TKEATY AT LESSEE SLAVE LAKE 55 



appointed, almost defrauded. It was not what was expected, 

 what we believed we had a right to expect, after so much 

 waggoning and tracking and drenching, and river turmoil 

 and trouble. This woeful shortcoming from bygone days 

 attended other aspects of the scene. Instead, of fiery oratory 

 and pipes of peace — the stone calumets of old — the vigorous 

 arguments, the outbursts of passion, and close calls from 

 threatened violence, here was a gathering of commonplace 

 men smoking briar-roots, with treaty tobacco instead of 

 " weed," and whose chiefs replied to Mr. Laird's explana- 

 tions and offers in a few brief and sensible statements, varied 

 by vigorous appeals to the common sense and judgment, 

 rather than the passions, of their people. It was a dis- 

 appointing, yet, looked at aright, a gratifying spectacle. 

 Here were men disciplined by good handling and native 

 force out of barbarism — of which there was little to be seen — 

 and plainly on the high road to comfort; men who led 

 inoffensive and honest lives, yet who expressed their sense 

 of freedom and self-support in their speech, and had in 

 their courteous demeanour the unmistakable air and bear- 

 ing of independence. If provoked by injustice, a very 

 dangerous people this; but self-respecting, diligent and 

 prosperous in their own primitive calling, and able to adopt 

 agriculture, or any other pursuit, with a fair hope of success 

 when the still distant hour for it should arrive. 



The proceedings began with the customary distribution 

 of tobacco, and by a reference to the competent interpreters 

 who had been appointed by the Commission, men who were 

 residents, and well knovni to the Indians themselves, and 

 who possessed their confidence. The Indians had previously 

 appointed as spokesman their Chief and head-man, Keenoo- 

 shayoo and Moostoos, a worthy pair of brothers, who speedily 

 exhibited their qualities of good sense and judgment, and, 

 Keenooshayo in particular, a fine order of Indian eloquence, 

 which was addressed almost entirely to his own people, and 

 which is lost, I am sorry to say, in the account here set 

 down. 



