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Letter from Alexander Kennedy to John McNab, 13 June 1808.
HBCA, B.239/b/75, pp. 28-30.
From Mr Kennedy Inland Master
Oxford House June 13th 1808
Sir
I had the pleasure of receiving the Fall packet together with the goods &c consigned to Drunken Lake by this safe arrival of William Leith at that place the 22nd October last after I had given over all hopes of seeing him, though we have made a shift to pass the winter without Starvation but not without a good deal of trouble in looking out for our provisions which I may say consisted entirely of rabbits & a little wild rice which I was fortunate enough to procure from the Indians there being few or no fish in or near that Lake.
I was opposed by a Mr Duncan Cameron an old veteran in that quarter and between us we had only seven wretched Indians all indebted & mostly attached to him even the old man Peuwachess & his three sons after being bribed with new Coats &c &c in the Fall took considerable debts from him which are still due for I have got the Major part of their small hunts by keeping a man tenting with them most part of the winter[.] as to the other three Indians they scarcely visited me after my neighbours arrivals.
Finding it not worth while to leave any person to summer about poplar River I have taken my remains out to the Jack River as well as the old man & two of his Sons to pass the summer there about[.] they wish to have a house at Black River next Winter where I make no doubt a few good skins might be procured provided more Indians could be drawn there from the Canadians who surrounded Lake Winnipeg.
Mr Thomas from Albany River winter’d unopposed at a place called Sandy Narrows (or) Wa se puck o hagan about six days walk from where I was & I understand from his people who brought me a letter in the Spring that he has made excellent returns partly from those Indians who winter’d with him at Thunder Lake last year. his letter I send herewith as well as the Answer which I hope will meet your approbation.
My small Invoice of Furs there enclose which only amounts to 403 Beaver including about 100 Beaver rabbit skins which were procured by myself and the men about the House but which I was obliged to pay them for by way of encouragement even more for the sake of the flesh than pelts. A small amount, but I can assure you that nothing has been lost for want of looking out[.] my Neighbours carried out nearly 250 Beaver of sorts.
On my arrival here today I found a note from Mr Sinclair desiring me in case of his absence fit out these Canoes & dispatch them to hill river accordingly I take the earliest opportunity of forwarding them and I remain here as there are very few people and all the Indians belonging to this place are lying about the plantation anxiously waiting his arrival – and I hope Sir you will give me leave to come down after the business is over to await the arrival of the Ships as I wish to avail myself of a passage to England as the Honourable Committee has not been pleased to grant my request.
Wishing you agreeable returns from all quarters
I remain Sir
Your Most Obedient Humble Servant
Alexander Kennedy
P.S. I had almost forgot to tell you that John Inkster deserted from me about Xmas last and has entered into the Canadian employ his behaviour all along corresponded with this last act of ingratitude to his Employers.
