[T]hursday 24[^th] Oct^r 1799[.] This Morning Bouché & Perreault [w]ho were in the Island, traversed[.] They are come from S^t Germain with a Letter informing us of the present Circumstances of the Forks which are well but would be better if the Hunter whom S^t Germain kept did not forsake him and what is more surprising with S^t Germains own Consent[.] The Indians left the Forks the 24^th Ult^o loaded with Credits that is upwards of 3000 Skins between 40 Indians[.] Gave Bouch[é] & Perreault a Dram and the prey of dried Meat[.] Coming down the Athabasca River they killed an Orignal the most of which they threw away[.]

Friday 25^th[.] Bouché & Perreault went a hunting but killed nothing[.]

Saturday 26^th[.] Gave the prey to Bouché & Perreault[.] The River Quite full of Ice[.]

Sunday 27^th[.] Nothing particular[.]

Monday 28^th[.] Much snow fell last Night[.]

Tuesday 29^th[.] Cold Day[.]

Wednesday 30^th[.] Got the Grand River Pucks untied and the Peltries properly assorted[.]

Thursday 31^st[.] In the Morning an old Lame Montagner called Naishal or Wind arrived[.] He traversed from the old fort on one Nights Ice[.] He informed us that the Men at that place have lost six Nets[.] The Ice stopt before the Fort[.]

Friday November 1^st[.] All Saints day[.]

Saturday 2^nd[.] This Morning Bouché & Perreault set off to the Old Fort but soon after Returned not being able to precede as the Ice is not taken on the Lake[.] Lambert set a Gun arranged in such a Manner as to be able to Kill a wolf which is forever hereabout and destroys every thin[g] he or she can get across[.]

Sunday 3^rd[.] Early this Morning Pearreault set out fo[r] the old fort by the way the Indian came and returned af[ter] Dark as he could not get further than the Bustard Isla[nd] where he says he had much difficulty to go arising from the weakness of the Ice[.]

Monday 4^th[.] Cadien Masquawsis & I made 40 Marten Traps on River d’embarras[.] Rained the greater part of this Day[.] Perreault being Speaking of his Intention to go ahunting to morrow & his hopes of success I told him he might remain at home for he would Kill nothing[.] C'est egale, said he, Je consenterais toujours mon Envie[.]

Tuesday 5^th[.] Doubting Perreault’s veracity with regard to the badness of the Ice and being heartely tired of feeding him and Bouché here doing nothing – I went this Morning with Masquawsis, a Montagner Boy, a Dog & a train to about half the Traverse to the Bustard Island where finding that Perreault this far told truth I returned despairing of being able to Continue my route safely to the old fort[.] On my arrival here Pearreault expre[ssed] his displeasure at the Little Credit I gave to his Account of the Ice[.] C'est egale (said I) J’ai toujours contenté mon Envie[.] Perrault was a hunting today but could get nothing by it but Contenting his Envie. Late at Night Little Labri and a Montagner arrived from the Beaver – No News – they slept one night[.]

[2]