318 THE KORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



arrived in tlie course of an liour or two, and we 

 examined both The Assiniboine and his victim. A 

 sHght swelling on Mr. O'B.'s occiput was the only 

 injury to be discovered, and we came to the con- 

 clusion that The Assiniboine' s account of the quarrel 

 was substantially correct. We rebuked the man 

 very severely, warning him of the danger of such 

 behaviour in the country we were now entering; 

 while to Mr. O'B. we represented the absurdity 

 of supposing any murderous intent. But the latter 

 was unconvinced. He dared not leave the side 

 of one of us for a moment, and it was most laugh- 

 able to observe how he watched every movement 

 of The Assiniboine, apprehensive of a renewal of 

 hostilities. From Caliban we purchased a bucket- 

 ful of potatoes, for Milton's embroidered Indian 

 saddle and Mr. O'B.'s M.B. waistcoat, the last 

 article of trade he could rake up. Caliban and his 

 family bade us good-bye here, but the younger 

 man and his squaw agreed to guide us within sight 

 of Kamloops. 



The following day we met some Indians, whom we 

 took at first for Mexicans, so little did they resemble 

 the Red Men of the eastern side. Their faces were 

 of Asiatic cast, rather than the European character 

 shown by the fine bold features of the true North 

 American Indian, the countenance broader and 

 rounder, the nose smaller and less prominent, and 

 the complexion darker and less transparent. Their 

 horses were equipped with Mexican saddles, and the 

 bridles garnished by numberless little bells. They 



