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| Journal Thomsons River February 1842 [Journal kept by Chief Trader John Tod]
Weather still very mild, blowing fresh from the southward, Lafleur still on the sick List, the others employed as usual_ Cloudy, wind variable sent Lafleur up to the Squarers, for the purpose of sending an Indian to find the two cart Horses who it appears have wandered to some distance from the camp, as they say, they cannot find them, and their services are required to haul out Logs for the Sawpit. Toward evening some Indians arrived from Frasers River. Fine clear weather wind S.E. the Indian arrivals of yesterday I mentioned as being a from Frasers River, they are of a tribe called the Coutues who are considered the greatest scoundrels in this quarter, they have brought only about 5 Skins in Martens and for which the principal man amongst them had the assurance to demand a Gun, he was of course refused, and as he persisted in his demand, turned out of the shop together with his skins. Weather as yesterday, Wind variable. The Indians of yesterday again made their appearance with the few Skins they had in the shop before, and on this occasion disposed of them for red Strouds. Lafleure returned from the Squarers, having found the Horses which were missing, and hauled 6 Logs to the Sawpit, his foot is somewhat better then when he left here, late in the evening the Little Chief accompanied by 3 Indians from the banks of Frasers River, made their appearance but I believe have brought little with them. ? What in the name of Goodness can detain M.r Cameron and his Party surely he has not taken it in his head to go to Vancouver, and should this not be the case I am afraid some serious accident has happened to the Party. In another day or two the Indian I dispatched on the 21st ulto from here in quest of him, ought to be back admitting he went all the way to Okanagan. Fine, wind still from the South, traded a few Skins from a Party of Indians who arrived yesterday, in the evening another small Band arrived from the upper part of the north Branch, and have brought a few Skins. Also at a late hour from Frasers River the Little Chief (Big Mouth) and a few Inds from that quarter, with a few Skins,_ No appearance of the Party from the Okanagan. No change in weather since yesterday wind variable. another Small band of Indians made their appearance from the Frasers River quarter. Fine, wind S. traded a few Skins principaly Martens, from the party who arrived yesterday. Weather still fine, wind S.E. traded 10 fine Large Beaver for a young horse of one year old, Late in the evening M.r Cameron at length made his appearance having left his Party at Salmon River the cause of his long delay was the difficulties he met with from the wretched state of the Roads in vicinity of the Columbia, and which has caused the death of all the horses he had with excepting three. M.r McDonald has sent me 5 Large Axes 2 Pitsaw files & 3 Small chisles -- which are very acceptable_ Cloudy with Snow fresh breeze at S.E. in the evening M.r Cameron's men arrived with the most fatigued of the Horses Still cloudy and blowing hard S.E. several Indians about the Fort, but nothing offered for trade. Blowing excessively hard all last night and which continued throughout the day with rain in the evening_ making preparations to send a Party to Alexandria_ sent Martineau off to reinforce the Squarers Edward has resumed the care of our horses Weather still very boisterous wind N.E. at 9 A.M. M.r Cameron off for Alexandria, Augustin Neron & Michel Ogden accompanies him, with three Horses visited ... Michel, Maron Blanc, & Cendre Nez Perces, & also three of the New Caledonia Bands the latter of course are to remain there. Le Fleure again laid up with his sore leg. In the afternoon Baptist Leonard arrived from Squarers he is now, being found good for nothing as an Axe man, to remain here and carry wood for fuel, Bellant taking his place as a Squarer. Cloudy and mild with a light breeze at S. The little Chief off to the upper Lake, to join his family towards evening an Indian (one of the horse guard) brought us a few small Fish, somewhat resembling Carp but of a much superior quality. and a very acceptable gift they are to us who are at present living on dried Salmon. Fine Clear weather and excessively warm, wind S.E. snow disappearing fast. Procured a few small fish again to day, also 6 Rabbits_ Fine warm clear weather, with a light air of wind from S.E. Few Indians have been seen today and nothing has been traded. In the evening Edward (one of our Interpreters) and who is now employed as Horse Guard, presented himself, and informed me that he found one of the New Caledonia horses dead on the Ice some distance above here, from his report it appears the said horse has been unwell ever since last Summer with a complaint in the head, and which, apparently, has at length carried him off,_ many of our Horses are now afflicted with a complaint, called by our Men the Gurum and some of the poor animals are in a very dangerous State. Weather fine, Le Fleure off to the squarers, for the purpose of cartting down to the River, the wood now squared, Edward off in search of some horses left En Route by M.r Cameron and Party on his late trip from Okanagan, in the evening he again returned with the horses in question. Still beautiful weather Wind S. our horse guard reports one of the N. Caledonia Mares, left here last fall, as being very lame of a hind leg supposed to be caused by falling in some of the hills, Cloudy but extremely fine, wind variable from N. to S.E. Sent Edward off to the Okanagan Lake for the purpose of bringing here the on his return, the Ironworks of a Plough which had been carelessly abandoned there last spring after ploughing Nicolas Garden, In the event of the plough in question being destroyed by the Inds. which is very probable, we shall be much at a loss about how to turn up our field for Potatoes this Spring. An Indian sent to see the Mares returned in the evening and reports one as having foaled during the past night, the little animal he says is quite vigorous. Keen frost during the past nights, fine throughout the day. fresh breeze S.W. about noon Fras. Beaudoin arrived from the squarers for the ensuing weeks rations in the evening again off. late in the evening Le Fleure arrived he states having hauled out about one half the quantity now squared and that it will take three days more to haul out the remainder. about 5 P.M. a Party of Okanagan Indians arrived with the Chief (Ball Mould) at their head, they do not appear to have brought many Skins. Fine mild weather, wind E. Visited the different bands of Horses, found a great proportion of them excessively poor, and which is caused by the severe duty they have had to perform during last autumn and early part of the winter. Weather exceedingly fine, wind S.E. Snow disappearing rapidly. Traded afew Beaver and other small Skins from the Okanagan Indians who arrived here on Saturday, and after saying a few words to them in respect to their future exertions in this way, as well as with regard to their good behaviour, to which they made fair promises, they took their departure, apparently well satisfied with their reception. In the evening Edward returned but without bringing the Plough Irons he was sent for, he admitted having found the Plough but says not even a nail was in it, and that it is entirely constructed of wood, this possibly may be the case, but how a Plough could be sufficiently well secured, with wood alone, to turn up new ground, is a mystery to me. Cloudy but extremely mild, wind S.W. No particular occurrence. Heavy rain during the past night, Fine during the day. wind S.W. After Breakfast paid a visit to the squarers, found them all well, and the work advancing gradually, about noon the Chief (Nicolas) made his appearance, Weather rather boisterous Snow disappearing rapidly, wind E. Nothing offered for trade, Fine, wind S., traded a few martens from an Indian of Nicholas band_ Fine, wind S.E. about noon a Party of horsemen made their appearance on the opposite side of the River, and shortly after crossed in our canoe and proved to be M.r Chief Factor Ogden accompanyed by M.r Cameron whom he met on his way to Alexandria and turn'd back though within a days march of the end of his route, saying you must not go any further as I have every thing you require from Alexa. What are the objects of M.r Ogdens visit here at this season I am quite at a loss to imagine. Fine Clear cold weather wind N. Saw few Indians, the little Chief arrived in the evening. Fine, Wind S. Few Indians and nothing whatever offer'd for trade
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