48 CANADIAN WILDS. 



by a picket stockade ten or twelve feet high. 

 This protection was made from trees of about 

 seven inches in diameter, brought to a sharp 

 point at the upper end and planted deep in the 

 ground, touching one another. Here and there, 

 inside, the stockade was reinforced by strong 

 braces, which added to its solidity, should a 

 combined force of men be brought against it. 



At each of the four corners of the square 

 a strong block tower was erected with em- 

 brasures cut therein for shooting from. In some 

 of the larger forts small cannon were placed 

 that commanded each side of the square and 

 all around the inside of the pickets ran a raised 

 platform on which men standing would be 

 breast high to the top of the protection. This 

 gave them a great advantage in shooting on 

 coming enemies or repelling sealers. 



Such places were only in the prairie country 

 where the warlike and turbulent Black Feet, 

 Bloods, Pegans and Sioux roamed. Amongst 

 the bush or fish-eating tribes less severe precau- 

 tion was required, altho the most of them were 

 enclosed by the picket stockade and supplied 

 liberally with muskets, cutlasses and side arms. 



While the Indians were paying their semi- 

 annual trading visits the dwellers of the forts 

 were confined pretty well indoors and the stock 

 hobbled close to the stockades, for it was not 



