fichel Cadotte, partner
Michel Cadotte, partner.
D: préon Gharreltes issues Arles GAUTMIET serie escitesesens misent 2,000 2,400 Pierre Béjargé (Baïllargé).........…............... 1,200 Fonds du Lac.
600 Mnobn Sayer, proprietor.
720 ÉD CAO O ar ReeS wages 1,800 750 Bharles Bousquet ..…............… neetiée 900 5,670 3)! Carried forward... 2,100 78,880
G. P. Currency, 2,100 78,84) Jean Coton Ignace Chénier JOSÈpA: RÉAUME, sister Eustache Roussin Vincent Roy
Equipments and necessaries for 7 clerks at £20...
Lac La Pluie.
Peter Grant, proprietor.
Arch. MacLellan Charles Latour
Mich. Machard
Doctor Munro Charles Hesse
Jacques Vandreil François Boileau
This list was found among the Hon R. MacKenzie’s paper and was probably prepared by him on his appointment as oi of the Agents of the Old North-West Company, 1799.
P. Currency.
Mr W. F. WENTZEL
Sn
1807-1824 3,0il 3,00 gril Cenzie’s pape intrment as oO!
Mr. M eenter 1799 as a n the At dured mo terer’s He was handsome but sarcas Feak poir himicking f the ki Dave helpe is promo!
Mr. Ge dorth-Wes rs in the oderic M
rms of
+ endurec Mr. Ross bia Rivd elled wit} here We
Mr. Willard-Ferdinand Wentzel was a Norwegian.
eentered the service of the North-West Company in 1799 as an apprentice clerk, and spent most of his life n the Athabasca and MacKenzie regions, where he enlured more than his share of the hardships of a ‘“ winterer’s ” life in the Northern Departments.
He was, it appears, a aan of small stature, very unbandsome, but highly intelligent and of a jovial, keen ut sarcastic turn of mind ; quick at finding out people’s jeak points and foibles, and taking great delight in nimicking them. This disposition of his deprived him f the kindly support of HAN y who might doubtless
Bave helped him on, and contributed possiblv to prevent is promotion in the service of the Company.
Mr. George Keith, one of the “ Partners” in the forth-West Company and, later, one of the Chief Factrs in the Hudson Bay Company, in his letters to Mr. oderic McKenzie, speaks in the most complimentary rms of his long years of service and of the hardships + endured.
Mr. Ross Cox, in his book ‘“ Adventures on the Colmbia River,” says that he met him in 1811, and traelled with him from Lake La Pluie to Fort William,
here Wentzel was going to seek for justice from the
Company. Mr. Cox speaks of him as an active an enterprising trader, a man of great integrity, whox name was ever omitted from the list of favorite clerk because he had no relatives to press his claims. He ha in consequense, the mortification of seeing younger ma preferred to him, several of whom had never sufferg the pangs of hunger in the service of the Company.
He returned from Fort William with an engagement for three years, at the maximum salary allowed t clerks,-—-two hundred pounds a year,—but never alta felt comfortable in the service and always regretted le could not leave the country.
Mr. Wentzel had lived twenty years amongst tle Northern tribes when Sir John Franklin undertook hi
memorable expedition by land to the Artic Ocean. Witzel’s knowledge of the Natives, of their language manners and customs caused him to be requested t accompany the expedition, in order to superintend the voyageurs and take charge of, and propitiate the Indiu
who had joined it.
The want of supplies and provisions, however, son obliged Franklin to dispense with the services of th Indians and to continue his journey with the voyage only. After reaching the shores of the Artic Oceu Mr. Wentzel was sent back to Great Bear Lake wi despatches from the Commander, and was requested ti collect provisions at Fort Enterprise for the return 1 the party. Finding neither game nor hunters at Grai
Bear L:
no bet‘ rible dis It wa ohn Fr Wentzel Hudson inuing en cache eturn rom its | Mr. Wen:
dim, that Mr. We an excel be long :
eep all c eurs song e most] Mr. We ife, a Mo daughter
Dentoah
e settled der, bor imed Laf
> built th.
ns, all li
active an Bear Lake, he pushed on to Great Slave Lake, but with rity, Whox no better success, and he soon after heard of the tervorite clerk: Bible disaster which had befallen the expedition. ms. He hui, It was generally believed in the North-West that Sir younger mer ohn Franklin paid no attention to the advice of Mr. ‘ver suffere Wentzel and of other winterers of the North-West and Jompany. udson Bay Companies, who warned him against conengagement inuing the expedition before having provided, either r allowed 1 cache or otherwise, the necessary supplies for the , never afteeturn The expedition was in a starving condition regretted le rom its beginning, and it proved very fortunate for Mr. Wentzel and the four voyageurs who accompanied amongst tlhim, that he was sent back undertook hi Mr. Wentzel was à musician ; Franklin even says, Artic Ocean. an excellent musician !” This talent of his brightened
eir language he long and dreary hours of his Life and contributed to requested tkecp all cheerful around him. A collection of the voyaperintend teurs songs made by him is in our possession, but they te the Indie mostly obscene and unfit for publication. Mr. Wentzel, while at Great Bear Lake, took, as a iowever, souife, a Montagnais woman who gave him two children: srvices of ttdaughter married, first to a Canadian named Larivière, the voyagar@hen to a half breed, Louison Goulet, and whose children Artic Oceulkre settled at Lake Manitoba Mission ; and a son, Alexar Lake witlihder, born at Zle à la Crosse, ho married a half breed s requested med Laferté. Alexander Wentzel was a carpenter ; the return dB built the church at St. Norbert, 1855, and left four nters at Grains, all living at St. Agathe.
Quarrels thabaska...
= — es
Rejoicin, with the U MacKenzie
The country around the Grand River.—Natural productions.— Animals and birds. — Modes of hunting.—The climate.—The Natives, their dress, appearance, habits, religion, tools and weapons.—The engagés of the North-West Company.—History of the trade at Grand River.—Vocabulary of the Beaver lan-
guage.
Nos. 2 AND 3, (1809 an 1810.) Confirming the former. (Not printed.) N° 4, (1811).
