70 EXPEDITION TO THE 



in demoralizing the Indians of North America, than any 

 other cause whatever. They have distributed liquor more 

 freely, and more extensively, than any other traders ; they 

 have accustomed the Indians to that promiscuous intercourse, 

 which destroys every virtuous as well as every national feel- 

 ing; they have made them parties in their quarrels, there- 

 by exciting them to acts of hostility against white men. 



One of the greatest evils, which the colonists have expe- 

 rienced, was the abundance of grasshoppers, that almost 

 ruined the crops for one or two years. This was only, how- 

 ever, at the lower settlement ; none were seen at Pembina. 

 Cattle appear to be very much wanted, and supplies are 

 anxiously expected ; some were brought over, at first, from 

 England, they throve very well ; after which others were 

 procured from Mackinaw, and in 1822, a drove was brought 

 by Mr. Dicksen from Clarksville, but he lost many on the 

 'way. Another drove was daily expected at the time our 

 party were there. Lord Selkirk had a fine farm, which he 

 intended to stock with Merino sheep ; but all, that were 

 brought over, were destroyed during the dissensions. Hogs 

 have not succeeded so well. Norwegians were brought over 

 with a view to domesticate the indigenous reindeer and sub- 

 stitute them for dogs ; and an establishment, called Norway 

 house, was formed at the northern extremity of Lake 

 Winnepeek, but it does not appear to have met with great 

 success. Dogs are the most numerous of the domestic ani- 

 mals. Some care seems to be taken at present to prevent 

 their roving at large as they formerly did, proving a great 

 nuisance to the agricultural pursuits of the colonists. 



Our camp was situated on a high bluff, about seventy or 

 eighty feet above the level of Red river, near Fort Gerry, 

 which is at the junction of the two streams. Fort Douglas 

 lies about one mile below this on the river. The Assini- 

 -boin is a beautiful romantic stream, whose breadth, at its 



