232 TEAYEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



be induced to lay by provisions in case of want, so 

 that a winter seldom passes that some do not die 

 from starvation. As they are all armed and capable 

 of great endurance, and as the country generally is a 

 network of lakes, where they can go in any direction 

 for hundreds of miles in their light canoes, they 

 might cause endless trouble and great loss to any 

 military force seeking to push its way through the 

 country without their permission. 



They expect to be well paid by travellers in pres- 

 ents of provisions ; so their presence along the line of 

 route added to the difficulties to be overcome, as all 

 such presents would have to be carried by the troops, 

 and every pound of extra weight was a serious matter. 



For the conveyance of the provisions and stores 

 between Thunder Bay and Shebandowan, a con- 

 siderable transport corps would be required all 

 the material for which would have to be sent there 

 in steamers, as also the forage required for the 

 animals, for neither hay nor grass was to be had 

 on the spot. 



In fine, to get a military force to Eed Eiver, it 

 .was necessary to send it complete with all warlike 

 appliances, and with at least two months' provisions, 

 through a wilderness for a distance of above 600 

 miles, where no supplies of any description were 

 obtainable. It Avas no wonder, therefore, that our 

 Government paused and considered well before they 

 committed any of her Majesty's troops to an opera- 



