Volume 1

TO GRANDES FOURCHES VTA HAIR HILLS. 425
Oct. ist. We began our harvest, but the produce was
not much, compared with other years. Fire all over the
country. loth. Finished our harvest. Got a bridge made
over the creek for the purpose of hauHng firewood more
conveniently. 19th. One of the women untied a bag
containing two quarts of gunpowder, and, imprudently
holding a light over it, a spark fell into and exploded it on
her lap ;
but she recovered.
her face, neck, and hands were shockingly burned,
Oct. jist. I left for Grandes Fourches, going by way of
the Hair hills, on some particular business.
I set out in my
chaise and pair, with four men on horseback. We saw all
the different gangs of freemen along the hills. Buffalo in
abundance, although the plains were lately burned. At the
foot of the mountain, near the upper part of Turtle river,
as my men were pursuing a herd on horseback, I
could not
refrain from joining in the chase, having two famous buffalo
hunters to my chaise. I gave them the reins, away they
flew, and I soon dashed into the herd, neck or nothing.
The buffalo suddenly changed their course, and my horses,
being eager to keep along with them, as suddenly altered
theirs ; the shafts of the carriage broke short off, and down
I came to the ground. Fortunately I kept hold of the
reins, and with some difificulty stopped the horses. My
people soon spliced the break, and put the carriage in condition
to perform my journey.
Nov. 5th. At Grandes Fourches. We had a heavy fall
where I quote Lewis and Clark's estimate of " Mr. Haney, who is a very sensible
intelligent man," in rebuking Alexander Henry for some unkind and
injudicious words he used of my heroes. My only consolation is that I have
sinned in goodly and numerous company, and can now make my own amends,
as no critic has found me out,
thus far.
We hear of a person, no doubt the same Hugh Heney, in Tanner's Narr., ed.
had ascended Red River about 100 miles when we
James, 1830, p. 167 "We :
met Mr. Hanie, a trader " ; and again, p. 182 "
:
Mr. Hanie, a trader for the
Hudson's Bay people, had arrived at Pembinah." There is much more said
about him on following pages. The exact date is not easy to calculate ;
but it
was after our author had left Red r. , and had been succeeded by Mr. Wells of
the N. W. Co.—before or about the time of the first Selkirk settlers.