The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-30
Int resting from the selkirk Settlement.


From the St Paul Min Democrat, July Is
Our readers will remember an interesting ac-
count published in February last, of the arrival
| of dog train and mail under charge Of two voya-
| gn1s, from Selkirk One of the royagesrs, James
Mckay, a very intelligent and noble specimen Of
| Northman, arrived here on Saturday, twenty days
| from Selkirk He brought down Captain v Foss
! of the British army, who has been three years at
| Fort Gary, and now returns to England They
| came with two Red River carts, and six horses.
The crops at Red River looked remarkably well
when they left The spring had been earlier than
usual. There had not been excess of rain nor
high waters like those of last season. They raise
large crops of barley oats spring wheat, potatoes,
cabbages, turnips, beets, melons, onions, and All
kinds of garden vegetables that grow in temperate
ATTITUDES. The corn crop is not relied upon-it is
preearious crop, though raised in every garden
for table use.
The population Of Selkirk Settlement is about
1000, including Indians. They enjoy good health,
and are rapidly improving in circumstances.
Captain Foss thinks that if the facilities fer emf
grafton to that region were greater, the popu-
lSsion would increase Rapidly from that source
They plant early in May. They usually have
frosts till the first of June, and again in September.
The season ia long enough to fully mature the
crops. Their rivers usually freeze over by the
middle of November.
The Oregon Emigrating Company, which left
here some weeks ago, started from Selkirk on the
2lst Of June-were all in good health-had enjoyed
AT Selkirk they procured horses, carts, and pro-
visions They intend to follow James Sincair's
route TO the head waters Of the Columbia river.
They will there dispose of their horses and carts.
and 60 down the river in canoes to Oregon city.
This is represented TO be the most pleasant over
land route yet discovered TO the Pacific, as well as
the most expeditions. If it were more generally
known. there would be large amount Of travel by
that route.
The site Of Psmbina is about to be abandoned.
it being too much exposed to high water. A new
town, another Saint town of ST. Joseph's, has been
laid out, in beautiful situation, ut the foot of the
Pembina mountains, about thirty miles from Penn
bina. Some buildings have already been erected
in all, completed and in process Of building. about
dozen. Mr.. Kittson has q store there, and the
Rev. MIR. Bellcourt his residence and chapel.
w. Ross, Sheriff Of Selkirk, and a merchant
there, arrived on Friday; also, the Rev. Mr.. Smi-
theirs, Episcopal missionary at Upper Lake Winnie
peg, who has been there twelve years, and now re-
turns to England.
A large number Of half breeds, from the British
side Of the line have crossed to the American
side for the purpose Of being ready to treat with
Gov. Ramsey for the sale Of the Pembina lands
Thus Uncle Sam will have a chance to buy Anne
rican land. OF British hafbrecds-men Of straw,
enticed there by the American Fur Company, as a
r,.ss to get money out of the public treasury.
The great Red River caravan will leave here on
Thursday or Friday. 1t consists OF lO2 carts laden
with buffalo skins, moccasins, leggings, coats, or
nanents and cunosites, made by the half breed, Of
selkirk; and pemmican, which is a dried hash Of
buffalo meat-lean and fat mixed-a choice dish
among the Indians.
Heretofore. the people Of Selkirk have had but
two or three mails year from the civilized world
They hare now (since the first Of july monthly
nail from ~. Paul, RIA Pembina. Our Intercourse
With them mast become more Intimate, as We
have no doubt il will be mutually pleasant and pro-
htable.
