| Summary: | the other. The young swain must salute the ladies asking permission to speak with or dance with the young lady. Drinking in those days was confined to the old men, it would not be tolerated in the young men by decent people. Deference and respect to parents and elders was a marked characteristic of the time, due respect was accorded the parents and their consent gained to the marriage of their daughter, even if she be 35 years of age. The young men too conferred with their parents about these affairs. Before accepting permanent work they got their parents' consent, the father usually consulting with the employer regarding the terms, services, etc., to be rendered. The parents were not expected to work and elderly people were seldom seen to do so. They gave advice and supervision, were counsellors rather than helpers. In this way a standard was set before the young. They knew if they were people of character and honor, capable and having sound opinion a place in the heart of the family would be due them, too. Such was the community spirit, declares Mr. Monette, that each man went out anxious to bring back all he could, not for his own or his family's use, but for the larger group or family with which he was connected. Each son that got married brought his wife home and the abode was re-arranged to suit the needs. Mr. Monette believes it was cheaper and better so, and states that in his opinion when they were scattered, each man having to look out for himself, they were unhappy and usually poor. Another feature of the social life in the community of those early days was the fact that money was not necessary. Demand and supply was regulated by what they had for exchange. If a man should die and there was no money to pay the priest the burial fee, his clothes or other belongings were turned over to the church. If a young man was prepared to get married and wanted an elaborate service, he could bring a calf or a pony according to the sort of service desired. There were no stove bills nor pew rent; at church seats were free and all made welcome. On the other hand, the best of the hunt was sent to the Rev. Father's house and they also saw to it that his home was abundantly provided for. Their custom was to have their winter home at the foot of the Paubian hills (now known as Walhalla). Here A. Henry and the Kittsons had kept trading posts for the Northwest and Hudson Bay Fur Companies for a period of forty years. They w^re rivals for the fur trade and at times caused almost civil war among the people. Amenable relations, however, were established in 1858, as we shall see later. This was the winter home of the hunters and they left in May for the first hunt. At first Mr. Monette remembers only hunting in Pembina and Cavalier counties, but the hunters drove the buffalo farther and farther away until the hunting was too poor to sustain the band here and the Turtle Mountains became the goal. They had two hunts each year. The first was from May to July at which time the products of the chase, such as hides, pemmican, muscle and dried meat were brought back. They remained at Walhalla long enough to store these tons of supplies and left for the second hunt about August 1st, remaining as long as the weather was fit for the families to live out on the plains. The entire band went on these hunts, 800 to 1,000 people, men, women and little children, practically the village, though precaution was taken in case they meet the Dakotas or Sioux with whom they were at enmity, or that they might visit St. Joseph in their absence and kill the helpless ones. Reverence for their religious leaders was the same whether in the village, on the battle field, or in the chase. The priest held services before and after every hunt — also instructing the women and children and ministering to the sick or giving sacrament to the dying. In all he did in Christ's name, he was referred to as a man of God. If he was called away they sent some one to meet him on his return as much as ten miles they would run to bear him company home. In the same way they bid him God speed when he left for a journey. If they met him going to attend the dying and carrying with him the articles for holy sacrament, they fell on their knees and remained in an attitude of prayer until he passed by. Socially they felt him as much their superior as we do our president. The Sabbath was kept sacred, shooting was not allowed. Before the hunt special services were held when all would say their beads praying for a successful hunt and a safe return. Strict justice was enacted, they were thoroughly organized, obeying implicitly their commanders. When the buffalo were in sight the chief hunters held council, captains and leaders were chosen and they consulted as to the best method of procedure. Usually a capable man was chosen for a scout and he was sent out to find out the position and number of the herd. Instruction was then given to all as to how to act for the success of the hunt and the safety of the hunters. No one was allowed to rush into the herd with the best horse killing and scaring the herd, all must start at a signal and every man was encouraged to kill his full share. They protected the game as best they could. They were instructed to aim only at the fat, well developed animals and never to kill a calf. Hunting was done altogether on horseback, the horses apparently enjoying the sport as much as a race horse now enjoys the track. When all is in readiness the band starts off no faster than an easy trot, the buffalo trotting too, this pace is steadily increased and the buffalo are on the run and the horses almost up among them, until the most advantageous position to the herd is obtained. The hunters then drop their reins on the ponies necks to handle their guns, loading and shooting as they go and all the time guiding the pony by the swaying of their bodies. The herd will never run with the wind, but will invariably turn and face the wind. They usually run the herd six or seven miles, killing as many as possible. The dust was often so dense as to make it hard to see the buffalo although they might blacken a large piece of country. Mr. Monette tells of returning from one of these 242 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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