14

Saturday 27^th December 1800[.] Cloudy, & Mild as usual[.] M^r Perigné sett off for home Via Recoude, I gave a roll of Spencer's Twist Tobacco & 14 Quarts Powder, 10 wampum Shells with M^r M^cDonell's cheese to his two men that did not go to Swan River, & Sent them off, I mean to keep the Roll of Tobacco they are gone for below, & 14 Quarts out of the keg of Pow[de]r to replace what I have Sent him (M^r M.D) from here[.] My Hunters went off early, I had to give them each a two Gall. Keg of mix'd Rum, the two Ducharms arived with 2 Good Sledges load of Buffaloe (Cow) meat, they were many miles beyond where the Buffaloe now are, the old Pass au Travers went off with his lodge to look for Buffaloe as he says he cant hunt enough to live on in the Woods[.]

Sunday 28^th[.] Still Mild & Rhimy[.] Two of M^r M^cDonell's men came here they brought me a letter from him, & inclosed was his Gen^ll Letter to the Proprietors of the N.W. C^o West of Red River; he tells them in that letter that he has seiz'd on the 4 Rolls Tobacco that were in M^r Duncan M^cGillivray's Canoe; for which he sends these two men[.] The men inform me they slept at Sutherlands at the Elbow, where they Saw three Stone Indians, who were sent for the English to go out to their Camp to trade with them, & that M^r Sutherland intended sending with them, but by an other road so that I might have no knowledge of his Sending, although he promis'd me when he was here not to Send out without acquainting me; altho' it was four oClock in the afternoon I determined to go down & endeavour to prevent his Sending, by some means or other, I got there about half past Six P.M. he was rather astonished to See me, & was so confused, that in place of laying my furr Cap (which on my entrance he rather Snapp'd than took out of my hand) by, or hang it up any where, he put it on his head, & taking my tippit put it in his pocket, in fact he could hardly ask me how I did, in about three quarters of an hour he recollected himself a little, & I told him my errand he gave me a promise before we went to bed not to Send out during the winter without acquainting me; he was perfectly Sober[.]

Monday 29^th[.] A little colder than usual after breakfast I sett off for home, in company with one of Sutherland's men that I asked him to Send up for a little Buffaloe meat for a rarity[.] I got home in the afternoon & found the Fort des Prairies & the Fort Dauphin Men had arrived early this morning from Swan River together tho' the later left this 4 days after the former[.] I arranged the Goods &c. that I intend sending to Fort Dauphin, & wrote a long letter of Directions to Ferguson, I likewise hired Tho^s for 4 years & La Plante for two[.] Broached & emptyed a Keg H.W. it contained only 17 qts.

Teusday 30^th[.] Very Cold & Clear weather[.] I gave a little Buffaloe Meat to M^r Sutherland's Man with a Gallⁿ of Peas for his Master & he went off[.] Collin came back, he brought 19 wolves & 14 Beavers, 7 Catts. & 5 foxes, 39 bladders Grease, & a little dryed & Green Meat[.] I hired five of the Men today.

[13]