74 GEOEGE BETCE ON THE 



Connected with this locality is the name of Cuthbert G-rant. Cuthbert Grant, Sr., 

 the father of Cuthbert Grant, who became so celebrated as a half-breed leader in 1816, 

 was the explorer of the Upper Assiniboine. He took up his abode ou his first arrival in 

 the district at the point known as River Tremblante. This was as early as 1*190 — prob- 

 ably earlier. The explorer was afterwards sent up the Saskatchewan and John McDonald 

 of Garth makes a touching reference to his death (1*799) as follows :—" Spring came oh 

 and Mr. Grant feeling quite ill, I had to fit him out a comfortable awning in one of the 

 boats to take him down the riA'er to Cumberland House. "We got Mr. Grant to Kaminis- 

 tiquia where he soon died." It is worthy of notice that in this, since known as the Fort 

 Pelly district, which John McDonnell says was " Cuthbert Grant's favourite residence," 

 his great grandson, Cuthbert McKay, a Red River half-breed known to the writer, estab- 

 lished among his Indian relations what is now the successful Presbyterian Crowstand 

 Mission, and died earnestly working for his kindred. 



From the records of the time we learn also that a small fort was bviilt at Shell River 

 (La Coquille) by the trader Peter Grant in 1*794, but that it was trifling and could not 

 compete with Fort Espérance to the south or Fort Tremblante on the north. 



Mountain à la Bosse. 



After leaving the junction of the Qu'Appelle River with the Assiniboine, the latter 

 runs east and south, until when within about fifty miles from the United States boundary 

 it turns directly east. A few miles east of this turn stood a fort about the beginning of 

 this centïiry, which was of some importance. It was some distance from the present 

 town of Yirden on the C. P. R. Harmon incorrectly speaks of it as " Mountain à la 

 basse " but undoubtedly the French word " bosse," a " hump," referring to the shape of 

 the hill near it, is correct. Palliser's map and also Hind's sketch map mark a spot north 

 of Oak Lake, known as " Boss Hill," which is plainly a corrxiptiou of the old name. The 

 writer has been over the ground, but without being able to identify the site of the fort. 

 The reason of this is no doubt to be found in the statement made by John McDonnell : — 

 "The Mountain à la Bosse, a north-west fort, has been frequently established and as often 

 abandoned, owing to the oppositions that come into that quarter, as these gentlemen 

 when by themselves establish as 'few posts as they conveniently can, in order to save 

 property. On the contrary when incommoded by new comers, they subdivide and divert 

 the trade into as many little channels as they have men and clerks to occupy, well know- 

 ing that their opponents, who have but few goods generally, cannot oppose them at every 

 place." This no doubt accounts for the shifting nature of some of the posts, which are 

 continually appearing and disappearing from the view of the historian. 



Pine Fort and Assiniboine House. 



Coming down the Assiniboine with their trade it became the habit of the North- 

 westers to follow the Assiniboine and Red Rivers to Lake Winnipeg and on return to 

 bring goods for the western trade by this route. Accordingly about eighteen miles below 

 the junction of the Souris with the Assiniboine it was found convenient to have a post 

 for distributing the supplies brought up by the canoes. At this point was built in 1785 

 what was called Pine Fort. This place was however abandoned by the traders when 



