MR. 



o'b. proposes to accompany us. 195 



colonists. Tlie projected academy utterly failed, and 

 after spending some time in Red Eiver, at a dead 

 lock, lie was fitted out by tlie kindness of Arch- 

 deacon Cockran, the veteran missionary of this 

 country, with necessaries for a journey across the 

 mountains, in search of a more congenial community 

 on the Pacific coast. 



He set out with the band of Canadian emigrants 

 before alluded to, but they appear to have discovered 

 that he was helpless and requiring, and left him at 

 Carlton. From thence he was forwarded by the 

 Company's boats going back to Edmonton. A pre- 

 judice against him arose amongst the men, and they 

 refused to proceed with him further than Fort Pitt. 

 He was therefore left behind at that place, and after- 

 wards reached Edmonton by a train of carts. At 

 Edmonton he had remained nearly a year when we met 

 him, unable either to advance or to return, and in a 

 state of complete destitution. He had, however, re- 

 ceived every kindness fi^om the ofi&cers of the Fort, 

 who supplied him with food and tobacco. 



Having narrated his history, he propounded the 

 real object of his visit, which was to beg of us to allow 

 him to accompany our party to British Columbia. 

 Had it been an ordinary journey, or had we possessed 

 the means of obtaining a proper number of men and 

 horses, and plenty of provisions, we should not have 

 hesitated to take him with us, in spite of his helpless- 

 ness. But such an addition to our company was any- 

 thing but desirable, and we accordingly begged to 

 reserve our decision. Mr. O'B. had wintered with 



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