KENZIE

t Oct. 1781.

1, now befor nfortunate à puipments for this time, be I am afriil

t respect Ver

y of Englani ou ; you wi

whether you mean to remain in the country or not.

pass this winter in the best manner you can ; we must hope for better times ”................... iéssiades éésssosire

“ T remain dear Roderic “Yours sincerely

“« Remember me to all the men

‘ ATHABASCA, 2? Dec., 1787.

“ Dear Roderic,

“I wrote you from Rivière La Loche, on the 9th October last.

D On the 21st, T arrived here in a light canoe, having been obliged

to leave the rest of my canoes at Lac La Loche ; but I believe there will be plenty of goods here for winter trade. St. Germain arrived 100 late to send any of the goods in his charge further.

“ Mr. McLeod and Mr. Boyer went on foot to the Beaver country for provisions (1). The Indians came with them to this place. We have ordered Mr. Leroux to abandon the Slave Lake and

come up with all his men. From what I can learn from the men, none of the goods I sent him from lle à la Crosse remain,

nd there are scarcely any return in their place. Mr. McLeod

has been more successful. ” ses see soce sonessoosoescoesoesee

“ Write me by the first opportunity what you mean to do,

If you do remain, I make no doubt but you will get as good encouragenent as any in the concern soso .…

If you remain in the country any longer,

(1) Beaver Indians ‘ Echel tao tima'’, gens des bois forts : Wentzel. Mr. Henry 8 they are called ‘“ Beaver Indians ’’ because they descend from the Great Beaver,

& of their mythological divinities !

Results of

competition,

you will find it your interest to continue until you obtain som share in the trade.

‘“ After the experience you must have of the dreadful effx the late opposition has had upon those who were engaged ini and upon the country, I cannot believe you entertain any though of a repetition on your own account. Could I, in four yearsy hard labour and anxiety, pay the debts I owe our concemnài consequence, I should feel satisfied. T expect a long letter fron you by the return of bearer ; in the mean time”.

‘“ I remain your sincere friend ‘ ALEX. MACKENZIE",

Mr. MacKenzie anticipated his visit, having paid it in Januar when we had the pleasure of enjoying his company for severi days. He and Mr. Small did all in their power to induce met continue in the service, which I declined. On his way back Athabasca, he wrote to me as follows from Lac La Loche :

‘“ As your resolution is taken I cannot but say something il you regarding our last conversations.

made to you, I will not pretend to condemn or approve.

. you mean to continue in the country as clerk, though I thougit

from some of your expressions at our separation, that you ha some other views, perhaps you may settle with the gentlema at the Portage upon more easy and advantageous terms.

“ Whatever you mean to do, weigh matters maturely and co sider consequences. It is far more easy for a man to get ini troubles than to get out of them. Should you agree to retun I am sorry it cannot be to Athabasca, as you will arrive 100 li at the Portage.

‘ I already mentioned to you some of my distant intentions, | I beg you will not reveal them to any person, as it mightk

(1) His voyage to the Arctic Ocean.

Your rejecting the ofef

Rat there w:

prejudicial put them in

The follo: {st Februar Portage, me statement o

‘“Ger

“ I am sc accidents, th get in Athab by the ice w send back t pthers. The frequenily c got to Lac La

“The we hopes of gett brhausted.

arried by 2 rrived there iver for two

not wait he Do hunters, à

, illowed the

quarters.

“Onthe 1

st quite so t light canoe.

lifficulty and

obtain som

eadful eff ngaged ini any thougi our years(l r ConCern à ig letter fron

nd [ACKENZIE”,

it in Januar

ny for seven induce me | s way back Loche :

something |

cting the ofeh

approve. | igh I thouglt that you ha he gentlem terms.

rely and co

an to get ini

bree to returl arrive LOo lé

intentions, |

s it might

prejudicial to me, though I may never have itin my power to put them in execution. »

The following letter, dated Jle à la Crosse, by Mr. MacKenzie, {st February 1788, to the agents of the Company at the Grand Portage, may be of use some time or other, as it gives a true statement of his proceeding to that period.

“ Gentlemen,

“ [ am sorry to inform you that owing to many unforeseen Early win-

accidents, the goods that were in my charge last Fall did not getin Athabasca. 1 was stopped, the 2nd October, for five days by the ice within thirty leagues of this place. I was obliged to send back two canoes with sixty three pieces to lighten the others. Then I proceeded with the other canoes, but being frequenily obliged to break the ice, we advanced slowly, and rot to Lac La Loche only the 11th.

“The weather at this time was so very severe that I lost all hopes of getting any further, and our provisions were almost bxhausted. I therefore had only three canoes and their loading arried by all the men across the Portage ; but when they brrived there, which was on the 14th, the ice was taken on the iver for two leagues, and the ice driving so thick further on,

hat there was no possibility of pulling a canoeintoit. We could

jot wait here in expectation of the river getting clear, having bo hunters, and I had the goods secured from wild beasts and llowed the men to return to Lac La Loche for their winter quarters.

“ On the 17th, the weather getting milder, and the ice running st quite so thick, I got eight of my men to embark with me in light canoe. These men left their own things and we, with great lificulty and risk, arrived at Athabasca the night of the 25th.

Trade prospects.

‘I found that St. Germain arrived there fifteen days befon and, from the unusual severity of the weather, too late to senj goods to either the Slave Lake or Peace River countries. Grant made an attempt with two canoes for the former plhe without effect. He was stopped by the ice at the entrance y Athabasca Lake, from whence he despatched two men with ir. telligence to Mr. Leroux.

‘ Messrs. MacLeod and Boyer went off for the latter place, a the 9th November, with twelve men and nine pieces, in order trade some provisions for the canoes in their voyage out in the Spring, and to induce the Indiaus to come to the fort with their hunt in March.

“Two of Mr. Leroux's men arrived from there with letter acknowledging the receipt of Mr. Grant’s despatches, which give a very discouraging account of that country. I wrote to Mr Leroux, with Mr. Pond’s concurrence, to come up with his ma and bring as many as possible of the Indians along with him.

“ It is difficultto say what can be done in time to come in thi country, but, as far as can be judged from present appearances, there will be no possibility of establishing a fort there to advant age, nor could the produce come out the same year.

“ [ am certain, if the Chipeweans could be drawn away fron there, the other nations would draw near, and if a rendez-vou could be establised, an advantageous trade would be carried on every summer.

“ I cannot well inform you what time—from scarcity of pr visions—the canoes with the returns may be expected at Lac li Pluie ; yet it may be about the 20th July... A

“ Gentlemen,

“ Your most obt and humble servant,

Ématters, wl

The folld 1788, is ade

« De

“Thave

S transactio!r

Company :

Pond's lette beg leave t(

“Mr Poil MacKenzie cause Mr. FE

“Jam 0

extravagant satisfactoril reason to th the mutual go with or required to. the Grand FE Empress of

“I did no Ountry, as ] but I find by

days before late to send antries. Mr former place entrance men with in.

tter place, on es, in order t ge out in the rt with their

> with letter 8, which give

wrote to Mr with his me

go with him.

ar.

rvant,