Sufferings and Starvation.—Music in the North-West. N° 5, (1814).
Indian conspiracies against the traders.—The decline of ‘ far-
famed Athabaska, the school of the North.’—The Athabaska jbrary.—Great Bear Lake.—The Sea tribe, or Sharp-eyes.
Rejoicings in the North-West on the cessation of hostilities
with the United States.—Decline of the trade in the North.—The MacKenzie River Department abandoned.
Quarrels with the Hudson Bay Company.—Opposition in Athabaska.—Disaster to the Hudson Bay Company’s people.
Successful trade in Athabaska.—The Red River settlement, N° 9, (1819).
Formidable preparations of the Hudson Bay Company unde Messrs. Colin Robertson and John Clarke.—Mr. Robertson, à prisoner at Fort Chipewyar.--Success of the North-West Com. pany.—The MacKenzie River trade resumed.—Wages of clerk and men.
The Grand Rapid outrage.—Open war between the Hudsn Bay and North-West companies; its coffects on the Natives- Sufferings and death of Mr. Benjamin Frobisher.—The Re River settlement.— Arrival of Lieutenant Franklin at Fo
Chipewyan, on his Land Artic expedition ; instructions from Mr. Simon MacGillivray to the partners and clerks of the North West Company.
Mr. Wentzel is attached to the Land Artic Expedition una Lieutenant Franklin.—Intense cold.—Affairs in Athabaska- Mr. Simpson takes charge of the Hudson Bay Company's interest in the North-West.
Franklin’s Land Artic Expedition having reached the Pol Sea, Mr. Wentzel returns with despatches. He winters at Foi Chipewyan, where he receives news of the disastrous resulid the Expedition.
Divers
E Franklin
coalition employés
Furthe:
Roman
tion of the
settlement,
mpany under
Robertson, à rth-West Com.
ages of clerk
n the Hudson the Nativesher.—The Rei nklin at Foi
tructions fron
&s of the North
pedition under Athabaska.any's interesk
ched the Poli inters at Foi strous resuli à
à Franklin’s expedition. Misconduct of the officers.—Effect of the
Divers Artic expeditions spoken of.—Disclosures on Lieut
coalition of the Hudson Bay and North-West companie | employés in the North-West. panies on their
iN® 14, (1824).
Further disclosures relating to Lieut. Franklin’s expedition }—Contradictory statements of Doctor Richardson relating " Robert Hood’s death and that of Michel, the Iroquois.— Altered condition of the country after the coalition. Different plans proposed ‘or exploring the unknown parts of the Mac- Kenzie River Department.
TO LIEUT. JOHN McKENZIE, (1818).
Roman Catholic clergy sent to Red River.—Miser | n:of the colonists in Red River . iserable condi-
Rod. M De
Agreab Peprinted n lowing co from a du bsideration and inacci desire tof above my and credit The Gra and whic the longes Straight co strong cur Df no con here and litters thr hree mid Df a league
(1) MacKen4 (2) Error coi
LETTER No. 1.
Forks MacKenzie River, March 27th, 1807.
Rod. McKenzie, Esq., Dear Sir,
Agreably to the request you intimated to me last Fall per a Pmprinted memorandum, I have the pleasure to forward the following collection, which is the best the inconveniences arising from a dull andilliterate capacity allow me to make. These confsiderations will induce you, I hope, to overlook the many errors and inaccuracies I may have committed in the undertaking. My desire to please you will excuse my attempting what is so much above my abilities to handle so as to prove entraining to you Band creditable to myself. |
and which empties into the Pacifie ocean (2), is perhaps one of ” Mithe longest and most beautiful rivers in the North. It steers a straight course, with little variation, and has a smooth tho’ strong current, which is interrupted by only two or three rapids of no consequence and of no length. Islands lie interspersed here and there and contain a good stock of wood. Thus it litters through an ungrateful country, enjoying the waters of bree middling large rivers. It is about half to three quarters Df a league broad at its widest place. The banks on both sides
(1) MacKenzie River.
(2) Error common to many at the time in the North-West.
The Grand River (1) which obtains its waters from Slave Lake The Grand
78 W. F. WENIZEL'S
are high änd barren, which is supposed to be occasioned by the of the Ro! great fires made in the Spring season by the inhabitants to cl its summi the country of underwood, in order to enjoy more ease why the clouds hunting. name, wh
The surface of the country is little elevated at this play derives it: what it is at some distance from this downward, where, I 3 ponit. 1 told, the banks are exceedingly high and rocky. The whok of inferior country from this to Slave Lake is marshy and swampy. At: nexion wit
short distance in land, it is interspersed, here and there, wit As to vo mountains, hills and valleys. rand Riv The soil. The soil is of à greyish cast, being a mixture of earth, ca Sang which
and sand, which the Canadians tell me can produce wheat, cat olumns of
peas, barley and turnips ; vegetables decrease in growth. was told ] Principal The principal mountains form no connection with each othe SShem, that mountains. : . . .
The Rocky Mountain, the most extensive in the country, lisSMames are ]
on the south side of Grand River and runs north and south n SSlazes appe
direction, at a little distance from Grand River. two days belwre experie:
this. From thence it continues, without varying 1ts course, tothe So the know kiver au Liurd—formerly called Grand River Forks—and fron Ores of tx thence. in different directions to the upper part of Peace Rive. hese in the Its shape is very irregular and its extent unknown. I am toi iece of whi that this mountain is inhabited by several tribes of Savagxansmitted namely, Nahanies, Dahoteena and Nombahoteenais, besides mar SSompany w others who are unacquainted with white people. The onto account « information I can get concerning these Natives is that thsave been re inhabit these rocks, live upon carribou and goat flesh and mak RS The other war upon each other. ade use of
The next largest mountain is the Horn Mountain which lsfint are sc: on the north side of the Grand River and runs from north-expposed to to south-west. This mountain takes its rise somewhere neBeichty. IL Mountain Island in Slave Lake, and ends about a league beloBuire au Lic this, when itsteers off again in a north-east direction. Itsgenerilts minera direction is upon a straight line, and its height, as well as thlEMfange colou:
sioned by the of the Rocky Mountain, is unknown. The latter is so high that itants to clear its summit is sometimes invisible for several days and hidden in re ease wher the clouds. Its composition is rocks from which it derives its
name, while Horn Mountain is composed of a marshy soil and t this place 1 Mderives its name from the number of Carribou horns found
where, Ian pon it. Besides these mountains, there are an infinite number
y. The whok of inferior ones which lie here and there without any convampy. At: nexion with the two above, or among themselves.
