224 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



cated matters greatly, and was most embarrassing for 

 the Ministry ; they could not override the law, and 

 for some days it was doubtful whether a "true bill" 

 might not be found against them. Fortunately for 

 all parties, the case fell through from want of evi- 

 dence. 



These proceedings, however, added fuel to the 

 flames of popular excitement, and served to embitter 

 the feeling between the French and English parties. 

 After long conferences between the delegates and the 

 Ministers, a bill was framed for the establishment of 

 a government at Fort Garry, the terms of which were 

 so favourable to the rebels that the French-speak- 

 ing members withdrew their threatened opposition. 

 1,400,000 acres were to be reserved for distribution 

 amongst the half-breeds, ostensibly "to extinguish 

 the Indian claims to land," but in reality for the 

 purpose of enriching the Eoman ChurcL 



As previously mentioned, the half-breeds in the 

 Eed Eiver settlement were already possessed of con- 

 siderable farms, a very small part of which only they 

 cultivated, if such a term may be applied to the 

 trifling labour they bestow upon their land. Still, 

 although they already owned more land than they 

 knew what to do with, it was considered necessary 

 to appropriate this vast acreage for their exclusive 

 use, as by doing so the priests were satisfied, and 

 when they were contented the whole French party 

 was so also. All opposition having thus been re- 



