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| Read original Return to Altercation with McDonald |
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September 1812, establishing an outpost
Red Deer River post journal.
HBCA, B.176/a/1, fos. 2-3
September 1812
Saturday 19th Sent off three men in a large Canoe loaded with 14 pieces of Trading Goods & Provisions, for Red Deers River. Detained two men with myself to embark in two small Canoes, as the big one is too much lumbered to hold us all. Myself employed with Mr Garrioch on fitting out a few Bungees, to whom I have given little presents to encourage them to give us a share of their hunts, during the ensuing winter, advanced debts to three of them…
Sunday 20th I left Swan River in Company with two men & an Indian Boy to proceed after our people that left the house yesterday. When I arrived at the place where I was to embark, I found one of the small canoes I intended to embark in broke to pieces, by the malignant hands of my neighbours, so that I was obliged to remain at the Old house to get another repaired, which fortunately I kept in reserve, as I knew from experience, I could not trust to that which was out of sight. Embarked at 11 am at the Old house & put up at the head of the Shoald River, where I found our people & convoy waiting for us. Two men in a canoe, from the North West House, came in company to watch our motions. When I put up I found an Indian waiting for me with some provisions which was very acceptable.
Monday 21st I proceeded down the River with four small canoes, & left the big Canoe with three men & half of the cargo, to come down as fast as they could; but, the water is so low that they have not been able to reach the lower end, where I slept. Our Convoy in sight on the opposite point.
Tuesday 22nd A few Indians, in two canoes who had come to meet us with a little meat, embark’d early in the morning. At ˝ past 10 a.m. our big Canoe arrived, when I embarked & proceeded along the west side of the lake, till I came to the entrance of the shoald River that leads up to Reed Deers River. Here I found the swampy Indians waiting for us with a little meat, part of which I traded from them for Brandy, but could not take they whole as my Craft was so heavy loaded, & the river according to report very shoald.
Wednesday 23rd We embarked early in the morning & proceeded up the river, found it very shoald, obliged to proceed with half cargo, & go back for the remainder. The Indians embarked with us, but went to look after meat they killed yesterday, we took a little in from them in passing but are too much loaded to take all, I told them to cut it up & dry it, we slept about the middle of the River near a salt spring.
Thursday 24th We proceeded up the River, making a double trip, sometimes loading the canoes thro’ stones & shoald rapids, which makes the journey very tedious. We slept the night at the head of the river. Convoy in company.
Friday 25th We embarked at 6 O’clock & proceeded across the lake, three hours paddle, when we came to the mouth of Red Deer’s River, where we put up for the night. Had a look for a convenient place to build on, as we found by the shoaldness of the water at the mouth of the River, that it was impossible to proceed far up with a loaded Canoe. This appears to be a very good fishing-place, & such a situation is desirable, but wood is scarce & not fit for building, besides the ground is low, & seems to be regularly overflowed every spring. Killed today 12 Ducks, 5 Geese & 1 Swan.
Saturday 26th I went up the River in a small canoe to look for a convenient place to build on. Our people making hatchet helves, & preparing a net to put down, hunting &c. Found about 12 miles up the River a fine point of Pines. Returned again to our people guarded by our convoy. Got a net put down. Killed amongst us, 4 Geese & 15 Ducks[.] A North West Canoe arrived, loaded with Goods, & four men, who put up alongside of us.
Sunday 27th We embarked about 11 a.m. & proceeded up the River to the place I looked out for the preceeding [sic] day, closely watched by our Neighbours. We landed at 3 P.M. made a track & carried our things up the Bank. Our neighbours came in alongside, made a track & carried their things up. I went & told them to remove to some distance above or below us, as they would incommode us by building so near. They told me they were ordered to keep close along side of us, wherever it was, after telling them a second time they removed a little farther off, but are still within forty yards of us. They have not yet begun to build. People helved their hatchets.
Monday 28th People employed cutting down logs for building. Old Gibetaquash arrived & his three son’s in law, they brought some dried meat, for which they received Brandy[.] They took a little debt.
Tuesday 29th People employed in building a Store to put the Goods in. Indians went a hunting after fitting them out with a little amunition [sic] & Tobacco. Our neighbours began to cut down wood for building…
October Sunday 4th People building. Indians drinking the brandy which they received in payment for the meat killed yesterday. I have indulged them a little to encourage them now to separate, & look out for ground where Beaver is to be found, as the season is now at hand when Furs are getting prime; & we have got nearly a months stock of provisions on hand. Myself preparing to start for Swan River in hopes of finding there our fall express. I shall leave John Turner here in charge during my absence…
Thursday 8th We arrived at Swan River after a passage of three days, & was sorry to find that no Packet had as yet arrived here, this is very distressing at this time as I am prevented from prosecuting my intentions for want of men & my neighbour is taking the advantage of our situation, by encouraging the Indians to remove to some remote quarter, where he has plenty of Men & Goods to send with them, as he knows well it will be too late for us to profit by our people if the fall express should not arrive till all sets fast. He has now four Posts settled in this vicinity where we have only two, & he has taken care to draw all the Indians that threats & persuation [sic] can induce to remove to the posts where we are not settled so that it is impossible for us to do much under such disadvantages, immediately on my departure from Red Deer’s River, a strong party was sent, to proceed by land to the upper part of it, which is the only place for Beaver, to prevent the Indians from coming down to where I have settled, which place owing to the shoaldness of the water I was obliged to remain at, & as I have only four men here it is impossible for me to divide that number, so as to leave part here & have a sufficient number to carry any quantity of Goods to the upper Settlement, which would be absolutely necessary to secure a small part of the Trade. Having remained at Swan River five days in hopes of our express arriving, I was under the disagreeable necessity of returning to Red Deer’s River, again without having heard the news from York Factory. I had a disagreeable passage of five days, snow & rain most of the way. I found on my arrival, people all well, & pretty forward in building having finished my house. Indians done little or nothing since my departure.