nd there, witl As to volcanoes, there are some along the ‘Torth side of the volcrnoes.
rand River, at a little distance this side of Bear Lake River, of earth, cl and which are visible from this river. From these, issue several ce wheat, oùk olumns of smoke which have a strong smell of coal and sulphur. growth. was told by Mr. Johu Thain, one who had personally inspected jith each other. hem, that the fire was not above one foot under ground ; thc e country, likilames are pale and the smoke black ; the holes from which the th and southi lazes appear are small and numerous. No irruptions, such as two days belox re experienced in the Eastern hemisphere, ever occurred here its course, totheWo the knowledge of the Indians.
prks—and fron Ores of two kinds only are known among the Natives, and Ores and minerals.
of Peace Rive Mhese in the Rocky Mountain; one is supposed to be silver, a n. JL am toiliiece of which was traded by one Mr. Duncan Levingston, who bes of Savagxansmitted it to the Gentleman Proprietor of the North-West , besides mar ompany who resided in Athabasca in the year 1796 ; since then, ople. The on o account of the dimensions of the mine from which it came es is that the ave been received.
flesh and make The other is a metal which, in former times, the inhabitants jade use of to strike fire, and whose sparks when struck upon bain which list are scarcely visible. This ore is of a fine colour and is from north pposed to be a mixture of steel and earth and is exceedingly bmewhere neæWeishty. It is found in the small creek which falls into the a league belwWuière au Liard about four days march from this place. tion. Its genilis mineral produce is coal, black lead of a very fine cast, as well as tlMange coloured earth which, when heated by a fire, becomes red
and thus serves as vermillion to the inhabitants; flint stoneÿ abundance, but these, with the ore, are the produce of the Riw au Liard.
The lar hawks; g
swamp a
on and The large woodis the red and white pine, cypress, birch, pop ightingal and liard ; the under wood is the elder, willow, red wood, an swamp tea, none of which; except the red wood, bear fruit, Ty plants known to me are the plantin, wild mint, mountain which bear fruit, wild sives, liquorice roots, sarsaparilla x: queue de rats, besides many others, the names ard use of whid Tam unacquainted with.
annot ma
The larg
ux: gre
animal wh
1e Indian:
short legs,
nder whit
Fruits. The fruits of this solitary region are the poire, goosebem raspberry, strawberry, moose deer berry, rose buttons, red a black currants, thimbleberry, hutleberry, cramberry, crowbem, pithagomine, or queue dépouillée, juniperberry, bearberry, cho berry and another berry, the name of which I do not knm except in the Indian language, which they call ouh-ka chn They bud about the latter end of May, flower about the {5üthi June and ripen near the 20th August, when they are deem wholesome to the body and delicious to the taste.
hey say, h have taste
nd flavou omewhat r The othe ynx; red, harten, mit
ts and mi Modes of ] 8 formed u DE and carr
Dyes. The dyes made use of by the Indians to stain porcupine quik and feathers, which are the only thing they stain, are the rx of a plant which the Canadians call Savoyan ; its colour isofa orange cast. This root, boiled with cramberry, dyes a beautill light red; the dyes for yellow are another small root wi they gather in marshy plains.
ill them vi hem with d )ng made « ach end. ‘ himals whi ke to whicl 0 large tre
Inseots. The insects in this country are the same as in Canada, ext, that the Criquet is not to be found.
Birds. The water fowls are : the great and small swan, large and lil bustard, grey and white goose ; among ducks, the large gr duck, spoon bili duck, Peiïgne en queue, Kanhanwree, Péloine, sm
MOrt5 as to I 1ng Overhei grey duck and water fowl, loon; grey, white and biack hab gulls ; sea and land plovers, snipe and crane, besides the peli
1) Fat on the 1
The land birds are the eagles; the fish, musquito and night
flint stone à e of the Riva hawks; grey and white owls, crows, pheasants; the wood, gwamp and white partridge, king-fishers, robins, black birds,
pightingalos, yellow birds, besides many others whose names I
s, birch, poplr red wood, an bear fruit. Th
mountain là rsaparilla à d use of whit
annot make out,
The large and small animals are elks, large and small carri- Animals.
eux; grey, black and red bears; the goat, besides another inimal which is peculiar to the Rocky Mountains. This animal,
ie Indians tell me, is about the size and bulk of an elk, with short legs, a long neck, and has two great horns like a stag nder which two small ones sprout out. The flesh of this beast, hey say, has a very fine taste. Though I have never seen any,
re, goosebem, uttons, red all Try, Crowberr, arberry, choëk I do not kno all ouh-ka chui out the lothi hey are deem
have tasted the grease of the back fat, and found it in taste
nd flavour equal to the moose deer Dépouille (1), the grease omewhat more oily ; its colour is white.
The other animals are the beaver, otter, wolverine, wolf,
vx: red, grey, white and black foxes, porcupine, ground hog,
harten, mink ; common red, ground and flying squirrels ; hares,
ts and mice. e.
Modes of huuting are numerous. In the spring, when a crust Modes of hunting.
porcupine quis
8 formed upon the snow, the Indians frequently run down the in, are the roi
Dh and carribou, which they fatirue so much that they often ts colour isofil
dyes a beautill mall root wi
il them with their spears. In summer and winter, they pursue bem with dogs into suares ; these are ropes about three fathoms ng made of large babiche well twisted with a spring knot at
ach end. These they tie upon a small tree on the tracks of the bimals which, when taken, carry off the sling until the little ee to which it is fastened happens to catch against or between
Canada, ext
n, large and li , the large 8 ee, Pétoine, Si xd biack heat esides the pelit
o large trees. The animal finding itself stopped, makes such morts as to put an end'toits life. The flesh is then very bad, ing overheated and full of blood.
