1M17_B23-A-1

Falls and the Water being so very shoal,passed 2 or 3 Islands in the River, fine clear weather; wind in the SE Quarter, the River about 3/4 of a Mile across, the Banks steep, Wood the same as before, killed 18 Wood Partridges; this Days Journey computed at 7 Miles.

23d Wednesday, this Morning found our Canoes so very leaky that we was employed in repairing them untill Noon when we were joined by an Indian named Abicooteh, who brought with him from the Factory 43 Pieces of salt Pork, 1 Cask of Geese, 7 Casks [loose] and Cask of Pease, and one Spade; he proceeds with us up the River, passed some small Falls which greatly damaged our Canoes and obliged us to get to shore as fast as possible where we stayed for the Night, Water shoal to Day, the River about 1/2 Mile over, the Banks steep and Rocky covered with Pine, and small Birch Trees; passed some few Islands in the River, dull weather with Slett in the Evening, Wind in the SW Quarter, this Days Journey computed at 6 Miles, killed 7 Partridges.--

24th Thursday, left our Tent this Morning at 10 oClock, passed three small Islands covered chiefly with Pine trees, this Day tolerable good Padling having better Water than we ever had before; several thick showers of Snow, wind variable, the River about 200 Yards across, Banks high and steep, the Pines very lofty; in the Evening several flocks of Wheyways flyng to the Southwards, saw several Deers tracks, killed two Wood Partridges; this Days Journey computed at 15 Miles.

25th. Friday left our Tent this morning at 9 oClock, soon after passed a rapid Fall, at 11 oClock came to a large branch of the River, which appears at its entrance to run to the SE and seems to have better Water than the westerly Branch, it is about 300 Yards across at its Mouth and the Indians inform me it is frequented by a great many Uplanders; we continued to follow the westernmost Branch agreable to my Orders, after stopping one Hour to repair one of the Indians Canoes, which he had greatly damaged in passing the Fall; the Current in this Branch is very strong and abounds with small Falls, the Banks not so high as Yesterday Wood the same, at 4 oClock put up on the North Side Water tolerably good to Day, wind variable, killed one Duck and one [Puskee], this days Journey computed at 9 mile

26th. Saturday left our Tent this morning at 10 oClock a fine clear Day, wind in the Morning westerly, towards Evening in the SE Quarter, very good Water in the River, the Banks very irregular in regards to their height, some places being high and steep, and others quite flat and low, the Pines on the South side much lower than we have found them in general, and considerably less than they are on the Opposite Side, put up at ¼ past 4 oClock on the North Side, killed one Partridge; this Days Journey computed at 14 Miles.

27th. Sunday left our Tent this morning at 10 oClock, passed some low Falls, the Water not so good as Yesterday, fore Part of the Day fine clear weather, latter part thick Snow

put up pretty soon to Day on Account of the Indians wanting to hunt, their Provision being all expended, they returned to us at Night with only 2 Partridges; several Grey Geese and Wheyways flying to the Southward; Wind in the NW Quarter; a severe frost in the Night; this Days Journey computed at 7 miles.

28th. Monday left our tent at 10 this Morning; shoal Water and very difficult tracking our Canoes; at 12 oClock stove one of our Canoes which obliged her to stop to be repaired, the rest went forward untill 2 oClock, at 3 the other Canoe came up; at 4 oClock Abicooteh stove his Canoe which prevented his coming up with us at Night; fore part of the Day fine clear weather; latter Part thick with Snow, wind in the SW Quarter; at ½ past 4 put up on the North Side, Banks high, North Shore covered with high Pine, Ash, Birch and Poplar Trees, the South Side very Steep, with some few small Pines upon it, but chiefly burnt Woods; froze very intensely all this Day; much Ice floating in the River, killed one Wood Partridge; this Days Journey computed at 6 Miles.

29th. Tuesday left our tent this Morning at 11 oClock; bad water; at one oClock came to a very rapid Fall which we could not pass without unloading our Canoes and carrying them as well as the Goods past it for near a Quarter of a Mile, employed 2 Hours on this business; at 3 oClock set foreward again, at ½ past 4 put up on the North Shore, wind in the SW Quarter tolerable good weather but exceeding Cold, the River between 2 and 300 Yards across, much burnt Woods on both Sides the River with Pine Bluffs interspersed; this Days Journey computed at 8 Miles.

NB. Passed 3 small Creeks on the North Side before we came to the Fall, at about a Quarter of a Mile Distance from each other.

