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Across the Plains

1858

end of the year, there is nothing coming to them. Their rations is only three pounds of pemmican and seven pounds of green or fresh meat per day. These poor unfortunate devils are pricked up in the south of of Scotland and in Canada, and are induced to come to this wilderness with flattering offers. When once they have got them on the Saskatchewan River, they stand a poor show to run away from the tyranny to which they are subjected by those unknown crossed out word pampered bastards of English barons who are in power. At the end of three years, the company unclear are bound to take them and pay their passage to where he came from. We had several applications from these employees to take them but we could not, nor did we have to do so, for if caught the merciless would put the hounds - crossed out word Indians upon our track, and "wipe us out", as the trappers say. Quite a number of them had made threats to run away upon the first opportunity, but I am afraid that opportunity will never present itself. These officials know very well whom they are dealing with. I have sat and listened to the wrongs and outrages they have received at their hands till my heart throbbed with indignation, but we were powerless and unable to extend an - crossed out a helping hand. The Indians came around as usual to our camp among whom were some chiefs, whom we invited to sup with us. A party of half-breed hunters started out this morning and returned this evening loaded down with white rabbits. They were kind enough to give us a mess. The thickets are perfectly full of them. We were too busy with our own affairs to take the trouble of hunting them. The river here is not more than a hundred yards wide at low water, and is very clear.