1) Fat on the ribs between flesh and skin.
Lakes.
In the ruiting season, which always happens in autumn, t natives rub the shoulder blade of an elk against a tree, at ty same time imitating the cry of an elk; this brings the anim
of peltrie Indian fe Bnorth-we:
this lake miles bro.
are numi north sid placed ver The riv
quite close, when they are easily killed with bows and arrow The chace of the caribou in rntting season is quite different When a man kills a female, he raises the skin off the head frn
the thickest part of the nec“ to the extremity of the nose, thisi stuffed with straw or rather witit hay and put to dry. Wu perfectly dry they fix the horns, which had been severed fr the head, in their proper place and then go hunting. They rx their arm in this skin which is so well arranged that it perfect imitates the animal itself, When they see a drove of caribox in the distance they wave this skin and imitate the cries al tricks of the animal and bring the males close to them.
River, are Forks), T waters fre Th falls in wi
akes.
RP LT RD PC D ES below this and rapid.
is so shallc npper par quarters la
Their mode of hunting beaver is to make wooden traps upx the lodges in the fall, and in winter they trench the beaver
all other animals, they take in snares.
Lakes are numerous on the north side of the Grand Riw The principal ones and those which offer the best fisheries ar the Great Willow, the Porcupine and Long Lakes. The first tm are connected by a narrow strait; the latter is near Bear La from which it is separated by a narrow neck of land only. Al these lakes empty into the Grand River. The former is abu 40 leagues from this place, in a northern direction, the latteri at a much greater distance in the same direction. These lake are fishing abodes for many families of Natives ; none of tha are of any considerable extent. The Long Lake is suppose be the largest and yet it is computed at about twenty to tweni five leagues long by about three broad.
On the south side of the Grand River, there are only two} any note, the first is the Trout Lake, not far in land from entrance of the Grand River. We formerly got a great quanl'
his river and the bes
Rapids a here are n
be met wit are not d The Falling whirpool here be a De nature lear as we
With reg sinthe Ro
H (1) See Mr. (
n autumn, (le , à tree, at { igs the anim ws and arrow quite different the head fron the nose, thisi to dry. Wha An severed fron iting. Theyru that it perfectl rove Of caribox e the cries al o them.
oden traps upit ach the beaver
he Grand Rial st fisheries ar es. The firsttni near Bear Li
land only. À former is ab ion, the later!
on. These lait ks ; none of the ke is supposell venty to twelli
are only two}
in land from t a great quant’
of peltries from this lake, it being a fishing place for a few
Indian families. The other is the Willow Lake which lies
north-west from this Fort at a distance of about twenty leagues ; this lake is a middling size lake, supposed to be ahout forty miles broad by sixty long. Besides the above mentioned, there are numberless small lakes dispersed here and there on tne north side which however form no connection, tho’ they are placed very near each other.
The rivers of any note which form a junction with the Grand Rivers.
River, are the River au Liard (formerly called the Grand River Forks) This river comes from the southward and derives its waters from the Rocky Mountains and the discharges of small akes. The next is the outlet of the Great Willow Lake which falls in with the Grand River about one hundred and fifty miles below this place; the last is Bear River; all three are shallow and rapid. The River au Liard which is considered the largest is so shallow that Mr. Keith, who has charge of a Fort in the apper part, had the greatest difficulty in reaching his winter quarters last fall with six pieces of goods only in his canoe (1). his river produces the mines and minerals before mentioned and the best peltries that are taken out of this Department. Rapids are numerous in these three last mentioned rivers, but here are no portages. In the Grand River, no cataracts are to be met with and but two rapids which, I have already observed, are not dangerous. The most dangerous is a place called The Falling Beaver below the Rocky Mountain, and is a kiad of hirpool at high water only and is then perilous to cross; if ere be any other doubtful places they are unknown to me.
he nature of these waters I believe to be wholesome; they are
lear as well in summer as in winter.
With regard to mineral springs, I have heard of but one which Poisonous spring.
sin the Rocky Mountains, in the upper partof the River au Liard:
(1) See Mr. George Keith’s letter, 7th January, 1807.
pme" VERS
Fishos.
Climate.
the inhabitants tell me it is venemous, two of them having drayk of it, both died, It altacks the nerves and brings on a slow fever and then death, but without any extraordinary agony. Th water of this spring is clear, and very cold, even in the greatex heat of Summer.
The different sor's of fish to be met with in the lakes an r.vers of these deserts are the large and the salmon trout, inconm, (1) white fish, white and red carp, pickerel, pike, blue fish, tollib; and Loche.
The modes of fishing practised by the Natives consist in nek and hooks; the former made of the rind of the willow whid is twisted and then made like the nets made in Canada; the average length is forty yards, the height ten yards, and the meshes four anû a half inches. These are set in the water wil pieces cf split wood for floats and stones for weights.
Their lines are made of the same o% ham as their nets; ther hooks are made of wood, bones and sometimes of bird’s claws
In winter the climate js extremely severe ; the cold is som years so great that the ice of the Grand River has been know to be five feet and a half thick. The river frequently congak about the 25th or 2$8th of November and is not navigable uni the end of May or the commencement of June. Some yearsi clears earlier, but it is very seldom. Last year, it was not ir dable before the 24th June ; however such severity is seldon experienced. Frost generally sets in about the 15th of Septen: ber and sometimes it freezes during the nights of the whok summer season.
The climate in the upper part of River au Liard ïs much mil er than at this place ; Spring is at least a fortnight or three week earlier and Fall much later. The river is taken in fall by the first frost.
(1) A species of salmon, probably the ‘“Wananish.”’ so plentiful in Lake St, Job, P. Q.: some say it is found in the MncKenzie River only.
Di Europear
jalk in an € grand River
In sun:
are on th are so cle see to rea the rever:
darkness.