30th. Wedensday left our tent at 10 oClock shoal Water the River about the same width as Yesterday, Banks very high, a great many large Ash Trees on the North Shore, and the Indians inform me there is plenty of Ash on the opposite Shore; passed two small Islands and 2 Creeks both on the North Shore; Wind in the SW Quarter; fore part of the Day dull and Cloudy, towards Evening a fine clear Sun; Rain and Snow in the Night; put up at 4 oClock our Canoes in very bad Condition; killed one Partridge and took one Fish from the Hooks; this Days Journey computed at 11 miles.

31st. Thursday 31st: having expended great part of our Provision by being obliged to supply the Indians (or suffer them to put up every Day at Noon to hunt, which would have greatly prolonged our Journey) Partridges being very scarce and having no Net, Necessity obliged us to lay by for this Day in order to have one made; took two Skains of twine from the trading Goods for that Purpose, as likewise a Skain of Beaver Twine for tracking our Canoe, the Beaver. Line being so heavy we could not keep pace with the Indians; Wind in the NE Quarter with Snow greatest part of the Day; a severe frost in the Night.

November 1st Friday. This morning the River being filled with floating Ice, detered the Indians from proceeding further with us this Day, as they said the Ice would cut our Canoes in Pieces; Snow all Day, killed Eleven Wood Partridges, Wind variable.

2nd. Saturday. left our tent this Day about Noon bad Water, passed one small Fall which greatly damaged our Canoes, the Banks on both sides the River very high and Steep, the Wood chiefly Pine Ash, Birch, Poplar, and a kind of bastard Cedar the River about 200 yards across, wind in the SW Quarter, froze very intensely all Day, at 5 oClock put upon the North Shore our Canoes being half full of Water, this Days Journey computed at 7 miles.

3d Sunday this morning the River filled with floating Ice, the Indians again refused to proceed further, which obliged us to lay by, the People out hunting most part of the Day, brought to the tent 5 Partridges, Wind in the SW Quarter fine clear weather, gave 3 Quarts of Brandy to the Englishmen and Indians for their encouragement.--

4th Monday the River still continuing filed with Ice, the Indians still refused to proceed, but went to take a Beavers House they had found the proceeding Day, at Night they returned with two Beaver an old and a Young one; killed Ourselves 5 Wood Partridges and one Rabbit, fine clear weather, a very little Wind from the Southward; in travelling in the Woods to Day in search of Partridges fround several Ash Trees of a small size.

5th Tuesday after repairing our Canoes set forward again this morning; soon after leaving the Tent, one of our Canoes was found to be so leaky as to be quite unfit for proceeding further, stopped to unload her, and after dividing her loading equally amongst the other four set off again; passed two Creeks one on the South Side which the Indians had no Name for, and one on the North Side which they call Me.ta.poos.a.wan.; the River almost clear of Ice; wind from the SW Quarter with some Rain, put up at 4 oClock; this Days Journey computed at 4 miles, several ash Trees on the North Shore.

6th Wednesday after repairing our Canoes left our Tent at 11 oClock, passed one small Woody Island; and two Creeks; one small one, on the North Shore which bears the same Name as the one we passed Yesterday, the other on the South Shore and which is properly a branch of the River as the Indians inform me it is nearly as large as the one we are in that it leads to a very plentifull part of the Country, and that it is freqented by great Numbers of Indians, the Name of it is Ash.a.quo.ga.me.; the River quite free from Ice, a light Wind from the SW Quarter, fine warm clear weather, passed one small Fall which greatly hurt our Canoes, the River much the same breadth, and Banks covered with the same kind of Wood

as formerly Banks high &c at 1/2 past 4 o'clock put up on the North Shore our Canoes very leaky this Day of Journey computed at 8 Mile, killed two wood Partridges.

7th Thursday this Morning left our Tent at 11Clock passed a Small Creek on the South Shore Shore called by the Indians Ma,ne,ca,nee; likewise first past, two small woody Islands; Water indifferent, wind in the NW Quarter, dull weather and cold, put up at 4 oclock our canoes so leaky they would scarce swim, this Days Journey computed at 6 Miles; killed 3 Partridges and 1 Rabbit.

8th Friday left our trent at 10 oclock, Passed one small Fall which greatly damaged our canoes, two of them obliged to stay behind to be repaired, at 3 oclock they joined us, at 4 put up our canoes more than half full of Water, the River about 200 Yards across, Wind in the NW Quarter with fine clear weather; their Days Journey computed at 6 Miles.

