THE FRENCH HALF-BREEDS OF THE NORTHWEST. 323 



not stronger than the whites, and, for a short time, perhaps capable of 

 less powerful exertion, but they possess extraordinary powers of endur- 

 ance, and, in the long run, would easily outstrip the whites. They are 

 indefatigable voyageurs. During the long northwestern winter they travel 

 immense distances on snow-shoes, at the rate of 30 and 40 miles a day. 

 With a dog-sled, now trotting by the side of their team, then over 

 smooth ground standing on the rear of the sled, and again over rough 

 places, pushing from behind with a pole, and launching at the panting 

 team a few rolling imprecations, they make from 50 to GO miles a day. 

 As boatmen they display a vigor, skill, and a sum of endurance unex- 

 celled by any other class of men. 



YIII. 



habitations; etc. 



The average half-breed house, such as the traveler notices along the 

 banks of Red River, is a small one story log structure, with often but 

 one, seldom more than two or three apartments, scantily furnished. In 

 one corner of the principal room is the bed of the heads of the family, 

 painted in some vivid color ; an open fire-place, tall and narrow, so as to 

 accommodate logs placed upright, occupies the middle of one of the 

 walls ; a table, dresser, and a few boxes, doing duty as chairs, constitute 

 the furniture. In this room, if it be the only one, eat and sleep all the 

 members of the family, seldom a small one. This promiscuous mode of 

 living, however objectionable, is not attended with the lowering of mor- 

 als which one would expect, nor does it harden young girls out of their 

 native coyness and modesty. Metis, who can afford to build larger and 

 more commodious houses, often have them paiuted red and blue with 

 sharp contrast of colors. 



Vehicles. — The vehicles ordinarily used by the metis deserve men- 

 tion. They are during the summer the charratte or cart, and during the 

 winter the carriole and dog-sled. ]STo better description of the cart can 

 be given than in the words of Assistant-Surgeon E. Woodruff, U. S. A.: 



" These singular vehicles were composed entirely of wood, and consisted 

 of two wheels nearly 6 feet in diameter, with very broad tires, and a small 

 body resting on the axle and shafts. Roth ponies and oxen were used 

 to draw them, attached by a peculiar harness of raw hide. These carts 

 would carry from GOO to 800 pounds, and one man could drive five or six 

 of them in a train. No grease was used, and as a long train crept over 

 the prairie an indescribable noise was made by the creaking of the wheels. 

 * * * The broad felloes of the wheels prevented their sinking in the 

 soft ground, and the driver, with only the most primitive tools, could at 

 any time or place repair a broken cart or even construct a new one. 

 When progress was interrupted by a swollen stream, the (-art could be 

 taken to pieces and floated across." 



As late as 1870, although steam navigation had already begun on the 



