Meanwhile, events were transpiring which furnished just the very fuel that Riel wanted for his fire.  During the summer of 1869, a surveying party, under Colonel Dennis, had been engaged surveying the country, and dividing it into townships, etc., for future allotment by government.  According to good authority, the proceedings of this party had given great offence to the Metis.  The unsettled state of the half-breeds’ land tenure not unnaturally excited apprehension in the minds of these poor ignorant people that their lands would be taken from them, and given to Canadian immigrants.  Then they had the burning words of Louis Riel ringing in their ears saying that the thing would be done.  To lend colour to the mistrust, some members of the surveying party put up claims here and there to tracts of land to which they happened to take a fancy.  But this was not all.  Some of these gentlemen had the habit of giving the Indians drink till they became intoxicated, and then inducing them to make choice lands over to them.  One could not pass through any superior tract of land without observing the stakes of some person or other of Colonel Dennis’s party.

“I foretold it,” cried Riel.  “Go out for yourselves and see the marks they have set up bounding their plunder.”  Nor was this the only grievance presented to the half-breeds.  The very survey then being carried on they looked upon as an act of contempt towards themselves; for Riel had put it in this light.

“The territory has not yet passed into the hands of the Canadian government”—­and in saying this the Disturber was accurate—­; “what right have they, therefore, to come here and lay down lines?  It is as I have already told you:  You are of as much importance in the eyes of the Canadian authorities, as would be so many dogs.”

Nor were these the only grievances either.  A “big man,” a white, living at the settlement, had made himself obnoxious to the whole of Red River.  He well knew how the people hated him, and he retorted by saying: 

“Your scurvy race is almost run.  Presently you will get into civilized hands, and be put through your facings.  You disrespect me, but my counsels prevail at Ottawa.  Only what I recommend, will the Government do; so that you see the settlement is very completely in my hands.”  This man was a valuable ally to Riel; for almost literally did he, while portending to speak for the Dominion authorities, corroborate the allegation of the arch agitator.  Then two officials, Messrs Snow and Mair, sent out by Mr. McDougall, while he was yet Minister of Public Works, had established an intimacy with the obnoxious white man, received his hospitality, and given acquiescent ear to his advice.  These two gentlemen looked upon the half-breeds as savages.  They sent letters to the newspapers, describing Red River and its people in terms grossly unjust, and inaccurate.  M. Riel got the communications and read them to the people.