Volume 1

l86
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SEASON.
merely schemes to shelter their indolence, as they have
done nothing, not even providing any provisions, though
buffalo have been very numerous, commonly in sight of the
fort. Ten packs of furs and skins have been brought by the
Indians from Red lake, etc. On the 28th my canoes and
bateaux arrived. I gave the Indians a present of ten kegs
of mixed liquor and as many fathoms of tobacco, for which
I did not receive one penny; still, several were displeased
and asked for more.
Aug. 30th. Indians still drinking, and very troublesome.
I gave the summer men their equipments and advances,
and made up an assortment of goods of 25 pieces for
Grandes Fourches,'' and another of 15 pieces for the Hair
hills.
An Indian arrived with his family in a small canoe, 15
days from Leech lake, bringing intelligence of several Saulteurs
having murdered one another in a drinking match at
that place a few days before he left. This caused a terrible
uproar in camp here, the deceased persons being near
relatives to some of our Indians, among whom were also
persons related to the murderers ;
the former insisted on
retaliating, and it was with great trouble that we prevented
them by taking away their arms. They were all drunk, and
kept up a terrible bawling, lamenting the deaths of their
relations. The liquor tended to augment their grief,
Sept. 1st. I sent off the boat for Grandes Fourches,
John Cameron, master. He goes by land with four horses.
I also sent off Langlois with four men and five small
carts, each drawn by one horse, loaded with three packs
of goods and baggage. Indians now sober and decamping
to follow their traders, some to Grandes Fourches,
and others to the Hair hills. I sent a party of my men
for buffalo ;
Joseph Roy' served as hunter.
2 Of Red r.
— present Grand Forks, N. Dak., at which point Henry was
about to establish a post : see note '*,
p. 127.
^ Persons named Roy, Roi, Le Roy, Leroy, etc., were many in the fur-trade ;
their names frequently appear, for the most part without Christian appellatives.