Blood Red the Sun

A lesson in bartering, and having the correct currency to barter with.

During the Frog Lake massacre, April 2, 1885 two white women were taken captive. In his book “Blood Red the Sun”, author William Bleasdell Cameron who was at the scene, writes how Adolphus Nolin, a French/Cree Metis set out to save the first woman.

“From other Indians he learned that one of the women was in the lodge of Manichoos, a murderer of the morning, with his Cree wives. Nolin lifted the lodge-flap and entered. He barely glanced at the captive cowering there, dazed by shock and grief, her face deadly pale, her wide eyes mirroring the horror that had overwhelmed her when her beloved husband had fallen dying at her side. It would not answer for the half-breed to appear as the friend of the stricken moonias isquayo. That might jeopardize them both. Instead he said casually in Cree:

“I see you have a white wife now.”

The Indian nodded. “Uh-huh.” He tried hard not to show his elation.

“You are lucky,” Nolin remarked. “Now, look at me, a man part white yet I have no white wife, nor could I get one. No wonder you feel proud.”

Manichoos continued to dissemble; he raised a deprecating hand. “No; it is nothing; I am not proud. What is a wife, more or less, to me? If you want a white wife, buy this woman here.”

Nolin shook his head. “No. I could not buy your woman. You would ask too much. I am poor.”

“She is not young, neither is she pretty,” Manichoos commented. “I would not ask much – two horses, maybe.”

Nolin clapped a hand over his mouth. “There! I knew I could not buy her. Two horses! That is a fearful price. I have only one horse. I will pay that for her.”

Manichoos was not in the mood to haggle. “Two horses,” he insisted stolidly.

Nolin rose. “Tesqua. Wait a little. Perhaps I can get another horse.” Leaving, he spoke for the first time to the captive. “Take courage! You shan't be harmed. I'll be back and you'll be taken away from this cur.” He hurried back to Pritchard. “It's Mrs. Delaney, Johnny. Manichoos has her. He wants two horses for her and won't look at my pony.”

Pritchard's answer was prompt. “Take one of mine; I've two. And don't lose any time getting her over here. He might change his mind. Or one of the other swine might buy her.”

- end quote.

“Blood Red the Sun” can be read here. I quoted from “The rescue of the white women”.

http://www.ourroots.ca/toc.aspx?id=12317&qryID=9997125b-b4db-456e-8b75-c3fb3dd1e180
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