114 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



bold but dreary region through which the Winnipeg flows 

 from Eat Portage to this, the first small area on or near 

 the banks of the river where farming operations on a 

 small scale can be conducted with any prospect of success. 

 The river is about 250 yards broad, and flows past this 

 little oasis with a rapid current. Mr. Macdonald has 

 about six acres of wheat and four acres of potatoes in a 

 very promising condition. In a garden surrounding the 

 dwelling of one of the Christian Indians, I observed an 

 acre and a half of potatoes, some Indian corn, and a patch 

 of wheat. Missionary labour here, as elsewhere, is not 

 encouraging ; the adults are generally very indolent, un- 

 settled, and improvident ; they make but little improve- 

 ment, and their conduct tends to confirm the impression 

 which I find to prevail among missionaries, that many 

 embrace and adhere to Christianity for the sake of the 

 temporal benefits it secures, often relapsing when material 

 advantages diminish or cease, into their original condition 

 of barbarous idolatry. Mr. Macdonald looks to the school- 

 house as the main hope for the future. When the Mis- 

 sion was established the Indians who visited this favourite 

 camping ground made many promises ; but even in 1852, 

 when the Bishop of Eupert's Land visited Islington, he had 

 occasion to remark, " that the Indian promised more at 

 that time than he has since performed will not appear 

 surprising to those who know the Indian character, and 

 therefore all would stand prepared for some little disap- 

 pointment in the carrying out of the plan."* 



I started from Islington Mission on the 31st August, 

 with Lambert, a young Indian lad, and the Ojibway from 

 the Lake of the Woods whom I had persuaded to accom- 

 pany me to the settlements at Eed Eiver, leaving Mr. 



* The Net in the Bay, by the Bishop of Rupert's Land. 



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