Volume 1

250 ARRIVAL AT PEMBINA—ARRANGEMENTS MADE.
stop there ;
they have been destitute of corn, etc., since they
left Slave falls [Winnipeg river] and are starving and sick.
2Jfth. I went down in a light canoe to meet them ; heavy
complaints of their misery, but now that is all over. Made
out the assortments for Dead river, Riviere Terre Blanche,
and Lake Winipic, S. side. Men fishing ;
but as usual,
when a scarcity of provisions prevails, they caught nothing.
26tJi. Settled with the men and divided baggages sent
;
canoes to the Forks ; went down with two outfits to Dead
river, to settle with the Indians myself. 2^111. The canoes
with grease arrived from Panbian river. Indians all there,
preparing for war. 28th. Returned to the Forks arrived
;
at midnight. 2gth. Made out assortment for Portage la
Prairie. 30th. Sent all the canons off; Payet and Ducharme
to remain with the Sault Indians, ^ist. Set off on
horseback, chased buffalo with Mr. C, and camped with his
brigade at the Passage.
Sept. 6th. Arrived at Panbian river; found 10 long
men all off to war since the 4th.
Saulteur tents of women ;
This is the second excursion ;
the Assiniboines have joined
whom 150 are
them, forming a party of about 300 men, of
mounted, yth. Mr. Langlois arrived from his post at Hair
hills ; very good summer returns there. The Crees stole
three of our horses last July; these scoundrels having commenced
horse-thieving, I am afraid they will trouble us
often on that score. Bear, an Assiniboine, was the principal
man, and there were two Crees; they stole the horses
from Cadotte, at the Grand Passage. 13th. We are much
plagued in watching our potatoes day and night, to prevent
the Indian women and children from stealing them. 17th.
I sent Mr. Hesse with eight men in one boat up river.
i8th. Fire appears southward ; we
suppose the war party
is returning, igth. I gathered my cucumbers and made a
nine-gallon keg of pickles, having plenty of excellent vinegar
from maple sap, little inferior to that imported.
Sept. 2ist. The war party arrived ;
they had been no
further than Schian river and seen no Sioux. 23d. Indians