies sent have been all dealt out you will be good enough to transmit a brief report concerning the same.

I am, G.

Sir, I am thankful and pleased to acknowledge the safe arrival of the supplies sent for us by Mr. Holliday, and we are at all times very grateful for your kind consideration of our poverty. Our hunting grounds these many years past, do not as formerly yield us a sufficiency for to live comfortably on, and I do not know what would become of us, unless, for your great care of us. As Mr. Holliday is very well acquainted with those who are most in need, I will from time to time let him know when they require assistance, and he will distribute to us, as is most necessary.

As we leave the coast about the beginning of August to pass the winter in the Interior, we would earnestly entreat of you to extend again your goodness towards us by sending us a small supply of flour about the end of July, to enable us to pass the winter without dread of starvation; it would be great relief with our own endeavours to reach the Coast with safety in Spring. Still it would please us very much, could you be agreeable to let us know your intentions towards us before the latter end of July.

With much respect

Your very humble

And obedient Sevt.

Nin par ler mis me mo ik i nu tsi mieu[footnoteRef:22] [22: Possibly a syllabic version of the Chief’s name, or a quotation.]

Signed/Bartholomew Chief

According to your letter of 5th Inst. No. 3297 I have to acknowledge receipt of eight barrels No. 1 Flour, one barrel mefs. [?] pork, one barrel peas, two kegs lard, four bags biscuit & two bales dry goods landed here per schooner “Laurel” in good order & condition for distribution among the Moisie or Seven Islands Indians according to letter of instructions & shall report to you with a list of same when they have been so distributed.

I am, Sir, your most obedt. Servant,

John Holliday

Sir, I am desired by the Supt. Genl. of I. A. to inform you that in anticipation of possible suffering from destitution among the Indians of the Moisie, Mingan, Seven Islands and vicinity, on their return from the hunt this Spring, the Supt. Genl. thinks it would be advisable to have supplies procured for them as soon as possible; and as you reside in the locality, + have been long and favorably known to the Dept. in connection with services of a similar nature discharged for those Inds., the Supt. Genl. would be glad if you would procure such supplies as you believe to be absolutely necessary for the Indians, not on any account, however, to exceed in amount the sum of $250, and as much below that sum as the circumstances will justify. These supplies the Supt. Genl. wishes you to distribute in the same judicious manner as has been done by you on previous occasions, always remembering that only Indians in actual want and who are unable to procure subsistence by the work of their hands should receive assistance.

Upon your forwarding an account for the supplies purchased by you to this office the same will be paid by Official Cheque.

You will also be good enough to transmit a statement showing the quantity and description of the supplies given in each case.

I am, & c,

[Unsigned[footnoteRef:24]] [24: My source is an unsigned draft. The handwriting is the same as that of letters signed ‘G.’.]

Gentlemen, I transmit herewith [a] copy of a letter of this date addressed to Mr. John Holliday of Moisie, requesting him to procure supplies for certain Indians therein mentioned, in order that you may, as you did last year, act in concert with Mr. Holliday in the matter, should he be unable to procure the supplies in the vicinity of Moisie.

Sir, we have to acknowledge your favor of 3rd instant No. 3297 with a copy of [a] letter to Mr. John Holliday. We will be happy to comply with your request to act in concert with Mr. Holliday. He resides in Quebec during the winter; we have handed him the copy of the letter send and he will write you on the subject.

We are with respect, Sir, your most obedient servants,

A. Fraser & Co.

Sir, Messrs. A. Fraser & Co. handed me the copy of the letter sent them & addressed to me at Moisie, bearing date of 3rd March, No. 3297.

In reply I shall at once write to the man in charge of my establishment at the Moisie to get some provisions to relieve any Indians that may come out to the coast in a destitute or starving condition before I get down. Very few come out before the opening of the navigation & they generally do so in their canoes by the river from that until the 25th of June.

Provisions on the Coast cost considerably more than here, therefore I think it would be better to purchase the supplies in Quebec & send them down by schooner on freight to the Moisie. The expending [of] the sum authorized in this way would extend relief to a greater number than if the purchases are made on the coast. Should you approve of this course I shall arrange to get Messrs. A. Fraser & Co. to make the purchases & send them down at the opening of navigation, taking care not to exceed on the whole relief the amount specified.

I intend to leave for the Moisie about the 8th of May. I shall send you a return of any assistance rendered.

I remain, yours respectfully,

John Holliday

Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th in reply to mine of the 3rd inst. requesting you to procure supplies for the Indians of the Moisie, Mingan, Seven Islands & c.

May I ask you to be good enough to carry out your proposal in regard to giving instructions to your Agent at the Moisie to render relief to any Indians who may come out to the Coast in a destitute condition before before your arrival there. The balance of the supplies may be forwarded from Quebec on the opening of navigation.

