Department of Hudson's Bay

DEPARTMENT OF HUDSON' 6 BAY. 20^

DEPARTMENT OF HUDSON'S BAY.

BY REV. G. A. BELCOURT.

The dipccvery of America, by Christopher Columbus, in
1496, gave a new impulse to the spirit of enterprize. From
that period, bold navigators launched fearlessly out into
the broad bosom of the ocean, and continued to make, from
time to time, new discoveries in the field which had been
laid open to them by the noble and devoted perseverance of
their great predecessor.

It was about the year 1607, that the celebrated navigator,
Henry Hudson, then in the employ of the English, discov-
ered the magnificent Bay to which he gave his name ; and
in 1611, pursuing his researches, he penetrated five hundred
leagues farther north than any traveler had done before him.
It was this same year that two missionaries, Fathers Masse
and BiART, arrived in Canada.

Some time after this period, the English, in order to
profit by the discoveries which had been made in their name
by Hudson, commenced some settlements in the vicinity of
Hudson's Bay, and entered into a kind of traffic for furs
wilh the Indians, who descended, during the summer season,
the various streams which pour their waters into this Bay,
bringing vv^ith them these trophies of their success in the
chase.

These settlers built at first only a few houses in which to
pass the winter. Here, they suffered greatly from the scurvy
which broke out among them. But the strong desire of

♦Translated from the French by Mrs.LETiTtA May.

208 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

gain wliich actuated them, rendered them regardless alike
of the ravages of disease and the rigor of the climate.

The French of Canada wisfied also to establish them-
selves in this region, pretending that, as that country formed
a part of the same continent as New France, they had the
right to trade with the natives that high up and even higher.
Several of their adventurers had penetrated as far north as
the Bay of Hudson, as early as the year 1656,' and in the
intermediate time between that and the year 1680, when
Groseillers and Radisson left Quebec for the above named
Bay with two vessels, which were but poorly equipped for
such an expedition. The persons engaged in this enter-
prize only succeeded in erecting a few forts, whence they
sallied forth and attacked the English settlements in the
neighborhood, and were in their turn attacked by them;
thus exhibiting in the horrors of civilization more cruelty
than the savages with whom they had come to trade. —
Such have been, at every period, among the sad effects of
an inordinate love of gain. These dissensions between the
English and the French did not cease till the ratification of
the treaty of Utrecht.

The disease and dangers to which they were exposed in
these perilous enterprizes, caused the French to take with
them, on such occasions, a confessor; and it was in this
capacity that Father Delmas, a Jesuit and native of Tours,
embarked for Hudson's Bay. When he arrived there, he
offered to remain in the fort, in order to serve as father c6n-
fessor to the garrison which was left there ; and at the same
time, to learn the language of the natives, so that he might
afterwards be enabled to announce to them the Gospel of a
Savior. The following year, the vessel which was to bring
provisions to these persons, not being able to effect an entrance
into the Bay, the larger number of them perished from hunger
and disease. But the death of the first missionary to this
country was still more tragical.

209

Only eight men bad survived in the fort, five of whom
having gone out to hunt in the snow to procure the means
of subsistence, left in the fort, Father Delmas, a surgeon^
and a tailor. Upon their return about five days afterwards,
they were surprised at not finding either the surgeon or the
priest. They questioned the tailor as to what had become
of his companions, and the confusion he betrayed in his
answers, together with some marks of blood which they
discovered on the snow, determined them to seize him and
place him in irons. This miserable wretch, seeing himself
under arrest, and pressed by the remorse of his conscience,
revealed the whole story of his guilt. He said he had long
nourished bitter feelings towards the surgeon, and had taken
advantage of their absence to wreak his malice, which he
did by murdering him one morning, and dragging his body
to the river, threw it into the water, through a hole in
the ice, which he had cut for the purpose. This being
effected, he returned to the fort and sought for the priest,
whom he found in the chapel, preparing to say mass. He
requested an interview with him ; but the holy father told
him to wait till he should have performed the duty in which
he was then engaged.

The mass being finished, the murderer discovered to the
priest all that he had done, testifying his despair, and the fear
he had that when their companions should Return to the fort,
they would put him to death for his crime. "That is not
what you have the most to fear," replied the father*, "Our
number is too small, and we need your services too much,
for you to dread anything from your companions ; and I
promise to oppose as much as I can their molesting you. —
But I exhort you to recognize the enormity of your crime
before God, and repent sincerely for having committed so
heinous an offence against his law. Let it be your care to
appease the anger of God, and I will take care to appease
13

210 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

that of your fellow-men." The holy father added, that if
the culprit wished it, he would go out to meet the hunters
and try to soften their feelings of resentment in advance,
and induce them to promise him that they would not punish
him as his crime merited.

The priest started out to do as he proposed : but he was
hardly gone, when the fears of the miserable tailor returned
with double power. He began to think that the priest was
deceiving him ; and that his real object in going waste
prepare the others, so that they might the more surely
execute condign punishment upon him. He determined
upon the execution of a second crime to try and hide the
first ; and seizing his gun and axe, he ran after the priest
calling to him to stop; and Avhen he came near enough, he
discharged the contents of his gun at him,' and wounded
him. The poor priest to escape the fury of this monster,
threw himself upon a mass of ice which floated in the river.
The furious wretch pursued him, and struck him repeated
blows with his axe till he had killed him, and then threw
his body into the river. In a few minutes after his return
to the fort, the hunters came in, and seeing all these suspi-
cious circumstances, threw him into chains, when he con-
fessed all.

They resolved to keep him in chains until the arrival of
the vessel upon which they were to embark ; but before any
assistance reached them, the fort was attacked by the
English. This little garrison made a brave resistance, and
kept up so furious a discharge from their artillery that the
enemy were led to believe that their number was consider-
able, and retired to reinforce themselves ; after which, they
returned again to the attack. The besieged seeing that
resistance would be vain, retired secretly through an open-
ing which had been made by a cannon, and passed into the
woods, leaving the tailor alone, bound as he was. Of his

211

subsequent fate nothing is known. Of the five men who
escaped from the fort, only two succeeded, after great hard-
ships and fatigue, in reaching Montreal ; and it is from them
that we have these details.

The tragical fate of this missionary did not deter another,
Father Sylvie, from going also some time after, to the Bay
of Hudson, to preach the gospel to the savages. But he
lost his health in the undertaking, and w^as soon obliged to
return to Quebec ; where he never recovered from his sick-
ness, but died a victim to his zeal in a good cause.

This defeat of the French in the Bay of Hudson, did
not remain without vengeance. In 1695, M. D'Iberville,
a celebrated French captain, then in Canada, received
orders to take possession of some English posts on the
shores of Hudson's Bay. Two vessels of war were con-
sequently equipped for the purpose ; and Father Sevigny
was appoijited confessor. He was the third missionary
who went to Hudson's Bay. One of the English forts
was taken in its turn without a bloAV. Two years after-
wards this fort was re-taken by the English, and Father
Sevigny made prisoner, and carried to England, whence
he passed over into France, and thence returned to
Canada. These mutual hostilities extended to Fort Albany,
on James' Bay ; which was taken and re-taken several
times. The celebrated Chevalier Sevis, who gave his
name to Point Sevis at Quebec, distinguished himself
particularly at this place. This warrior would have rendered
himself justly celebrated, if, overcome by resentment unwor-
thy of a great man, he had not betrayed the interests of his
country and turned his arms against her.

