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in the Evening with only one Rabbit from 20 Snares set some Hooks, George at the Tent.
24th. Tuesday wind and weather as yesterday, self out hunting, no Rabbits from my Snares nor any Fish from the Hooks, George Donald at the Tent.
25th. Wedensday being Christmas Day, myself & Geo: both at home all Day, a light Air(??) of wind from southward with warm thawey(?) weather.
26th. Thursday wind and weather as yesterday self out hunting, returned at Night with one Rabbit no fish to be got, Geo. Donald at the Tent.
27th. Friday Calm warm weather but dull & Cloudy set out hunting as usual, Brought home one Rabbit in the Evening.
28th. Saturday wind and weather as yesterday, self and Geo. Donald both out hunting, returned to the Tent in the Evening with two Rabbits which is all the Provision of any kind we have by us, having eat half of a piece of Pork yesterday which was the last we had, and which makes our situation very alarming, especialy seeing no likelyhood of the peoples returning with the supply they were sent for; and we nothing to depend on for our sustenance but what we are fortunate enough to procure ourselves with infinite Labour & Fatigue; and which, after all is depending on the greatest uncertainty imaginable
29th. Sunday self out hunting all Day, in the Evening brought home two Rabbits from the Snares which we had cooked at Night; fore part of the Day wind NE with a little Snow, latter part in the SW Quarter
30th. Monday Calm dull weather with a little Snow self out hunting and overhauling my Snares, returned later in the Evening with two Rabbits & one Squirrel.
31st. Tuesday Snow all this Day, which kept us at home, having the two Rabbits by us we got yesterday Calm warm weather.
1777 January 1. Wedensday myself and Geo. Donald went early this morning to overhaul the Snares, Snow all Day, wind in the NE Quarter with sharp Frost; as we must inevitably persish with hunger if we continue here longer, we both resolved to start out for the Factory tomorrow Morning at all Events, though we have all the Reason in the World to doubt we shall never reach it, as we find our Strength so greatly diminished as scarcely to be able to procure ourselves fire Wood; all we can muster to sustain us on our Journey is a small Indian Dog we are fortunate enough to have by us, 2 or 3 lbs of Candles and some undressed Beavr. Skins, which Necessity I'm afraid will oblige us to eat. The three Men not returning with the Provisions
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which was only Three Days Journey from us, given me Reason to suspect that they have returned to the Factory, as fourteen Days are already elapsed since their out set, and which Causes us to be more precipitate than we otherwise should have been; we have taken a list of and as securely stowed away as we possibly could, every Article we have left behind us.
2. Thursday early this Morning packed up what few Necessities we thought we should be in need of, and after securing the Door of our Tent set forward, but soon found that so great a Quantity of Snow had fallen the proceeding Day and Night, that we could make no way through it, with the Bundles we had intended to take along with us, and were obliged to return, something disheartened to our Tent again; a fresh Wind in the NE Quarter with Snow all Day: obliged to eat one Beaver Skin at Night for our Supper's.
3. Friday after lightening the Bundles we intended carrying yesterday lashed them upon a Sledge of Beaver Skins, and again set forward, wind in the SW Quarter with fine clear weather, travelled this Day about 14 miles, dressed two more Beaver Skins, one in the Morning and one at Night, as we met with nothing on our Journey.
4th. Saturday early this Morning after dressing another Beaver Skin, set forward again and travelled on till about Noon, when to our unspeakable Joy we were met by Mitchel Brown and Wm. Wood returning with the Provisions, but which was so far expended, as not sufficient was left to have kept us much longer than another Week, and which likewise determined them to return to the Factory; they informed me that Wm. Thomas had left them and gone for thither on the 26th. December: We immediately put up after meeting them in order to refresh ourselves with a little of what Victuals they had, which we stood in very great Need of; fore part of the Day clear weather; latter part thick with Snow, wind in the NE Quarter.
5th. Sunday the People still persisting in returning to the Factory, Mitchel Brown left us this morning and went to the Tent for some Necessities he had left there. Wind in the NE Quarter with Snow all Day.
6th. Monday Wind and weather as yesterday, towards Evening Mitchel Brown returned to us again
7th. Tuesday early this Morning set out for the Factory, wind in the SW Quarter with small Snow most part of the Day.
8th. Wedensday still continuing our Journey for the Factory, clear weather wind in the SW Quarter.
9th. Thursday continuing our Journey for the Factory, wind and weather as yesterday.
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22nd. Wedensday early this morning both Englishmen and Indians set out on their return to the Factory fine clear weather, wind as yesterday; wrote to Mr. Kitchen as per Book of Correspondence
23rd. Thursday quite calm and warm, with much Rain and Hail, all Hands in the tent all Day.
24th. Friday wind and weather as yesterday, no stirring out of the Tent to Day.
25th. Saturday wind in the SW Quarter with Snow all Day, Mitchel Brown and Wm. Thomas employed in
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