Volume 1

The
WORD FROM THE WAR PARTY. 265
ing for the H. B. people ; for I did not choose to reach my
new quarters before the war party returned and dispersed,
and everyone was settled in winter quarters. This, I knew,
would save me great expenses. We caught great abundance
of sturgeon and all other kinds of fish peculiar to this river
—much more than my people could consume. Wild fowl
were plenty about the entrance of Red river and on Dead
river. Plums were ripe, and the men daily gathered loads
of that delicious fruit.
Au£: 2'jth. We arrived at the Forks, having seen the
H. B. boat in Sault a la Biche.
Aug. 2gth.
J. McKenzie of the H. B. Co. passed up the
Assiniboine with three
boats, and Thomas Miller with two
boats up Red river, bound for Panbian river, joth. The
Upper Red River brigade arrived, and passed on directly.
We amused ourselves fishing ; and, having ordered a number
of horses down from my place, I kept some of my
people hunting buffalo toward the upper part of Riviere
Sale. I, however, started on the canoes with the outfit for
Portage la Prairie.
Sept. ^th. I received information that the war party
had left Panbian river, all in one body, on the 27th ult.
During our stay here we took a number of excellent whitefish
in our small nets.
.
women gathered great quantities
of hazelnuts, but the mice made it
to preserve them.
almost impossible
Chokecherries, wild red cherries, Panbian
plums, grapes, etc., all abound. 21st. Fire set to the
grass in the plains toward the S., we suspect by the war
party. 2'/th. An express arrived on horseback to inform
me they had returned ; but, as I expected, with empty
hands. They had been to Chief mountain and found a
camp of Sioux of 30 tents ; but while preparing to attack
them, the enemy escaped. [Story in full in Tanner, p. 140.]
Sept. 28th. I sent ofY the canoes. 2gth. Reached
Portage la Prairie on horseback.
Oct. 2d. Set off for Panbian river with Le Sueur,^ Hu-
* So copy—no doubt the Toussaint Lesieur already noted, p. 35.