THE RED KIVER EXPEDITION. 289 



cally with red, yellow, or green. A fine tall fellow 

 had one side of his face painted black and the other 

 red, his coat being also of two colours similarly 

 divided. All wore a blanket wrapped round their 

 bodies, which gave them the appearance of height. 



Fort Francis, or rather the ground about it, has a 

 sacred repute with them ; and here take place an- 

 nually their medicine ceremonies, a sort of secret 

 orgie, beginning with eating the flesh of dogs white 

 ones if they are to be had and ending by initiating 

 those anxious for instruction into various mysteries, 

 and the use of many herbs. 



Previous to leaving Prince Arthur's Landing, 

 Colonel Wolseley had sent a proclamation into the 

 Red River Settlement, informing the people of the 

 objects of the Expedition, and calling upon all loyal 

 men to assist him in carrying them out. Copies of 

 it were sent to the Protestant and Roman Catholic 

 bishops, also to the Governor of the Hudson Bay 

 Company at Fort Garry, who were at the same time 

 requested by letter to take measures for pushing on 

 the road to the Lake of the Woods, already partially 

 made. It was never anticipated that this road could 

 be completed in time for us to use it, even should 

 there be no hostilities ; but it was considered ad- 

 visable to impress Kiel with the idea that we in- 

 tended advancing by that route, so that, in case he 

 was bent upon fighting, he would frame all his 

 calculations upon a wrong basis, and make his 



