There were no better, no hardier tripmen in the whole Hudson's Bay country than these Norway House Indians.
Between Lake Winnipeg and York Factory there are very many portages, and across these all the imports and exports for this part of the country must be carried on men's backs, and across some these big boats must be hauled. No men did the work more quickly or willingly than the men from our Mission at Rossville.
When we went to them their great drawback was the rum traffic. This was a part of the trade, but I am glad to say that soon after this time of which I write, the Hudson's Bay Company gave up dealing in liquor among the Indians.
This was greatly to their credit.
No wonder the Indian drank, for almost all white men with whom he came in contact did so; and even some of our own missionaries, greatly to my surprise, had brought into this Indian country those Old Country ideas of the use of stimulants.
But father soon inaugurated a new régime, and many of the Hudson's Bay people respected him for it, and helped him in his efforts against this truly accursed traffic.
In a few days Mr. Brooking and family left on their long journey to Ontario, and we settled down to home-life at Rossville.
My work was teaching, and I had my hands full, for my daily average was about eighty.
I had no trouble, the two years I taught at Norway House, to gather scholars. They came from the mainland and from the islands and from the fort, by canoe and dog-train.
My scholars were faithful in their attendance, but the responsibility was a heavy one for me, a mere boy. However, I was fresh from being taught and from learning, and I went to work enthusiastically, and was very much encouraged by the appreciation of the people.