In North-West Canada. 133 



But to resume my ramble. Leaving the nest of the prairie 

 falcon, I did not again descend into the gorge, but crossed over 

 the prairie to Moosejaw, and called upon my friend, who had 

 spent the morning with me up the river at Moosejaw. I di- 

 rected him to the cliff where the prairie falcon's nest was, and 

 he promised to visit it a week later for the eggs, but he failed 

 to keep his promise, although I offered to pay him a good price 

 if he obtained the clutch for me. 



After supper, I went for a ramble along the banks of the 

 river in front of Moosejaw. I crossed the bridge at the same 

 time as a troop of Indians were passing over, with their num- 

 erous ponies and dogs. It was a picturesque scene, and I 

 wished they could have been photographed. The troop con- 

 sisted only of women and children ; they had no men with 

 them. The squaws do all the work, carry the loads, go in ad- 

 vance, and erect the tepees, and the bucks follow and come 

 into camp when the work is done. Their carts have no wheels ; 

 they consist of two long poles, in the centre of which is a sort 

 of platform or box, in which are seated the old squaws, pa- 

 pooses, etc.; one end of the two poles forms the shafts, which 

 are fastened to the pony with pieces of hide ; the other ends 

 of the poles rest and trail along the ground. The boys and 

 girls were dressed in blankets of bright colours. The Indians, 

 like the buffaloes, are fast disappearing before the onward 

 march of the white man and civilization. Treat the Indians 

 kindly, for they are the children of the old lords of the soil. 



After wandering along the banks of the river for an hour 

 until dusk, I returned to the station house, and, packing my 

 specimens and baggage, I waited the approach of the train 

 from the west, which was due at ten o'clock. Presently the 

 train came along, and as I was tired I soon retired to my 

 berth, instructing the guard to wake me up in time to get off 

 at Virden the following morning. 



