debauchery amongst the voyageurs followed the arrival of the troops in Winnipeg’.  The miserable-looking village produced, as if by magic, more saloons than any city of twice its size in the States could boast of.  The vilest compounds of intoxicating liquors were sold indiscriminately to every one, and for a time it seemed as though the place had become a very Pandemonium.  No civil authority had been given to the commander of the Expedition, and no civil power of any kind existed in the settlement.  The troops alone were under control, but the populace were free to work what mischief they pleased.  It is almost to be considered a matter of congratulation, that the terrible fire-water sold by the people of the village should have been of the nature that it was, for so deadly were its effects upon the brain and nervous system, that under its influence men became perfectly helpless, lying stretched upon the prairie for hours, as though they were bereft of life itself.  I regret to say that Samuel Henderson was by no means an exception to the general demoralization that ensued.  Men who had been forced to fly from the settlement during the reign of the rebel government now returned to their homes, and for some time it seemed probable that the sudden revulsion of feeling, unrestrained by the presence of a civil power, would lead to excesses against the late ruling faction; but, with one or two exceptions, things began to quiet down again, and soon the arrival of the civil governor, the Hon. Mr. Archibald, set matters completely to rights.

Before ten days had elapsed the regular troops had commenced their long return march to Canada, and the two regiments of Canadian militia had arrived to remain stationed for some time in the settlement.  But what work it was to get the voyageurs away!  The Iroquois were terribly intoxicated, and for a long time refused to get into the boats.  There was a bear (a trophy from Fort Garry), and a terrible nuisance he proved at the embarkation; for a long-time previous to the start he had been kept quiet with un limited sugar, but at last he seemed to have had enough of that condiment, and, with a violent tug, he succeeded in snapping his chain and getting away up the bank.  What a business it was! drunken Iroquois stumbling about, and the bear, with 100 men after him, scuttling in every direction.  Then when the bear would be captured and put safely back into his boat, half a dozen of the Iroquois would get out and run a-muck through every thing.  Louis (the pilot) would fall foul of Jacques Sitsoli, and commence to inflict severe bodily punishment upon the person of the unoffending Jacques, until, by the interference of the multitude, peace would be restored and both would be reconducted to their boats.  At length they all got away down the river.  Thus, during the first week of September, the whole of the regulars departed once more to try the torrents of the Winnipeg, and on the 10th of the month the commander also took his leave.  I was left alone in Fort Garry.  The Red River Expedition was over, and I had to find my way once more through the United States to Canada.  My long journey seemed finished, but I was mistaken, for it was only about to begin.