Volume 1

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TRIP TO HAIR HILLS—SERIOUS DISPUTE. 239
almost roasted, but had strength enough left,
notwithstanding
his wounds, to bite her nose off. He is very ill, but I
don't suppose he will die. 26th. Heavy snow; Indians
daily going and coming, and tormenting us for liquor.
Payet off to Lake Winipic in search of canoe bark.
Mar. 1st. I take from 15 to 20 small fish in my net daily.
6tk. Men finished burning 2CX) cords of oak since our
arrival here ;
four chimneys only. 12th. Filled my icehouse
;
50 sleigh-loads of ice and 400 kegs of water, ijth.
I went to the Hair hills. The Assiniboines requested me
to leave a person to summer with them, as they did not
like to go to the Saulteur fort [Pembina]. They made me
fine promises if I would consent to their proposal I
;
told
them I would consider on it. i/fth. We returned home,
traveling in the night ;
at this season we prefer always to do
so, to prevent sore eyes, and to take advantage of the frost
the dogs travel much better than in the daytime, when the
snow is soft and they are soon fatigued. i8tk. Indians setting
off for their spring hunt above. We saw some corneilles
[crows, Corvus ainericanus\ and hawks, igth. I set off at
dark for Riviere aux Marais—a tedious trip ; no frost, but
much water on the plains, and dogs of no use. Put my
cariole en cache, and got there at sunrise on foot. 21st.
entirely melted. Men
Came home on horseback ;
snow
arrived with 18 kegs of gum.
Mar. 22d. Winter express from the North arrived, via
Portage la Prairie ; two men brought it. Grosse Gueule
and myself had a serious dispute ; he wanted to give his
furs to the X. Y., which I prevented, at the risk of my life ;
he was advised by them to kill me. 2jd. Winter express
on horseback off for Red river. I sent men for meat with
carts ; saw some ducks and geese. 2^tJi. Plains on fire
toward the W. 26th. Ice breaking up ; sturgeon jumping.
Women came in with some new sugar.
April 1st. I went to the upper part of Tongue river to
meet a band of Indians returning from hunting beaver, and
fought several battles with the women to get their furs