These drawings were obtained from Shanawdithit by Mr W. E.
Cormack, during the winter of 1829, while she resided with him
in his house at St John's. They represent scenes in the closing
history of the unfortunate tribe, together with certain articles
of food, utensils, implements &c., in use by her people. The
drawings are ten in number, five of which represent scenes
enacted on or near the Exploits River and Red Indian Lake
between the years 1810 and 1823. The other three are
delineations of wigwams, store and smoke houses, implements of
the chase, culinary utensils, various kinds of preserved animal
food, mythological emblems (?) &c. Although rude and truly
Indian in character, they nevertheless display no small amount
of artistic skill, and there is an extraordinary minuteness of
topographical detail in those having reference to the Exploits
River and adjacent country. These latter bear a striking
resemblance to Micmac sketches of a similar character, such as I
have frequently seen and made use of, when ac