More than one-third part of the Avaters ^contained in
the immense basin of Hudson's Bay, are brought in by a
single river, called at that time Bourbon River by the
French, and Nelson River by the English.

212 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL C0LLEC110NS.

The result of these wars between the two contending
people was, that the English obtained the sole occupancy of
the nei ghborhood of Hudson's Bay, and both shores of Nelson
River. But many French companies, established partly at
Montreal, continued the commerce in furs ; which they
practiced almost exclusively in all the rest of the north-west-
ern part of North America, extending their expeditions
even so far as the Rocky Mountains. Many places in
these regions still retain the names of celebrated person-
ages and houses which existed at the time of their^^discovery ;
as for instance. Lake Bourbon, Dauphin River, Fort la.
Reine ; and a missionary, of whom I have not been able
to learn the name, made several days march up the
river Saskadjiwan, i^Kisiskadj lioan^ oar rent which turns
round. )

A tradition of the savages near the Lake of the Woods,
reports that the French travelers in passing, were invari-
ably accompanied by a missionary; and that one of them
was killed on this same lake, and his companions all
either killed or drowned. The following is the manner
in which they relate this occurrence : Early one morning,
a French canoe, manned with eight men, left a trading
house, which the French had built about the middle of
the Lake of the Woods, and stopped upon an island near
to the last pass, to enter the river of Rainy Lake. The
atmosphere was so still that the wind could hardly be
felt. Having built a fire, to take their repast, the smoke
rose up, and was perceived by a party of Sioux warriors,
who were approaching the same island, by a branch of
the river of Rainy Lake, called The road of War. These
having landed on the opposite side of the isle unperoeived
by the French, |fell upon them unawares, and massacred
the missionary and some of his companions ; the others,
throwing themselves into the water, in order to cross

213

over to some other islands, were drowned. This event
took place, according to the report of the savages, about
the year 1750.

Although the desire of all these missionaries had been
to learn the language of the different natives among
whom they traveled, in order to be useful to them, as
well as to the white traders, it does not appear that
any of them remained long enough in any place to acquire
that knowledge, or establish any permanent mission. The
€avalier McKenzib criticises the course they pursued to
civilize the Indians as not being one proper to enable
them to succeed in their design ; but I think his criti-
cism is bolder than just ; for the history of the Society
of Jesus, in the two Americas, proves the wisdom of
their measures. And the success of all their missions,
bas gained the applause of all those Avho have visited
them. I am disposed rather to think that the reason
that they established no permanent missions in these
remote regions is, that about the time they thought of
forming them their Order was suspended, and the Society
with the true spirit of obedience renounced all their
enterprises, and gave up the houses they had already
-established into the hands of the bishops of the dioceses
wherever they found themselves.

We have no evidence that the French ascended higher
up than three days march above Lake Bourbon,- along
the river Pas, or Saskadjiwan. The first who left Canada
with views of commerce in this country, was Thomas
OuRRY, who ascended the river Saskadjiwan in 1766.
Up to ihis time the Canadian traders did not venture
any higher up than Grand Portage, at the northern
•extremity of Lake Superior. His voyage, which proved
to be very profitable, encouraged others to follow his
example. James Finley made a voyage also which was

214 IHINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

equally as happy. But as these adventurers, in traveling
thus far into the interior, intercepted the furs which
had before this time been brought by the Indians to
Hudson's Bay, the English traders became jealous of
them and advanced further into the interior. From this
we date the commencement of a long series of disorders
and excesses, of which the details w^ere the more revolt-
ing, as the certainty of impunity gave free course to all
the passions.

Joseph Frobisher undertook to penetrate farther than
any of his predecessors had done, and went as ftir as
Churchill, which is beyond 59*^ of latitude. The follow-
ing year, his brother wont as far as Z' Isle a la Crosse,
In 1778, Peter Pond entered English river, thus called
by Frobisher, and pursued his course to the River L' Orig-
nal, w4iere he passed the winter. One day after he had
made some of the Indians drunk, he was so annoyed by
them that to rid himself of their importunity, he gave
one of them so large a dose of laudanum that he was
plunged into an eternal sleep. This murder cost the
life of a trader and all of his assistants. And any trader,
or any white man, who would have dared to show his face in
this place, or on the Assiniboine river, would have fallen a
victim to the sanguinary vengeance of these exasperated
savages, had not the small pox broken out among them, and
produced a diversion in favor of the whites. This dreadful
scourge spread terror and desolation among all these people.
Whoever was not attacked by it fled into the most profound
depths of the forest, far from the presence of the whites.
About two-thirds of their population perished. Their
corpses lay on the ground ; the masters became the food of
their own dogs or of the wolves. From this period is dated
also the army of the great picotte (quarrel.) This was
about 1780.

215

This same year, Peter Pond formed a partnership with
Mr. Wadin. These two men were of a character too
opposite to be united, as it soon appeared. In a festival
given by Pond to Wadin, the latter Avas killed by the
former, who shot him in the thigh with a pistol. The
ball broke the artery, the hemorrhage from which could
not be stopped ; so he died. Pond was tried and acquitted
at Montreal ; but he was not acquitted in the eyes of the
people who heard of the transaction. And in general, the
judgment pronounced in his case was considered as unheard
of, or as containing too much of the mysterious to do honor
to the judge who pronounced it.

In 1781, four canoes filled with traders, went up as high
2,%^' Portage de la Loohe^''^ some high lands between the
Saskadijwan river and the Polar Sea. At last, in 1783, was
formed the company, which has since become so famous,
under the name of the North Western Company. The first
factors were Benjamin and Joseph Frobisher, and Simon
McTavish. It was first composed of sixteen partners. P.
Pond and P. Pangman refused to join it, though the former
changed his mind the next year. P. Pangman joined with
Gregory, McLeod and McKenzie in 1785.

These opposing interests were the cause of disorders of
every kind ; so much so, that these companies rendered
themselves despicable even in the eyes of the savages, who
were astonished to find ;_ that their own manners were much
better than those ;of men, whom in other respects they
regarded as being greatly superior to themselves. In one
of these difficulties, Gregory saw one of his companions
killed before his eyes, and several of their assistants wounded.
It was easy to be conceived, that their common interest
demanded a sincere and cordial imion. This they compre-
hended somewhat later ; and at last in 1787 all these compa-
nies united together, and thus increased the number of

216 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

partners to 26. The 40,000 pounds sterling, which their
commerce yielded them at that time, was trebled in less
than eleven years. In 1T98, the company increased the
number to 46, which caused some dissatisfaction, and led a
small number of them to form a separate company. Never-
theless the Northwest Company had become too powerful to
dread any such divisions. It continued to prosper, in spite
even of the opposition of the Hudson Bay Company.

This last company took advantage, as it still does, of a
charter granted by Charles II, to his cousin Rupert. This
document, although illegal according to the British constitu-
tion, has been strongly sustained. It grants the most abso-
lute powers, and concedes a sovereignty more despotic than
Charles himself possessed. Though the governmental
department has sufficiently, expressed themselves upon the
subject of the illegality of this contract, yet the friends of
this company have always been so powerful as to prevent
any official declaration to this effect, by contending that the
subject should first undergo a discussion in court. Thus,
those who are opposed to the pretentions of this company,
not having enough of money to sustain the process ; fearing
that gold and favor would prove the stronger argument, find
themselves obliged to submit to a usurpation which they
cannot prevent.

