| Summary: | with either of the other two, made an unbroken trail with St. Joe and Winnipeg. Dog sleds in winter and carts in summer were the means of conveyance of passengers, the dog sleds were built of thin slabs of tough hard wood curved upward at the front end. They were about fourteen inches wide in front and twelve inches at the back end, by about eight feet in length. The Hudson Bay Company had the exclusive right to the fur trade in the land of the Canadas for 28 years — 1838-1858. Although the line dividing the two countries was made 1823, the Canadian traders refused to see it and usurped the rights in the Pembina district for many years to follow. The Northwest Fur Company was a powerful rival to the Hudson Bay Company and whenever either found the other had established a trading post they too sent a detachment of men to build in that district. A trading post at the foot of the Hare Hills was one of a line of such holdings established by Alexander Henry for the Northwest Fur Company in 1799. The spot chosen was just above where Walhalla now stands, tucked in close to the hills, where the river, then called the Paubia flowed out and crossed the country to Pembina, where it joined the Red River. These rival fur companies with their "Rum" for exchange with the savages, made a country where there was no written law, anything but a paradise in which to live. Murder and rapine were of common occurence among the natives of the village. The villagers commonly divided their sympathies between the two rival fur companies, which kept the whole people in a state of semi-civil war. At some stage in every transaction furs became the medium of exchange and decided the terms. Evading the authority of the large fur companies became the legitimate pastime of the small or independent traders. As the monopolistic grind of the former became more and more intolerable, free or independent traders were given greater encouragement and finally their goods came to be sent regularly overland to St. Paul. The Hudson Bay Company's charter expired in 1858 and they then had to fight for their share of the trade. N. W. Kittson, their manager, was equal to the occasion and devised a plan by which he could bring supplies in by way of St. Paul and the Red River, taking back each time a load of furs. To this end a steamboat, "The Pioneer," was launched on the Red River in 1861, a year later another, the "International," was added and the two rival fur companies began to co-operate and work together against the interests of the small traders, who were rapidly gaining ground. In the year 1872 Captain A. Griggs and J. J. Hill established a steamboat and barge line. This line merged with the Kittson and became "The Red River Transportation Company" a few years later. Against all this the small independent trader had to compete and they conceived the idea of getting together too. Whether his carts numbered ten or two hundred he had to take the same chances of meeting roving bands of savages, who might rob him or overtake and kill his party. The stampeding buffalo and other wild animals were dangers to meet or be avoided. The larger the cart train the more safe they would feel. It was more economical too as one man could take care of several carts — three to five. The small traders sold out to each other, one man becoming responsible for the whole enterprise — Joseph Rolette is given as a type of this. The traders started the train out usually with 60 to 100 carts. When they had several days start of him he would follow. In his "prairie schooner" he soon caught up, keeping with the train until within a day's drive of the city, then going ahead to arrange for the accommodation of the party, finding buyers for the furs and buying goods for the settlement. It took three months to make the round trip. The drivers had to walk both ways as the carts in which the furs were brought were used to bring back settlers or their effects or provisions for the village. Thirty dollars was considered good wages for this trip and popular traders were often able to interest young men of the time to make the trip for their expenses. Sixteen miles was considered a good distance to make in one day. Every cart train had its violin and their evenings were spent in singing, jigging and fancy dancing before the camp fire. Mr, Monette gives a vivid description of camp life. There were many classes of society then as now. The sober and thrifty, when their surplus goods were sold invested the money in carts, ponies, oxen, etc. Others spent their money freely and when the incapable hunter, the lazy or spendthrift, went up for the hunt he might have but one or two outfits while others might own 20 to 30. Each was allowed to bring back all their conveyances could carry. Only the choice part of the meat was taken because they seldom could bring back all they killed. Preparing the meat for the use of the families was done by the old men, women and children, who did not run the buffalo. They stayed at the tents and did all such work as curing the hides (which will be described later), cutting up the latter and drying the meat and preparing the pemmican and bagging it for summer use. They were constantly changing their camping round when on the chase and not being long in any locality they had very few flies. This fact together with the pure air, wind and sunshine made meat curing a short and pleasant occupation. The result of a successful hunt could be cured in a week. It was necessary in camping to select a place near trees or posts would have to be provided upon which to pin the meat for drying. The meat was cut in thin large slices and when dry would pack as compactly as a bale of hay. Pemmican was made by cooking this dried meat over a very slow fire. This fire was made in a hole dug for the purpose. Over this smouldering fire the meat was placed and allowed to cook until thoroughly tender. It was then taken out and pounded with two sticks like a flail. When fine it was mixed with the buffalo tallow which had been 245 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
|
|---|