Volume 1

428 SPRING OPENING—COHORN MOUNTED.
L'Aile du Corbeau [Crow Wing river, Minn.], wherein 20
tents were destroyed ; the Saulteurs lost but seven men,
and brought away many of the enemy's horses. This party
consisted of about 200 men.
Friday, Jan. ISt, 1808. Buffalo in great abundance. J^th.
I sent four men to Riviere Qu'Appelle for high wine ; also
two men to make salt at Turtle river. 2^d. Two men
arrived from Bas de la Riviere with dispatches from Mr.
McKay concerning the Mountain Indian plot. 26th. Sent
off the express for Leech lake. 28th. Finished our winter
stock of fresh meat, having sufficient to last until July.
Feb. ijth. Filled our ice house with ice and fresh meat.
24th. Bad coughs and colds have attacked every man,
woman, and child. 26th. Men making wheels.
Mar. 2d. We have had a few days of mild weather.
This morning we saw a vulture [turkey-buzzard] for the
first time this season—the earliest I ever saw on this river.
In 1800 we saw them on the 7th of March, on the Assiniboine.
3d. Some Indians who came in to-day had seen
emmerions [^merillons—small hawks] on the ist inst. 4th.
Swans passing last night. Indians all camped at the fort,
drinking and very troublesome. They are in such a state
of consternation from the Sioux having fallen upon them
that they have given over hunting this season, and are
collecting about the houses to go northward out of
danger.
This affair has seriously injured my department; I shall
lose two-thirds of the debts I gave out last fall. 22d. Got
a carriage made for my cohorn." Saw a flock of swans.
24.th. Saw outardes. 2gth. I brought a cock and two
hens last summer from Fort William ; one of the hens died
last fall, and the other began to lay to-day. ^ist. The
winter express from the north arrived.
Apr. 2d. I sent off the express for Leech lake, and six
men also for their canotees of sugar from that place ;
women
^ The cohorn or coehorn, so called as the invention of a Dutch engineer of
that name, b. 1641, d. 1704, was a small hand mortar for throwing grenades.
Henry speaks beyond of loading his with a pound of powder and 30 bullets.