They were hunters, accustomed to the use
of firearms and were, therefore, difficult to restrain.
The Governor's policy clearly defined in his own mind became, for the
next ten years, the policy of the Company. We have seen that the
Governor built Lower Fort Garry, and he regarded this as his residence,
nearly twenty miles down the river from the Forks, which was the centre
of French influence. Even before doing this in 1831 he had, in the year
preceding this, as Ross tells us, built a small powder magazine at Upper
Fort Garry, and it goes without saying that rulers do not build powder
magazines for the purpose of ornament.
In 1834, as we learn from Hon. Donald Gunn, who was then a resident of
Red River Settlement, and who has left us his views in the manuscript
afterward published coming up to 1835, a most serious revolt took place
among the Metis. Gunn's account is vivid and interesting.
[Illustration: The Sisters, The Ferry, The Forks, Fort Garry, Site of
Fort Gibraltar, Pontoon Bridge, French Half-breeds with Ox-carts, Red and
Assiniboine Rivers. FORT GARRY (From Oil painting of Mr. W. Frank
Lynn made in 1872, now in possession of the Author.)]
The French half-breeds were entirely dependent upon hunting, trapping or
voyaging.
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