CHAP. XXIII.

MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND AMUSEMENTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF LOWER CANADA.

THE inhabitants of Lower Canada, exclusive of those of French race, are of nearly the same mixed origin and character as will be found described hereafter, when treating generally of the manners and pursuits of the people of British America.

The Canadian habitans, who form so large and so interesting a portion of British subjects, of whom scarcely any knowledge is possessed by the people of the United Kingdom, deserve at least ordinary attention in giving an account of them.

There is not, probably, in the world, a more happy people than the habitans or peasantry of Lower Canada. They are, with few exceptions, in easy circumstances; and in all the villages, the church forms the point around which the inhabitants born in the parish delight to live; and in no dwelling farther from it than they can hear the ringing of its bell, can any of them feel happy. They are not anxious to become rich, but they possess the necessary comforts, and many of the luxuries of life.

They are frugal, but not enterprising, and will seldom buy what they can make themselves. Their lands yield them grain and vegetables, and food for their horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry, as well as hemp, flax, and tobacco. They make coarse woollen and linen cloths, straw hats and bonnets rouges et bleus, and their own soap, candles, sugar*, and implements of husbandry. What they manufacture is seldom for sale, but for consumption. They have in fact every article of real utility - every necessary resource within themselves; no penury, no uneasiness, no distress is visible. Their mode of agriculture is clumsy and tardy; yet the soil, with the most negligent culture, yields abundance for domestic consumption, and something over seigniorial dues and the tythes, to sell, for the purchase of articles of convenience and luxury. Their farms are generally small, and often subdivided among a family. The agricultural societies may gradually improve husbandry among the habitans; but hitherto, neither example nor the prospect of interest has been sufficient to induce many to adopt the more approved modes of husbandry, or any of the methods of shortening labour discovered during the last or present century. They have gardens attached to their houses, but the neatness and order which lends such charms to every little English cottage is not to be found in the Canadian parishes; and this is merely the fault of the habitans. The women generally do all garden work, and, like those of Normandy and Picardy, greatly assist in field labour. The occupations of the Canadians are neither severe nor incessant; as moderate industry secures all necessaries and comforts. They however plough a great portion of their lands in autumn, and there is little doubt but they will change their mode of culture gradually. An improvement is, however, apparent.

We discover among the Canadians the customs and manners that prevailed among the peasantry of France during the age of Louis the Fourteenth; and to this day the most rigid adherence to national customs is maintained among them. Contented to tread in the path beaten by their forefathers, they in the same manner till the ground; commit in the like way the same kind of seeds to the earth; and in a similar mode do they gather their harvests, feed their cattle, and prepare and cook their victuals. They rise, eat, and sleep at the same hours; and, under the instruction of their pastors, and the example of their elders, observe the same spirit in their devotions, with as ample a portion of all the forms of the Catholic religion, as their ancestors.

They are fond of soups, which are seldom, even in Lent, of meagre quality. Bread, butter, cheese, with eggs, tea, poultry, fish, and flesh, constitute nearly all the other articles of their food. They have their jours gras, or feasting days, before and after Lent, on which they gormandise vast quantities of pork, and indulge in drinking; but on other occasions they are temperate.

The amusements of former times are also common among them at their weddings, feasts, and dances. Even the noisy tumultuous charivari * is not entirely forgotten. They delight in driving about in calashes and in carioles; to the harness of their horses they hang numerous small bells; and on passing each other always, as in France, take the contrary side of the road to that which we are accustomed to in England. Of dancing, fiddling, and singing, they are also fond, after vespèrs on Sunday; considering it no sin, but a harmless recreation, never attended with dissipation or vice. Sunday is, indeed, the happiest day in a Canadian's week. The parish church collects all acquaintances. The young and old, men and women, drive thither in their calashes in summer, and in their well furred carioles in winter; there they meet for devotion, pleasure, and love. Even on their little matters of business they consider it innocent to converse after dinner.

Sunday is, therefore, truly a day of happiness in a Canadian parish. Their devotion is to them a pleasure. The habitant is sincerely pious; and let him be taken where he may, if deprived of joining in the observances of religion, he is unhappy and fearful. This powerful feeling prevents him from going out alone, like the American, with his family, to settle in the wilds.

Politeness seems natural to the Canadians. Habit, imitation, and temperament, have made them a courteous people; and the first thing a child learns is to say its prayers, to speak decorously and respectfully to every body, and to bow or curtsey to its elders, and to all strangers. The habitans never meet

the English in the towns also join the charivari; others ring bells, shout, and swing rattles, continuing the charivari from night to night, until they receive a stipulated sum from the unhappy pair for some charitable purpose.

one another without putting a hand to the hat or bonnet, or moving the head. Men and women are civil to all; not from appearance, but from a sense of propriety; and they always treat their superiors and parents with deference. Parents and children live frequently in one house to the third generation. They are exceedingly modest; - the women from the natural delicacy and disposition of their sex; the men from custom, and a full sense of decency: the latter, in the country parishes, never bathe in the rivers, nor even in the most private places, without being partially covered.

The men are well proportioned, about, but sometimes taller than the middle size, and very rarely corpulent. From exposure to the climate, their complexions are dark; the sun in summer, and the snow in winter, bronze their faces, and the use of stoves may also affect their colour. The features of their face are characteristic. The nose is prominent and often aquiline; the eyes dark, rather small, and remarkably lively; the lips thin, chin sharp and projecting, and the cheeks inclining to lankness.

Many of the girls are pretty oval-faced brunettes, with fine eyes, good teeth, and glossy locks. They make affectionate wives and tender mothers. Their feelings are keen, and their attachments ardent. They are generally more intelligent than the men; and a habitant rarely enters upon matter of any importance, without saying, " J'en parlerai à ma femme;" and on consulting his wife, concludes a bargain. On entering the house of a Canadian, his wife seems to anticipate our very wishes. If they have not at the time what we want, the landlady regrets it with such a good grace, that we cannot fail to be delighted with what she gives us.