60 CREES. 



as they come into the possession of the Indians, by 

 supplying them with the baneful liquid they so 

 ardently covet. This is punishable by the colonial 

 laws ; but when crimes are committed beyond the 

 pale of civilisation, conviction is difficult. By the 

 laws of the United States, also, it is penal to supply 

 Indians with spirits; but according to general 

 report this benevolent enactment is extensively 

 violated by their fur traders ; and it is greatly to 

 be regretted that competition for the Indian trade 

 in that quarter should induce the Hudson's Bay 

 Company to follow so bad an example, after having 

 abolished the use of spirits with so much advantage 

 in the north, where they have no rivals. 



I was informed that in 1848 the natives at the 

 Red River colony of Osnaboya were paid a high 

 money price for their furs by the Company's agent, 

 and that they immediately crossed the boundary- 

 line to purchase rum at the American post with 

 their monev ; but it would be better to seek for the 

 redress of such an abuse by a representation to the 

 United States' government, than resort to reta- 

 liatory measures of the same nature. 



