Volume 1

ARRIVAL OF THE ASSINIBOINE BRIGADE. 47
leagues W. from this place, and some of them are to be
found almost all over the country where there are Saulteurs
and Crees.
I purchased a horse from them for a 9-gallon keg of
mixed rum, and one of my people bought another for the
same price. Those were the first and only two horses we
had on Red river ; the Saulteurs had none, but always
used canoes. This afternoon I took a ride, equipped with a
miserable wooden saddle and a leather string
for a bridle.
Most of the horses which belong to these Indians have
very sore backs, which I suppose is occasioned by their
bad saddles. The poor brutes are in a shocking condition ;
some of them, as soon as they are unsaddled, will bite and
tear the raw flesh until the blood flows, and then kick and
roll for some time, whilst their whole bodies quiver and
they appear to be in agony. Indians and Canadians ride
horses in this condition with the greatest composure, and
no care is taken of them. After a day's journey their forefeet
are tied together, and they are sent to look out for
themselves; but they seldom stray far from camp.
This evening the Assiniboine brigade overtook and
camped with us—Mr. John McDonell," one of the propri-
**
John McDonnell's Journal, 1793-97, in Masson, I., 1889, p. 284, begins
thus: "1793. October nth, Fri. Arrived at the Fort of the River ^«? a//^//