Though they complained of these abuses a few years ago
by petition, which was ably sustained at London, and which
occasioned a great deal of excitement in England, the only
effect produced here, was to abate in a small degree the
boldness of the pretentions of this company, which tended
to a perfect tyranny. In proof of this, I will adduce a few
instances of their impositions : On one occasion, they seized
the effects of a hunter, upon suspicion that he might exchange
some of them with the Indians for furs. On another occa-
sion they caused a hunter to be imprisoned for having given

217

<one of his overcoats to a naked Indian, for about its value
in rat skins. They also refuse to allow the missionaries to
receive furs to sustain the expenses of public worship ;
whilst the Indians cannot obtain any money from the com-
pany for their furs ; and forbid the missionaries to buy
leather or skins, to protect their feet from the cold. These,
and a thousand other grievances call so loudly for redress,
that I think a small increase of the burden will cause the
evil to correct itself.

About the year 1812, the North West Company had more
than sixty trading posts west of the longitude of Lake Bour-
bon, and as high up as Slave Lake, where they sustained a
prosperous commerce. This success only inflamed still more
the jealousy of the Hudson Bay Company. Everything that
-could be imagined, to discourage their adversaries or hinder
their prosperity, was resorted to without scruple or the least
regard to human life. They went so far as to burn up their
bark canoes and destroy their traps which were in the
water, the sole means of subsistence in many places.

Among other tragical adventures, I relate the following:
Nineteen travelers came from Canada to join the company
of Bourgeois. Mr. B. * * * * They all died of misery
and hunger. Mr. B. himself survived through the assist-
ance of Mr. Lavord, a half-breed and expert hunter. An-
other traveler survived in a most mysterious manner. It
was suspected that he had lived upon the dead bodies of his
companions who had perished. After this catastrophe, Mr.
B. found himself most happy that his dog had outlived these
days of misery.

The hostilities which existed between the two companies
assumed a more formal aspect about the time of the estab-
lishment of the colony of Lord Selkirk, that is, from 1812
to 1816. In 1815, eatables being very scarce in the estab-
lishment, the governor of the colony issued an order, for-

218 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

bidding any one to take any provisions whatever of foody
out of the boundary of the colony. Now it was well known
that the company of the North West, ought to try to send
provisions through this colony, for the numerous travelers
who were coming from Montreal, and who depended upon
their succor, to enable them either to continue their route or
return to Canada. The agents of this company having been
informed in time, of the order of the governor of the colony
through which they had to pass, when they were descending
the river Assiniboine, halted before they entered the territory
of the colony, and sent a detachment of cavalry, composed
of half-breeds, under the control of Cuthbert Grant, at
that time clerk of this company, with orders to go by land
to the mouth of Red River, in order to escort the canoes of
provisions which were expected down every day. Though
they made a large circuit in compassing the angle formed
by the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, this company of half-
breeds were recognized from the fort of the colony, when
they reached the mouth of the river Assiniboine. Immedi-
ately upon seeing them. Governor Semple ordered out two
pieces of cannon, and sent in great haste to assemble the
settlers in the neighborhood, and without waiting for them
to come together, took the field with such persons as he
could collect at the moment. The half-breeds, who saw from
a distance these movements near the fort, stopped to make
observations. At last seeing an armed force coming out
against them, they prepared to make vigorous resistance,
with orders, nevertheless, not to make an attack. When
the English came within gun shot, Mr. Grant sent a cava-
lier in advance to make some arrangement with the gov-
ernor ; but the messenger, far from being Hstened to, received
a discharge from a gun, which he avoided only by precipi-
tating himself from his horse. He then hastened back to
his companions. A combat immediately commenced, which

219

lasted only a few hours, and was so well conducted on the
part of the half-breeds, that it cost them only one man ;,
whilst on the part of the English, the governor and nine-
teen of his men lay on the field of battle.

This took place in the spring of 1816, at the time that
Lord Selkirk, who had come to reside in Canada, was on hi&
way to visit his colony. He was encamped at the entremity
of Lake Superior, on an isle called ^^lle de Traverse^'' oppo-
site, though at a distance from Fort William, the principal
depot of the North Western Company, when he learned the
news of what had taken place at Red River, and the death
of his pl-otege, Governor SexMPLE. As he was escorted by a
company of veterans, he re-embarked with the intention of
taking Fort William, which he effected without a blow ; for
as his approach was unsuspected, he found the gates open.
He thus took possession of this post and passed the winter
there.

The next spring, he visited his colony, where he left some
soldiers, and returned to Canada by way of the United
States. After his arrival at Montreal, he instituted a suit
against the North-Western Company, much to the satisfac-
tion of the Bar, both of Upper and Lower Canada, wha
were the only persons benefited by it ; for the case was
removed to England, where it was never judged, after having
cost enormous sums.

During his sojourn at Red River, Lord Selkirk had
remarked that this little community were altogether desti-
tute of the principles of religion and morals; accordingly,
he suggested to the Catholics of the place that they should
address a petition to the Bishop of Quebec, to send them a
missionary. His Grace Joseph Octave Plessie, then Bishop
of Quebec, granted their request most willingly, and sent
them, the following spring, 1818, Mr. Joseph Norb't Prov-
encher, then curate of Kamouraska, as his Grand Vicar^

220 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

and Mr. S.J. N. Dumoulin, then Vicar of Quebec. Having
quitted Montreal the 19th of May, they reached the place
of their destination the 16th of July..

At their arrival, the colony was the emblem of misery. —
They had not yet tried to plant, except with the hoe, and
that only to procure seed for the following year. During
two consecutive years, the grasshoppers made such devas-
tation among the crops, that they did not even gather seed,
^nd were obliged to send for them to Prairie du Chien, on
the Mississippi river, about a thousand miles distant. They
also brought chickens from that place, which multiplied
very rapidly. The crop of 1822 was passable, but the rats
caused great destruction. As they had not yet procured
cats, the country was infested by these vermin.

As the few animals brought from Europe by the Scotch
■Colonies, had been destroyed during the troubles of the
preceding years, they were obliged to procure some from
Prairie du Chien. Some individuals imported several pairs
of oxen, and some cows. At that time, a cow sold for ^£25.
In 1825, an American drove four or five hundred oxen and
cows to that place. The cow^sold at from £4 to jGIO each.
Their number has since considerably increased.

In 1825, the snow fell the 15th of October in great quan-
tity, and remained on the ground. Still more fell during
the winter, which was one of the coldest which had passed
for twenty-five years. The snow melted suddenly about the
last of April. The water had already risen in the streams
as high as the banks, when the ice, which had scarcely
•diminished in thickness, was dragged away by the violence
of the current, and taking a straight course, rooted up trees
and demolished edifices and whatever found itself in its
way. The water rose five feet in the church of St. Boniface,
nearly opposite the mouth of the river Assiniboine, which
is one of the most elevated spots in that vicinity.

221

The fish, the principal resource of the inhabitants at this
season of the year, were dispersed in this immense extent
of water, and the fishermen were not able to take them. —
To crown their misfortunes, the bison that were ordinarily
found in abundance near the river Pembina, went away, and
about fifteen persons who had calculated on this resource,
perished from hunger. The waters did not retire entirely
till the 20th of July; when some persons risked sowing
barley, which came to maturity.

