[bryce] settlers of OLD ASSINIBOIA 157 



out, a part of the Selkirk settlers had been coaxed away by an adroit, 

 dashing Highlander — Duncan Cameron — who sported a soldier's 

 uniform — and used a plausible tongue as he promised to lead them to 

 an El Dorado in Upper Canada. Following this departure Cuthbert 

 Grant, the younger, with his band of cavaliers, on June 19th, 1815, 

 swept down the northern bank of the Assiniboine River, turned north- 

 ward to the plain near Kildonan — Lord Selkirk's Settlement — killed 

 Governor Semple, and followers to the number of twenty-two men, at 

 "The Seven Oaks." The wild intruders seized Fort Douglas, the 

 colony fort, which stood on a site which is within the limits of the 

 city of Winnipeg of to-day. To the whole "Bois-brulés" population 

 it was a great triumph and they held Fort Douglas till the following 

 spring of 1816, when Lord Selkirk and his DeMeuron mercenaries 

 recovered the lost fort to be a nucleus to gather around him again his 

 Scottish colonists. 



The time-being conqueror, Cuthbert Grant, had his victory 

 celebrated by the singer of the district of St. Francois Xavier on the 

 banks of the Assiniboine, where Grant and the rhymer — Pierre Falcon — 

 afterward took up their abode. The poet is singing of the victor 

 Grant and satirizing the Governor his military opponent. 



Extract : 



(A military officer comes to parley with the Red River Metis). 



"C'est à la Rivière Rouge, 

 Nouvelles sont arrivées, 

 LTn général d'armée 

 Qui vient pour engager." 



(He wishes to have the Metis who are great warriors serve him) 



"II dit qu'il veut emm'ner 

 Beaucoup de Bois-Brulés. 

 Ils sont en renommée 

 Pour de braves guerriers." 



(He offers Cuthbert Grant, leader of the Bois-Brules, his silver 



epaulettes as a gift) 



"Vous, Monsieur Cuthbert Grant, 

 . Maître de régiment. 

 Mes epaulettes d'argent 

 Je vous en fais présent." 



(The disappointed captain wishes much to flee off to the Far West) 



"Bourgeois de compagnie. 

 Je dois remercier 

 De me faire ramener 

 Au fort de Mackenzie." 



