| Journal Thomsons River May 1842 [Journal kept by Chief Trader John Tod]
Fine but excessively warm until a late hour when a light breeze sprang up from the S.W. evening pleasant. Weather continues excessively warm and dry, and in consequence of the country being on fire in the vicinity, the Smoke very thick_ about 10 AM M.r Cameron with three men was sent on the New Caledonia route for the purpose of trading with a Band of Indians now stationed at the Pont and as he will meet the New Caledonia Brigade there gave him a Letter addressed to M.r Chief Factor Ogden. Men still employed at the Potatoe fields_ Still no change wind Easterly. Men still employed at the Potatoe fields Lafleure in addition to the care of the Horses was employed during the afternoon in making a road to haul our timber up from the water side to the spot fixed on for building the New Fort. water in the North River rising extremely fast, within the last four days it has risen at least 3 feet perpendicular, and should the Small Rivers between this and Okanagan, have risen as much in proportion, we shall have great difficulty in our way out, indeed I am afraid we shall loose some of our foals, and would most willingly leave them and their Mothers here for the Summer, but cannot leave a man to look after them. Fine wind E. La Fleure & Bodoin employed hauling the square timber up the hill, the others as usual. In the evening some Ind. arrived from the crossing place in the north branch, and also from the upper Lake, from the former traded a few Skins chiefly Martens, and of a very superrior quality. the Lake Indians have also brought a few Skins but have not yet disposed of them. Late in the evening Michel Ogden, with an Indian arrived from Alexa and have been sent for the Turkeys & Pigeons left by Antoine Gregoir, by a few lines received from CF Ogden I was happy to learn that all in that quarter were then well. Pleasant weather, wind as usual E. sent Michel Ogden off again this forenoon with the Turkeys &e left here by Gregoire. Men employed hauling timber, digging the gardens and erecting the Fences Indians numerous but few furs are to be seen among them. Weather as ordinary, wind variable, men employed as above, Excessively hot and little wind, our horse Keeper on returning from having visited the Horses reported one of the one year old colts as being wounded in the neck with an arrow and as he brought him to the Fort so that we might catch him in order to extract the arrow I of course had an opportunity of seeing the Animal with the arrow still still in its neck, however on extracting the same I found it had no shod and at the same time that it was much smaller than those made use of by the men and consequently concluded it must have been shot by some foolish or blackguard Boy. however as this is the only thing they have done in the shape of an offence since my arrival, I considered it necessary to make some noise about it and told those who were present on the occasion that I was astonished at such conduct after being so Kindly treated by us throughout the winter, but now they had commenced their tricks again, I should not give them any more Tobacco to smoke until they brought or informed me who the scoundrel was who committed this mischievous deed, and immediately after sent Lolo across the river, where the greater portion of the Indians are encamped, so as to repeat the same to them, about 6 P.M. The Father of the Culprit entered the Fort with the identical arrow in his hand, and apparently very sorry for what had taken place, he addressed me as follows, Chief tis true, it was my Son who wounded your horse but it was not done intentionally he was firing arrows at several Magpies who were tormenting the horses, and unfortunately 1 of them hit your horse and both myself and my son are are very sorry for it, and if you think it proper to make us pay any thing for the injury your horse sustained we must submit. I of course replied as he had acknowledged the deed and at the same time, its being entirely accidental I would of course overlook it but in future they must be more careful in shooting their arrows among our horses_ Cloudy and much colder than it has been for some time past with a strong breeze from the westward. no particular occurrence Weather continues cloudy but no rain fresh breeze from the E. finished planting the remainder of our Seed Potatoes say in all 23 Kegs, which, if they yield, as I am informed they have formerly done will give us a crop of about 400 Kegs more or less* should there however be a much longer continuance of the dry weather I am afraid they will suffer, indeed the ground at present is as dry almost as Gunpowder but the Potatoe Patch being on a level with a Lake close by I am in hopes it will be the means of Keeping the field sufficiently moist._ Fine weather, wind variable, People employed at Sundry jobs around the Fort. Still fine, wind E. Men variously empl.d about 6 P.M. M.r Cameron & Party retd from the Pontwhere he traded about 30 Skins principally Beaver. he brought me also a few lines from M.r Chief Factor Ogden stating all well with him in that quarter and that he expects to be here on the 13th In the evening Nichola took his departure and promises to do all in his power to make the Indians exert themselves during the Summer * The crop will not exceed 20 Kegs, this failure is to be attributed, in my opinion, to their having been planted too late and the excessive drought of the summer J. Tod Weather as usual, calm throughout_ People employed arranging the Loads &e &e prepatory to crossing the River tomorrow. Fine, all hands employed crossing Baggage and Horses, which occupied the forenoon about 2 P.M. M.r Ogden and the New Caledonia Brigade arrived all well. Fine but extremely warm postponed our departure in consequence of M.r Ogden not being prepared to start. Fine, at 7 AM took our departure for Okanagan. About 2 PM reached Okanagan where we found all well_
Thompson River Post |
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