During the height of the pine and land purchases, crowds of Indians at White Earth were persuaded to visit Detroit and Park Rapids and Ogema. Contrary to the law, whiskey was frequently sold them. They tell how at Park Rapids, in the little square in the centre of the village, drunken Indians were lying on the grass in numbers, and at Ogema a saloon keeper was passing liquor in a bucket, and handing it out by the dipperful to Indians. After the buyers had used persuasion to get the Indians to give up their allotments, they resorted to stronger measures in dealing with those who would not sell. A wife of a policeman at Pine Point, Mrs. John Rock, was awakened at eleven o’clock in the night by Detroit buyers, who forcibly entered her cabin, and stayed until two o’clock in the morning until they obtained one of her tracts of land. When Indians visited Detroit and partook of liquor they were arrested. On being brought before the authorities and fined, they were told by the attorney who was supposed to defend them, or by the kind-hearted land buyer, that they must sell or deed over a tract of land in order to pay the fine. Sworn testimony in several cases is to this effect. When Indians were brought into the offices of the buyers and hesitated about selling or mortgaging, more persuasive arguments were used. In the case of Grace Rock, who visited E. G. Holmes’ bank, the testimony now in the hands of the Government is to the effect that as she did not wish to sell at the price offered, and started into the hall, one of those present cried to Interpreter Morrison, “Go and fetch her back, and if she will not sell, we will throw her into the lake.” Me-zhuck-ke-gway-abe in affidavit No. 268, July 29, 1909, states that one Fred Saunders got him to drink and then bought his land. A minor son, Willy Bassett, was told to sign papers, or he would be put in jail. In the case of Mrs. Lawrence Roberts, her affidavit recites that she appeared before banker Anundensen with Interpreter Robert Morrison—“Anundensen asked if I was a mixed-blood and I said my parents are full-bloods. He said that is all right. We signed papers.” I quote this case because it is typical of nearly one hundred others. The papers which she signed were not explained to this woman and may well have recited that she was a mixed-blood Indian. [Illustration: ROSE ELLIS One of the interpreters serving during the investigation of 1909. Carlisle graduate. Full-blood Ojibwa. ]