100 



EED KIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



We have hearts, and love our Hves and our country. If 

 twenty men came we would not let them pass to-day. 

 We do not want the white man ; when the white man 

 comes, he brings disease and sickness, and our people 

 perish ; we do not wish to die. Many white men would 

 bring death to us, and our people would pass away ; we 

 wish to love and to hold the land our fathers won, and 

 the Great Spirit has given to us. Tell these men this, 

 and the talk is finished." 



A hasty consultation with my companion as to what 

 we should do in this dilemma, was abruptly closed by 

 being informed that the Iroquois Pierre was very ill at 

 the back of the tent. Without his paddle, without guide, 

 and Mr. Dawson feeling much worse than on the previous 

 evening, we determined at once not to attempt to cross 

 the swamps between the Lake of the Woods and Eed 

 Eiver alone, but decided to go to Eed Eiver by the Eat 

 Portage and Winnipeg. 



We told, this determination to the chief, and asked for 

 assistance to take the canoes to the settlements. 



He pointed out two young men, who received orders 

 to take us down the Winnipeg. One was to return from 

 Islington Mission, the other to go on to Eed Eiver. We 

 then told the chief that we would send him presents from 

 Eed Eiver, at which he expressed satisfaction, and sug- 

 gested tea and tobacco. 



Garden Island is about a mile and a half long and a 

 mile broad at its widest part. Its western half is thickly 

 wooded, but the greater portion of the eastern half is 

 cleared, cultivated, and planted with Indian corn. Near 

 the centre of the field were several graves before referred 

 to, with neatly constructed birch bark coverings. Only 

 one lodge was seen on the island, and that was placed 

 about 100 yards from the graves. Near the space devoted 



