Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-03-01
NUMBER SIXTEEN"
a Romance Of Wild Life In the
Canadian Northwest.

Canadian Northwest.
A few evenings ago the writer and
several friends were cozily nestled
around the fire. One of the company
was medical man who had spent
twelve years or so in the Canadian
Northwest territories. Outside the at
mosphere was chilly, and the indica-
tions favored colder weather.
"lfyou could be transported from St
John to the prairies on such day as
we had to-day" remarked the doctor,
"and 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 remind 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 q 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
thus capture numbers of the occupants.
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.
"1hese 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 fve-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.
The 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.
zone day." said the doctor, 81 was
vaccinating tribe of Crees, when Q
woman approached with couple Of
children. She had 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 a 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.
"Whilc was speaking the clerk
shouted out: No. l6, and the woman
said in low voice: 4 am No. TO- She
barred her arm, and both she and the
children were attended to. She passet
on, received her bounty, and then out
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
squaws, and pappooses.
"At last the days work was over ant
instruments laid aside After supper
set about to satisfy my curiosity as t.
the history of No. 16. A few inquiries
enabled me to locate the shack wher'
she put up, and thither bent my way
"The shack, may say, is small hut
built of clay or mud. A fire can b'
made in the shack. The place is 81
constructed that the squaw stands thu
sticks of wood on their ends SO tina
the fire is fed as if from self-feeder
No 16 related to me how and why sh,
occupied the shack. 1t was rather {
romantic story, but yet one full of sad
ness from beginning to end.
"My father, said No. l6, in voic'
full of pathos, lis a Scotchman, and i
factor of Fort Pelley, belonging to tn
Hudson's Bay company Before tn
northwest territories were taken owe
he ruled the country for hundreds o
miles around. He was magistrate
too and of course administered tn
law
"When No. 10 reached certain ag
she was sent to Scotland in one of tn
company's ships, which leave for New
York or Fort Nelson couple Of time
each year. This was no easy trip il
those days. For hundreds of miles sh
had to cross prairies, and then by ca
noe and other .conveyances, the grea
r;vers were traversed until Hudson
hav was reached. where embarkatio
took place. 1t took some months to d
this.
"When Scotland was reached she en-
tered a university and remained ther
until she graduated. These were pleas
ant DAYS for the young western girl
She became acquainted with an intel
Iiqent young Scotchman, and the al
tachment became SO strong on bot