Feb 9th

Well last night Col. Macleod, Capt. Jackson, Allen, Denny + myself went for Conrad + took him over to the squaw dance. It was a lodge. No light save for that of the fire in the center. The people all sat around in the lodge on the sleeping bunks, the men on one side the squaws + children on the other. The orchestra consisting of the drums, like tambourines without the bells, kept up an incessant tom tom, + the voices of the men + women kept time with the dancers + tom toms, in a melancholic, monotonous chant. Every now and then one chap would become very much excited, + start up in the circle dancing around the fire + dance in a most excited manner. Their dancing consists in a simple bending on the knees keeping the feet close together + keeping time with the music. The dancer may vary his dance by numerous absurd + grotesque attitudes or movements, + must keep continually singing. The[y] had tea to refresh themselves with during the interlude and also pipes. Now and again while the band was resting some buck would get up + make a speech telling of the wonderful + doughty deeds he had done. The squaws would dance up to the one they wished to dance with + pull him out from his seat. If they wished + were allowed, they could kiss you, after which you were excepted to give them a blanket. Denny, Jackson + the Col were each pulled and made to dance. They felt too much respect for me, so I was allowed to sit in dignified quietness. The lodge contained more than 36 persons. How they even managed to crowd in is a mystery. A space not 10 feet in diameter to hold so many + allow room for a fire + for dancing. We had the true unadulterated genuine Indian preference. I had a visit from Crowfoot the Chief of this faction of the Blackfoot, he brought a couple of his squaws along and a little child, a pretty little creature, whom he called Pouse [Blackfoot: “pussy cat/kitten”] after some kind of bird. I showed Crowfoot my family + my sketches. I had one of himself, he recognized it immediately, as also did his squaws. Was that not a triumph of art? The old man had a headache so I gave him a Seidlitz powder. You should have seen the look of bewildered amusement as the powder began to fizz. He repeated over + over again, *Skoon-a-taps-salui, which means ‘very strong medicine’. Afterwards we refreshed him with some Ginger tea, which elevated him so that he was almost tipsy. Then as it was lunch time, I gave him and his squaws some bread and meat, they eat their fill + departed shaking hands with every expression of delight.

This served to pass the greater part of the morning with pleasure and profit, for I succeeded in adding several words, properly pronounced, to my Indian vocabulary. By one o’clock it had begun to snow and continued to do so for the remained of the afternoon. Capt. Winder took a party of men and seized a wagon load of robes which appear to have been traded for whiskey. They were not able to bring them all the way to Camp on account of the heavy roads but left them under guard, about a mile from the Fort. Quite a little excitement was caused by the sound of four shots heard in the direction of this wagon, + a party of men was at once detailed to go out and see what was wrong. It proved to be a party of men who had been guarding the wagon + who had been relieved, fancying themselves lost, who fired to attract attention. Col. Macleod has brought out a code of signals with the flag, at which we have been diligently employing ourselves to learn, so that now, what with my anatomy, Blackfoot, Solar observations, French + signaling, I have spent my time pretty well occupied. I must now say Good night to you my Darling. I hope that you will sleep sound and have pleasant dreams. I expect to sleep as sound + as quietly as I ever did.

Feb. 8th

The Chenook [Chinook] continues and the prairies are a series of lakes running brooks + mud holes. You never saw such a change in your life, a few days ago, so white and cold and hard, now so black + brown + wet. This morning I got up and had a smoke before sick parade + had my breakfast afterwards. After breakfast I had one or two little things connected with the Mess which kept me busy until noon, I then sat down to read + read most of this afternoon. I got up and went out in the brush trying to find a shinny stick, but was unsuccessful. I then came home and read some more. After dinner I came in to write to you and that is what I am now doing. Allen + Welch were sent out this afternoon to look for some wagons that are expected in, they, (Allen + Welch) have just returned. I do not know if they saw the wagons or not. Winder was sent out this afternoon to get a runaway wife to return to her sorrowing Indian husband – I believe with success. I have set myself down to learn the Blackfoot language, and think that in a few months I shall probably be able to converse in broken Indian. Shall I write you a letter in Blackfoot? Some of the words are fearful jawbreakers, but time and use will render them easier on my jaw more accustomed, to them, I am going to leave you for the present and go down to the squaw dance.

