.C. floating from
the tall flag-staff of Norway pine erected on Signal Hill. Bands of
Indians from all directions were assembled to meet the great chief or
"Kitche Okema," as they called him. Ceasing the pipes and bugle, the
voyageurs sang with lively spirit one of their boat songs, to the great
delight of their old friends, the Indians.

The Governor was in 1839, at a time when Canada was much disturbed in
both Provinces by the Mackenzie-Papineau rebellion, rewarded for the
loyalty of his Company by having knighthood conferred upon him.

Sir George Simpson's annual visits to Red River Settlement were the
bright spots in the life of the Colony. Never did a Governor get so near
the people as did Sir George. Old settlers tell how when Sir George
arrived every grievance, disaster, suspicion, or bit of gossip was
faithfully carried to him, and his patience and ingenuity were freely
exercised in "jollying" the people and giving them condescending
attention.

Sir George married in time, and on occasion brought Lady Simpson, who
was a native of the country, to visit the Red River Settlement. Her
presence was taken as a compliment by the people. Sir George Simpson,
like many of the Hudson's Bay Company, had among all his business
engagements the taste for literature. He encouraged the formation of
libraries at the several trading posts, and in his letters throws in a
remark about Sir Walter Scott, or Blackwood's last magazine, or other
living topic, although the means of communication made literature often
months late even on the banks of the Red River. His own effort in
producing a book gave rise to a considerable amount of amusement. After
his great journey around the world, he published an account of his
travels in two considerable volumes. It is now no secret that these were
prepared for him by a well-known judge of Red River Settlement, of whom
we speak more fully in a later chapter. This double authorship became
decidedly inconvenient to Sir George on the celebrated occasion when he
was cited in 1857 to give evidence before the Committee of the House of
Commons as to Rupert's Land. Sir George's experience in introducing
farming into Red River Settlement had been so troublesome, and expensive
as well, that he really believed agriculture would be a failure in the
West, and so he gave his evidence. Unfortunately for him his editor had
indulged in his book, in a pictorial and fulsome description of the
Rainy River, as an a