I have, & c.

[Unsigned]

Sir, your letter of the 3d. of March No. 3297 addressed to me at Moisie has been returned to me here. Reading it over I find the relief is intended for the Moisie, Seven Islands & Mingan Indians. I did not notice at first that Mingan was included; as it is 70 miles from the Moisie, I could not undertake the distribution for the Mingan Indians, but shall be happy to do so for the Seven Islands & Moisie Indians & would thank you to inform me what portion of the two hundred fifty dollars must be applied to them.

I am, Sir, your most obdt. Servt.

John Holliday

Immediate – Please ask & say that it is regretted that Mr. H. did not notify the dept. earlier of his inability to undertake the distribution of supplies to the Indians of Mingan. Inform him that under the circumstances, he will be good enough not to exceed the expenditure made at present as of Moisie & Seven Islands.

Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th inst., and to specify [?] my regret that you did not notify the Department earlier of your own inability to undertake the distribution of supplies to the Indians of Mingan.

In the circumstances you will be good enough not at present to exceed the requisition made last Spring on account of the Moisie and Seven Islands Indians, namely $118 or thereabouts. May I also ask you to obtain the co-operation of the H.B. Co. offices at Mingan in ascertaining what the useful necessities of the Indians in that place are, and [illegible] the same with each proportion of the balance remaining in your hands as may be necessary.

It is desirable that you should account for the expenditure at Moisie, Mingan and Seven Islands in due [illegible], obtaining from the H.B. Co. offices at the latter place a statement which should accompany your report.

I am, & c.

[Unsigned]

Sir, I enclose your invoice & receipt of the supplies I ordered for the Moisie & Seven Islands Indians, as directed by yours No. 3297 for distribution, amounting to ($115.07). One hundred & fifteen ⁰⁷⁄₁₀₀ Dollars. This is under the sum allotted to them.

Previous to its arrival I had relieved several out of my own stock which I have replaced. I shall send a return of how & to whom given on closing the distribution. The most of the Indians here are very poorly off having made a miserable hunt & I do not know where some are to get supplies to go to the Woods. Please to get the Cheque in favour of Messrs. A. Fraser & Co, Quebec, & oblige.

Yours respectfully,

John Holliday.

Sir: Referring to your let. To the Dept. of the 30th June last in which you state that, owing to the bad success attending the last Winter’s hunt of the Moisie & Seven Island Indians, some of them may be unable to go to the woods this Autumn through a want of the necessary supplies. I am to state that you may furnish those Indians with supplies to the amt. required this Spring for their relief.

With regard to the Inds. Of Mingan & vicinity, you may adopt the same course as was pursued this Spring; namely, to request the H.B. Co. agt. At Mingan to supply them to an amt. not to exceed the difference between the sum expended by you for the Moisie & 7 Isl. Inds. & $250.00 – the amt. of the Grant. Accounts & [illegilble] of distribution w. be forwarded through you to this office.

I would remind you that no acct. has been received at the Indian Office of the expenditure made this Spring for the last named Indians, nor have Statements, showing the manner in which the supplies were distributed to them and to the Moisie & Seven Island Indians, as yet reached the Dept.

I am, & c.,

[Unsigned]

Sir, Having been away on business I found on my return to Quebec, yours of 16th August No. 3297, also one of 25th August No. 5218. I shall reply to the latter first. I refer you to my note of 5th May & give you a quotation from it: “I did not notice at first that Mingan was included as it is 70 miles from Moisie; I could not undertake the distribution of supplies to the Indians there.” Mingan is quite out of my reach & too far from my place at the Moisie for me to incur any responsibility in the distribution of supplies to the Indians there.

In reply to No. 3297. The Indians had all left the Moisie & Seven Islands early in August for the woods before I received yours of 16th August. Some of them had very scanty supplies & will most likely be out by Christmas or New Year at the Coast for provisions.

Should you think it advisable in case of that contingency to send down supplies of provisions for the amount authorized in yours of 16th August No. 3297, say, One hundred & fifteen dollars to be distributed to the Indians if they come back to the coast in the Winter in want; you will please send a cheque for that amount, as provisions are always paid for here in Cash, & there will be few opportunities to send them down after this.

On the other side you will find [a] list of provisions distributed this Summer to Seven Islands & Moisie Indians. There is a list of 40 lbs. of Lard left at the Moisie which will be sent you later on.

I am, Sir, Yours respectfully,

John Holliday

19 Barrels Flour

100 lbs. Lard

P.S. We do not deal in provisions but will have much pleasure in purchasing & forwarding them on hearing from you. J. H.

[For ease of reading, the list is on its own, on the following page -C.W.]

1