After so many scourges of different kinds, one would
think that the survivors would have been ready to abandon
forever a country which offered only disasters and difficul-
ties. Some of them did indeed leave and go to the United
States ; others lived like the savages, by hunting and fishing,
for several years, after which they returned to the culture
of the earth ; at last, having had good crops during several
years, the remembrance of their misfortunes was effaced.
The same scourge has not visited the place in a general man-
ner till this year, 1852. The water raised a foot higher than
in 1826, and the losses occasioned by it aie still greater an
more difficult to repair. A greater quantity of fencing,
grain, and property of all kinds, has been carried away and
destroyed by the water ; then, the lumber being all destroyed
or carried away to some distance from the colony, the expenses
of building are much more considerable. We at St. Joseph's
of Pembina, are beyond the reach of these iTiisfortunes.

We have seen that the visit of Lord Selkirk, to Eed river,
occasioned missionaries to be sent to that colony. The pro-
cess which was instituted against the North Western Com-
pany, though never judged, was also productive of some
favorable results. The great expense of sustaining this
process, joined to those occasioned by the constant opposi-
tion of a rival interest, and still more, weariness of a life of
incessant contentions, induced these two companies to unite.

222 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

under the name and privileges of the Hudson Bay Com-
pany. Some of the members of the North Western Com-
pany, not willing to be known under a title which they had
despised, preferred to retire from the commerce.

The union of these two companies took place in 1822.
Since that period, the profits of the company have been very
great ; but, on the other hand, the people of the country
have suffered by it in inverse proportion. The price of
furs as well as that of merchandise given in exchange, was
regulated entirely by the company. The seller came and
deposited his furs, and took from the trader's store, in
exchange, such things as he wished ; beginning by the arti-
cles of first necessity, and stopping when he was told he
had enough. This absolute power engendered, as can be
readily conceived, many abuses. The traders, seeing the
people so submissive, became arrogant, and gave themselves
up, without any shame, to every excess of immorality. At
last, missionaries being sent out in every direction, men
who had been civilized were made to remember their first
education ; a reform of conduct was the result, and honesty
recovered its rights.

There was a mission formed near the Rocky mountains,
above the river Saskadjiwan, on the little lake of Manitou.
It was established in 1843, by Mr. J. Baptiste Thibault, a
priest of the Diocese of Quebec, who lived there till 1851.
He left in his place, Mr. Bourassa, a priest of the same Dio-
cese of Quebec. Another mission was since formed at the
Isle of La Crosse, by Mr. S. Lafleche, a priest of the Dis-
trict of Three Kivers, and Mr. Als Tache, a priest of
the Diocese of Montreal. They both received a mission for
this post, where they rendered themselves in 1845. Since
that time, several priests of the Society of Oblats of Mar-
seilles, have been sent on a mission to these mountains.
Father Faraud has penetrated farther north tlian any of

DEPARTMENT OF HUDSON 's BAY. 223

the others. He went as far as Great Slave Lake. Chapels
for worship have been erected in each one of these missions.
Among all these churches, only one (the Cathedral of St.
Boniface) is built of stone ; all the others are^ wooden edi-
fices.

The parish of St. Francis Xavier, of Prairie du Cheval
Blanc, [White Horse Plains,] about 18 miles from the mouth
of the river Assiniboine, existed as early as 1830. This spot
is the least exposed to inundation of all the surrounding
oountry. This parish is composed of emigrants from Pem-
bina, where there were several commercial houses, and quite
a number of farmers. ^ But when Maj. Long, of the United
States, had verified the point of the 49^ degree of latitude,
Pembina proving to be on the American territory, the Hud-
son Bay Company caused the whole population to remove to
their side, by menacing them with a refusal to let them have
any supplies from their stores if they remained. Their mis-
sionary, Mr. DuMOULiN, being returned to Canada, the whole
colony finished by emigrating, though very reluctantly, to
Prairie du Cheval Blanc.

Twelve miles higher up on the river Assiniboine, I built a
chapel among the Saulteurs, where I had a very flourishing
mission from 1832 till 1848, when I quitted this diocese to
go to Pembina. During this time I built another chapel,
and founded a farm about 300 miles from the colony, towards
the east, at a point called Wabassimong, on the River Win-
ipik. This mission was committed to the Oblats of Mar-
seilles the year before I left it. At last being arrived at
Pembina, in 1849, I constructed a chapel on Red River, a
mile below the mouth of Pembina River, on the most ad-
vantageous site we could select. The inundations having
decided us to establish ourselves near to Mount Pembina,
about 40 miles from Red River, I built another chapel of
wood, 50 feet by 25, two stories high.

224 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

I would give you an account of the labors of the Protest-
ant clergy, but I suppose you have received information on
the subject from themselves. Suffice it for me to say, that
the total population of the colony of Selkirk is about 7,000'
souls, of which a little more than one-half are Catholics, the-
others are divided between the Church of England, Presby-
terians and Methodists. There is on Red River but one
society of nuns not cloistered. These came from Canada;
and are of the order of the Sisters of Charity called " Grey
'Nnns " {Soetcrs- Grises). Though instruction was not the
object of their institution, they have been invited to this
calling, and have fulfilled its important functions with suc-
cess since their arrival in 1844.

MAIfNERS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTRY.

The population of the country divides itself into three
classes, viz : The colonists who came from Canada or
Europe ; the half-breeds and their children, and the savages.
The Canadians and the Europeans have brought with them
that spirit of nationality which leads them to esteem them-
selves above the other inhabitants^ — half breeds, &.c. For
the first, nothing is so good as at Montreal ; for the others,
nothing is like London. The half breeds being more numer-
ous, and endowed with uncommon health and strength^
esteem themselves the lords of the land. Though they hold
the middle place between civilized and savage life, one can
say, that in respect to morality, they are as good as many
civilized people. Their character is gentle and benevolent.
Their greatest vice is prodigality^ ; they have also an ex-
treme tendency to the use of strong drinks ; nevertheless^
the vivacity of their faith has wrought wonders among
them in this respect. A number of them have taken a pledge
to abstain entirely from the use of all intoxicating liquors ;
and many others, without having done as much, still hold
themselves within just bounds. Generally speaking, ex-

225

cesses of this kind are rare ; nevertheless it is to be wished
that the Hudson Bay Company could be made to appreciate
how glorious it would be for them to cease to import intox-
icating liquors into the country. But their insatiability of
gain is such that there is no danger that either humanity or
honor should ever have weight with them. Such a traffic, in
a savage country like this, is an abomination against which
the bishops and ministers have always expostulated in vain.
Though the half breeds lose much of their time in idleness,
I do not think this owes its origin to the vice of indolence,
but rather to the absence of all commercial interests ; that is
to say, to the want of enterprises passably lucrative, or of
rewards sufficiently inviting to make them sustain the
fatigues of labor. For they are capable of enduring to an
astonishing degree the most horrible fatigues ; and they un-
dertake them with the greatest cheerfulness when circum-
stances call for it. They love gaming, but have no great pas-
sion for it ; and it is rare that any one of them delivers himself
to any excess in this vice. They have a taste for music ; and
above all for the violin ; and a great many of them know
how to play. They have a tendency to superstition, which
arises from their origin ; particularly in respect to dreams.
Though religion teaches them what they ought to think
about these things, they feel invincibly impressed with a
sentiment of hope or fear, according to the nature of the
dream. The third class of the population of the country are
the savages, who have a still stronger spirit of nationality
than the other two, though they admit that they are not so
skillful in other respects.

The immense valley that empties its waters into Hudson
Bay is inhabited by a great number of savage tribes, who all
spring from four mother nations, absolutely distinguished
from each other by their language.

