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| Journal Thomsons River January 1843 [Kept by John Tod and Donald Manson]
Gave the men a regale, but they spent the day very quiet Gave the men a holy day which they spent at football, feasting, drinking and finally dancing, all in very good humour_ The Indians too were treated each to a dram, some tobacco & Ind.n Corn_ Heavy fall of Snow, little work done_ Men resumed work sawing & planing boards for the dwelling house_ At Noon a packet arrived from the North with letters from M.r C. F. Ogden - all well in that quarter but that gentleman writes that he will leave Stuarts Lake on the 12th Ins.t probably for good & all, as he goes across the Mountains with the Express this ensuing Spring_ Querie who is to be his successor? Mild weather. Failed in two attempts to engage an Ind.n to take M.r C.F. Ogdens Letters onto Colvile. M.r Anderson en passant got the loan of forty hobbles from us, solemnly promising at the same time to return them first opporty which I am sorry to say he neglected to do, consequently, we are under the necessity of cutting up fresh hobbles which in the present scarcity of leather puts us to much inconvenience A continuance of mild weather_ It is to be remarked that the people of N. Caledonia en passant here in Summer were accommodated with the loan of twelve of our horses, but have not yet returned them. The men with M.r Cameron are now employed sawing & planing boards for the dwelling house Weather still mild. nothing particular Two Indians were at length engaged last evening to take M.r Ogdens despatches on to Colvile, and they both started this morning at day light with three horses Sent Lolo & his son Edward to some distance beyond the lower end of the Lake where according to an arrangement with the little chief his Indians were to bring their furs for trade. During the week the weather has been mild Lolo returned but with a mere triffle of furs All is quiet_ The men resumed work as usual_ Sawing & planing boards_ Edward & Kampas Ket set off on their return to Alexandria Nothing worthy of remark_ All the Indians who have been encamped in the neighbourhood since the autumn have collected in a body & gone off to F. River to trade Salmon_ Hazy & mild. On the opposite side the men are employed sawing-planing boards & making doors &.~ along the valley the snow has nearly disappeared. Mild weather. Men employed as usual but are now striving a little more than hitherto with a view of getting the dwelling house completed by the 20th Apl in the event of which they are to have a regale Remarkably mild for the season. A good many of the Indians about us complain of ill health. the prevailing complaint is swelling of the throat. A few Indians arrived from the upper Lake with a triffle of small furs. The Chief Nichola, with his body guard of women & children not less (I suppose) than Thirty souls in all, are encamped on the opposite side the south branch. he is somewhat inclined to begging at times_ During these three days nothing has occurred worth mentioning. A good many of the Ind.ns have gone off to F. River to procure Salmon Light fall of Snow. one of the men Douleet, is laid up with a pain in the breast_ More snow with a strong gale of wind S.W. William Swanson employed at door and windows_the others planing the ceiling_ Ind.ns arrived from F. River with a few furs
Thompson River Post |
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BC Museum |
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