SIR.--Observing among the details in the _Mercury_ of September
18, that of "Shawnadithit, supposed to be the last of the Red
Indians," or Aborigines of Newfoundland, I am tempted to offer
a few remarks on the subject, convinced as I am that she cannot
be the last of the tribe by many hundreds. Having resided a
considable time in that part of the north of Newfoundland which
they most frequented, and being one of the party who captured
Mary March in 1819, I have embodied into a narrative the events
connected with her capture, which I am confident will gratify
many of your readers.

Proceeding northward, the country gradually assumes a more
fertile appearance; the trees, which in the south are, except
in a few places, stunted in their growth, now begin to assume a
greater height and strength till you reach the neighbourhood of
Exploits River and Bay; here the timber is of a good size and
quality, and in sufficient quantity to serve the purposes of
the inhabitants:--both here and at Trinity Bay some very fine
vessels have been built. To Exploits Bay it was that the Red
Indians came every summer for the purpose of fishing, the place
abounding with salmon. No part of the Bay was inhabited; the
islands at the mouth, consisting of Twillingate, Exploits
Island, and Burnt Islands, had a few inhabitants. There were
also several small harbours in a large island, the name of
which I now forget, including Herring Neck and Morton. In 1820
the population of Twillingate amounted to 720, and that of all
the other places might perhaps amount to as many more;--they
were chiefly descendants from West of England settlers; and
having many of them been for several generations without
religious or moral instruction of any kind, were immersed in