THE BED EIVER EXPEDITION. 287 



July, it being a great annual resort for the surround- 

 ing tribes; but this summer, as they expected our 

 arrival amongst them, they had collected from all 

 quarters in the hope of obtaining presents. They 

 also wished to appear imposing by their numbers, 

 so as to enhance the value of their goodwill towards 

 us, and to impress upon the white-faced soldier how 

 formidable they might be as enemies. Unfortunately 

 for the success of their intentions, we were not able 

 to start for at least six weeks after the time origin- 

 ally proposed for our departure from Shebandowan ; 

 so that as days wore on and there was no sign of 

 our arrival, the crowd grew weary of waiting, par- 

 ticularly as the supply of fish in the neighbourhood 

 became exhausted, there being so many mouths to 

 feed. The Government had early in the preceding 

 winter sent a gentleman to Fort Francis for the pur- 

 pose of keeping the Indians of that district quiet, and 

 preventing them from being tampered with by Eiel. 

 He had exerted his influence which was consider- 

 able to induce them to disperse, fearing that their 

 presence might lead to collision with the soldiery 

 when engaged in carrying stores and boats over the 

 portage on which stood the Indian wigwams. His 

 persuasions, and that most potent of arguments, an 

 empty stomach, soon caused them to leave ; so that 

 when we arrived not more than about a dozen lodges 

 remained, although their uncovered poles stood thickly 

 around, reminding one of the way poles are piled to- 