The air among th are colds, heir obst and eating heir snar
hey eat
oo, any # and which bretend th:
The inha describe ar -0-luna or ibe of the ad been fo nvelerate e
ar against dem, so th ibe to but Their lan iver India
Though th
having draik fn sunamer, the nights are clear, short and cool, and the days
n à slow fever are on the contrary long and the heat insupportable, The nights
agony. Th are so clear during the summer that, like Norwegians, we can
in the greatei see to read and write without the help of a candle, It is quite he reverse in winter, we are then involved in almost perpetual the lakes ani trout, con
ue fish, tollib,
darkness.
among the Natives; the disorders most frequent among them
are colds, consumption and fevers, supposed to be occasioned by consisl 1n nl heir obstinacy in the pursuit of animals in the spring season, willow whi
Canada ; theï
and eating putrified meat, such as beasts that are found dead in heir snares and which had perhaps been there a month or so, yards, and tx hey eat with as good appetite as if it was the most delicious the water wil ood, any animal they find that died either of wounds or sickness zhts.
wir nets; theï of bird’s clans e cold is son bas been know 1ently congeik avigable uni Some years i it was not br erity is seldon 5th of Septen s of the whok
nd which is already almost wasted by magçots: they even
dretend that such meat has a much sweeter flavour.
describe are the Beaver Indians, but their original name is Echel.
g-o-tuna or Gens des Bois Forts, and pretend to be a branch of the
ibe of the Beaver Indians of Peace River, from whom they
ad been formerly separated and then driven this way by their nveterate enemies the Crees who, previous to the introduction
Bi European arms into this quarter, were continually waging
ar against them. These wars exterminated great numbers of bem, so that they were at length reduced from a numerous ibe to but about 200 men.
d is much mill tor three week in fall by te
ver Indians, who are at most not above seven or eight days falk in an easterly direction from the place where those of the grand River reside.
Though there is some affinity between the languages of these
ain Lake St. JS inibes, yet they differ considerably in their manners and
The air is, I believe, healthy, as no endemial diseases prevail Heutth.
The inhabitants of the country which I have endeavoured to Natives.
Their language still bears an analogy to that of the Peace Language.
customs, for these Indians are very effeminate and never way several war with other nations, while those of the Peace River area a quills ol like tribe and always at war with their neighbours and often wi, beaver cl their nearest relations. The Indians of this Fort and those of carrib River au Liard form but one nation tho’ they wish to make their arn appear otherwise. As to the number of women and children, j also of p is impossible for me who have never seen a fourth of them, porcupin say ; but to give a moderate guess they are computed to aboy quills of three hundred. The wc
Senroity of The fair sex in the tribe which resides in the upper part of{k wear the
women, . . , , Forks are few in number, the cause of which may be ascrib andsome
to the custom they have of often destroying the female childra of thongs when just born. The only reason they give for this barbarowMRheads the custom, is that it is a great deal of trouble to bring up girlsan same stuf that women are only an encumbrance, useless in time of wulexcept in ! and exceedingly voracious in time of want. This cruel habit of nature, however wearing away. Yet this scarcity of women docs leather ro] induce them to prostitute their wives among themselves or | Their hi strangers like other savage tribes iuhabiting the North. Ovlbeing to m woman is common to two brothers and often to three ; mother ork is tc will cohabit with their sons, brothers with their sisters, butée, &kc. T father will seldom cohabit with his daughter, he most b Appear- The men are commonly of the middle size, have well prop@t any I € ance and , ‘ ne ‘ ; dress ofthe tioned limbs, regular features and are fairer in complexion tal male chi . any Other Indian nation F have seen. They wear their Sd mornir long behind, and short before, like the Canadians; those wihotion to ] desire to appear greater bucks than the rest, tie their hair, val , 48 ornaments, such as feathers, beads in their ears, and paintif . T tattoo their faces ridiculously ugly. Around their head, tk hen it is wear a piece of beaver, otter or marten skin decorated will ature (1)... bunch of feathers before and behind. The rest of their dr Besides t consists of a beaver robe, a capot, a brayet, and leggings of dre ockinug t]
moose deer skin. Their robes and capots are ornamented wi (1) The rest bd |
id never way several bnnches of leather strings garnished with porcupine iver are à War quills of different colours, the ends of which are hung with
and often will beaver claws. About their neck they have a well polished piece t and Uhose 0! of carribou horn, which is white and bent around the neck; on ish to make | {heir arms and wrists they tie bracelets and arm bands made
und children, | also of porcupine quills; around their waist they have also a th of them,t porcupine quill belt curiously wrought and variegated with
puted to aboui quills of different colours.
The women are in general of a lower stature than the men, ipper part of {le wear their hair and ornaments like them, and are reckoned may be ascribi handsome. Their dress in winter is a cotillon, woven like a mat, female childre of thongs of hare skin and a robe of the same drug; on their this barbarou heads they have a cap shaped like a milled cap (?) made of the ing up girls au same stuff, Their leggings are long and made like trowsers s in time of wliexcept in the front where an apperture is left to attend the calls is cruel habiti pfnature. Their summer dress consists of a leather cotillon, women does nleather robe, leggings, &c., as in winter. hemselves or | Their husbands are very kind to them, their only business
he North. Ovlbeing to make the men’s clothes and their own, while the men’s > three ; motherwork is to chop wood, strike fire, make the campment, hunt, ir sisters, but. &c. These Indians have a strange custom, which, if it is not he most barbarous, is at least the most unnatural and disgusting
ave well propiit any I ever heard of. Whenever the women bring forth complexion tlit male child, they have a rule of pulling its legs every night wear their hand morning, and squeeze its thighs, hoping by a superstitious ans ; those ll otion to procure him a pair of long shanks necessary for a | their hair, valhunter, as being greatly conducive to his becoming a great
ars, and paiit 4 nner. This custom is keptl up until the boy is two years old, heir head, then it is dropped and he is allowed 1o grow according to decorated will AUTO (Tsunami outre de st of their dr Besides this custom they have that also of biting, beating, Mourning. ggings of dre ockiug themselves with axes; tearing their clothes, cutting
ornamentel Wk (1) The rest, unfit for publication.