1st. All the people who border on the northern sea, from
14

226 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

McKenzie's river to the Atlantic ocean, belong to the tribe
of the Esquimaux. All speak nearly the same language,
have the same usages, same superstitions, and the same
manners. Small in stature, their physio gomy is entirely
characteristic ; and offers nothing which attaches itself to
the other American nations. They never form any alliances
with other nations ; who regard them as being as far
inferior to them, as they themselves are inferior to the
white. The name of the Esquimaux is a corruption of the
word Weashkimek, the eaters of raw fish ; this word is Saul-
teur. They have like the other savage nations, the use of
the drum. Their habitations are usually made of snow or
ice, and are warmer than one would be tempted to believe ;
but they have a humidity which is insupportable to any per-
son not born in them. As they drink whale oil with great
delight, they expose themselves to great dangers to catch
this animal ; which proves that they are not destitute of
bravery. Without occupying themselves with the reflection
that the fisherman and his canoe would make onl}^ a mouth-
ful for one of these marine monsters, over whom they often
pass in the chase of the whale ; nor that with one blow of
his tail, the whale himself, could throw them to the third
heaven, like to the feeble bird, which strikes Avith its bill
the crow who comes to deprive it of its young, they throw
their slight darts at the back of the enormous fish, till they
have rendered themselves masters of it. As no missionary
has ever lived among this people, it is impossible to form
any just estimate of their mental capacities.

2d. The nation of Montagnes, who are divided into
several different tribes, are the neighbors of the Esquimaux,
and inhabit a strip of land parallel to theirs, from the
Rocky mountains to the neighborhood of Hudson's Bay,
and extending southward to the river Saskadjiwan. They
are perhaps of all the savages of America, the only ones

227

who have no kind of superstition or worship of imaginary
beings. Great admirers of the whites, they imitate them
^s much as they can. This natural disposition, joined to
the absence of all religious prejudice, has given to the mis-
sionaries who are sent there, every advantage they could
■desire. They are now nearly all Christians, excepting a
certain number of families whom the bonds of polygamy,
which they find difficult to break, hold still at a distance.

The name of Montague is not a translation of the savage
word WetsJiipweyanah — having the dress pointed — because
the cap, which covers their heads, is pointed and sewed to
a cloak or sack which they wear, which under certain points
•of view makes them appear pointed at the top. This word
is also of the Saulteurs language. They live by hunting
the cariboo, and some by hunting the bison ; and on the fish
with which all their lakes abound. These people are not
warlike, no more than the Esquimaux.

3d. The Cre^s who inhabit the two sides of the river
Saskadjiwan, and with whom we should join all the Mashke-
gons, who belong to the same family, and who extend in all
the country which borders the Bay of Hudson on the west,
south and east, in a word, all the ma^'shy country. The
mother nation of these two numerous tribes seem to be the
nation of the Saulteuse, which extends from Canada to the
river Saskadjiwan, where they are mixed with the Crees,
and are known under the name of Wahkawininini'wak — the
men of divers races. The word Crees is also not a transla-
tion of the savage word Kinishtinak — being held by the
winds. That is to say, the inhabitants of those places,
where the slightest wind keeps them from travelling: from
whence it appears, that the Crees originally inhabited the
shores of the great lakes, such as Lake Superior ; perhaps,
also, certain portions of the Lake of the Woods, which one

228 MINNESOTA HI8T0JRI0AL COLLECTIONS.

cannot cross except when the weather is very calm, and
which they certainly inhabited at one time.

The word Mashkegon is a corruption of Omashkekok, —
the inhabitants of the marshes. The only way of traveling
in all the immense region which they inhabit, is in canoes.
I have met old men, in traveling through their country, who
had never seen a horse.

The word Saulteur, which seems to have been given to-
this nation from their having a long time inhabited the-
Sault Ste. Marie, is not a translation of the savage name-
Odjibwek. This word has been the object of a great many
suppositions : Some say it Avas given to this nation on-
account of the form of their plaited shoes — teibwa, plaited ;
but this interpretation is not admissible, for the word does
not contain the least allusion to shoes. Others say that it
comes from the form the mouth assumes in pronouncing-
certain words, wishing always to hold on to the adjective-
teibwa; this is not more satisfactory. It is not uncommon
that a word is somewhat changed when applied to a man or
a nation. I could give a number of examples of this. I
would venture then to say that the word Odjibwek comes
from Shibwe ; in order to make a proper noun Oshibwek, in
the plural the pronouncing slowly of shih — root, to draw
out; that is to say, to lengthen out a word by the slow pro-
nunciation of its syllables; the particle vje signifying artic-
ulate, pronounce ; the k is an animated plural, which here
can only be applied to men. In truth, the pronunciation of
the Saulteuse characterizes them in an eminent manner. —
The Ottawas, the Algonquin^, th-e Tetes de JBoule, the Mon-
tagues of Canada, are so many tribes which belong to the
same family. We must not confound the Montagues of
Canada with those of the North, who have nothing in com-
mon except the name. The Saulteurs and the Crees have
always been intimately united ; and they have the same

229

usages and the same superstitions, to which they are
•extremely attached.

Their principal religious meeting takes place every
spring, about the time when all the plants begin to
awaken from their long winter sleep and renew their
life, and commence to bud. The ticket of invitation is
a piece of tobacco sent by the oldest person ot the
nation, indicating the place of rendezvous to the principal
persons of the tribe. This is a national feast, in which
each individual is interested, being the feast of medicines.
Each head of a family is the physician of his children,
but he cannot become so without having a preliminary
instruction and initiation into the secrets of medicine.
It is at this feast that each one is received. All the
ceremonies which they perform are emblematic, and
signify the virtue of plants in the cure of the various
maladies of man.

Another superstition, proper to cure the evils which
have place more in the imagination than in the body,
is the NiPiKKiWAN. It consists in drawing out the evil
directly, in drawing the breath and spitting in the eyes
of the sick person. The pretended cause of the suffering
is sometimes a stone, a fruit, the point of an arrow,
or even a medicine, wrapped up in cotton. One cannot
conceive how much these poor people submit with blind
faith to these absurdities.

Lastly, curiosity, and the desire of knowing the future,
has invented the TeisalcMwin. It consists of certain
formalities, songs, invocations of spirits, and bodily agita-
tions which are so energetic, that you are carried back
to the time of the ancient Sybils; they seem to say to
you, Deus ecce Deus^ and then submitting to the ques-
tions of the spectators, for whom they always have a
ireply, whether it be to tell what passes at a distance,

230 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

or reveal the place where objects which have been lost
may be found. As the skill of the prophet consists in
replying in ambiguous terms upon all subjects of which
he has not been able to procure information in advance
he is always sure of success, either more or less strik-
ing. Besides, as one is ordinarily predisposed to the
marvellous, anything that aids an imposture is easily over-
looked.

I knew a man who was in great trouble on account of his
horses, which he could not find just at the moment when all
the hunters were about to go upon an expedition. Seeing
he could not accompany them without his horses, he used
every effort to find them. At last an old Saulteur came to
him and proposed if he would give him a net (a net used to
catch fish) he would go immediately and invoke hismanitous ;
and he was very sure they would give him the desired infor-
mation. As one can readily suppose, the offer was accepted ;
and after the ordinary formalities, the juggler said he saw
the number of the horses, and described them otherwise
faithfully, naming also exactly the place where they could
be found. They were in effect found in the place he had
indicated. Now this old man had himself hid the horses,
in order to obtain from the owner, the net which he
knew he possessed ; and which he himself needed. I
could cite many other instances of the same kind.

