Volume 1

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DEROUINES AND TRIPS TO OUTPOSTS.
I93
outposts, and men hauling home meat from the hunters*
tent. Buffalo near the fort ; I killed two bulls with one
ball. loth. Hunters running buffalo, with which the plains
are covered ; at the fort heard them fire, and saw the cows
fall ; they killed 23. The beasts were bellowing all night.
Jan. ijtk.
Before daybreak I set off with two men for the
Assiniboine, by way of Riviere aux Gratias. Each of my
men had a train of two dogs, with my baggage and provisions,
and I a train drawn by three stout dogs. Snow very
deep ;
my men were obliged to beat the road all the way
on snowshoes. We were one day going to Riviere aux
Gratias ; five thence to Portage la Prairie ; five thence to
Riviere la Souris ; two thence to Delorme's" house in the
Hair hills ; four to Langlois' house ;
and one back to
Panbian river. All this distance my men walked hard
upon snowshoes.
Feb. ijth. During my absence my people went up to
Riviere aux Pares, and made 10 kegs of salt. My winter
stock of fresh meat is complete. Derouines and trips to
outposts continue as usual. Men came from Lake Winipic
for provisions, i^th. Very severe weather. One of our
horses, attempting to drink, fell into our water-hole in the
river, and perished. Buffalo have destroyed all the grass,
and our horses are starving. 2jd. Lac la Pluie Indians
arrived—a new band. I got 100 good skins from them in
one derouine. X. Y. are starving, though buffalo surround
'^ Delorme or De Lome was a common name ; the one meant in the text is
not further specified.—Pierre De Lorme was one of
the men who started on Sir
Alexander McKenzie's memorable voyage to the Arctic ocean, June 3d, 1789.
Fran9ois Delorme is listed as of N. W. Co., Lower Red r., 1799.—One Delorme
of the N. W. Co. was with Thompson at the fort near the forks of Peace r.,
summer and fall of 1803; perhaps Pierre.—Pierre Lemay,