The Bossier banner., 1894-03-29
NUMBER SIXTEEN"
A Romance Of Wild Life in the
Canadian Northwest.

A few evenings ago the writer and
several friends were cozily nestled
around the fire. One of the company
was a medical man who had spent
twelve wears or so in the Canadian
Northwest territories. Outside the at
mosphere was chilly, and the indica-
tions favored colder weather.
.Ifyou could be transported from St
John to the prairies on such day as
we had to-day" remarked the doctor,
sand were ignorant of the changes that
few hours bring in that climate, two
surprises would greet you. To-day you
observe dotted in countless num-
bers over the vast stretches Of prairie
sluices or small ponds, whose placid
waters would remi I'D you of SO many
mirrors set in rustic frames.
Tomorrow morning, as you again
looked over the prairies. the whole face
of the country would seem to be
changed Protruding from every sluice
YOU would see cones made OF grass, etc.
These are the winter houses of the
muskrat-reared, finished and occupied
in single night; as if these fragrant
little creatures possessed the power of
the Wizard Pancrates.
"That night the sluices would be
sure to freeze, and the muskrats would
live in peace until the spring, when the
Indians make their rounds, plunge the
spear down through the cones, and
Al. 80 h. -.
The rats are in prime order in the
spring after their long rest The flesh
Is eaten and the skins are taken care of
by the squaws.
These skins, as well as all others,
are kind of legal tender, and it's a
common occurrence for the Indian to
visit store, make his purchase, take a
bundle of ratskins from under his
arm, and count them out as five-cent
pieces.
THE Indian department displays
much energy to suppress smallpox,
which often creates havoc among the
natives of the plains. Doctors are sent
out regularly to vaccinate the Indians.
Tbs doctor makes his rounds with the
agent who pays the bounties. A large
tent is pitched, and the tribe is re-
quested to appear. The stipulation is
that all must be vaccinated before re-
ceiving the money.
THE Indians are distinguished by
numbers as well as names, and, as they
are paid SO much per head, every mem
Der OF family must be produced and
pass through the agents tent Be
fore being paid those requiring it are
vaccinated.
'One day." said the doctor, "I was
vacelnating tribe of Crees, when a
woman approached with couple of
children. She had a rich, melodious
voice, with Scotch accent When she
spoke stopped for moment and told
her to step into the next tent and /
would attend to her in few moments.
saw she was not squaw, and thought
she was the wife of Hudson's Bay
company employe who wanted to get
Vaccinated at the expense of the gov.
ernment
While l was speaking the clerk
shouted out: No. 16,' and the woman
said in low voice: 4 am No. 49, She
pared her arm, and both she and the
children were attended to. She passed
on received her bounty, and then ou,
among the herd of Indians.
The face and voice of that woman
haunted me the rest of the day while
kept scratching the arms of braves
sqnaws, and pappooses.
AT last the days work was over and
instruments laid aside. After supper
SET about to satisfy my curiosity as te
Tue history OF No. 16. A few inquire.
enabled me to locate the shack where
one put up, and thither bent my way
The shack, Irnay say, is small hut
ouiit OF clay or mud. A fire can b.
made In the shack The place is sc
constructed that the squaw stands tn,
BUCKS OF wood on their ends 40 tina
" sne nre is fed as if from self-feeder
40 10 related to me how and why sh,
occupied the shack. 1t was rather /,
.oinantic story, but yet one full Of sad
Ness from beginning to end.
Ny father said No. 16, in voic,
uii OF pathos, is Scotchman, and il
"a ,ae.or OF Fort Pelley, belonging to tn,
nuoson's Bay company. Before tn,
nortnwest territories were taken ovel
~n nc ruled the country for hundreds o
ies around. He was a magistrate
law eN sA
!, "nen No. 16 reached certain ag
she was sent to Scotland in one of th
sssaoanys ships, which leave for New