Dreams are for the Saulteurs, revelations ; and the bird,
the animal, or even a stone, or whatever it may be which
is the principal subject of the dream, becomes a tutelary
spirit, for which the dreamer has a particular veneration.
As dreams are more apt to visit a sick person, when the
brain is more subject to these aberrations, many such
have a number of dreams, and consequently many tutelary
spirits. They preserve images, and statues in their
medicine bag, and never lose sight of them ; but carry

231

them about wherever they go. The faith of the Saulteurs
in their medicine is such, that they believe a disease can
be thrown into an absent person, or that certain medi-
cines can master the mental inclinations, such as love or
hatred. Thus it is the interest of these old men to pander
to the young. It cannot be denied that the Saulteurs
have some knowledge of medicine. And I have myself
witnessed several cures, which did honor to their physi-
cian. I have, above all, followed with great interest the
progress of a cure which an English doctor had pro-
nounced incurable, nevertheless the Saulteur doctor pro-
nounced its cure very easy ; which indeed he effected in
a very short time. The disease was erysipelas, degenerated
into ulcers.

The Saulteurs language is much richer than is com-
monly thought. It bears a great resemblance to the
ancient languages. It has, like the Greek, the dual and
the two futures. And like that language it has but
few radical words, but their manner of forming words
for the occasion, by the aid of these radicals, gives a
great facility of expression, the same as in the Greek.
The conjunction "and," either by hazard, or otherwise,
is the same as in the Greek. This language is formed
of radical and compound words. The radical words are
commonly employed in the familiar style ; but in oratorical
style, the compound words are used. As for example,
Ishpa^ Wadjin, in. compound style is ishpatna, the moun-
tain is high ; mangeleya sipa, the river is large ; in the com-
pound style is mangittigwej/a, &c., this makes the learning
of the language rather difficult at first, nearly equal to the
acquiring of two languages ; but in return for this, one
obtains an extreme facility in expressing his thought
with all the force he desires.

The Saulteurs have also their poetic style, which consists

MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

more in suspensions and enigmatical phrases, than in words.
Their, songs contain only a few words, with a great many-
notes. Their music is very strange, and consists more in
guttural sounds, than in modulations. Their intervals are
generally de tierce en tierce^ accompanied by a great many
unisons. They have songs of war, of love and of worship.
Their writings are composed of arbitrary hieroglyphics,
and the best writer is he who is most skillful in using
such signs as most fully represent his thoughts. Though
this manner of writing is very defective, it is neverthe-
less ingenious and very useful, and has this advantage
dver all other languages, since it paints the thoughts and
not the words. For it remains for genius to discover
the means of writing the thought, and not the word ;
just as figures represent numbers in all languages. Though
the Saulteurs have no idea of the state they shall find
themselves in after death, they believe in the existence
of a future life. They have very strange ideas on this
subject ; in consequence of some of these, they place near
the deceased his arms and the articles most necessary
to life. Some have even gone so far as to have their
best horse killed at their death, in order, as they said,
to use him in traveling to the country of the dead. It
is the general belief that the spirit returns to visit the
grave of the deceased very often, so long as the body
is not reduced to dust. Puring this space of time it is
held a sacred duty, on the part of the relatives of the
deceased, to make sacrifices and offerings, and celebrate
festivals before the door of the tomb. In the time of
fruits, they carry them in great abundance to the tomb,
and he who nourishes himself with them after they
have been deposited there, causes great joy to the parents
and relations of the deceased. Although I have seen
an old man who believed in metempsychosis, it is not

DEPARTMENT OF HUDSON' S BAY. 233

a belief of the nation ; he probably received this thought
-elsewhere.

The Saulteurs have some knowledge of astronomy ;
they have names for the most remarkable constellations ;
they have names also for the lunar months ; but their
calculations, as can be conceived, are very imperfect, and
they often find themselves in great embarrassment, and
have recourse to us to solve their difficulties. The electric
£uid manifested in thunder, the rays of light of the
Aurora Borealis, are in their imagination animated beings;
the thunders, according to them, are supernatural beings ;
and the rays of the Aurora Borealis are the dead who
dance.

Their idea of the creation of the world goes no farther
back than the deluge, of which they have still a tradition,
the narration of which Avould fill volumes. This account is
extremely amusing, and filled with wearisome episodes.
Without attempting to narrate the whole of it here, I will
tell that part which relates to the creation ; "An immortal
genius, seeing the water which covered the earth, and find-
ing nowhere a resting place for his foot, ordered a Castor,
an Otter, and other amphibious animals to plunge by turns
into the water, and bring up a little earth to the surface.
They were all drowned. The Rat, however, succeeded in
reaching the bottom, and took some earth in his paws ; but
lie died before he got back; yet his body rose to the
surface of the water. The genius, Nenabojou, seeing
that he had found earth, brought him to life, and
■employed him to continue the Avork. When there was
a sufficient quantity of earth, he made a man, whom
he animated with his breath." This genius is not the
Great Spirit, of whom they never speak except with
respect; while Nenabojou is considered a buffoon of no
gravity.

234 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

This account contains one thing very important : It
is that in speaking of the creation of plants, &c., it
speaks of their nutritive properties; and thus offers a
resource for the sustenance of life in times of scarcity;
showing what roots, plants, and mosses can to a certain
extent preserve life. Improvident, not to say more of
them, like all savage nations, the Saulteurs pass rapidly
from abundance to want.

There grows in the prairies a kind of turnip which can
appease hunger ; when this root is chopped up, dried, and
beaten, the Saulteurs make a soup of it, which, when mixed
with a little meat, becomes very nourishing ; and thus, the
food which would scarcely have sufficed a single day, is
made to last several days. There is also a wild onion, of
which they make much use. The ginger which grows in
the woods, is employed as pepper in their repasts. In the
spring, they find a kind of root, the shape of which resem-
bles a ligne, vulgarly called a rafs tail. It is very abund-
ant, of a good flavor, and very nutritive. Another root
named ashhibwah — that which is eaten raw — is very abund-
ant, and contains much nutritive substance. The fibres of
the trees, above all of the aspen, are used by them in
time of scarcity ; also, a kind of bush or shrub which is
found in the woods, called pii'nattik.

In the rocky countries, there exists a kind of moss
very well known to travelers, of which the utility has
been appreciated in more than one adventurous circum-
stance. It is the famous Tripe de Roche. This moss
is of the nature of the mushroom. As there are some
mushrooms which are real poisons, so there is a kind
of Tripe de Roche which, far from nourishing, produces
death. That which is green, and has small, round leaves,
is the most nourishing, and most easily digested. With

DEPAKTMENT OF HUDSON' S BAY. 235

this, and a duck, a partridge, or a fish, one can make a
succulent soup sufficient to nourish several men.

The Saulteurs have a great passion for gaming. They
pass whole days and nights in play; staking all they
have, even their guns and traps, and sometimes their
horses. It has happened that, having nothing more^
they have staked even their wives upon the play.

