Harmon's journal. 261 



which had not been burned, as well as some prop- 

 erty belonging to those disturbers of the peace. 



In June, a number of the Brules, that is, peo- 

 ple whose fathers were white men, and whose 

 mothers were Indian women, proceeded from the 

 upper part of Red River, toward the place of 

 its entrance into the Lake, in order to guard some 

 property there belonging to the N. W. Compa- 

 ny. On their way, they were obliged to pass, 

 for about two miles,' over an open plain, directly 

 behind Lord Selkirk's establishment. As soon as 

 they were observed, his people came out in a 

 body, and fired upon them, twice. This was un- 

 expected by the Brules ; neither were they pre- 

 pared for such an encounter, as many of them 

 had neither gun nor ammunition. Perceiving how- 

 ever, that they must defend themselves or be 

 cut off, those who had arms returned the fire ; 

 and the contest continued, until twenty two of 

 the noble Earl's people fell, and some others 

 were wounded. The Brules had only one man 

 killed, and one wounded, — This unhappy affair 

 broke up the colony, Some of the people went 

 to Hudson's Bay ; but the greater number return- 

 ed to Canada. 



Those of Lord Selkirk's people who came to 

 the English River and Athabasca, suffered great- 

 ly for the want of provisions. Out of nearly one 



