66 THEOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN 



tenterhooks for two hours. I never felt so relieved as when 

 the rain of questions ended, and, satisfied by our answers, 

 they acquiesced in the cession." 



Next morning these Commissioners left for Smith's Land- 

 ing, and, on the 17th, made treaty with the Indians of Great 

 Slave Lake. Meanwhile Mr. Laird had proceeded to Eond 

 du Lac, at the eastern end of Lake Athabasca, and there, on 

 the 27th, the Chipewyans adhered, whilst Messrs. Koss and 

 McKenna, in order to treat with the Indians at Eort McMur- 

 ray and Wahpooskow, separated. The latter secured the 

 Chipewyans and Crees at the former post, and Mr. Koss the 

 Crees at Wahpooskow, both adjustments, by a coincidence, 

 being made on the same day. 



This completed the Treaty of 1889, known as No. 8, the 

 most important of all since the Great Treaty of 1876. 



The work of the Commission being now over, its mem- 

 bers prepared to leave the country. Messrs. Ross and 

 McKenna set out for Athabasca Landing, whilst Mr. Laird 

 accompanied us to Pelican Kapids, but left us there and 

 pushed on, like the others, for home. 



There were, of course, many Indians who did not or could 

 not turn up at the various treaty points that year, vijz., the 

 Beavers of St. John, the Crees of Sturgeon Lake, the Slaves 

 of Hay Eiver, who should have come to Vermilion, and the 

 Dog-Ribs, Yellow-Knives, Slaves, and Chipewyans, who 

 should have been treated with at Fort Resolution, on Great 

 Slave Lake. 



Accordingly, a special commission was issued to Mr. J. A. 

 Macrae, of the Indian Office in Ottawa, who met the Indians 

 the following year at the points named, and in May, June, 

 and July, secured the adhesion of over 1,200 souls, making, 

 with subsequent adhesions, a total of 3,568 souls to the 30th 

 June, 1906. 



The largest numbers were at Eorts Resolution, Vermilion 

 Eond du Lac, and Lesser Slave Lake, the latter ranking 

 fourth in the list. Of course, there are still to be treated 



