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| Journal Thomsons River September 1841 [Journal kept by Chief Trader John Tod]
Weather as usual. The Indians on the opposite side brought us a few fresh Salmon this morning. afterwards they removed their camp to this Side. about midday, the old chief Courte aupatte and his gang came in with dried Salmon to trade and after smoking in the hall returned to their Lodge. Nothing occurring worthy of remark Blows fresh N.W. all this day_ immence flocks of wild fowl flying about. About 10 O'clock AM. M.r Cameron and his party returned with the utmost regret at not having had an opportunity of Seizing the murderer. M.r Cameron reports that early on Wedy morning having reached the place where the villain was Said to be residing, he & his party made a rush upon the camp in hopes of securing him, but greatly to their disappointment did not find him. from his two wives who were in the camp M.r C. learned that the Culprit had left them two days before, and, as they supposed gone towards Frasers River. upon this information M.r Cameron took one of the murderers children, (which threw the whole camp into great distress) informing them that he would not return it until the father was secured. he then retired to the distance of about 15 miles from the camp where he & his party lay concealed for two days in hopes the murderer would return to his family. Early on Friday morning and while the Ind.ns were still asleep, M.r Cameron & his small party again Surrounded their camp, but this second visit was unfortunately attended with no better Success than the first. The murderer had not returned, M.r C. therefore give the mother her child and returned home_ Weather more cool than usual. nothing particular. Four men Sent up the river to square wood and four retained at the Fort. Edward Montiny Interp.r, M. Ogden who attends in the Kitchen, Martino & Chat, the former to procure wood for a plough & the latter to make hay. Lolo, who is now engaged to the Coy for three years, proceeds to an Indian named Grand Gule for the purpose of engaging him, if possible, to assist us to take the murderer alive, it being our intention, if we can accomplish it, to have him brought to the Fort and hung by the neck. Rather cool with the wind N.W._ Lolo returned reports that Grand Gule has engaged to take the murderer and will pass this on his way tomorrow to the lower end of the Lake_ Taking an inventory of the horses -- many of which were taken away from this to Colvile last Spring & have not yet been returned. Windy weather_ Nothing particular_ Weather warm_ Today Chat, the man cutting hay on the opposite Side the North River, came running home greatly alarmed at two Indians which, as he said, he saw peeping over the grass at him a short distance from where he was at work. M.r Cameron & Lolo immediately went over in search of them, in about three hours after they returned without having discovered anything to cause alarm, or excite suspicion. it is evident that the fellow, who is an arrant coward, must have taken fright at two stray horses who were quietly grazing at a short distance from himWeather warm_ Information was received to day that Grand Gule, notwithstanding his promises to proceed in search of the murderer has not yet left his lodge. it is said that he had started for that purpose and on his way down met with old Courte aupatte who represented affairs to him in so exaggerated a light, that he took the alarm & returned again to his tent_ we are now resolved therefore on making no further application to him on the subject but depend entirely for taking the villain on our own resources_ The night being calm, gave the Ind.ns a favourable opportunity for Spearing the Salmon, accordingly they were enabled to supply us with fresh fish this morning Hoarfrost in the night, which however disappears with the Sunday . A party of Ind.ns amongst whom is the murderers father, came in with dried Salmon on their backs, they report that the villain has now with his two wives, left his father in law and gone to the mountains. This however will not prevent us going in Search of him as soon as these people are gone_ after trading their Salmon & distributing a few handfuls of Tobacco amongst them they Set off_ Meantime our horses were brought in, and M.r Cameron, with eight men including Lolo & Mountigny the Interp.r crossed over late in the afternoon to go in pursuit of the murderer once more With myself there remains only one Man Surbino who is deaf & Michel Ogden, the latter will serve as Interp.r and attend in the Kitchen, and the other cut fuel. Rather cool on the morning, but clear & warm on the day. More Indians were here last night and are encamped at the Fort Gates. In course of the day a report got amongst them that the murderer was seen on the other side on horse back advancing this way, but I do not believe it, however I intend to keep watch on the night and have given the Indns encamped around us [instructions] to Keep close to their Lodges during the night as I had determined to fire on the first person I should happen to see Sculking about the bushes. They promised to remain quiet in their Lodges. All quiet_ weather fine. Ten Indians arrived in two Canoes from the other end of the Lake with upwards of Seven hundred Salmon which we traded chiefly