The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-01


OF freight and the passengers -four and ere W
of - voyageurs. The passengers were Capg.
Gardner Of the Dragons, myself, a Sergeant
of Dragons and one cock and faetotunI.
Up THE RED RIvER.
Our canoe was fresh caulked and painted,
and on the 26th of August was brought along
side the bank in front OF the village. where
we embarked for a voyage Of 600 miles
on practically unknown waters. The canoe
was so frail ard light that when empty ii
was easily carried on the shoulders Of six
men, and yet it easily footed with 10 men
and two tons Of freight, which consisted OF
our baggage and supplies OF food, pemmican,
-four, sugar, and hard bread.
We also took along large store of coarse
sort of tea, which IS furnished BY the fur
company to its employees and of which they
a,e extravagantly fond. 1t seems to be an
essential element in their diet during these
long journeys, with their harjishils and ex-
posuTes and found myself from this expe-
rience that the coarse tea was an emineDtly
satisfactory substitute for the best coffee we
had on this long voyage. Shoes could not be
worn in our thin boat without h certainty
hat our heels would 60 through the bottom.
COVE were Obliged 10 follow the fashion Of
the country and take TO moecasins, which after
few days we found very comfortable.
Our boat had a lofty prov and stern, but
was fiat on the bottom, and easily overturned.
High in the stern sat the Captain or 50 Bur
geois " of the half-breed crew, paddle in
hand, 10 steer and command. Equally lofty
in the bow sat the second in command whose
duty was to look out for rapids or other
dangers to the boat, which, at touch Of any
h1r ], hos.
gone to pieces. lie also gave the time to the
paddlers, who all sat facing to the front, and
alternating with each along both sides of the
boat. In the. center, on a buffalo robe. sat
Capt. Gardner and myself, with guns and
fshipg-lods around us.
PARTING sALUTATIoNs.
AS we pushed of from the bank and began
TO paddle up the river all the guns in the
village were fred as parting salute. and we
heard the firing and the shouting of the viii
layers after we turned the first bend and
passed out of their sight.
Oar crew consisted OF French half-breeds
altogether, and they spoke a fearful paiois of
Canadian French brodered with various
Indian dialects. 1t took me the whole time
of-our voyage 10 Smelling TO understand or TO
talk it with any sort OF ease. As the boat
began to move they burst into one of their
numerous ballads which they sang together
with perfect harmony.
The greater number of the songs were of
o sentimental cast, and were really full of
harmony and sweet tones, and as the yoy-
ageurs sang almost constantly and often re-
peatod their fayorite airs they really consti-
tuted pleasurable relief to the confinement
and monOtony of the long journey which we
had to make in such constrained aud confined
attitudes. The reiTains and choruses OF many
OF them are fresh IN my recollection to this
day
The loaf, impelled by so many and such
lusly paddlemen, moved swiftly up the
river, which soon assumed the distinctive
features we had hitherto ascribed TO it, 1t is
simply great ditch or crooked canal so or
60 feet wide, running with a sluggish cur
rent through the midst Of level prairie for
300 miles above Pemkina
Through the dense foliage of the forest
which lines its banks an occasional opening
gave US glimpse of the great prairie of
grass and flowers. but in general the heavy
woods dipping their lowest branches into
the wafer, gave an appearance Of dusky
twilight 10 the somber river.
VIEWING NEW COUNTRY.
The river-bed and banks were muddy. and
with the exception of small ripple scarse
visible about 90 miles above Penibina. there
was no interruption TO the dull, sluggish fiosy
OF the current. From Pembina TO the mouth
OF the Bols DIES Sioux (the present Brecken-
xldge) the river offered easy and upab-
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