VOYAGE IN THE WINNIPEG REGION 89 



There was quite a little village here of one-storey huts 

 ranged in a square, the fort being of the usual gimcrack 

 construction. Whether any of these depots were ever 

 seriously attacked by the Indians I do not know, but if 

 so, it is wonderful that they were not destroyed ; for all 

 those that I saw, with the exception of Stone Fort and 

 one or two others, were built of timber, and that in any- 

 thing but a formidable style of construction. A block- 

 liouse, skilfully made, is capable of offering a stout 

 resistance — of enduring a prolonged siege, unless heavy 

 guns are brought against it ; but these forts of the 

 Company are without ditches, or proper outward casing 

 of earth, and their contour and elevation are not of the 

 best ; nor are any obstructions placed at weak points ; 

 and trees and other shelter for an enemy are permitted 

 to remain standing close to their walls. I doubt strongly 

 if they could hold out twenty-four hours against the 

 attack of a party of riflemen. 



The interior of these forts, or depots, is on a par 

 with the exterior. The agent, or factor, in charge of one 

 of these stations has, of course, his private apartments 

 which, I presume, he furnishes according to his own 

 taste, and at his own expense ; but the junior clerks are 

 allotted a common room in which the only furniture I 

 have ever seen is a few rough plank tables, three-legged 

 stools, a stove, and similar articles. There is no pretence 

 at comfort. The young men have usually a gun or two, 

 and fishing-rods, hung about the walls ; and perhaps the 

 implements of a few games, such as cricket, croquet, &c. 

 There is a " labourer " to attend them, if it is a permanent 

 station ; but when travelling they have to do for them- 

 selves the best that they can. The general discomfort of 

 the place is increased, in my opinion, by the custom 

 of white-washing the rooms inside and out. Even in 

 summer I consider whitewash an eyesore : in winter it 

 is simply an abomination. Clean and wholesome ! No 

 doubt. And carpets on the floor are apt to breed 



