64 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



Soon after we entered the squaw began to prepare 

 supper, this was done by boiling white-fish and potatoes 

 together ; when cooked the whole was poured into a large 

 tin dish and handed to me, together with a cup of tea. 

 Helping myself I passed the dish to the Indian, but he 

 laid it at his feet ; as soon as I had finished my supper, 

 the Indian helped himself and the half-breed, and then 

 passed the dish to his squaw, who divided the remainder 

 among the other inmates of the tent. These consisted 

 of an old watchful and restless Indian woman, the 

 mother of the mistress of the tent ; a newly married 

 couple related to our host ; the Indian guide from Dauphin 

 Lake, and five children. After supper I spread my 

 blanket and lay down, quite overcome with the long con- 

 tinued exertion of wading through swamps and quaking 

 bogs, but too tired to sleep. The half-breed and Indians 

 sat talking for many hours before they turned their feet 

 to the fire, rolled themselves up in a blanket and seem- 

 ingly at once " found sleep." 



On the following morning I rose with a few aches and 

 pains, which the succeeding events of the morning rapidly 

 dispelled. After breakfast my Indian host offered me a 

 favourite buffalo runner to ride to Manitobah House. 

 The exertion required to manage this animal soon re- 

 moved all unpleasant rheumatic symptoms. Her extra- 

 ordinary sagacity is related in a subsequent chapter, but 

 her mouth was evidently formed of sole leather and not 

 amenable to persuasions administered through an Indian 

 bridle. The country on the shore of Ebb and Flow Lake 

 is low but weU fitted for a Hmited settlement. There is 

 an abundant supply of aspen timber interspersed with 

 small strips and groves of oak and birch. I arrived at 

 Manitobah House soon after noon, and was cordially re- 

 ceived and hospitably entertained by Mr. Mackenzie the 

 gentleman in charge. 



