DEA
32 skins.
“ {sent off Versailles with lour men, my best, seven days ago to the Beaver River ; I expect Versailles will do as well as the famous Lesieur. (4) I remain here with only six men, the lame, the sick, and no interpreters. I sent Leonard yesterday with two
(1) Beaver skins.
(2) Ile à la Crosse.
(3) In order to eccnomise freight, and to enable the Indians to hunt at a distance,
É credits were often given payable at another fort.
(4) Mr. Toussaint Lesieur, who, in 1792, established Fort Alexander at the mouth dofthe Winnipeg River, a few miles below and opposite the old French fort Maurepas.
Te
Indians who took 54 skins credit from me; as they do not w your way, I do not send you an account of their credits...
Cree, and ] Mr. McGilli
[ believe our Rivals will use no force regarding the In.
dians ; they told me they did not mean to use any, but wouli “To Mr. Ro
allow the Indians to go where they pleased. I gave themt understand that if they did otherwise, or order their ment take the Indians’ property into their forts or houses against the will, I would look to them only for redress, which I am D resolved to do. I will not be imposed upon ; trade must be x free to us as to them.
Having b Indians of L place for the sable to take
mence build Rdetermined himself alon approve of t} very keen, insinuating fellow. Keep every thing as secret as vou ESMof a much be
I spoke to M. McGillivray, he promised he would advise ani oblige the Indians, as much as he could, to pay their credits and L'have no doubt, he will do 80...
‘Take care of Cartier, Mr. McGillivray’s interpreter, as he isa
can from your men, otherwise those old voyageurs will fish all ESMor our mut
they wish out of your green hands. which I, wit
“] hope you will be on a more friendly footing with yowMeached our} neighbours than I am with mine; we have not spoxen togethe hich promi since the canoes left this, which, I believe, 1s more from indiffe. M Here we pi
ence than from hatred, as we have had no quarrel ” ext day, all ortable lodgi
2 Though the ourse of the ng terms and ood fortune xcellent retu
2 In the Spri ter compar espective heal
“ It would not be amiss if you could pay the Indians a visi yourself with Constantineau, and endeavour to make their rob& and coats, if you cannot go yourself, send Lecerte and Laliberté’
nn nn nn nn een ee ne ere so eenmn ess sonore uen se esennen
‘“ There are about ten men of the Cree nation at the otha fort, all connexions, and I cannot see one of them. I have no om at the fort thaï can make raquettes ; T do not know what toi
without those articles. See what it is to have no wives! Tn and get raquettes, there is no stirring without them. Send ml
Constantiseau on the first ice, as I find none of my men spuill (1) Near and be
do not go Cree, and I shall send you another man. My compliments to Mr. McGillivray.
“ Your sincere friend and well wisher, ng the In. BR but woull ve them to eir men to gainst their chich I an must be à
“ To Mr. Roderic McKenzie,
Lac des Serpents.
Having been directed by Mr. McKenzie to remain with the ec Indians of Lac des Serpents (1), on my arrival there, I fixed on a place for the winter, at their advice. I thought it however advisable to take my time and look about me before I should commence building. In the interval, M. McGillivray appeared well Adetermined for opposition. His order, he said, were to place himself along side of me, but he observed that he did not approve of the situation I had selected, and that he was informed of a much better one not far distant, and suggested it would be for our mutual good if I would accompany him to this place, which I, without hesitation, agreed to, and, in a few hours, we eached our proposed destination, in the vicinity of a small river which promised a plentifui fishery.
Here we pitched our tents within a gun shot of one another. ext day, all hands were set to work, and, in a short Lime, comortable lodgings for the winter were completed.
æ Though the trade was the cause of occasionalirritation in the ourse of the winter, my neighbour and I always kept on speakne terms and maintained a good understanding, and I had the ood fortune to secure, as the year before, what were called, xcellent returns.
| In the Spring, after the trade was over, my neighbour and I, ter comparing notes, agreed to travel in company to our spective head-quarters, where our canoes arrived side by side,
d advise ani heir credits,
