alf-breeds. But no sooner was the
treaty site apparent than a general concentration took place,
and we were speedily surrounded by a bustling crowd, putting
up trading tents and shacks, dancing booths, eating-places,
etc., so that with the motley crowd, including a large number
of women and children, and a swarm of dogs such as we never
dreamt of, amounting in a short space by constant accessions
to over a thousand, we were in the heart of life and movement
and noise.

Mr. Ross, as already stated, had gone on by trail from Edmonton,
partly in order to inspect it, and managed to reach the lake
before us, which was fortunate, since Indians and half-breeds
had collected in large numbers, and women thus able to allay
their irritation and to distribute rations pending the arrival
of the other members of the Commission. During the previous
winter, upon the circulation in the North of the news of the
coming treaty, discussion was rife, and every cabin and tepee
rang with argument. The wiseacre was not absent, of course,
and agitators had been at work for some time endeavouring to
jaundice the minds of the people--half-breeds, it was said,
from Edmonton, who had been vitiated by contact with a low
class of white men there--and, therefore, nothing was as yet
positively known as to the temper and views of the Indians.
But whatever evil effect these tamperings might have had upon
them, it was felt that a plain statement of the proposals of
the Government would speedily dissipate it, and that, when
placed before them in Mr. Laird's customary kind and lucid
manner, they would be accepted by both Indians and half-breeds
as the best obtainable, and as conducing in all respects to
their truest and most permanent interests.

On the 20th the eventful morning had come, and, for a wonder,
the weather proved to be calm, clear and pleasant. The hour
fixed upon for the beginning of negotiations was two p.m., up
to which time much hand-shaking had, of course, to be undergone
with the constant new arrivals of natives from the forest and
lakes around. The Church of England and Roman Catholic clergy,
the only missionary bodies in the country, met and dined with
our party, after which all adjourned to the treaty ground, where
the people had already assembled, and where all soon seated
themselves on the grass in front of the treaty tent--a large
marquee--the Indians being separated by a small space from the
half-breeds, who ranged themselves