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| Journal Thomsons River August 1843 [Journal kept by Chief Trader John Tod. Tod is officially in charge of the Thompson River Post for the 1843 to 1846 outfits]
returned this day_ The outfit was examined & the loads correct. The men for the establishment are as follows 1 M.r William Todd (Clerk) 2 Emanual Douliette Middleman 3 Ignace Karahenrout " 4 Joachim Lefleure " 5 J. Bt Lolo Interpr 6 Michele Fallerdeau Steersman 7 Martele Midleman 8 Charles Favel " 9 William Felix App.t Lab.r The men are alloWednesday the day to rest & arrange their axes in order to commence work at the new Fort on Monday_ Our horses were driven to a point below on the S. side T. River No Salmon, the Ind.ns are in consequence suffering_ Not the slightest appearance of Salmonat this place and report speaks these equally scarce at F. River The natives are in consequence after all their late zeal in the cause of prayer & devotion, greatly disappointed Four men commenced operations on the new Fort and after breakfast were joined by Favel, who till then was occupied in the Kitchen, Favel it appears Knows a little of Carpenters work & has undertaken the dressing & laying the floor & ceiling_ Ignace & Martele plastering Lefleure & Fallardeau fixing the wall logs_ No Salmon_ obliged to Kill a pig and give corn to the men for rations Men at the same work as yesterday and overlooked by M.r William Todd Work as before_ Sent an Indian (Cowlidge) with horse & saddle bags up the North River to the barrier in hopes of his obtaining a few Salmonfor our starving establishment. Hot, dry weather, but the atmosphere surcharged with a dense smoke proceeding most likely from fires in the neighbourhood. Lefleure & Fallardeau began to lay the Kitchen foundation Logs_ Cowlidge returned this morning with twenty dried & four fresh Salmon. Sent Lolo & two Ind.ns off for birch for beds with which they returned in the evening. Men employed on the opposite side as before_ Sent Lolo, Ignace & W. Felix off to F. River to trade us a few Salmonif possible, and also to ascertain the actual state of affairs in that quarter_ I do not expect them back before the latter part of the following week_ Last night for the first time this season the Spearers caught Seven Salmon, & in the morning brought us one_ The men resumed their work on the opposite side as before_ No Salmon A dense cloud of smoke has been hanging over the place since we arrived proceeding no doubt from fires in our neighbourhood, altho' they cannot be seen from the Fort_ One fresh Salmonbrought in this morning_ The natives seem much alarmed at the prospect for the winter. from the unusual early appearance of white Salmonin the river, they are of opinion there will be a general scarcity -- all over_ The Men at work as before_ Heavy cloud of smoke with a dead calm, very unpleasant_ Men at work with the Kitchen _Lolo and Ignace with W. Felix returned from F. River with nearly 400 Salmon_ report that the Indians in that quarter are much discouraged at the unusual scarcity of Salmonthere_ Favel, who also does the work in the Kitchen, dressing flooring boards The other men putting up the new Kitchen_ Cowlidge brought us ten fresh Salmonfrom the barrier up the North River_ Very dark & smoky, with a dead calm. Men as before_ All is quiet_ A mare with her colt was this day given to Lefleure in lieu of a mare he was under the necessity of killing to support his family last winter at OK.n as soon as he got hold of her he tied her to a post in the park and in less than a quarter of an hour after she broke her head against the post & died accordingly_ she however was not altogether lost, for the men & Ind.ns feasted sumtuously on her carcass_ Rained heavy the greater part of the day_ Cha.sFavel commenced laying the flooring boards in the new House_ The others as before More rain_ The men at work on the opposite side as usual_ No Salmon Clear sunshine & warm. A number of white Salmonwere caught last night, which however soon disappeared amongst the half famished group camped at the water side_ Weather as yesterday_ our prospect of obtaining a supply of Salmonfor winter subsistence is at present very discouraging. Our sole dependence is in Frasers River, should it fail, I know not well what we shall do
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BC Museum |
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