We left Osnaburg on the morning of July 13, and entered the Albany river, which drains Lake St. Joseph, and, after passing many rapids and magnificent lake stretches of this fine river, we reached Fort Hope at 5 o'clock on the afternoon of the l8th. This important post of the Hudson's Bay Company is situated on the shore of Lake Eabamet, and is the meeting point of a large number of Indians, certainly 700, who have their hunting grounds on both sides of the Albany and as far as the headwaters of the Winisk river. The post was in charge of Mr. C. H. M. Gordon.

The same course of procedure was followed as at Osnaburg. The Indians were requested to select representatives to whom the business of the commission might be explained, and on the morning of the l9th the commissioners met a number of representative Indians in the Hudson's Bay Company's house. Here the commissioners had the benefit of the assistance of Rev. Father F. X Fafard, of the Roman Catholic Mission at Albany, whose thorough knowledge of the Cree and Ojibeway tongues was of great assistance during the discussion.

A more general conversation in explanation of the terms of the treaty followed than had occurred at Osnaburg. Moonias, one of the most influential chiefs, asked a number of questions. He said that ever since he was able to earn anything, and that was from the time he was very young, he had never been given something for nothing; that he always had to pay for everything that he got, even if it was only a paper of pins. "Now," he said "you gentlemen come to us from the King offering to give us benefits for which we can make no return. How is this?" Father Fafard thereupon explained to him the nature of the treaty, and that by it the Indians were giving their faith and allegiance to the King, and for giving up their title to a large area of land of which they could make no use, they received benefits that served to balance anything that they were giving.

"Yesno," who received his name from his imperfect knowledge of the English language, which consisted altogether in the use of the words "yes" and "no," made an excited speech, in which he told the Indians that they were to receive cattle and implements, seed-grain and tools. Yesno had evidently travelled, and had gathered an erroneous and exaggerated idea of what the government was doing for Indians in other parts of the country, but, as the undersigned wished to guard carefully against any misconception or against making any promises which were not written in the treaty itself, it was explained that none of these issues were to be made, as the band could not hope to depend upon agriculture as a means of subsistence; that hunting and fishing, in which occupations they were not to be interfered with, should for very many years prove lucrative sources of revenue. The Indians were informed that by signing the treaty they pledged themselves not to interfere with white men who might come into the country surveying, prospecting, hunting, or in other occupations; that they must respect the laws of the land in every particular, and that their reserves were set apart for them in order that they might have a tract in which they could not be molested, and where no white man would have any claims without the consent of their tribe and of the government.

After this very full discussion, the treaty was signed, and payment was commenced. The payment was finished on the next day, and the Indian feast took place, at which the chiefs elected were Katchange, Yesno, Joe Goodwin, Benj. Ooskinegisk, and George Quisees. The newly elected chiefs made short speeches, expressing their gladness at the conclusion of the treaty and their determination to be true to its terms and stipulations.

It is considered worthy of record to remark on the vigorous and manly qualities displayed by these Indians throughout the negotiations. Although undoubtedly at times they suffer from lack of food owing to the circumstances under which they live, yet they appeared contented, and enjoy a certain degree of comfort. Two active missions are established at Fort Hope, the Anglican, under the charge of Rev. Mr. Richards, who is resident, and the Roman Catholic, under the charge of Rev. Father Fafard, who visits from the mission at Albany.