1% PERMANENTLY APPOINTED TO GOVERNMENT 



his note book for future reference. Shortly after this, my son and I 

 were on our way home, which we reached in due time and found 

 all well. My wife was now so accustomed to running the estab- 

 lishment alone that I was never in doubt of her want of success. 



I remember little about my work this winter except to say 

 that I was busier than ever. I commenced to write my report 

 at once and, before it was finished, I was asked to go to Ottawa 

 and report verbally on the country I had seen and the results of 

 my expedition. They were greatly pleased, as I had succeeded, in 

 my three trips, in settling so many questions that they were very 

 enthusiastic about me at this time and the Deputy Minister, 

 Lindsay Russell, said that he thought it was time that that per- 

 manent position they had promised be given me at once. 

 He said : "Sir John is here and I will go in and speak to him now." 

 He went in and came out almost immediately and said that Sir 

 John said "certainly, Macoun must have a permanent position." 

 Russell said to m£: "Now is your time to go in and see Sir John 

 and get it in writing because he is very liable to forget what he 

 says." I went in and told Sir John and he laughed and said: 

 "Russell does not give me as much credit as I deserve." He gave 

 me the writing and made some very pleasant remarks and I left 

 him very well satisfied. My appointment was to take effect on 

 the first of January, 1882. 



When I went home, I found a request from a publisher asking 

 me if I would write a book on the North West and he came to 

 see me and we talked the matter over and I decided, as I was full 

 of the subject, and could now have everything made public by the 

 Government, to write the book and, in the course of the winter, 

 with the assistance of my two daughters, Clara and Minnie, I 

 wrote the book "Manitoba and the Great North West." (an octavo 

 volume of 687 pages). I included in it almost everything I knew 

 and thought about the country. The compilations were made 

 by the girls and I wrote most of the chapters from my notes. 

 Other chapters were written by men who were acquainted with 

 the subject and the book was published in the spring. 



