Volume 1

;
304 henry's party made up—MOOSE HEAD.
withstanding many obstacles that were laid in my way to
deter me. I was determined to push on ; even should I be
obliged to go with only my two men, and a sketch of the
route I had with me, I should be able to find the way. I
could not get a horse to carry my baggage for love or
money neither had my guide a horse for himself nor could
;
I procure him one for a long time. I had almost given up
hope of his accompanying me, and was preparing to set off
with my two men only, when suddenly Mr. Chaboillez
agreed to go with me. This evening, everything being in
readiness, my mind was more at rest than it had been since
I left Panbian river, as I had been uncertain of procuring
a guide and a person to introduce us to the Mandans.
At this place we are not so much tormented by mosquitoes
as to the eastward, but the common house fly supplies
their place. The buildings are full of them, and they make
as much buzzing as mosquitoes.
July i^tJi. Early all hands were alert, preparing for our
departure. Our party consisted of seven persons and eight
horses: Mr. Chaboillez ; Mr. A. McDonald; T. Viandrie
Joseph Ducharme ; Hugh MacEacan [Thompson's Mc-
Cracken or McCraghenj, our guide, an old Irishman formerly
belonging to the artillery; a Saulteur lad, Pautchauconce
[Chaboillez' brother-in-law] ; and myself. We had
provided ourselves with a few articles for the Missourie
Indians, such as ammunition, tobacco, knives, beads, etc.;
half a bag of pemmican and three pieces of dried meat
formed all our stock of provisions. We had each 50 pounds'
weight, which, with ourselves, our arms, blankets, and a
little ammunition for present use, formed a heavy burden
for our horses. The eighth horse carried my tent and
some other baggage, including a compass and spyglass.
At eight o'clock we mounted and kept on a slow trot. Our
course was W. S. W. for the Moose Head, where we arrived
at eleven o'clock, and stopped at a small lake to refresh our
horses. Here we shot a few ducks, and at one o'clock
saddled and proceeded in the same direction through a