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1898-99. | FAMOUS ALGONQUINS ; ALGIC LEGENDS. 295 
Crowfoot’s speech at this meeting is a fine specimen of natural elo- 
quence, and induced Old Sun and many other chiefs and leading men 
to follow with their allegiance. 
How wonderful the change wrought among these wild but noble 
specimens of the race in the years that have passed since 1877! Tribal 
customs, wisely tempered by Anglo-Saxon law honestly administered, 
form an admirable system of government which all respect. Christian 
Canada is proud of her Red Children, and aids their progress with no 
niggard hand. Works of irrigation have improved the pasture lands 
and facilitated the raising of cattle. Great hay stacks and well-filled 
granaries, comfortable houses, and barns such as white farmers would 
not despise, are seen in the valley of the Bow River and on the slopes 
of the Moose mountain. Among the Piegans, Chiefs “Old Moon” and 
“Thunder Chief” cut their hay with machines, while in 1892 “ Running 
Crane” and Heavy Gun” owned their own reapers, and raised oats 
weighing 46 pounds to the bushel. “ Heavy Gun” also tried his hand 
‘as a miner on St. Mary’s river, delivering one hundred tons of coal at 
the McLeod Agency, the work being all done by Indians. 
The Blackfeet also mine coal, the leaders in this industry being Chief 
Running Rabbit, a successor of Crowfoot, Calf Bull, and Many Bears, — 
each of whom has driven a shaft into seams of coal. Some are success- 
ful agriculturists, raise hay in large quantity, which is carried to market 
by teams of two or four horses. Grain, but especially root crops, are 
grown. Wood is cut and sold, and many gain much of their support 
from tanning of hides which are sold to settlers around the reserves. 
The children are trained in local schools, and at industrial institutions, 
most of them under care of religious bodies, but all aided by grants from 
Government. - 
The English tongue is taught, and the scholars join in singing 
religious and patriotic songs. An organ or melodeon is often used to 
accompany, and the singing is particularly sweet and attractive. Many 
show skill in the use of musical instruments and boys’ bands are not 
uncommon in the older reserves. Games such as attract sturdy white 
boys, including cricket and hockey, give vent to the exuberance of the 
young. On White Bear reserve the football is seldom at rest during 
spare time, and “on one occasion they got up a match among them- 
selves, and were so taken up with the game that they played all night 
before either side would allow itself beaten and give up.’(7) 
(7) ** Dominion Indian Report,” 1897, p. 152. 
