Subtitled The Life Story of Peter Rindisbacher, this book was written as a supplement to the 1970 art exhibition of the same name. As a consequence, it is not very long, but it is filled with information of an often overlooked group of original Selkirk Settlers, the Swiss of 1821.

I Blyster’d for the Cough McRea came to my bed, & asked how I did, I told him it made no matter to him how I was, not to bother me, that I would be soon well, from the effects of the Blyster & repeated I did not think he was a Gentleman

[McRae] Told me a Skin was wanting of the Number he gave me to put under me for a bed, they were in Captn. McDonell’s tent where I slept I told him I did not take it, nor had not it, & that it was surprising any person would go into Captn. McDonell’s tent to take it out, that perhaps he did not count them well that it must be among the others, upon which he said he did, I must pay for the one that is lost. I told him he spoke very peremptorily, & that stil a tryal ought to be made, but the word was I must pay for it. I then told him I would not that he gave them, & I did not reckon them, & as he gave them that he took them. That if he required so many from me, he ought as he was so particular to receive them, from my hands, & not take them himself. Upon this He told me go be damned. Upon which I told him but that I was a Clergyman I would kick him. He wanted me to box him. I told him I was no Blackguard, but that he was a Comissary had a sword & pistols & that if Captn. McDonnell would lend me either of his, I would try him at either. There was no Man on the ground I could depend on for arms but Capts. McDonell. I brought none myself, thinking I’d have no occasion for any, for which I was sorry & more so that I should be under the necessity of calling to Captn. McDonell for his, Captain McDonell was out at the time, when he came in I told him what happened, & that in McRea’s presence, & that I was sure McRea was no Gentleman, tho’ he had the arms of a Gentleman, sword & pistols. I guess’d from the Doctor & McReas being always with Hillier, that perhaps they were put up to this, & I was resolved to try what the best of them could do. In fact I heard some days after, that McRea went to Mr. Hillier & requested he would be is Friend in a day or two, when he would call on him But I understand Hillier gave no reply whatever, but changed colour.

Miles Macdonell and Mr. Hillier made two camps near York Factory over the winter of 1811/12, where the men who were to be the work crew for the Red River Settlement lived until moving south after break-up. Even from Macdonell’s journal, which is often somewhat brief and lacking detail in its daily record of events, it is clear that the winter was full of malcontent.

The expedition began to go downhill for Donald Gunn once they arrived at Lake Manitoba. He developed a skin infection that painfully affected his eyes. On the third day, the group turned south, heading home to the RRS. They were near the south shore of Shoal Lake when the heavens opened, and they were forced to set up camp beneath the carts. The rain was intense, and they feared a lightning strike to the carts, caught as they were on the open plains. Everything, including the specimens, was thoroughly soaked.

The expedition members rise the next morning and spend the day travelling toward Shoal Lake. On the way they meet the Indian man of the day before and a Métis woman who is returning to Oak Point with a load of pine planks that were likely made in the saw-pits of the Red River Settlement. Gunn remarks that she

The York Boat was an important means of moving goods and people to the Red River Settlement from York Factory. Developed by the HBC and built by Orcadian and Scottish builders, it was based on a similar design found in Orkney. It was about 36 ft. long, 8ft. wide and 4ft. deep and could carry 3.5 tons of cargo. Very hardy and durable, it was in general use from 1800 until the 1880′s.

Marriages, were as a rule celebrated in the church, and all the guests drove there often to the accompaniment of shot-gun salutes of honor by the way. This drive to and fro was par excellence the time for displaying fast horses, whose decking in gay ribbons called “wedding favors,” took up more attention than the adornment of the person. The speediest horses were secured for such occasions. We have known men go long distances to secure some noted horse, and consternation reigned when it leaked out that some one had secured so and so’s “Charlie” or “Tom.” for the wedding. On the way home speeding could be indulged in to any extent, with one well-defined limitation, namely, that no one was to pass the bridal party on pain of social ostracism. On the Sabbath succeeding the wedding the “kirking” took place, the bridal party and “best young people” in all their wedding bravery of millinery driving together with their gaily decked horses to church and there occupying a special pew. When the groom brought his bride to his ancestral mansion, a “home wedding” was given with practically the same amount of social function as had attended the ceremony of the marriage. As a general thing the dowry was not large when the people were poor, but in addition to the outfitting such as the custom required a few choice cows were driven over to the bridegroom’s farm as a nucleus for future wealth in flocks and herds.