Thursday April 16^th 1800

winters here as well as every one whose Interest it is to guard the Company's property from danger, that not even a powder house was never made at this place[.] It is however a work of very little expense to the Company but of great use in the preservation of their property and of the Lives of those who have it in Charge[.] I Cannot help thinking it ridiculous that the Forks Peace River where there are but few Kegs of powder and few Goods should be arranged in every thing even to superfluity while this place where all the Goods and Ammunition are left is destitute of a Good Hangard[.] At M^r M^cLeods fort the Mens Houses are better arranged than the Bourgeois Houses here[.] The fort is built with 5 Bastions, Court yards are made every where a Spacious Garden made round the fort, a well, a powder House and even a S___ house are made in this Garden[.] Here we have neither of these Conveniencies – nor do we want any of them except the two the most necessary viz^t a powder House and Hangard and we don't presume to find fault w^t the Gentlemen who arranged Peace River fort So well but we do for leaving this Post of greater Consequence So ill arranged[.] The Gables of the Hangards of this place are Covered with Bark through which any thief may without hurting himself thrust either his head or hands – and take away what best suits his fancy of the Goods which they Contain. As for the Lock of the Big Hangard a Child may open it with his fingers yet it has been often Changed this winter for other Locks which proved not better than the first[.] We are every moment in imminent danger of being squeezed to death by the fort Pickettes which seem to have long ago been at war with one another[.] Several Pages of them are at present flat on the Ground & Several where are in doubt whether they should not fall also[.]

Friday 17^th[.] Fournier and Ouallette arrived from Slave Lake with the Express – they tooks 9 Days to perform this Voyage[.] Good news from the Slave Country Gentlemen[.] Trois Pouces and three or four more Montagners arrived & paid a few Credits[.] Soon after an Indian arrived from the Carriboux Country who informed us that Lafrance was Killed last Summer by the rascal who deserted with Dusablons wife[.] His name is L'homme qui regarde le Teton[.] He has set off with himself to Fort des Pierres[.] Trois Pou[ces] traded 20 Skins Beaver – & 15 d^o in Provisions[.] It Snowed all day and the Canoes were not touched[.] The wind threw down the Bark of the Gables of the old Hangard and Dusablon put planks with spike nails in the place of it[.] Gave the prey to the Slave Lake Men[.]

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