their hair at the loss of any of their relations; some carry theÿ
hair an
crazy capers to such a pitch of frenzy as to kill themselves vit ESS sivan's the blows they so inflict. their ha They leave their dead on the spot where they die, withor ES agreable removing them; they strew over them a few leaves in summe ES Their d or snow in winier, with a little earth; over this they make: possible 1
kind of small hut of large wood, well secured from wild animak snares, and they lay in the grave all the deceased things, ie. instrument number ( arms, clothes, &c. Indian ki
Religion. [have heard of no mysteries or religious rites existing among smallest
them; they have a confused idea of the deluge, but the absui piece of 1] stories, and improbable adventures with whichit is filled render Their d it so useless that [ shall leave this to people fond of romane make war They also allow the existence of a Supreme Being whose ini ; hites ; t sible jurisprudence over them they positively deny,being ignorut gnorance. of any other rulers of the earth than the Natives who inhabiti ervation,
The opinion they have - "a future state of existence is comprici ESSremely in these few words, that when any of them die, they resun: Strangers,
life again under the form of a young child.
They have romantic and fabuious tales but which have noitha moral tendency nor moral interpretation, therefore T shall mt
As to for one, Whe mong the
trouble you with an account of them. (1)
andment | beved or a
Amuse- Their only amusements are gallantry, dancing. and singins ments. ‘ . . .
When a dance is open they form themselves into a circle whaSamily whe hiefs hard
preat Chief
all the men join in one voice and dance until they are broke
down with fatigue. They move regularly and keep good tim
with their songs which are far from being disagreable to ele is à midc ear, any more than their manner of dancing to the sight. SomeSMare of con
times two young bucks will sally forth and dance a jigg, whidESporisions w These Ind:
h, making
consists of various contorsions perfectly ludicrous but noteañl described. Before the ball is open they untie or loosen the
e Swan to | fish is dee
(1) See Mr. George Keith’s letter of 1st December, 1808 to Mr. Roderic MekKencs « Tales of the Beaver Indians.”?
ne Carry {her 2mselves with
y die, without res in summir they makei à wild animak, e. instrument,
existing among but the absui is filled render 1d of romance R ng whose ini being ignora who inhabiti ice is comprisi
e, they resume
ich have neitha fore I shall nt
ng. and singins D a circle wha hey are broke keep good tit agreable 10 UE he sight. Some e a jigg, whid 15 but not easilt or loosen thé
an!
hair and grease it so much that it appears stiff, then they strew
A swan’s down upon their heads and rub a little vermillion on
their hands and faces; thus modelled they believe themselves agreable to the women and handsome to spectators.
Their economy consists in hoarding up as much provisions as Economy. possible for the winter and in obtaining a great quantity of orignal snares. He who is the best hunter and who has the greatest number of suares is the greatest and richest man. When an Indian kills an animal, it is not his own, for he receives the smallest share, it is separated among the others who send a piece of thcir share, when cooked, to the hunter. Their dispositions are sociable, mild and harmless ; they never Character. make war with their neighbours and never quarrel with the hites ; they are submissive and very cocdient, perhaps through gnorance. By what I can learn by hearsay and my own obervation, they are naturally timorous, great liars, lazy and exremely curious ; yet generally good natured, courteous to
Btrangers, peaceable among themselves and easily contented.
As to forms of government, police and regulations, they have Goveruone. When war is declared upon them, they elect a chief from a. mong the old men; to him they submit for advice and comandment ; s0 soon as peace is obtained, this chief is no more
beved or attended to any further than to support him and his
ämily when old, and ask his opinions in time of trouble. These
hiefs hardly merit the title they enjoy. Na-kan-au-Bettau or
reat Chief is the only one who is a littie respected and obeyed ;
e is a middling size corpulent fcllow, not without a competent
jare of common sense, at least enough to procure skins and ovisions without hunting for them.
These Tndians subsist upon every species of animals, birds and Food. h, making no exception from the elk down to the mouse; from
e swan to the smallest bird, the crow even is not excepted, and
fish is deemed equally palatable. They have also the dirty
custom of eating putrified and filthy flesh, such as animals ty die of diseases or wounds, whether rotten, full of maggotsy otherwise. And yet these savages are healthy, and few of then die of sickness; some live to such an advanced age as to see th, third and fourth generation of their children.
When old age deprives them of the use of their limbs, the sons or nearest relations have enough respect for their gm hair, not to ieave them in a campment or put them in ar verilous position where their lives are endangered ; on the c trary, the greatest care is taken of them and they are alwa carried by their sons or relations. I saw a man who was soi that he could no more swallow meat, but was fed upon n other kind of provisions but hare brains, and the marrow ai brains of moose deer He died only four years ago.
The manner in which they cook their victuals is by putix the meat in large bark dishes in which they throw a succes of red hot stones until the meat is boiled. Others boil their mi
Filial devotion.
by hanging these bark dishes over a slow fire, high enou however to keep the fire from consuming the dishes.
In summer, they split their meat very thin and put it up scaffold to dry by the heat of the sun; when perfectly dry, tk pound it between two stones; thus prepared, it can keep several years and is tolerably good when mixed up with grex this is our staple article of provisions when travelling, it is cal
laureau or Pimecan.
The habitations of these people are built in oblong figure
pieces of wood placed upon one another, the roof of whit thatched with sapin and the sides cemented or rather dl with moss; an aperture is left at each end to take in largel for fuel, and another at the top to let out the smoke.
The instruments and the weapons in use among them, bei they had been provided with better by the North-West Compif were axés, dagues, spears, bows and arrows. Their axes
labitations.
