XX 



We have travelled so near the border that we cannot 

 well atford not to pay a visit to our neighbors. All ex- 

 cept jealously conservative Canadians will acknowledge 

 that there are many things which the Dominion might 

 learn to advantage from the States ; and there are incon- 

 testably others in which the Dominion might give us 

 points. Among these, what we have been discussing sug- 

 gests its management of the Indian, which has always 

 been in marked contrast to our own. Among other in- 

 struments of our neighbor's Indian Department is a bri- 

 gade of cavalry known as the Canadian Mounted Police. 

 This is an uncommonly line body of men, numbering on 

 its roster many of the better classes. They have the usual 

 military organization, but are distributed in small troops 

 all over Canada, Their duties are chiefly to suppress the 

 whiskey trade — for fire-water has always been and is still 

 the greatest of the red man's foes — keep the Indians in sub- 

 jection, and aid the sheriffs of the various counties. These 

 men ride a bred -up bronco. Their saddle is what is 

 known as the jVIontana tree, and for this style of saddle 

 they ride with rather too short a stirrup to suit our notions 

 — a seat akin to the English military seat. On a trot they 

 pound, as with such short stirrups they cannot well avoid 

 doing. The seat of the United States soldier is apparently 

 contrasted to theirs, and each method not only has its ad- 

 vocates, but produces in nuiny individuals the best of 

 horsemanship. The seat of this rider gives him a pur- 



