"As you have so many splendid dogs this winter, why not take an extra
train with you, and bring out from Red River some of the food of
civilisation, so that we can have it to remind us of other days?"
Thus spake the good wife, who, like myself, sometimes became tired of
having the fresh water fish of the country as our principal diet for
about one half of the year. During the other six months we lived
principally upon game, such as venison, bear's meat, beaver, wild-cat,
ptarmigan, rabbits and even muskrats. So, this request to bring out
something to eat that savoured of civilisation, was not an unreasonable
one. I was going in to Red River settlement on business pertaining to
the spiritual advancement of our mission, and this was a good
opportunity to bring out with me some things that would add to our
comfort and help on in the good work; we had to do so many things for
our poor Indians, who were often in trouble, and were constantly looking
to us for help.
My splendid dugs obtained from Hamilton, Montreal and elsewhere, had
increased and multiplied, until now I had a number of the finest sleigh
dogs in the country. When the time came for the long trip, I harnessed
them up; and, taking an additional train for the extra supply of food
which was suggested by my wife, with my guide and dog drivers, began the
journey. In order that we could return with full loads, we started with
our sleds loaded with fish, numbers of which we cached at our different
camping places, that we might have them on which to feed our dogs on the
return journey.
We were several days on the route, as we encountered a fierce blizzard
which made travelling with our heavy loads very difficult. However, we
reached the settlement, and met with a warm welcome at the home of our
friend, the Hon. Mr Sifton. The business that brought us in to
civilisation being soon arranged, we began our purchases of supplies for
the return, special attention being given to the purchase of the extra
load of good things. First, I went to a butcher, and purchased from him
about two hundred and fifty pounds of his choicest cuts of meat; telling
him, that as it was to be dragged by dogs on a sled some hundreds of
miles, I wanted as little bone as possible. He was a decent man and
treated me well. Then, I went to a storekeeper, and purchased from him
rice, meal, butter, canned vegetables and various other things, making
in all, a load of about six hundred pounds. I was very proud of such a
load, in addition to the supply of flour which was on the other sleds.
Sending my heavily loaded dog-sleds on a couple of days in advance, I
followed--in company with Martin Papanekis, a favourite Indian driver--
with such dogs as. Voyageur, as leader, and Jack and Cuffy and Caesar
behind him, knowing we would have no difficulty in overtaking the rest
of our party. We so arranged our return journey, that each night we
reached the camp we had used on the outgoing trip. In two places, much
to our disgust, we found that the wolves or wolverines, had been too
clever for us, and had discovered our cache and devoured our fish. So
those nights, we had to feed our dogs from the supplies of meat bought
in Red River.
In due time we reached our mission home where there was great
satisfaction over the abundance and variety of the supplies secured at
such a cost of toil and danger. The bill of fare was much improved, and
twice a week we had a little roast of beef or mutton, with vegetables,
and a dessert of rice pudding.
For two or three weeks this continued, when our hearts were saddened,
and our duties and cares greatly increased, by the breaking out of the
measles among our Indians. This epidemic was caused, by the coming in
to our country of some free-traders who had lately had the disease.
They had been discharged from the hospital as cured; but in some way or
other they had carried the germs of the disease so that going in and out
of the wigwams they spread the contagion among the natives, and an
epidemic broke out. This strange new disease terrified the people.
At that time I had parties of Indians at Oomeme River, and also at
Berens River, where we were then living. About this same time the
measles also broke out among a number of pagan Indians under the rule of
Thickfoot, a stubborn yet friendly old chief who refused to become a
Christian. At this place we had but lately completed a mission house,
some outbuildings, and a comfortable school-house, which we were using
as a church until the latter should be completed. All the timber for
these buildings we had drawn with our dogs from a large island several
miles out from, the mainland. When the measles broke out, and we saw
the fear of the Indians, at once, as far as possible, we turned our
mission premises into a hospital. In addition to the buildings already
mentioned, we also put up for the sick our large buffalo leather tent.
Here, on improvised beds and couches, we gathered about us the afflicted
ones, making them as comfortable as our limited means would allow.
Over at Oomeme River, our Christian Indians fortunately escaped; but the
pagan Indians, among whom the disease broke out, were wild with fear,
and in many cases acted in a manner to aggravate the disease. Some of
them, when they broke out, rushed from their heated wigwams and rolled
themselves in the snow, which of course was most disastrous treatment,
resulting in the death of numbers. Thereupon, their relatives became so
terrified, that, being afraid to bury their bodies, they stripped the
wigwams from around them, leaving them exposed to the devouring wolves;
and then, sent word over to me, that if I desired their friends to be
decently buried, I must come over and do it myself. Hearing this, I
took some boards, nails, hammer, spades and other things necessary, and
with some Indians, hurried over to the place. After some persuasion, I
succeeded in getting an Indian family to move their wigwam from the spot
where it had stood the whole winter, and where constantly the fire had
been burning; and there, where the ground was yet warm and unfrozen, dug
the grave, making it sufficiently large for all who had died. With our
boards we made the coffins, and after a simple religious service buried
their dead.
At Berens River, our method of procedure among our sick was something
like this. Early in the morning, large pots partly filled with water
were hung over a good fire. Into them were put several pounds of the
good fresh beef or mutton which we had brought from civilisation. When
well boiled, several pounds of rice were stirred in and the whole left
to boil until cooked into a rich nourishing soup. Then nourishing flat
cakes were made in abundance. While this breakfast for the sick was
being prepared, the missionary, with his assistants, was busily engaged
in making the rounds of the sick. Their various wants were attended to,
medicine was given, and every thing that could be, was cheerfully done
for their comfort. Then, the missionary's wife, with her helpers,
followed with kettles of warm soup, bread and tea. Meals of this
nourishing food were given to, and much relished by, the afflicted ones.
There were some such severe cases, that at times it looked as though it
would be impossible to save them; but with heaven's blessing on our
efforts, we were successful in bringing about the recovery of every case
under our immediate care. While doing everything that we could for
their physical recovery, we had grand opportunities for imparting
religious instruction. Sweet hymns, translated into their own language,
were sung, and the exceeding great and precious promises of the blessed
Book, were often read and explained at every bedside. Their fear of
this strange new disease left them, and they became patient and hopeful.
The result was, that while among the pagan Indians at Oomeme River
there were many deaths, not one of our Christian Indians died.
When the last case was cured and the disease had disappeared, we took
stock of our supplies. We found that all of that extra dog-train of
food, together with a large quantity of flour and other things, had been
used up in feeding our poor sick people. Not one-tenth of the whole had
come to our own table; and so we had once again to fall back upon our
native food. Fish was again our diet twenty-one times a week. But, we
had the great joy and satisfaction of knowing that, in all human
probability, we had saved the lives of many of our people; and had found
such a place in their hearts, that our future efforts to evangelise or
to help along in the blessed life, would be very much more effective.