Volume 1

1 82 GRAND MEDICINE—PEMBINA PARTY DETAILED.
must be hauled from some distance below, where there are
fine patches of poplar.
This being settled, I remained for the night and slept in
the old [Chaboillez's] fort on the S. side. Fleas and wood
lice made me very uncomfortable ; the former always
abound in our old buildings and are very troublesome.
Early on the i8th we returned to Reed river and found the
Indians busy making the grand medicine—a ceremony performed
every spring, when they meet and there is some
novice to be admitted into the mysteries of this solemn
affair. On this occasion two young men were received, besides
a woman and Langlois' girl. Many curious circumstances
are reported concerning the admittance of women
into this mystery of mysteries. The most ancient and
famous for the art among the men, it is said, take every
privilege with a novice and are granted every favor they
wish to enjoy.
May igth. I embarked, leaving all hands preparing to
proceed up to Panbian river. Mr. Langlois is principal
trader ;
Desmarais is in charge of the garden, horses, fishing,
etc.; Le Due [?] conducts the work with Rainville [Daisville],
Dubord [Dubois], Hamel, Pouliotte [Pouliot] ; and Le
Boeuf [an Indian] is to hunt." The Indians saluted me with
^' Compare the list on p. 77. The name " Le Due " does not appear there,
and looks as if it here stands for Larocque : but see Oct. 27th, 1801, beyond.
There is no difficulty in identifying the other names, though here is the one
place where we find ' ' Rainville " for the Daisville or Donville of p. 50 ; I suspect
that Rainville is the proper name. With regard to the functions of this man,
Dubois, Hamel, and Pouliot, the punctuation of the copy is ambiguous ;
I construe
it that they are all to work under " Le Due," and that the Indian Le
Bceuf is the only professional hunter : he is eulogized in this capacity
beyond (Nov. 2d, 1802). But in citing this passage Bell, /. f. p. 8, has "
: Le
Diec \sic\ conductor of the work : with Rainville, Dubard \sic\ Hamel, Poulivette
\sic\ and Le Boeuf, to hunt." Whatever their respective functions, this
is the definitely ascertained party who break up the post of 1800-01
on Roseau
or Reed r. , and proceed to establish a new post on the N. side of the mouth of
Pembina r., at the site Henry selected May 17th. See p. 80, and note present
confirmation of positions there assigned to Grant's, Chaboillez's, and Henry's
houses, respectively.