9th Saturday kept our tent this Day not being able to prevail with the Indians to go further this Day, as they had found a Beaver House which they went after in the Monring, and returned about Noon with two Beaver Wind in the NE Quarter with Snow; several flocks of fishing Ducks flying up the River from which the Indians concluded the River to be ast below.

10th Sunday after repairing our Canoes left our tent at 10 oClock after proceeding about 4 Mile another of our Canoes was found to be in so bad a Condition as not to be fit to go further; which obliged in to stop here not being able to take her loading into the other 3 Canoes, passed a small Creek on the North Side called Sou,wek,a,so,pe and came to a larger one of the same Name; close by which we put up, Wind in the NE Quarter, froze all this Day the Banks on both Sides the River high, great plenty of Ash, Birch and Poplar Wood, intermixt with the Pines, the River between 2 and 300 Yards across; as the Indians had for some time past appeared Sullen, discouraged and not much disposed towards furthering us on our Journey, I thought it would not be deemed imprudence to give them a drink for their encourgement, accordingly gave 1 Gallon of Brandy to them and the Englishmen, this Days Journey computerd at 4 Mile.

11th Monday the River so full of floating Ice that the Indians would not venture up it in their Canoes, but went to look after Beaver, ourselves all out hunting, returned to our tent at Night with only two Partridges and one Duck, wind in the NE Quarter, sharp frost all Day; expended the last of our Pease.

12th Tuesday the River still full of Ice, Wind in the NE Quarter with clear frosty weather, all hands out hunting, brought to the tent in the Evening two Wood Partridges and one Rabbit; the Indians not yet returned.

13th Wednsday the River still continuing full of Ice and having but little hopes of its clearing again

so as to proceed further with our Canoes, I thought it best to have a Sledge made, to be in readiness for us to haul our Provision &c on, as soon as the River should be sufficiently strong to admit of it, accordingly Mitchel Brown and Wm Thomas are this Day employed in fixing our Grindstone, grinding Hatchets and getting Things in readiness for that purpose, the rest out hunting; killed one Rabbit; the Indians returned at Night and brought 9 Beaver along with them traded the flesh of two with Abicooteh and one with Chickeyou; no fish to be got by out Net, nor any thing to be found in the Woods, which was my Reason for trading the above, as great part of what I expected to carry up with us untouched is now already expended, Wind in the NE Quarter with sharp clear weather.

14th Thursday the River some thing clearer from Ice but could not prevail with the Indians to stay by us, they left us this Morning and went to look after more Beaver complaining much of being hungered, notwithstanding they shared a part of our Provisions equal with ourselves; Mitchel Brown and Wm Wood at their own request desired to accompany them, which I consented to, as the Indians promised to take Care of them and it would be a means likewise of saving some small Part of our Provisions, they promised to return by such time as the Sledge would be furnished by Wm Thomas, who is this Day falling Wood for it, Self and Geo: Donald out hunting, returned to the Tent without seeing any thing; Wind in the NE Quarter sharp clear weather.

15th Friday the River quite free from Ice excepting a little on the Shores, dull Calm weather, Wm Thomas at work with the Sledge, self and Geo Donald out hunting; in the Evening a fresh of wind from the NW Quarter with Snow, sharp frost in the Night.

16th Saturday much Ice in the River, weather calm with sharp frost; myself and Geo: Donald went up the River in search of a Creek Mention'd by Mr Thomas to be two Days Journey from the great fall, called by the Indians Wapuscogamee, I undertook this for my own satisfaction as I found there was no relying on the Indians Words, they informing me it was only one Days Journey from us some time ago; after traveling I suppose about 20 Miles in very bad walking, both in and out of the Woods, we put up at 5 oClock without seeing any thing of the Creek we was in search of; in traveling in the Woods killed one Rabbit, 4 [Pus kees], and two Partridges.

17th Sunday having no Provisions with us and being uncertain at what Distance we should find the Creek we thought it best to return to our tent, accordingly we set out for it early in the Monring and reach out about 4 in the Afternoon, where we found Wm Thomas at work with the Sledge, the Indians and two Englishmen not yet returned; Wind in the NW Quarter with sharp clear weather, much Ice in the River.

18th Monday Wind in the NW Quarter with sharp clear weather; much Ice in the River; self and Geo: Donald