22 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



the office. Every French metis and several of the Indians 

 could play jigs and reels which they rendered with variations 

 ad 'libitum. Sagames ("Mosquito"), a tall Indian with small 

 skill and a large fund of humor, usually gained the most ap- 

 plause by handling the violin as if it were a new toy, he had 

 then met for the first time and which through his manipulation 

 evolved various discordant squeaks until it suddenly burst 

 forth in the lively strains of the "double jig." 



A Metis Wedding. One of the most important social events 

 of the year was the marriage of the daughter of Antoine Char- 

 tier, an old engage. The announcement was made and arrange- 

 ments begun to make it an affair of unparalleled magnificence. 

 The reserve was upon the tiptoe of expectancy, as Old Antoine 

 was known to have a little credit at the store. On the day pre- 

 ceding the important date the bride had not yet made up her 

 mind whether to marry or not, so that postponement was neces- 

 sary. After a few more postponements, Annette decided to ac- 

 cept Benjy's proposal and the festin was prepared. Being a 

 stranger to their customs, I was invited to attend; the mere 

 announcement was sufficient invitation to everyone else on the 

 reserve. 



The guests came, not with presents, but with a great yearn- 

 ing for the free dinner. They would give the young couple a 

 start in life by eating the entire fortune, then upon the tables, 

 of both families. An ox had been killed, and two hundred 

 pounds of flour baked into bannocks. The tables were loaded 

 with boiled and roasted moose-meat and beef. There were 

 plum puddings and rice puddings, in which the principal in- 

 gredients were raisins and currants. There were also a few pies, 

 and cranberry sauce and strawberry and raspberry jam in 

 abundance. Tea in unlimited quantities completed the menu. 

 The dinner was ready at four in the afternoon. As soon as 

 one tableful was temporarily satisfied, another lot from the 

 group outside the cabin would seat themselves. 



At eight o'clock the clatter of the fiddler's feet upon the 

 loose boards of the warehouse floor at the old steamboat land- 

 ing indicated the opening of the ball. The "orchestra " wore 

 a pair of heavy " English shoes," as the imported article is 

 called, the rub-a-dub of which, in beating time, drowned the 

 music and the soft shuffle of the moccasined dancers. The 