Their love of intoxicating liquors is, as among all the
other savage tribes, invincible. A Saulteur who wa&
convinced of religion, wished to become a Christian;
but he could not be admitted without renouncing indul-
gence in drunkenness to excess. He complained bitterly,
that the Hudson Bay Company had reduced his people
to such a pitiable state, by bringing rum into the country
of which they never would have thought if they had not
tasted it. The Saulteurs are one of the most warlike of
nations. From time immemorial, they have had the advan-
tage over their numerous enemies, and pushed them to
the north. They treat the vanquished with the most
horrible barbarity. It is then that they are cannibals-
by virtue ; for though we see sometimes among them
cases of anthropophagy, they have such a horror of it
that he who has committed this act is no longer sure
of his life. They hold it a sacred duty to put him to
death on the first favorable occasion. But during war,
they make a glory of cannibalism. The feast of victory
is very often composed of human flesh. One sees a
trait of this barbarity in the names they give to their
principal enemies ; as for instance, the Sioux, whom they
call Wanak. As I have remarked before, it is^ not rare
that they add to or retrench a little their proper names,
which renders their interpretation rather difficult for
strangers. In the word I have mentioned, hwan is put
for ohwan which signifies a piece of flesh put on the spit;

236 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

thus the word ahwanak, which they have finished by calling
hwanah or pwanah^ signifying, those whom one roasts
on a spit. In their great war parties, after the victory,
the Saulteurs build a great fire, then plant all around
spits laden w"ith the thighs, heads, and hearts, &c., of
their enemies, after, which they return home.

4th. The Sioux, to whom we must join the Assini-
boines, inhabit a portion of the valley of the Hudson Bay,
viz : the upper part of the Red river, and the river Chay-
enne, which is tributary to it. But many endeavors have
been made to conclude a solid peace with the Sioux ; and
though each time has been with the appearance of success,
these acts of treason have always destroyed these bright
hopes. The Saulteurs complain bitterly of their want of
faith.

Might I be permitted to advance the opinion, that if the
government could, without departing from its principles,
afford protection to the Catholic missionaries, and such help
as would enable them to evangelize this people, we would
soon see what is now seen in Canada : two nations, the most
hostile to each other, the Algonquins and the Iriquois, form
two villages, which are separated from each other by a
church, which is used in common by the two nations ; where
-each one sings in turn in his own language the praises of
the God of Peace who unites them. Arms, military forces,
■destruction of life from time to time, the extinction of
a portion of those, might effect at last what is desired ;
but would it not be better to try to attain the same
end by more charitable measures, which in sparing the
■effusion of human blood, would establish the faith of
treaties on a more solid basis than that of fear — on
the persuasion of conscience ? I will say no more in
regard to this nation, seeing that you who are on the
spot can obtain all the details to be desired.

DEPARTMENT OF HUDSOn's BAY. 23T

The nation of the Assiniboines, who separated them-
selves from the Sioux, according to tradition, on account
of family disputes, took its name from the rocks of the-
Lake of the Woods, where they first lived after their
separation. Their name comes from assin, rock, and
bwan, Sioux — Sioux of the Books. It is impossible ta
fix the date of this separation ; for at the arrival of
the first missionaries to Hudson^s Bay, Father G-abriel
Marest, in 1694 wrote, speaking of the Assinniboines
whom he called Assinipoils, that this tradition was
regarded as being already very old.

The Assiniboines are numerous, and from their habit
of living in encampments, are formidable to their ene-
mies. This tribe, like the Saulteurs and the Crees, their
allies, are not hostile to the whites. A traveler can
pass through this nation with more security for his life
than in a civilized country ; which cannot be said of
the Sioux. One cannot travel upon the highlands of
the Missouri and Red rivers, without being often seized
with horror by the narrations occasioned by the view
of places and scenes of a crowd of acts of barbarity
and treason, that have been perpetrated by this people,
of which, one sees in history but an example from time
to time. It is a horrible sight to see, as I have seen *
in different places, the skeletons of human beings, con-
founded in a heap with the bones of savage animals^
Without these imminent dangers, which such sights
recall to the mind of the traveler, these prairies would
appear a paradise. Filled with game of all kinds, they
offer at each moment a new point of view, and a vari-
ety of perspective most astonishing. Lakes, where the
herds of bison come to slake their thirst, and where the
majestic swan and the wild goose repose themselves in
passing. The limpid streams, where the beavers expose

238 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

their ingenious work to the admiring gaze ; petrifac-
tions, mineral waters of various kinds, flowers and strange
plants, all unite to amuse and interest the intelligent traveler
in search of the useful and agreeable.

I will say nothing here of the chase of the bison, as
I have already given a description of that, which has
been published.

The nature of the territory separated from that of the
United States by the 49th degree of latitude, is such,
that it seems necessary that one should have first visited
the country before determining the line and hiaking a
choice. With the exception of a straight strip of land,
say a degree parallel to the 49th degree of latitude, all
the rest of the country of the Bay of Hudson is filled
with lakes, marshes, savannas and rocks. Except a small
portion on which is established the colony of Selkirk,
there is not a spot of land that will produce corn. One
can hardly imagine the sad eventualities to which the
people of this countr}' are subjected, who can never count
on the resources of agriculture, being 600 miles from
any point where they can obtain supplies. It is thus
that the people north of Saskadjiwan are exposed from
time to time, to the terrible alternative of dying of hunger
or of eating one another, when in the interval that the fish-
eries fail, it happejis that the chase fails also.

It is for this reason that our neighbors of the colony of
Selkirk view with envious eyes the beautiful territory which
extends south of 49th degree, from Rainy Lake to the Rocky
Mountains. The left bank of the river of Rainy Lake, for
the space of about 80 miles, is covered with all kinds of
wood, of which the extreme height indicates the fertility of
the soil. The country which belongs to the United States,
is filled with advantages in respect to water power. It is on
account of the inferiority of the advantages of their terri-

239

tory, that our neighbors feel a strong opposition to our
establishment.

At the foot of the beautiful mountain of Pembina, which
is more than 200 feet above the level of the river Pembina,
which divides it, and on its first table rises the little village
of St. Joseph. It is divided by squares of 12 chains, and
subdivided by lots of 6 chains. Its streets are one chain
(66ft.) wide, which adds to the beauty of the town, render-
ing the extinction of fire easier, and favoring the free circu-
tion of air and the health of the citizens. Ever}^ thing wears
an air of vigor, in spite of the little protection they have
thus far received from the general government. The least
effective step, suoh as a garrison of soldiers, however feeble
it might be, the construction of a public edifice, a court of
justice, a prison, a house of correction, or anything that
would prove the indubitable intention of government to
protect us, would draw to this place a great portion of the
population of Selkirk and elsewhere. The soil is very fertile,
and the frosts never occasion any damage. Our gardens
yield us an abundance of melons of all kinds ; a fruit Avhich
is not known in the gardens of the Selkirkers. In 1851 the
first frost felt at St. Paul was on the 6th or 7th of Septem-
ber ; while at St. Josephs the first frost was not until the 2d
or 3d of October. They raise potatoes which weigh about
two pounds each, and carrots 18 inches long and 4 in diam-
eter. If the country were explored it would show without
doubt great mineralogical advantages. At a short distance
from our establishment, there are certain indications of iron
and coal — these two articles are the most important for this
country. The river Pembina furnishes water power for any
force required ; there is also stone in abundance, and very
easily obtained.

Though I have tried to be as laconic as possible, I fear I
have occupied you too long. Nevertheless, not to refuse to

240 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

gratify you, I will give you the biography yoii asked of me.

BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE ANTOINE BELCOURT.

