LABOUR AT RED RIVER. 



187 



The hasps were made according to my directions as 

 regards form, but the material was copper instead of iron, 

 the blacksmith alleging that he had no iron from which 

 he could make the hasps. It is not improbable that 

 this was an excuse arising from indolence rather than 

 inability to execute the work, or the want of the material, 

 for I saw a few days afterwards plenty of iron suitable 

 for the purpose in the storehouse at Fort Garry. 



The Bishop of Eupert's land says : " After all, our grand 

 want is division of labour. We have no separate trade ; 

 all are engaged in everything, farmers and carpenters at 

 the same time, and so on. At a meeting held two years 

 ago, for the promotion of social improvement, I endea- 

 voured to press this upon them, but they are slow in under- 

 standing the 'philosophy of improvement.' We want 

 one skilful in tanning, for the hides of the domestic 

 animals are wasted at present. We want one to instruct 

 them in making soap, to save the importation of this 

 bulky and necessary article from Britain. We want, too, 

 improvement in the fulling of cloth, to bring the wool 

 into use, and provide clothing cheaper than what is im- 

 ported. We have country cloth now, but the fabric is 

 imperfectly fulled, and therefore not sufficiently warm. 

 Young men coming among us, who could guide and 

 instruct the people in any of these branches, would be 

 a great gain."* 



The mechanical force employed in preparing food is 

 represented by sixteen windmills, nine water-mills, and 

 one steam-mill, which is also used as a saw-mill. Articles 

 of pottery, notwithstanding their fragile nature, are im- 

 ported, although, as if reflecting upon the industry and 

 enterprise of the modern inhabitants of Eed Eiver, ancient 



* Report on the Red River Expedition of 1857. Letter to the Author. 

 Appendix, No. 9. 



