June 23rd

My thumb is now quite well, a little stiff but not sore unless pretty well struck. On the 19th Saturday we played one match – the first innings resulted in the officers having 4 runs to the good. A heavy storm coming up prevented the finishing of the 2nd innings.

The Kootanie Indians too came filing over the prairies – a long moving line all on horses. They camped down on the bottom – near the bridge. Not many came up during the evening, it probably being too wet. On Sunday at 9 o’clock the whole force went down to their camp – where a long lodge about 30 feet long had been erected and I which Father Scullen held service. The Kootanies you must know are all Roman Catholics. They come from the other side of the mountains – from British Columbia & are real British subjects. Only a portion of the tribe comes down every spring. The remainder stay at home to take care of their gardens – for in their way they are farmers.

The Romish missionaries have been busily at work with them and they are practically civilized. They have but one wife and are always married by the priest – their children are baptized. They have evening service every evening and never sit down to eat without first kneeling and giving thanks. They bear a character most exemplary for hospitality and honesty. Their language is the queerest and strangest conglomeration of deep guttural sounds – spoken in a very low whisper – so low that one can not help wondering how they manage to understand one another. To hear them talk you would think that they were fearful stutterers and were endeavoring to pronounce the words clerks click. At the service on Sunday they sang one or two hymns to a most mournful tune apparently under their breath.

On Monday we had a big powwow and talk with the Kootanies and North Peagans – feeding them & giving some presents – then we turned the force out and showed them some mounted drill – then fired several shell at a mark about a mile away. In the evening some rockets were sent up. In the evening I went down to their camp and held a sort of sick parade. I was kept busy for nearly three hours attending to them. They appeared very grateful.

Yesterday they gathered the remains of two Kootanies who had been killed here last Fall just before we came and Father Scullen buried them. I managed to get a sketch of their camp altho’ it is very rough not being able to hold my brush very well.
This morning all the Indians went away towards the plains – where they are going after buffalo. I am going up to the mountains tomorrow so for the next three or four days I will not write to you – but be sure I will always be thinking of you. I expect to be gone about four days – and see no reason why I should not have a really good time. To day I was the witness of a double marriage ceremony – two of the roustabouts were married to two half breed women. The ceremony was all right – except that neither bridegroom had remembered to bring a ring – two were borrowed for the purpose and afterwards returned to their owners.

And now for the present good night and believe me your own loving
Barrie