A SOJOUEN AMONG THE HALE-BBEEDS. 137 



I could neither advance nor recede, I dismounted and found myself in 

 the same predicament, scarcely ahle to keep my head above the sur- 

 face. I managed, however, to reach the dry land, and with the 

 lasso, or long line, which every voyageur in these parts invariably has 

 attached to his horse's neck, succeeded in getting the animal out. 

 I remounted and endeavoured to cross in another direction, but with 

 no better success. I now found myself surrounded on all sides, as 

 far as I could see, with nothing but swamp. My horse refused to be 

 ridden any farther. I had therefore to dismount and drag him 

 along as I best could, wading up to my very middle in mud and 

 water abounding with reptiles. That I had lost my way was now 

 certain, and, as it was raining hard, I could not see the sun, nor had 

 I a compass. I, however, determined to fix upon one certain course 

 and to keep that at all hazards, in hopes that I might reach the 

 Asseneboine Kiver, by following which I could not fail to reach the 

 settlement. After travelling in uncertainty for ten or twelve miles 

 I had at length the satisfaction of reaching the river, and in two 

 hours afterwards I arrived safe at Port Garry. The next morning 

 I learned that my guide had been brought in by two men who 

 were looking for some stray horses. The poor fellow had got rapidly 

 worse after my leaving, and had only proceeded a short distance 

 when he was compelled to stop. He only survived two days after 

 his arrival. Fort Garry is one of the best built forts in the Hudson's 

 Bay territory. It has a stone wall with bastions mounted with 

 cannon, inclosing large storehouses and handsome residences for the 

 gentlemen of the establishment. Its strength is such that it has 

 nothing to fear from the surrounding Half-breeds or Indians. The 

 gentleman in charge was Mr. Christie, whose many acts of kindness 

 and attention I must ever remember with feelings of grateful re- 

 spect. 



The office of Governor of the Red River Settlement is one of great 

 responsibility and trouble, as the happiness and comfort of the whole 

 settlement depend to a great extent upon the manner in which he 

 carries out his instructions, The Half-breeds are much inclined to 

 grumbling, and, although the Company treat them with great liber- 

 ality, they still ask almost for impossibilities ; indeed as far as the Com- 

 pany is concerned, I cannot conceive a more just and strict course 

 than that which they pursue in the conduct of the whole of their im- 

 mense traffic. In times of scarcity they help all around them ; in 

 sickness they furnish them with medicines, and even try to act as 

 mediators between hostile bands of Indians. No drunkenness or 

 debauchery is seen around their posts, and so strict is their prohibi- 



