The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-10-03
INDIAN TRADING.
The Annual Shopping Day of the Red Man
What They Buy---Curious Mixture
of Humanity and Yellow
Dogs.

One of the important annual events OF
this part of Alberta is the treaty pay
ments to the Blood aud Piegan Indians,
or rather the trading in town which fol-
lows. The Indians were paid last week,
nearly 1000 Of them in all, and for the
subsequent two days there was a constant
stream from the reserve to the town. The
Piegans came first. On Saturday the
Blood procession began, and all day Sun
day they arrived in droves of hundreds.
Each family could probably boast of
about three dogs to the inividuald.
On Monday morning it was estimated
that there was close on
1000 INDIANS IN TOWN.
The stores we're simply packed with
men, women, children and dogs During
almost the entire morning it was abso-
utely impossible to get from one end OF
|. @. Baker & Co.'s store to the other. 1t
is is safe to say that no city in the domin-
ion of Canada presented the same stir as
Macleod did on Monday last. An indi
vidual examination Of the motley crowd
was very amusing The day was very
warm, and yet one would see the solemn
and dignifed visage of some of the old
men surmounted by the most extraordi-
nary designs of heavy fur caps, pulled
down we'll about the ears. Usually these
fur caps we're minus any top. Everyone
talked at once, and the interior Of the
store was probably as near an approach
to Bedlam as one would meet with in
life time.
The Gazette reporter interviewed Mr..
John Black, [. G.. Baker & Co.'S head
clerk, the other, day, and is indebted to
him for few items concerning Indian
trading
When the Indians come in to trade they
at once demand that tea shall be made
for them with plenty of sugar in it. Their
appetite also requires large crackers. Be
fore this tea is passed around once, the
first ones are back asking for more. This
meal is disposed Of by groups of Indians
sitting on the floor, and the cups consist
of anything convenient that will hold tea.
The first day is generally spent IN making
a thorough examination of the articles,
for sale in the various stores and getting
prices. But little trading is done until
the Indians all get together, and then
they come with rush. The bulk OF
their money is laid out in blankets. The
next staple they go in for is duck for
tents. Stoves are in considerable de-
mand, and large quantity of tinWare IS
purchased. Shirts for the men, and trade
cloth for the women are largely bought.
Tea, sugar and baking powder come next.
The Indians do not go in for useless
trinkets and ornaments as they did in for
mer years, although large quantities OF
beads are always sold. The surplus mon
ey which; they used to invest in these
things, they now put chiefly into beer,
which in turn they put into themselves,
thereby becoming greatly exhllarated'
They are much better judges of the value
of an article than one would suppose, and
are not above doing little cheating if
they get an opportunity. Are they hon
est? The answer to this question was
that they would steal almost anything
they could get their hands on, except a
red hot stove, and would probably take
big chances to get away with that. VI
course there are exceptions in the shape
Of honest Indians, but they only prove
the rule. One peculiar thing is that If
one Indian is set to watch the others, he
will do SO most religiously, and not allow
any of them to touch, though he may be
the biggest thief in the world himself.
1t is we'll to remark that the detective
himself will also bear watching, for
though he will protect the goods from
other thieves, he is not above rewarding
himself for his work-Fort Macleod Ga
zette, Sept. Goth.