others, one of whom was Robert Campbell, crossed the plains to 

 Missouri to purchase sheep for the new company. Dissatisfied 

 with the excessive charges of the Missourians, Rae insisted on 

 going on to Kentucky, 500 miles further. The sheep were 

 bought at a price of $1.00 to .f 2.00 a head, and a party started 

 with them for the Red River. The journey was most disastrous. 

 Foot sore and wearied, many of the sheep died by the way. 

 Pierced by the spear grass (Stipa spartea) many perished ; the 

 the leaders of the party quarrelled ; the flock became steadily 



FORT SIMPSON (Mackenzie River) 



less; and of 1475 sheep bought in Kentucky only 251 reached 

 Red River. 



(6) Other unsuccessful schemes, such as the Tallow Com- 

 pany, followed this, but Campbell was sent away to the far 

 west, and exchanged the peaceful role of shepherd for that of a 

 trader. 



CAMPBELL AS A FUR TRADER. 



Robert Campbell had from the flrst the confidence of Sir 

 George Simpson, and now the Governor despatched him to what 

 seems to have been the favorite hunting grounds of the early 

 traders, the Mackenzie River basin. In 1834 he was at Fort 



