In 1827 Mr. Cormack renewed his attempt to discover and open a friendly intercourse with the Boeothicks, and for this purpose with a small party, consisting of Europeans and a couple of Micmacs, entered the country at the mouth of the River Exploits, and took a north-westerly direction which led them to Hall’s Bay.  On the fourth day after their departure, at the east end of Badger Bay, at a portage known by the name of the Indian Path, they found traces made by the Indians, evidently in the spring or summer of the preceding year.  Their party had been possessed of two canoes, and they had built a canoe-rest, on which the daubs of red ochre and the roots of trees used to tie or fasten it together appeared fresh.  A canoe-rest is simply a few beams’ supported horizontally about five feet from the ground by perpendicular posts.  Among other things which lay strewed about here was a spear shaft, eight feet long, recently made and stained with ochre—­parts of old canoes—­fragments, of their skin dresses, &c.  Some of the cuts in the trees, made with an axe, were evidently of not more than a year’s date.  Besides these signs, the party were elated by other encouraging marks.  After some further search, but without meeting with any greater success, the party determined to proceed to the Red Indian Lake.  On reaching this magnificent sheet of water, they found around its shores abundant evidence that this had been for a long time the central and undisturbed rendezvous of the tribe.  At several places by the margin of the lake were found small clusters of summer and winter wigwams, but all in ruins—­one large wooden building, presumed to have been used for the purpose of drying and smoking venison, was found in a perfect state.  The repositories for the dead were found perfect, and in one of these the party discovered the remains of the ill-fated Mary March, whom the Indians had placed by the side of her unfortunate husband.  On the north-side of this lake, opposite the River Exploits, were seen the extremities of two deer fences, about half a mile apart, where they lead to the water—­and in gliding down the river, the attention of the traveller is arrested by a continuation of these fences which extend from the lake downwards on the banks of the river at least thirty miles.  After spending several days in wandering round the margin of the lake, and having fully satisfied themselves that no encampment of the Indians was to be found there, they returned.  Subsequently to this excursion, a party of men under the direction of an Institution termed the “Boeothick Institution,” which was established with the view of benefiting the Indians, were sent on the same errand, but they too returned after a fruitless search, and with this attempt ends all efforts that have been made to open a communication with the Red Indians.

And now what opinion may be reasonably formed after a careful consideration of all the foregoing facts?  Shall it be concluded as many, nay, as most people have done, that the Red Indians are wholly extinct?  The mind is slow to entertain so painful a conclusion, and more especially as there is some reason to hope that the tribe, to some extent at least, yet survives.