182 EED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



many have succeeded in the course of years in acquiring 

 comfortable homesteads, and well stocked granaries and 

 farm yards? and why has the European and Canadian 

 element disappeared? The chances of nearly all have 

 been equal, — land of admirable fertility everywhere sur- 

 rounds them ; with unsurpassed advantages for rearing 

 horses, cattle, and sheep, yet little or no progress has 

 been made ; and in respect of sheep, which might soon 

 in a measure supply the place of the buffalo, a serious 

 diminution in numbers has taken place. It is true that 

 within the last few years many hundred head of cattle 

 have been driven across the prairies of Minnesota to St. 

 Paul and sold well there. But this new export trade 

 should have given encouragement to raising stock ; yet 

 stock, with unlimited pasture, is diminishing. The distant 

 hunt consumes the time which might be given to far more 

 profitable home industry ; and those who really enjoy a 

 settled life, and know the advantages which industry con- 

 fers, from experience gained in Canada or Europe, leave 

 the country and seek their fortunes elsewhere. 



Every stranger is struck with surprise that the houses 

 of half-breed hunters generally show no signs of recent 

 improvement, show no signs of care and attention devoted 

 to gardens or the cultivation of fruit. Plums grow wild 

 in the forest, but none are seen in the settlements. Apple 

 trees are only now beginning to be tried at the Stone Fort. 

 No effort of manufacturing industry is visible beyond the 

 windmills for grinding wheat. 



It must not be supposed that this stationary, or rather 

 retrograde, condition, is unnoticed by the mass of the 

 people. They see the comfort by which the retired fac- 

 tors, the clergy, and the traders of the settlement are 

 surrounded, and the comparative luxury which exists at 

 the forts ; but they do not rightly understand how their 