George Antoine Belcourt, was born on the Bay of Febre
or St. Antoine, district of Three Rivers, Lower Canada, in
1803, of an honest mechanic, of small fortune, who, seeing
the aptitude of his son for study, placed him at the college
of Nicolet. After having passed through his classes with
success, he embraced the ecclesiastical state, and took a
course of theology. He Avas professor there at the same
time of mathematics and astronomy. Made a priest in 1827,
he acted as vicar in the town of Three Rivers, and several
other places ; thence he received a mission for the curacy
of St. Francis, on the river of the same name, and soon after
was named to the curacy of St. Martin, on the river Chate-
'augay, on the place which was celebrated for the victory of
General Salisbury over General Hampden. In 1830, Bishop
Provencher came down the Red River and traveled in
Canada in search of a priest who was suitable to labor solely
in christianizing the savage. In answer to all inquiries,
general suffrage united on this young curate. He demanded
him of the Bishop of Quebec, and Mr. Belcourt received
orders to go into the north country. Having arrived at Red
River, the 19th of June, 1831, he applied himself with ardor
to the study of the Saulteur language. By means of research
and study he discovered the principles of the language,
which he arranged and caused to be printed in 1839 ; also
a book of piety in this tongue. He composed a dictionary
which would form a large quarto, but which for want of
encouragement has never been printed. This dictionary,
French and Saulteur, gives the etymology of each word, and
the composite particles, which throws much light upon the
knowledge of this language, and enables one to seize the
genius of it — a thing so essential to him who desires to un-
derstand the people in general.

241

After having traveled, formed missions, built chapels, etc.,
in divers places, in a space from east to west of about 1000
miles, that is to say, from Rainy Lake to a place on the river
Saskadjiwan called Le Fas, ( Wabathgweyang^ or Strait of
the River,) coursed the river Signe, the river Assiniboine,
etc., he returned to .pass each winter at his mission of St.
Paul, on the river Assiniboine.

In 1833, the haughty conduct of the Hudson Bay Com-
pany occasioned a disturbance among the half-breeds which
threatened to become serious. After having employed, with-
out success, the influence of the principal personages then of
the country, and of the Bishop even, to appease them. Gov.
Simpson, knowing the ascendancy Mr. Belcourt possessed
over the minds of the half-breeds, went for this missionary,
who resided at his mission at St. Paul, about 30 miles from
the colony, escorted by the principal persons of the country,
and supplicated him to come down to the colony and employ
his nifluence in the establishment of order. The missionary
yielded himself most willingly to this demand ; then being
arrived at the colony, he convoked an assembly, in which he
exposed to the people what griefs they had a right to com-
plain of for redress, and made them comprehend what was
not just in their pretensions ; and authorized them to de-
mand reasonable concessions. These he drew up in the
French and English languages, and demanded a public
interview with the Governor. This audience took place the
next day. The assembly was numerous ; everything was
peaceably discussed and disposed of in a manner satisfactory
to both parties. Then eaqh went away contented. Thus
peace was re-established. In gratitude. Governor Simpson
added 50 pounds sterling to a like sum which the company
gave every year to the Catholic clergy, which they still re-
ceive yearly.

In 1837, the exactions of the Hudson Bay Company, and

S42 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

their abuse of power, having excited the iiidighatioii of the
colony, many of them were disposed to go into excesses,
which were of a nature to be of no utility to any party. As
he possessed all the confidence of the inhabitants, Mr. Bel-
COURT proposed to them to adopt legal measures, and not
such as thei^r conscience, and a spirit of honesty must re-
prove. A petition to the Queen was the means he proposed
to try. As no one else felt himself capable of drawing up
this document, rather than see things come to an extremity,
he undertook it himself. This petition was carried to Eng-
land by Mr. James Sinclair, and presented to the govern-
ment by a society of advocates, the zeal of whom merits the
warmest praises, particularly Mr. Isbister. This cause
made a considerable noise in England. It was vigorously
sustained by Mr. Blackstone and others ; but favor and
money put an end to the discussions.

The indignation of the Hudson Bay Company fell with all
its weight upon him who had drawn up the petition ; and it
was decided in the council of Factors of the Hudson Bay
Company, held by Sir George Simpson, that Mr. Belcourt
should be driven out the country. This year, 1838, Mr.
Belcourt had gone to Canada' by way of the United States,
and then returned through the Eastern States to Montreal,
the same Autumn. Before the departure of Mr. Belcourt,
the Factor of the Hudson Bay Company, in charge of the
fort of the colony, wishing to annoy liim as much as possible,
sent and had him arrested by the constable, in the vei-y
palace of the bishop, the evening before his departure, and
had him conducted before a magistrate, where he was forced
to submit to a course of questions as insolent as they were
unfounded. Such as *' Have you traded in furs with the
savages ?" Now, it was notorious to all that this missionary
had never even thought of this branch of occupation. Still
further: "Do you think the charter of the company is not

243

valid ?" One can see by this that they would have wished
to master even the thoughts. This Factor had not yet
treated the missionary with sufficient insolence ; he sent in
pursuit of his carriages some bailiffs, with orders to visit his
trunks. Despotism and a spirit of vengeance knows no
bounds, even Avhere a regard to honor ought to inspire a dif-
ferent course. All this only served to prove the innocence
of Mr. Belcourt, and the gross injustice of his persecutors.
At the arrival of Mr. Belcourt at Montreal, Sir Georgr
Simpson, who did not think him so near, had been to
make certain depositions before the archbishop of Que-
bec, threatening to cease all communication with the clergy
of Red River if Mr. Belcourt was not recalled. This mis-
sionary received, upon his arrival at Montreal, a letter from
the archbishop of Quebec, who informed him of his dis-
grace ; and invited him for the peace of the clergy of
Red River, to return to Canada. Mr. Belcourt immediately
opened a correspondence with Sir George, Avhich lasted sev-
eral months, with the object of exacting a retraction on his
part. He also had several interviews with him; during
which Sir George promised all, but never performed any-
thing. Mr. Belcourt had written to Mr. Isbister of the
conduct of Sir George. This young advocate, with his
accustomed zeal in exposing injustice, had presented this
letter to the Society of St. Thomasof Canterbury, the object
of which Avas to defend the rights of Catholics. The secre-
tary of this society wrote immediately by order to the arch-
bishop of Quebec, to ask a confirmation of the truth of this
letter, of which he had sent him a copy ; advising him at
the same time, that this was done with a view of instituting
a suit against Sir George. Then Mr. Belcourt informed
the Governor of the Hudson Bay Company that there was
no tune to lose for him ; and that if his retraction was not
made in formal terms, and in such a manner as was calcula-

24:4 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

ted to satisfy him, of which he would exact a copy, all his
information would leave by the first post for London, and
that he would have to justify himself for his conduct before
the Society of St. Thomas of Canterbury. This letter wa&
a thunderbolt for Sir George ; and all the measures exacted
by Mr. Belcourt were immediately and exactly fulfilled.
Then Sir George requested that Mr. Belcourt should be
sent again as missionary to Red River ; '4ie acknowledged
his services rendered in times of difficulty, and regretted the
injuries which had been done him without his knowledge ;
and blamed the Factor as the author of them. He said he
had always been, and was still a sincere friend of Mr. Bel-
court," &c., <fec. But this missionary refused his advances,
and oifered himself to the bishop of Dubuque, for the mis-
sion of Pembina. His oifer was accepted in a most flatter-
ing manner ; and since 1849, Mr. Belcourt has been mis-
sionary to Pembina, still having it in his power to render to
the Saulteurs and half breeds the same services which he
rendered to them at first. The retraction of Sir George was
announced in the English papers, and the affair rested there.

Since his arrival at Pembina, inundations greater than
have taken place there since 1826, caused him to abandon
the first establishment formed on Red River, and choose an-
other site infinitely more picturesque, and above all danger
of being' submerged, at the foot of Mount Pembina.

Pembina, 1853.

M

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