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Monday 15^th December 1800[.] It was one of the finest mornings I ever saw, the Sun Shone forth in all its brightness, & the weather was so very mild, that if it had not been for the little Snow that covers the ground one on going out of rooms would have been apt to imagine he had lain asleep for five months & at last awakened in the cheerful month of May, but like all other Sublunary things it soon changed, for about noon it began to blow a mere hurrycane, the Sky got overcast & every thing appeared gloomy that a few hours ago, (nay a few minutes) appeared gay, & gilded with the animating Rays of the Great Parent of Day! Such is the instability of earthly enjoyments!

Jacque went off again to the Hunters Demarrais' brother in law with the three Stone Indians went off I gave each a bit of Tobacco, & Sent a foot of Tobacco by the Cree to Taboh's son in Law[.] I gave a writing to the Stone Indian in place of the one I tore to pieces, & with which he appeares highly satisfied[.]

Teusday 16^th[.] A very mild day, & quite thick fog; Old La Voye came back with his 40 Beaver Skins.

Wednessday 17^th[.] It rained last night, there is a hard crust of Ice on every thing out of Doors, it is still foggy, & Dark but very mild[.] [T]he Vent du Nord & an Iroquois came here, from near the Spunk Hills, two Iroquois fell in with the Crees in the nutt hill & they continue with them for Some time it's one of them that's come here today, they tell us the Bulls are little more than a day's march from here, they (the Crees) mean to make a pound[,] three days march off from here about Twenty Six tents of them are gathered together there. I gave the Vent du Nord as much rum as he could drink, as I am very apprehensive he & the rest of the band mean to go to Lower Fort des Prairies, they hearing such tempting accounts of how goods, & liquor are lavished on the Indians that go there both by our people & the Petit Poté as well as the Hudson's Bay C^os Servants[.] Our Hunter's boy came home to inform us of their having Kill'd 2 Red Deer & a Bear[.] Frise & Vallé arrived from the River Qui Appelle they brought me letters from Mess^rs M^cDonell & Malhiot, as likewise one from M^r Bunn who winters for the H.B. C^o at River à la Coquille, requesting me to lend him some Books, I mean the last mentioned Gentleman[.] M^r M^cDonell informs me, that M^r Ferguson has Sent to him for Goods, & that he Supply'd him with a Couple P^cs Stds. & a few Blkts. & Capots, he Mentions that the XY are working away at their usual trade of throwing away a great many goo[ds] & that they have lost a Man by Poison, some time ago.

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