86 TRANSACTIONS. 1906-7. 



Rouge, (a suburb of Winnipeg covers the spot where the old fort 

 stood), and then paddled up the Assiniboine to the present site 

 of Portage la Prairie, where they established Fort La Reine. 

 From here they travelled overland to the Mandan villages on 

 the Missouri. La Verendrye's account of this first meeting 

 of white men with one of the most remarkable of the western 

 tribes is interesting and valuable. It gives one an idea of Indian 

 civilization — if one may use the term — developed without any 

 help from the knowledge and experience of white men. 



When they were yet some way from the Missouri they were 

 met by a Mandan chief with thirty warriors, who presented La 

 Verendrye with corn in the ear and native tobacco, emblems of 

 peace and friendship. As they neared the villages. La Verendrye, 

 with that shrewd knowledge of Indian character which always 

 stood the French in such good stead, prepared his men for a 

 spectacular entry. Donning all their finery they marched along 

 the banks of the Missouri in military order, with the fleur-de-lys 

 borne proudly in front, and as they reached the first huts of the 

 village they halted and fired three blank salutes with all the 

 available muskets. The Mandans crowded out to meet them, 

 and as La Verendrye and his men marched down the broad street 

 to the lodge of the head chief, the walls of the village and the tops 

 of the curious dome-shaped houses were crowded with curious 

 women and children. The Mandans, unlike other tribes of the 

 west, not only lived in permanent villages, but grew their own 

 corn, pumpkins, and other vegetables, as well as native tobacco. 

 As compared with their neighbours they had reached a high degree 

 of civilization, although up to the time of La Verendrye's visit 

 they had had no relations whatever with white men. Many years 

 later Prince Maximilian visited the Mandans, and although he 

 knew nothing of the French explorer's journey, his minute des- 

 cription of their manners and customs is almost identical with La 

 Verendrye's. I have here a number of reproductions of scenes 

 in and about the Mandan villages, drawn by Bodmer, who accom- 

 panied Maximilian. 



The explorers returned from the Mandan villages in midwinter 

 across the open prairie, exposed to fierce and biting winds. 

 La Verendrye had been taken ill on the eve of their departure, 

 but insisted on going forward. They had no fuel, very little 

 food, and were compelled to camp night after night on the open 

 prairie without shelter of any kind. Cold, hungry and dispirited. 



