April 1795

30 Wednesday 1^st[.] A Stormy boisterous day[.] A current of water running over the Ice[.]

Thursday 2^nd[.] Lafontaine & his wife started for the River la Coquille with three Horses[.] Beaufils de Minie came in from Montagne d'Orignal for Tobacco[.] Cold[.]

Friday 3^rd[.] B. Fils de Minie went away[.] L'oge d'orignal peinturé sent sent his writ for Tobacco, omitted yesterday, La Bougresse sent his writ for Tobacco & Ammⁿ[.] Still freezing hard[.]

Saturday 4^th[.] L^s B^te Houle return'd from Mountⁿ la Bosse[.] S^t Pierre & Fra^s Houle came from the same place for goods[.] The fellows who bro^t the fresh meat went away

Sunday 5^th[.] Two Assinibouans came in with (ten say 10) Dogs loaded with fresh meat which I refused to trade[.] One of them pestered me a long time to accept the favors of his young wife & made use of strong arguments to convince me of the goodness of the lady in question – but to no purpose[.]

Monday 6^th[.] A young Indian came for Tobacco before I was up & return'd immediately without waiting an instant for it[.] Two others arrived with four or five Skins on their backs to buy Tobacco & slept in the Fort[.] The fellows who brought the fresh meat went away last night[.] S^t Pierre & Fra^s Houle return'd home to Mountain a la Bosse with Goods[.]

Tuesday 7^th[.] He who sent the impatient emissary for Tobacco yesterday came to trade – made no presents intending to buy sundry kinds of goods to offer in Sacrifice to the Master or Author of Life[.]

Wednesday 8^th[.] The Savage who came yesterday traded his few Robes & went away[.] Old Boiteu's Son came with a Horse to Sell, which I declined purchasing[.] Froze all day[.]

Thursday 9^th[.] Boiteu Son went off with his Horse[.] Swans and geese were seen flying by the first time this year[.] Upon an alarm of Thieves took the Horses (who had run loose in the plains all winter) into the Fort[.]

Friday 10^th[.] Numbers of Swans were seen flying past & fired upon by the men without effect[.] Thawed considerably[.]

Saturday 11^th[.] La Fontaine, S^t Denis & Ducharme returnd from River La Coquille – the former having left his Horses & old Mary his wife in charge of his Indians friends for the Summer[.] Four young Assinib^s came for Tobacco[.] The Horses Sleep every night in the Fort for fear of the thieving Assinib^s[.]

Sunday 12^th[.] An Assinib^s arrived & made a present of 5 Buff. Robes, and a Lodge of 11 Skins[.] Return'd him ½ a keg[.] The water rose so that we hauld outr Boats higher up[.] The Ice breaking fast[.]

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