Volume 1

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CHAPTER VII.
THE PEMBINA RIVER POST, CONTINUED :
1804-O5.
mAMANISTIQUIA, July ist, 1804. Men not so difficult
to hire this year as last, when boaters for Lower
Red river refused 700 G. P. Cy., and milieux [middlemen]
500, with extra equipments.
July yth. I sent off the brigade— 10 canoes, with 28
packs and 4 men each.
July ijth. Took passage ' on Mr. Cameron's canoe
then on board Mr. Joseph St. Germain's, igth. Pears ripe
at Portage des Chiens [Dog portage]. 2jd, Mr. Hamilton
got astray in the woods on Riviere des Chiens [Dog river].
Water exceedingly low. We made continual d^charges
and half-loads.
July 25th. At the little lake in Portage la Prairie [Meadow
or Savanna portage], our pots and kettles were covered
with ice in the morning ; this is the Height of Land.
July 28th. Overtook my brigade on Portage des Fran-
^ais [French portage] ;
the men mostly sick and emaciated.
Canoes very small, of the worst materials, wretchedly
put together ; require daily repairing. Water very low,
and canoes heavy loaded. This has nearly knocked the
men up ; nothing but a certain pride and ambition, natural
to the Northmen, keeps them pushing forward, with
every
exertion in their power ; and it is very disagreeable for the
master when he joins his brigade in a difficult and tedious
part of the route.
Little or nothing is said during the day,
when they have a certain shame or bashfulness about
complaining openly ; but no sooner is my tent pitched,
' Henry starts back to his Pembina post by the Kaministiquia route. The
places he names will be recognized by reference to note ", p. 217.
247