BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

212 SIMON FRASER'S
12th, Wed- This morning after procuring a sufficiency of fish we set out,
nesday.
two canoes having followed, such of our people as were indis-
13th,
Thursday.
14th, Friday.
posed to walk, embarked in them, the others who went by land
had now and then to make llse of the canoes as ferry boats in
crossing rivers.
At the carrying place where the canoes were left, Mr. Quesnel
lost his way and was some time absent; several men and
Indians wenL in search of him, but he found his way to the
village without their assistance. The weather was exceedingly
hot, and the road extremely bad all' day.
Started early accompanied by many Indians as usual. Previous
to our departure the Chief gave us forty salmons and sent
young men along with us to carry them saying: " The Indians
above are poor"; I returned the chief's compliment to his satisfaction.
We could not procure canoes, the Indians said the
rapids were too strong to make use of them to any advantage.
Soon after we had left the camp, the Indian who had suP?lied
us with a canoe going down joined our party and offered his
services again in like manner, which we accepted and found
useful for many purposes in course of the day.
We passed the village where the Indians were so poor according
to the account of the chief, yet they generously shared
with us what little they had. Foul weather,-we were wet to'
the skin; the men being in bad humour, some of them would
not approach the camp, sllch conduct under the circumstances
was very unpleasant
Lost some time waiting for the men who had thought properto
remain behind; it was six o'clock before they joined the
party and I reprimanded them, but they blamed the weather At
8, we found ourselves at the head of the rapid where we escaped'
perishing on the 20th June (1), an Indian camp on the opposite'
(1) Evidently an error, he meant 21st.. Near Fargo Bar, where gold was first discovered.
Mayne. II Four years in British Columbia".