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XIV. Keeping the Peace

[either Mr. Birnie nor any of the Hudson Bay employees had any legal authority over the Indians; law in these very early days was chiefly conspicuous for its absence, but each and every one of them fearlessly assumed the duty of a chief bound to maintain order within the bounds of his jurisdiction. Occasionally Dr. McLoughlin would have an Indian murderer hanged, and he never permitted any serious off^ense to go unpunished, but severe measures were rarely necessary.

Occasionally a naval expedition was sent out, but these on the lower river were not very destructive, George B. Roberts, Dr. McLoughlin's