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| Journal Thomsons River Aug.t 1841 [Journal kept by Chief Trader John Tod]
I John Tod arrived here with two men & M Ogden from Alexandria on the 3rd, found the Fort, at least the Store & dwelling House, locked up, but guarded by the Indian Lolo alone who had passed the Summer here with his wife & family Reports that he had suffered much from hunger, and the natives around in consequence of the want of ammunition had experienced much privation that way also. The murderer of M.r Sam. Black still lives, but is not far off and that should M.r Ogden on his arrival feel disposed to send after him, he (Lolo) would most willingly accompany the party. No reports as yet of that gentleman & his Brigade_ Having come here from Alexandria in three & a half days I feel considerably tired and therefore resolve on remaining here, for this day to rest_ A few Ind.ns who accompanied us from the lake had a little tobacco given them Hot dry weather, but the Sunday nearly invisible from a dense haze of Smoke About midday with one man & M. O. I proceeded on to meet the Brigade from the Columbia, and am happey to say had that pleasure a Short distance beyond the first encampment M.r Ogden was accompanied by Mess.rs McLean, Maxwell & Cameron. Encamped together Arrived at the crossing place Indians collecting all round us M.r Ogden crosses over his horses & baggage_ afterwards comes over to the Fort_ Lectures the Indians on the murder of the late M.r Black, to which they scarcely reply_ M.r Cameron being appointed to remain at the Fort was employed with the Interp.r receiving & examining the outfit, brought by M.r C.F. Ogden M.r Ogden Sets out with his brigade for N. Caledonia leaving M.r Cameron & nine men with mySelf at this Fort All hands, excepting Chutier & Lefleure who were left here for the purpose of going to Colvile, at work cutting & clearing the thicket of willows, poplar & grass &~ from the vicinity of the Fort A dense cloud of Smoke still hangs over the Fort. All hands emp.d as yesterday Indians go off. Lolo accompanies the New Caledonia Brigade. an Indian on the opposite Side engages to bring a daily Supply of fresh Salmon Weather and work the same as yesterday Water fowl making their appearance Weather hot & Sultry_ Salmon shoaling up the river in great numbers_ Men employed clearing away the bushes & grass which have been allowed to shoot up time out of mind till it was quite impossible to discover the Fort at the distance of more than ten feet_ Never in the whole course of my travels in this country have I beheld a place that exhibited a more complete picture of desolation than the present Establishment of Kamloops_ The buildings have apparrently been long in a state of decay and notwithstanding the props by which they are supported, are fast tottering to the ground Weather clear & hot as before_ one of the men Sick_ attacked with fits_ Weather as before_ Indians camped on the opposite side bring us a daily Supply fresh Salmon which enables us to husband our Stock of Corn. Weather as yesterday Nickalah the Chief with a few of his followers came to the Fort merely to smoke & Spend the day The men of the establishment allowed to rest. Altho' anxious to get new buildings erected & for that purpose put the men to Square wood as early as possible Yet it was considered advisable to continue them clearing the thickets from the Fort for another week. Two men sick_ four clearing on the point below Weather hot & calm_ immence swarms of moschatoes in the mornings & evenings_ One man mowing down the long grass all round the Fort_ the others cutting away the wood on the point. Weather continues the Same & work as before_Wood, which had been squared for a Store Some time in course of last winter & which it was intended to raft down the river, is now found to have been all consumed by fire. The woods have been on fire all round for the last month The Fort is, and has been for a considerable time past, completely enveloped in a dense cloud of Smoke from the neighbouring woods being all on fire Men as before felling wood & mowing grass. Weather as before_ Men employed til about 4 O'clock afternoon, and the rest of the day to themselves_ A large band of Indians arrived from some way up the river. no news from them worth mentioning_ In the evening a report reached us that the murderer had paid a visit to the Ind.ns camped at the other end of Kamloops Lake All quiet. Indians gambling on the other side of the river. Six Men Sent up the river to prepare timber for building_ one retained as Cook_& E. Montiny as Interp.r M.r Cameron rides up along the river to see the men commence work & returns in the evening A continuation of hot clear weather Men Squaring timber for building up the river. Indians occasionally dropping in with dried Salmon. Weather as before and work the same No appearance of Lolo from Alexandria Rode up to see the people at work up the river. find they are doing little . they are all poor hands with the Axe and the wood is scarce_ Chartier arrived alone from Colvile with Letters from Gov.r Simpson Great part of the woods in our neighbourhood are on fire and have been for a long time past a thick cloud of Smoke is therefore continually hanging over us, and so oppressive at times as to affect the eyes Men at work as before Squaring timbers. Chartier Started for Alexandria The natives are Spearing immence quantities of Salmon, which, when calm, is always done by torch light at night. They will, I apprehend, be sadly disappointed by & by when they find we do not intend Sending out parties of our people to collect them as formerly_ on those occasions they were in the habit, on the Slightest provocation, of shooting our mens horses Weather as usual_ in the evening the men returned from their work to spend the Sundy at the Fort_ About 6 O'clock at night Lolo arrived from Alexandria with about thirty horses by him I received Letters from M.r C.F. Ogden who writes that his Brigade arrived there safe and that all was well in that quarter_ A report, which reached us early in Summer, of M.r Thews Men having left him, is now confirmed_ Salmon in that quarter are very abundant_ Lolo was accompanied by a woman who is a native of this quarter but having cohabited for some time with one of the men of N. Caledonia, separated from him in July last, & is now come here to join her relations_ dry hot weather. All is quiet _ Stiff breeze S.W. Six men again sent up the river to square wood. Early this morning hearing the Indians on the opposite Side making loud lamentations as if bewaling the death of some one, and on inquiry were told that the woman who came here from Alexanria with Lolo was dead. The poor woman must have broken a blood vessel as a little previous to her death she vomitted blood. At Midnight M.r Cameron with Lolo & Six men all on horse back proceed in search of the murderer who, from Indian report we understand is with his father in law, at little more than a days march from this. Cool on the night but very hot on the day With myself at the Fort there are now one man, Montiny the Interp.r & M. Ogden.
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