Sunday. Feb. 7th

This morning a lot of Buffalo could be seen from my window, about half a mile from the Fort. Some Indians went after them and I witnessed a fair Buffalo hunt before breakfast. This afternoon I went over to the Indian Camp, taking Denny and some medicines along with me. We chatted with the squaws in the tent with some of the sick children, and really had a good deal of fun. I have not an idea of what they said, nor do I suppose they know what Denny + I were talking but the laugh always came in at the right time. We then found the Chief’s lodge + paid him a visit. His name is Crowfoot, he entertained us showed us all his finery, his war dress, bow + arrows, guns + knives, + then began to tell us stories of his achievements. We did not understand a word he said but his gestures were so energetic life like and real that we could not fail to take in all he meant. He showed us some feathers, eagle feathers + described how he saw it floating high in the air, how he hid himself in a hole in the ground, how the eagle came down to catch a fish, how he grasped it by the foot, killed it + took its feathers, then how he was shot on various occasions each time showing us his wound. The afternoon was passed in a very amusing way. A large squaw dance was going on this evening + great must have been the merriment to judge from the sound of the voices. I enjoyed the luxury of a good bath tonight and consequently feel much better. My tooth has not troubled me for two or three days. Good night + pleasant dreams.

Fort MacLeod February. 7th 1875

My darling Lizzie,

The Mail was not sent off as was expected. Mr A after all did not have the pleasure of riding to Stand Off, + our thanks to him were not required. A man volunteered to take any mail matter we had in to Benton + also bring back what was there, the whole to be done in 21 days and for the sum of $25.00. so we entrusted to him our mail, and he started out about noon on his trip with a toboggan drawn by a rough rugged roan horse. It was pretty cold when he started. He left here about noon last Wednesday, I had sent in my letters to you, and thought they had gone, so did not send any other to you. On Tuesday nothing in particular happened my sick list is getting to be very small, only 2 or 3, + my great trouble is to get up in time for the sick parade at 0 a.m. on Friday, the same dull routine. I had 3 or 4 games of chess with Denny + we came off even. I think I should be victor as one game was really a drawn game. Saturday presented the same every day appearance, still cold + the snow on the ground about 6 inches deep, at about 4.30 a strong wind from the West sprung up and in 9 minutes the thermometer had risen 32º! From +8º to +40º. The wind could be felt warm + balmy as the soft breezes that blow o’er Ceylon’s Isle. As soon as it began, a crowd of men appeared like magic with brooms on the roof of their quarters, brushing the snow off, to prevent it leaking through. Before this I had taken a walk up to the Blackfoots Camp about a mile from our Fort. The dogs, of which there are innumerable quantities around the Indian Camp, did not appear to entertain very kindly feelings towards us, (Allen was with me). However we were not bitten, we walked through the Camp looking at the lodges, some of them painted with Buffalo’s heads, + various Animals. Some with zigzag lines of party coloured pigments, some bright red, others their top only coloured black with rows round spots of red or white. The children ran after us calling out + evidently making fun, but we could not tell, they laughed and so did we. A few of the squaws were at work scraping robes, but not many on account of the cold. We were finally invited into one of the wigwams + found the old man proprietor of the lodge, his two stalwart looking sons + 4 or 5 squaws each with two or three little children hanging on to them. Room was made for us + a pipe offered, after a desultory conversation a sick child was shown to me, and its symptoms described, also a second child, fat, a most enourmous amount of fat, + dirty + a large lump on his head, just behind the ear. I looked at them both and promised to bring some medicine for them. We then came home. After dinner, by the by I am President of the Mess for this week beginning last Wednesday, I had some more chess with Denny + came off the Conqueror without doubt.

Feb. 2nd

Crozier got away this afternoon about 1.30 he expects to be away about two or three weeks. The square was a scene of busy confusion all morning, men choosing horses, + then endeavouring to catch them, saddling + getting their provisions etc on a small toboggan. The day is pretty cold but will probably not remain so for long as a South West Wind is blowing. The mail which was redistributed to the men has revived again + tomorrow another trial is to be made to get it off. Let us hope this time with more success. Allen is now singing as loud as he can bawl, not 3 feet from my left ear + making the nights hideous with harsh discords, without exception he has a harsh whistle + unmusical a voice as any one I have ever heard. The great beauty of it is that he imagines it is superb + that he has a fine tenor voice. However he has his good points and is going to take the mail tomorrow morning over to Stand Off where it is to be taken to Benton by some teams going in from thence. So we will say no more about his singing – perhaps he is only happy that his letters are going in, and I am sure we can overlook any little boisterous outburst. That blot is owing to my writing with a new pen. “J”, Is that not Sallie’s favourite pen? I + it at first did not hold the ink consequently it *ran* down on the paper + I put the blotting paper over it which I think did not mend matters much. Just think it is only a month since I heard from you last, and I have been groaning + whining because I have not heard sooner, and for nearly six months I heard not a word. I suppose the difference is to be accounted for in the fact that I have now more time to think over the matter, + perhaps like the tiger after once tasting blood is athirst for more. At all events I am anxious awaiting the arrival of another mail + letters from you.

