ief factor at Edmonton house, confirms this
statement. He says, "The Blackfeet respect the whites more than the Crees
do, that is, a Blackfoot will never attempt the life of a Cree at our
forts, and bands of them are more easily controlled in an excitement,
than Crees. It would be easier for one of us to save the life of a Cree
among a band of Blackfeet than it would be to save a Blackfoot in a band
of Crees." In consequence of these repeated assaults in the vicinity of
the forts, the Blackfeet can with difficulty be persuaded that the whites
are not in active alliance with the Crees. Any person who studies the
geographical position of the posts of the Hudson Bay Company cannot fail
to notice the immense extent of country intervening between the North
Saskatchewan and the American boundary-line in which there exists no fort
or trading post of the Company. This blank space upon the maps is the
country of the Blackfeet. Many years ago a post was established upon the
Bow River, in the heart of the Blackfeet country, but at that time they
were even more lawless than at present, and the position had to be
abandoned on account of the expenses necessary to keep up a large
garrison of servants. Since that time (nearly forty years ago) the
Blackfeet have only had the Rocky Mountain House to depend on for
supplies, and as it is situated far from the centre of their country it
only receives a portion of their trade. Thus we find a very active
business carried on by the Americans upon the Upper Missouri, and there
can be little doubt that the greater portion of robes, buffalo leather,
etc. traded by the Blackfeet finds its way down the waters of the
Missouri. There is also another point connected with Americau trade
amongst the Blackfeet to which I desire to draw special attention.
Indians visiting the Rocky Mountain House during the fall of 1870 have
spoken of the existence of a trading post of Americans from Fort Benton,
upon the Belly River, sixty miles within the British bounndary-line. They
have asserted that two American traders, well-known on the Missouri,
named Culverston and Healy, have established themselves at this post for
the purpose of trading alcohol, whiskey, and arms and ammunition of the
most improved description, with the Blackfeet Indians; and that an active
trade is being carried on in all these articles, which, it is said, are
constantly smuggled across the boundary-line by people from Fort Benton.
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