MATTHEW BRAYTON'S NARRATIVE.
Selkirk People -- Selkirk Trains -- Trading at St. Paul --
Return to the North.
With the dawn of day we again set forward on our journey, taking the
Red River trail towards St. Paul. The trip between the Selkirk
settlements and St. Paul occupies from thirty to forty days, and
passes through the battle ground of the Siouxs and Chippewas. Several
times we came on small parties of the Siouxs, but had no more than
short skirmishes with them, our numbers being too formidable for them
to attack us. About two days journey from the Selkirk settlements we
came to the settlement of Oshawkapee, inhabited by French and half
breeds. From this point we passed over a magnificent rolling country
interspersed with occasional woods and watered by several streams.
Whilst crossing this country we met the Red River settlement train
returning from their trading journey to St. Paul. The train was
composed of four or five hundred ox carts in single file, with drivers
on foot, or riding on the wagons, hunters and guards mounted on
ponies, and women and children riding with camp fixtures in covered
wagons.
The Selkirkers' wagons are of a peculiar kind, no iron being used in
any part of their construction. There is but one pair of wheels,
having felloes about six inches thick. There are about fourteen spokes
to a wheel, and these spokes are about three feet long. The linch
pins, axles, and in fact everything about the carts, are of wood, very
massive and cumbrous. No grease is used on the axles, so that an
incessant groaning and creaking is kept up. The body of the cart is
nothing but a frame work similar to the wood-racks used in the lower
country. Sometimes a tilt covering is used for the wagons that carry
the women and children. Each cart is drawn by one ox fastened to the
shafts by straps of raw hide. One man has charge of five wagons, a
strap passing from the tail of one wagon over the horns of the ox
drawing the wagon immediately following it. When the driver whips the
first ox it starts forward, and the oxen in the squad of carts
attached to the moving wagon have to start at the same time.
The drivers of these trains are mixed French Canadians, English,
Scotch, and half breeds. In most cases the women are Indians, and
these travel with the train to do the cooking and general work of the
camp. When they camp for the night they bring all the wagons into a
close circle with the shafts outwards. Immediately inside of this
circle each ox is tied to the cart to which it belongs, and within
this inner circle of cattle the ponies are picketed. The tents are
then pitched within the whole, sentinels placed, and the camp composed
to sleep.
Salutations were exchanged with the Selkirkers' train as we passed,
and our journey was again resumed. At length we arrived at our village
a short distance from St. Anthony, and here preparations were made for
staying one month, during which the trading was to be done.
In this time our furs and skins were taken down to St. Paul, and, by
means of our interpreter were traded for whiskey, powder, rifles,
provisions of various kinds, weapons, and such other articles as were
needed by us. During these tradings I practiced myself in speaking
English, and could soon talk so as to make myself understood. I had
some conversations with the settlers, and became more anxious to
discover the facts in relation to my supposed parentage. I determined
that as soon as I went back I would demand my history from the old
chief, and if I could obtain any trace from him, I would then
prosecute the search after my parents.
When the trading was over and the supplies brought back to the camp,
there was a grand feast given, and the camp became a scene of drunken
debauchery for several days. Whiskey was drunk in great quantities,
and many quarrels took place between the men. As they had taken the
precaution of putting away their weapons before the drinking began, no
one was killed in the quarrels.
At length our time was up, the Indians got over their debauch, and
every thing was made ready for the return trip. We were soon on our
way, and marching with our faces to the North.
The journey to our northern headquarters had no particular incident to
interest me, my mind being now full of the idea that I had white
relatives and friends, and that the savage life I had led for so many
years was not the one for which I was born. I longed to reach our
village once more, that I might question the old chief as to my
history. At last we reached the main body of our tribe. I was rejoiced
to meet my Tefronia and the children once more, but at the same time a
new feeling had entered my breast. I waited impatiently two or three
days until the rejoicings caused by our return should have passed
away, and then I sought out the venerable chief, O-wash-kah-ke-naw,
now over eighty years old, and begged him to tell me truly the secret
of my birth.
For some time the chief bade me go back to my lodge and be content
with what I already knew, but, finding that I was resolute in
discovering the facts, he told me to await a few days in patience, and
then he would give his decision. I returned to my lodge in much
agitation, for it was evident that the chief knew something that had
hitherto been concealed from me. I had been so long accustomed to
savage life that I remembered no other.
A council of the leading chiefs only, called on the following day,
which I rightly considered was to consult on the course to be pursued
in respect to my demand. At last I was summoned before the great chief
and a few leading warriors, and was instructed as to the course
allotted for me.
I was then informed that when a child I had been stolen from the
whites by a band of Canadian Indians who had by this course revenged
themselves on the whites for some real or fancied wrongs; that I had
passed through the hands of several tribes and had at last, as I
already knew, been sold by the Siouxs to the Snakes, and remained with
them until their union with the Copper Heads. The decision of the head
men of the tribe was that I should join the train about to set out for
the settlements, and should then proceed in company with a few picked
warriors, to visit the remnants of the tribes in whose possession I
had once been, in order to learn more of my former history. At the
same time I was sworn to return to the tribe within a year after I
left the train at St. Paul, and to ensure the fulfillment of this
condition, my wife and children were to be retained in the old chief's
family at the headquarters of the tribe. To these conditions I freely
consented, and waited eagerly for the day when I should set out on my
journey.
At last the day arrived and I took a farewell of my wife and children.
The thought of them checked a little my eagerness to set out, but at
length I left them, fully intending to return as soon as I could
discover something of my former history.