From the Galena ADVERTISED, July 221
The attention Of our traders and merchants is a.
this time turned, with good deal Of interest, to-
wards the northwest, more particularly the Red
River or Sekirk settlement, and TO Penn nina, which
u now merely small trading post within the Anne
rcsn line. Before the runnsng Of the line Of dvi-
sion between the American and English territory,
on the 18Th parallel Of latitude, Pembna was the
head quarters Of the Selkirk settlement. Since
that time it has steadily declined, until within a
year or two. The government has contracted with
Mr.. stevens, Of IT. Paul, 70 run regular month
ly mail, twelve times in the year between ST. Paul
and Pembins, and hereafter col nunication may
be considered as regularly established. lie was to
leave u. Paul on his first trip, July l. The jour
neg will have 10 be made In the summer on horse
back, and in the winter with dog teams and snow
shoes. The more difficult season for performing
the service will be during the high water months Of
May and June, for between Pembna and ~. Paul
there are fifteen sixteen rivers which have 20 be
crossed otherwise than by iording-usually by RATS
and buffalo canoes. The distance Il between FIVE
and six hundred miles We have taken pains 20
make many inquiries relative to several interesting
particulars, Of William Ross, Esq a prominent
citizen Of Red River, now in this city, and TO
whom we acknowledge ourselves largely indebted.
The Red River settlement originally pro-
iected by Lord ~elkirk. a Scottish nobleman,
largely interested In the lludsons Bay Company.
They held n vast extent Of lands by charter from
he British crown. OF the company he made an
extensive purchase, and brought over his hrst colo
nists IN 1913, and remained with them twelve
months Another accession was made in 1911, and
another IN lS2} and they now number, In Europe
ans, French Cana ians, and bali-breeds, about So
ven thOusa nd souls.
Onehalf Of the population arc hunters and the
other half farmers. The main settlement, known
"a al safw n.
ma, or down the river and IL an extensive plain,
which extends somewhat broken and interpreted
with timber. east 90 Lake Winnipeg, 30 the west n
vast unhroken plain b the Rocky Mountains. The
hunters mostly half breeds. do nothing but hunt
bulal0 They make two grand excursions each
year, one commencing on the 9th Of June, and
lasting two months. and the other on the 10th sep
tember, and lasts TIL tho 10Th Of November They
live wholly on buffalo meat. aud are engaged only
IN preparing pemmicsn meat and hl-the one
used only for food, and the other Tor light. The
regular price Of 10 Is four cents pound, both Eat
and lean. The tongues and hides only Of the but.
ialo are saved. The regular retail price o. a
tongue, dried, IL twenty Eve cents, and good robe
is two dolars They lead free, happy, Wild 70.
mantle life, AID are represented "a being, when IN
the scttlement, temperate and we-behaved.
The farmers raise wheat. oats, potatoes, barley.
cattle. and sheep. Oxen worth from 80 10 500
yoke, cow from sl2 20 slj-a good cart horse,
~ or $50, and horse trained b hunt buffalo will
bring sl25, and sometimes more
Their wheat il equal 20 any in the world. weigh
ing from sixtyfts 70 seventy pounds 20 the bushel
Barley and oats Gre also heavy and potatoes. aid
III kinds # garden vegetables grow luxurantly.
The land is never MANFRED. From three and
half TO four feet q falls in the winter, AMI
rain IL unknown from November 70 April Corn Is
raised, but IL Is not relied as sure crop. The
Hudson Bay Company pay regularly only. how
ever. for what they wish 90 consume, except IN
seasons of scarcity 81 cents FOR whoat 81 for oats
and barley, and - for potatoes There is no cX-
port trade They receive their supplies OF dry
goods woollen cloths and liquors from FORK Fac
tory, store 0f Che iluds0ns Bay Company, on
Huds0n'f Fay, 200 miles from Red RIVER 10 te-
luife. two months % make tho journey, aad there
orc ihr'y iK roItagcs g. be made in going that
lial.c Ih1 title Of che settlement q The Red
iI',f 'n...y' end t is ruled by Governor, az
l'Hff1 iJ Pie Queen. The magistrates, counsel
Nr. au. hrers. receive thair comm aacre from
tha 'rmf .t'oc @. o.. Nr1.,1 Bay Company mo
lt SUCTION OF '.. Governor trI.lts 20 l1rtrcd
mi.ca POI ai nI o. h.m fo.t 'r-t.. except over