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Wednessday 1^st April 1801[.] M^r Harmon went off this morning for the lower Fort there to remain untill the embarkation, Jaccque went with him as he is to bring up the men's horses; the Tonnerre came here with a few pieces meat & a few pounds of grease, soon after him arrived Oubitchigey who came for Cut Lip's widow[,] he brought nothing[.] [T]his has been a very cold day, the people working at the Boat & Ice House, & Vallé riding home firewood[.]

Thursday 2^d[.] Cold, windy day[.] [T]he Tonnerre went off, as did Bellile who left Le Fevre's horse here[.] Two men came here from River à la Biche a horse back[,] they brought me a letter from M^r M^cGillis wherein he tells me contrary to all his former assertions that he shall Blkts. & Strouds remaining on hand, but says he is in want of Rum & Silverworks with Wampum[.] [T]he people finished the Ice house, but we cannot as yet get earth to cover or plaester it the ground being so hard froze[.]

Friday 3^d[.] Very cold[.] A band of Stone Indians came here[,] they soeem to have a few, very few Robes, or wolves, they did not trade a Sufficiency of liquor to intoxicate themselves[,] there is none among them that can either speak or understand the Cree tongue, so that we are necessitated to deal with them by signes, as there is no person here who understands their language, there are Six men & 12 women[.]

Saturday 4^th[.] Cold windy day[.] [T]he Stone Indians traded but went not off[.] [T]he Black Smith is working for M^r M^cGillis getting Guns mended & axes made[.] Plante is still very unwell[.] I this evening gave a Small cake (of flour) to two of the Stone Indians (one each) but they did not know what it was & all our endeavours to prevail on them to eat them proved fruitless they Smelled & tasted it but Spit it imediately, & they not understanding us we could not explain what it was but they put them up very carefully to carry to their tents where they may meet with Some that may inform them what it is[.] [I]t's very remarkable that in all directions there is no Snow two leagues from the Fort & all within that space is en[t]irely covered.

Sunday 5^th April 1801 Easter Sunday[.] A Cold, tho clear day[.] [T]he Stone Indians went off[.] [W]e kept all the horses in the Fort all [d]ay except two poor lean horses, being apprehensive they should take it into their heads to prefer riding home to walking[.] Two men came here late in the evening from Shell River, with letters from Mess^rs Chaboillez, M^cDonell, & George M^cKay who all & Severally complain of Scarscity of Liquor, goods, &c, M^r M^cDonell in particular tells me he has only one Keg mixed Rum in his house & only half a Roll Tobacco[.]

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