CHAPTEK IV. 

 YHE HALF-BREED SCRIP COMMISSION. 



The adjustment with the half-hreeds depended, of course, 

 "upon a successful treaty with the Indians, and, this having 

 loeen concluded, the latter at once, upon receipt of their pay- 

 ments, left for their forests and fisheries, leaving the half- 

 hreeds in full possession of the field. 



It was estimated that over a hundred families were 

 ■encamped around us, some in tepees, some in tents, and some 

 in the open air, the willow copses to the north affording 

 shelter, as well, to a few doubtful members of Slave Lake 

 society, and to at least a thousand dogs. The " scrip tent," 

 as it was called, a large marquee fitted up as an office, had 

 been pitched with the other tents when the camp was made, 

 and in this the half-breeds held a crowded meeting to talk 

 over the terms, and to collate their own opinions as to the 

 form of scrip issue they most desired. In this they were 

 singularly unanimous, and, in spite of advice to the contrary 

 urged upon them in the strongest maner by Father Lacombe, 

 they agreed upon " the bird in the hand " — ^viz., upon cash 

 scrip or nothing. This could be readily turned into money, 

 for in the train of traders, etc., who followed up the treaty 

 payments,, there were also buyers from Winnipeg and 

 Edmonton, well supplied with cash, to purchase all the scrip 

 that offered, at a great reduction, of course, from face value. 

 Whether the half-breeds were wise or foolish it is needless 

 to say. One thing was plain, they had made up their minds. 

 Under the circumstances it was impossible to gainsay their 

 assertion that they were the best judges of their own needs. 



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