I am sorry to say my tooth began aching again to day, but only for a short time. Poor Denny has been suffering from a bad toothache, which I have managed to relieve but he refuses to have his tooth extracted it is a front tooth + perhaps his looks would be considerably damaged. I am very much afraid that I will not be able to go to Canada on any leave of absence, as every day I find something more for me to do or something that will act to keep me here continually. But as none of us know what disposition will be made of the Force next Summer, so none of us know where we will be or what we will be doing. It may be that we may all go to Fort Garry or Pelly. But in any case I think I am booked for Fort Macleod until I leave the Police. Do you recollect what Jack + Mannie were going to do? Come out next summer + take dinner! What a blessing the sight of a well known face associated with Canada would be, not only to myself but to every member of the Force. What is Mannie doing now. Has he started a practice in town, or has he gotten a practiceship anywhere? You will perhaps be glad to know that Brooks my patient about whom I was so anxious is now much better. Next Sunday, if all goes as well as it has, I expect him to set off. I am going to cross this letter although I have not yet heard from you whether you like them crossed but I have not a great deal of time to write much more and expect to finish this very soon. I wonder what you have been doing with yourself this past month I wonder if you have gone home with Saida[?]. I suppose not. There is only one way ever to get you then and that is to take you there myself and so Mother will never know Lizzie Beaty but by hearsay. Do you think that it is possible for this to reach you on Valentine’s day. Possible but not probable. 4 days to Benton + 11 to Toronto. The 17th. However near enough to be a Valentine.

The days are now rapidly lengthening and the Sun is daily becoming more and more powerful, so that the middle of the day is now quite comfortable. It won’t be long before they are warm. How pleasant that will be. And when they do get warm, I shall often take our Sunday evening walk, which the excessive cold caused as to discontinue. I used to so enjoy them. I was then by myself and yet not alone, everything I saw spoke of you, and all sounds shaped themselves into words spoken from you, and I always came back with a sense of comfort and rest from those after tea walks.

Do you remember or rather will you ever forget the pleasant times we used to have on Sunday evenings. Oh, dear. And now the Mail is about closing and I must hurry to say God bless you. Remember me to all, + also to Auntie Taylor is you visit her or see her.

Times up. Believe me Lizzie as ever

Your own Barrie

Feb. 1st 1875

Capt. Winder came back last night about 11 o’clock. The arrival of two or three wagons loaded with robes from the North of us, was reported to Col. McLeod who had information that these robes had been obtained by trading alcohol for them. He sent down accordingly and put a guard over them and this morning Mr. Weatherwaxy, the proprietor of the robes, was called to answer the charge of trading whiskey. As witnesses we called in the teamsters who brought the robes down. They proved nothing conclusive, and now Capt. Crozier is getting ready to go off tomorrow morning to this post on the Bow River to get material witnesses. Meanwhile the unfortunate robes have been detained and will be held until the Innocence of Mr. Weatherwaxy is proven, which I do not think will be the case. This affair has quite entertained us. It has given us a fresh subject to talk about.

Jany. 31st

Sunday. The Sun this morning rose very bright + clear, but towards noon, a cold wind started from the North and in the afternoon it snowed. Everything looks blue, and I feel blue therefore prepare to have some of my surplus spleen, vented on your unoffending head. Are you ready? Perhaps if I first give my reasons for being blue, you will know better how to laugh or cheer me out of them. In the first place I am blue because I am without you; next because being here I also am not able to hear from you; again, because you did not receive my last letters + will be so anxious to hear from me, + perhaps will get the blues yourself, which gives me a fourth reason viz because I cannot be at hand to comfort you. Poor old girl. Don’t get disheartened, if you do not hear from me nor of me, so often as you could wish, try and think of me as writing to you at that moment. Think that I am well and hearty and strong with a wolfish appetite, + with the means to satisfy it too. Lift up your head and think that by laughing and trying to be happy you are making me so. And Our Father whose unremitting care watches over us, or will gather us tenderly to his bosom. Darling did you ever think of the time when one of us must leave the other, no more to come back? Child I charge you Pray for me as ever, to be kept in the right way, to be made to look at events + trials in their proper light, that I may be kept from useless and causeless repinnings. Lizzie would you mind giving me one of the prayers which you daily use. I would so like to have the same form of words as you have, so that I might feel myself nearer to you, + be more in unison with you. Perhaps you would rather not or cannot single out the one you like best. If you have the slightest hesitancy in agreeing with my proposal please don’t feel obliged to say yes. Will you not dear? There is one prayer I always use, night + morning. It is the Collect for Whitsunday. In the Church Prayer book. I have used it for a long time.

This is the end of the first month of the New Year. How quickly it has gone. Do you remember that song “And the years glide by”? There is an ode in Horace with the self same words – “Labuntur Anni” “And the years glide by” Three years will soon slip away, + then the Homeward Journey – will the long stretches of level prairie seem so endless then? Will the days journey be so stirring then? And when I reach the railway, will not my heart fleetly outrun the huge iron horses. Ah, trust me it there cannot go too fast for me. There is something going on tonight Capt. Winder and a party of armed men have just started off, for somewhere to try and do something – more anon. It is snowing now + is past nine o’clock.