Tools and weapons.
of stone scollop:
fastene( could h nine fe row of | and poli making willow :
ed also x aTTOWS points to thing sir being abl Their s feet, are 1 round in graduall; foot to fo behind.
blicated «
The car
Mo cightee
he botto point, risd hey go Wood i.e, à Their nm hey go i discover à Dr near da as possibl
as animals lhà l of maggotsw and few of then age as to see th
eir limbs, ther t for their gx ut them in à red ; on the cor hey are alwa 1 who was 500!
vas fed upon 1 the marrow a ago.
als is by putin:
rOW à SUCCESS 2rs boil their mi re, high enou dishes.
and put it up
erfectly dry, th , it can keep il ed up with grea velling, it is talk
oblong figur, e roof of whit or rather th take in large ir smoke.
ong them, bel th-West Compi Their axes 1
of stone shaped in the form of a pickaxe, the middle of which was scolloped in order to fil it to the end of a stick which, when well fastened, answered the purpose of a handle; thus arranged, they could hew or rather hack down the largest tree. A pole of about nine feet long with a bone blade at one end, furnished with a row of barbs, composed their spears ; these bones are arranged and polished with beaver teeth, of which they also make use in making their bows and arrows. Their bows are made of dried willow at the end of whichisfixed a small pointed bone furnished also with a barb on each side, as also at the extremity of their arrows which are about two feet long; some have flint stone points to their arrows, which inflict a mortal wound, being something similar to chewed ball. With these they are dexterous, being able to shoot an elk almost as far as with a gun.
Their snow-shoes, the length of which is from five to eight Snowfeet, are made of pine, turned up in the front, and then brought ne round in the form of a demi circle; the head is narrow, but it gradually opens towards the middle to the breadth of about a
foot to fourteen inches, and from thence it is brought to a point
behind. With these they can nimbly walk over the most combplicated embarras or through the thickest wood.
The canoes of this nation are made of birch bark from twelve Canocs.
Mio cighteen feet long, and about two feet broad in the middle ;
he bottom is flat, and the two ends, gradually tapering into a point, rise about one foot and a half obliquely out of the water. hey go well and weigh little, being encumbered with little wood i.e. varangues and lisses.
Their manner of making war is that of every Indian tribe. rney dis- : . à | like war.
hey go in quest of their enemies in the summer and when they discover à family or so in fatal security, they approach them at Dr near day break when slumber is sound and then kill as many às possible. They never scalp, but strip the dead of their
pa
General character.
dresses with which they show off upon their return to the own families.
They tell me that they never began a war with any of ther neighbours; when hunting, they would sometimes fall in with
hearted either W qualities
they are called on
another hunting party of their enemies. Whether in day timeor
at night, they all lent à hand to fell a great many trees the
The pr
branches of which they sharpened in order to answer the pur ipecies of
pose of chevaux de frise; behind this entrenchment they defende
marten, 1
themselves until peace was called for by either party, which à Écké-ole
yearlv, fu
made known by the display of a piece of meat fastened to te
end of a long stick, which the conquered party would offer
mportant Dow and t
the conqueror. If this did not prove effectual, an arrow wx sent by à resolute fellow ; this last always prevailed ; if not,the ambassador was never hurt, but quietly sent back.
Their war dress consists of a cap decorated with feathers
epends u arted to t n that he:
before and behind, sometimes bear claws sewed to a pieceo;
The low
leather served the purpose of a cap. From their neck down t
sing in
their thighs, they wear a mat made of willow switches; il
hade up ol rses of t}
covers the whole front and guards against arrows, as it is clos
matted for that purpose. Besides this, they carry a shield on their left arm ; this is a board ten inches broad, half an in
The wage
É seven ye:
one hund asonable 4
thick and one and à half feet long ; the whoie forming the
war dress.
The general character of that part of the tribe inhabiting the Forks may be stated in these few words. Mild of temper, hospitable and compassionate to strangers, industrious, obedient and sociable Indians. Take away that unnatural custom df destroying their female infants, and the disgusting practise..... they may be considered the best natured and most peaceabl set of people perhaps in all Armerica. Those of this place, thon a separate tribe but only a distinct body, are quite the ever, they are envious, crafty, indolent and gluttonous, yet they ras the good quality of a courteous generosity and of being a fre
e late con
Y. Com m of sixty e hundre Success il two hund nes were 1
1) The Compa ed with the «
turn to ther
any of their >s fall in with | in day time or M any trees he swer the pur they defendel ty, Which i astened to the would offer lo an ärTOW Wa led ; if not,the k.
wvith feather d to à piece (; neck down y switches; il s, as it is clot rry à shield on . half an ind e forming lheïr
inhabiting the ild of ‘emper, rious, obedien 1ral custom d 1g practise..
most peaceall s place, tho’ntt te the rever; yetthey retail f being a fre
hearted people to strangers, and never commence disputes with either Whites or among themselves. Thus, overlooking the bad qualities which are not cruel and barbarous in themselves, since they are committed thro’ ignorance, they will deserve being called on the whole ‘* a good people.”
The productions of the country are the furs of the
marten, mink and bears, the amounts of which, made into packs of eighty pounds weight, on an average, is sixty-five packs earlv, fully one third of which are iynx skins; but the most mportant is the beaver and bear. The value of the whole has
how and then been intimated to me, but as the sale frequently
epends upon secret circumstances which are not always imarted to the clerks of the Company, I shall say nothing more n that head.
The lower parts produce very poor returns, their trade con- Bsting in almost nothing but à display of forty or fifty packs dade up of muskrats, the profits of which add very little to the
rses of the parties concerned in the trade.
The wages allowed Lo a clerk ai the expiration of a long term North- [e) [e] seven years, which he has served as an apprentice for the sum puny’s em-
one hundred pounds for the whole term, was formerly the asonable salary of one hundred pounds per annum, but since e late contention between the North-West Company and the Y. Company (1) and their junction, we are reduced to the m of sixty pounds for the first year, eighty for the second, and e hundred for the third. For further wages we must depend success in trade and friends in power. Some enjoy an income
two hundred a year ; such prices were only given because the es were pressing. However, we are flattered and feed our-
1) The Company formed by Sir Alexander McKenzie and others in 1801 and which ed with the ‘ Old Concern ?” at Mr. McTavish’s denth, 1804.
different Producspecies of animals which are the beaver, otter, Ivnx, wolverine, country.
History of the trade.
selves upon the hope of once being adimnitted to a share intl Company, which, only friends and merit can procure us. The prices of common men or Canadians are, by an establisho rule, never to exceed fifty or sixty pounds, being the highest, (k lowest is twenty-five pounds, but few have these low prices.