for baize. they passed the night outside the gates. These Ind.ns report that they saw M.r Cameron & his party passing along the Lake. Weather fine. The Ind.ns of Yesterday Set off about midday to return to their families. In the evening another party arrived from Nicolah but they had nothing & came merely to Smoke. The immence flocks of wild fowl which are continually flying about have induced the Indians at the Fort to beg hard for ammunition, of which they have been deprived since the murder of M.r Black, but they have hitherto been refused. Pretty sharp in the morning but sufficiently warm in course of the day. The only man who is here at present, is continually employed bringing fire wood._ Nicola party set off. by them I sent a message to that Indian to Send us a few of his potatoes. Weather as usual. nothing worthy of remark About midday M.r Cameron & his party returned having tracked the murderer nearly to the banks of Frasers River thence to the Mountains where the villain had to take refuge with one of his wives in hopes of eluding our search, but M.r Cameron having received intimation of the direction he had taken, thither also he pursued him, along the edge of the snows. The fugitive finding himself hard pressed at length descended once more to the flat lands where M.r Cameron having lost all further trace of him found himself obliged to return home. Weather fine_ Emp.d the men cutting fuel & sweeping the Fort Weather as usual_ all is quiet_ Indians arriving with Salmon & after quietly Smoking in the hall go off Weather cool but pleasant_ Having received intimation of Some Indians above having a tolerable crop of potatoes, Lolo, who is now engaged in the service, & an Indian lad were sent to them to bargain for a few Kegs Men employed rafting wood_ Late on the afternoon Louis commonly called grand Louis, with an Indian made their appearance on the opposite side_ after they had been crossed over to the Fort, it was discovered that they had both deserted, the latter from Alexandria & the former on the route to Stuart's Lake_ From Alexandria, also it appeared they had carried off in a most forceable manner two horses of the Coys. about one hour after they were brought across, Antoine Gregoire & Bap.st Lolo also made their appearance having brought a dispatch from M.r C.F. Ogden for Vancouver, but from a report, which has just come to our ears, of the Indians of the Forks, having nearly murdered Lafleure whilst on his return from Colvile to Okanagan, I am at a loss who to forwd with the despach_ It is to be mentioned that these two deserters Louis & the Indian (Lolos nephew) were robbed, on their way hither by the people of Lac Verd Cloudy_ Lolo's nephew from his conduct at Alexand, was considered deserving of punishment, he was accordingly stripped tied up to the Fort gates, and well flogged_ as to the Iroquois, as M.r Ogden appears to be indifferent to him, I shall send him out. Rained heavy all night & the river in consequence is this morning much swelled. Lolo returned with 9 Kegs potatoes. Rain & wind_ This morning Mountigny & the Iroquois were despatched with the packet for Colvile & told to avoid the Ind.ns of the Forks as they appear as ill disposed towards the white people as ever_ Yesterday M.r Cameron went to bring Nicola to the Fort, it being then intended to Send him along with the dispatch, but as he did not make his appearance till this afternoon, the letters were forwarded without him, as mentioned on Friday. Rain & wind. The men cut fuel & swept the Fort. Indians arriving with ducks & venison. This morning it was intended to send off a trading party to Frasers River, but hearing that the murderer had passed upwards beyond the hills opposite the Fort, our intention was deferred _Nicola went off in the evening with the loan of three horses from us which he promises to return in a few days loaded with potatoes. Rain again. It is reported that the murderer is now with Grand Gueal & the other Indians above. we will see what can be done to take him. Rained again. Men emp.d collecting fuel. A considerable band of Indians consisting chiefly of the principle men arrived at noon from above. They are the Same people whom the murderer had gone to visit, and many of them his own relatives after having Smoked their pipes, one of them in rather a peremtory tone demanded two Interp.rs, being about to communicate to M.r Cameron & myself something of importance, but he was told, that one Interp.r must serve our purpose, or if he wanted another he must find him, himself after some warm altercation concerning the murderer, and their having hitherto in a great measure concealed his haunts from our Knowledge, tho' not openly, they at length became perfectly silent, apparently convinced of the justice of our cause_ during the pause which ensued M.r Cameron somewhat startled them all by walking deliberately up to a tall stout man, a notorious character who in former times used to insult the whites & shoot horses belonging to the Estabt, and taking him by the chin said "this man has the looks of a villain" and asked him why he did not look up like an honest man, to which the other made no reply, but looked very like a man who is condemned to be hung_ In the evening after they were turned out one of them in a
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