Wilcocke, Samuel Hull. Narrative of Circumstances attending the death of the late Benjamin Frobisher, Esquire a partner of the North West Company of Montreal, ca. 1820. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0019

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"on the river. Oct 27th. We had snow last night: luckily the first pipe* from our encampment we found the Indians; a large camp along a rapid; they had abundance of fish: here I am in hopes of having a guide to take me to Pike River. Octr 28th. We left the Indians. I got a guide to conduct us to Pike River by a shorter route; but to our great disappointment a large lake we had to pass was open water: this obliged us to strike off through the woods to the canoe-road. Octr 29th. We fell on the canoe road; advanced by a small river in which the current runs to the Pike River. Our guide left us: gave us a good chart of the road to Lake Winipie which we can reach from this in six small days, but we shall lose time in Pike River … as we … road for the Winipie. Octr 30th. We marched hard all day; the weather too mild; encamped at … hand of the last lake. Octr 31st. We reached Pike River; the thaw so great we could not advance … Novr 1st. We passed the portage, the river being nearly open, we however got in the canoe-road above it. We only took one pike in our net, encamped near our last encampment when we came from Lake Winipie. We set the net. Novr 2d. The thaw great, remained, the ice being weak, took 16 white fish in our

*The Canadian Voyageurs often designated distances by pipes: It is so many pipes to such a place, meaning it takes as much time to go there as will enable one to smoke so many pipes. that is the distance intervening before they stop to light a fresh pipe: this is more or less, and may be the space they travel in from one to three hours way.

The Indians draw charts of their routes on pieces of bark, or on dressed skins; this Indian chart was not found upon Mr Frobisher. Small days, mean short days journies.

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