I shall confine my statement of the beginning of commer to the Indians of the Grand River, as I do not suppose any thx further is required from me. A Fort was established at Slr Lake, in the year 1786, for the Chipewean Nation by the Nortt. West Company, under the care of Monsieur Le Eux, who wa: clerk to the said Company. This gentleman, not boing of a ver enterprising disposition, gave himself little trouble in enquirix of the Chipeweans whether the countries beyond Slave Lake were inhabited by Indian tribes or not, but remained quiet wai. ing for the furs of the before mentioned nation. These bei somewhat lazy to hunt, went in quest of strange nations wil whom they would trade an old knife or a worn out axe, whil they had got for little or nothing, for double or triple its valu till, at length, Mr. Leroux sent the English Chief, the princiyl man of the Chipewean tribe, to do his best in order to indu: them to trade at the fort.
This expedition was crowned with success, and this good fr tune was soon followed by another of more consequence. Ut James Sutherland, a common man in the Company's servit went in quest of them and brought a great number with him! the spring of the same year, from whom a considerable num of peltries was traded. In the course of this visit, a few preseii were made to the Great Men which produced the desired elle as the.e people gave such a high character of the white mel generosity and good disposition, that all the neighbouring nalüi who heard of it, vied, the next year, with each other whoshoi trade the most with the Fort.
With CalT Ying leaving was far tedious ] Fort, the
Ling the o by intere year afte post was conseque This ag tant from by the Cc eighty m people w obedience which wi killed wi voyage 0 Labout eig nation ca Ocean.
After h was promd year into t as expecte
Ryear, sixte
we begin
Was not oc of the dep X.Y.andt many Nati
With these furs they travelled in winter upwards of a month, carrying them on their backs or dragging them on sledges, and Jeaving their families nearlÿ two hundred miles behind. This
à share intl
cure us.
an establishel was far from suiting their purpose, as they often starved insuch he highest, ll tedious journeys, and only two-thirds of them would go to the low prices. Fort, the other third remaining to take care of the families durx of commerte Ling the others’ absence. At length, the Company was persuaded
pose any (hit bv interested molives to establish a fort at Marten Lake the third lished at Slare
n by the Not
year after the opening of trade with these tribes. This new post was fifteen days march nearer to their lands, the trade was consequently carried on with greater success and ease.
This again was still found 100 inconvenient, as being too far dis-
ux, WhO was { boing of a ver ple in enquirit, nd Slave Like ined quiet wi:
n. These be
tant from their families, so that, in 1796, Mr. Duncan Levingston,
by the Companies’ order, built a Fort in the Grand River about
eighty miles from its source. Under his management these
people were modelled anew and brought under an implicit
obedience to the Whites’ authority. He enjoyed his success,
ge nations Wii which was great, for the space of three years, when he was killed with three GCanadians and his interpreter while on a
out axe, wi
triple its valu f, the princiu order Lo indu
voyage of discovery to the sea by the way of Grand River,
about eight days’ march downward from this place, by a fierce nation called the Esquimaux who inhabit the borders of the Ocean.
After his death, which happened in 1799, Mr. John Thomson was promoted to his place, and divided this nation the following year into two distinct bodies ; but instead of an increase of trade as expected, a drawback of six packs was experienced the first
year, sixteen the next, and so continually until last year, and re begin again to recover a few more packs. This, however, was not occasioned by the inactivity of those who had charge of the department, but rather by the late struggle between the X. Y. and the North-West Companies and, partly, by the death of many Natives.
ad this gooû hr sequence. Üt apany's sert bber with himi iderable num sit, a few prestli 1e desired elle the white mel hbouring nalii bther who shot
Compotition.
From competition arises à variety of circumstances Which, {y a moment, promote the interest of many, in augmenting Wat and unfurling capacities which, without this, would perhan never have been demonstrated, tho’ it is often prejudicial y mora s and equally injurious to the character of many.
Besides this, several people who are roguish in private an
. . ee à emblers in public (Hke at court) are the most noticed. Th
perse are publicly attended to, and their interests are pr moted to the greatest and most advantageous expeclation Shares in the Company are given to them altho’ they ner
perhaps deserved it. While these are thus advanced to wla their merits otherwise would not have entitled them, other honest characters, let their abilities be ever so great, are dis garded for the time being, and must think themselve: happy à having the good fortune to gather the rags and be allowed te approaches of these dissembliny courtiers.
Another bad effect of competition is drunkenness, murdr, theft, besides many other vices.
With respect to the Indians, the care and attention thati paid (1 was going Lo say to their persons) to them for the sakef their skins. renders them much more civilized and cunning. B this, they take a footing which, with time, induces themt commit actions which otherwise they would not have dared t mention Indolence, robbery and murder are the consequence of an opposition in trade : people would suppose it would roux their attention to industry, having goods at a lower price, hit far to the contrary ; drunkenness, idleness and vice are prefr ed; they are, indeed, of a beggarly disposition. Thus no go can be derived from the turbulent struggles of opposition à this country ; it destroys trade, creates vice, and renders peopk crafty, ruins good morals, and almost totally abolishes ever hum” :sentiment in both Christian and Indian breast.
Ya:t Taie An-n Se-ch Set-to Gun- Sor-r4 Din- Tse- Boy Girl Taizo- Din-n; Tsai … El-the In-nai Eghor En-na In nih En-na:
Ette-z:
Elte-zi Thee-g In-nec Eth-av Ekaw- Ed-dar Eghu-:
Eth-av Be-daw Eck-ka
ices Which, fx
nenting Wigx would perhay __prejudicial t many.
in privale an noticed. The iteresis are pri [S CXpeCtation
tho’ they new
vanced to wa ÎR
them, othex great, are (isne.
selve: happy à be allowed te
nness, Murder,
ttention (hat à for the sake of 1d cunning. Br aduces them t have dared à Le consequenté it would roux wer price, bit vice are prefer Thus no goi opposition il renders peopk abolishes evert breast.
