CLERK OF THE NORTH-WEST CQ

Set of from Fort Assiniboine, at 2 P, M, for the Missouri with is — atrading equipment. We had nine horses, five of which were loaded with the Company’s property. Our company consisted of Charles McKenzie, Bte. Lafrance, Wm. Morrison, Joseph Azure, Bte. Turenme, Alexis McKay and myself. Encamped about three miles from the Fort, near a small pond of stagnated

(1) Mr. François-Antoine Larocque was a brother of Mr. Joseph Larocque, who occupied for many years a very prominent position in the North-West and Hudson Bay Companies. See: Tassé, Les Canadiens de l’Ouvst.

Mr. F. A. Lorocque was a man of good abilities, of great courage and energy. He vas well read, studious and equally proficient in the use of the French and English languages, but he decidedly preferred the latter.

The life of an Indian trader had not for him the attractions it had for his brother ; he soon left the North-West, came to Montreal and entered business, in which he was most unfortunate. He passed the last years of his life in close retirement and arduous itudy, and died, much advanced in years, in the Grey nunnery of St. Hyacinthe.

Mr. Larocque married a Miss Côté, the daughter of an independent North-West trader, and the sister of Mr. Jules Maurice Quesnel. Ie left only one son, Mr. Alfred larocque, the father of Mr. le Chevalier Larocque, ex-papal zouave ; of Mr. Armand

larocque and of Mrs. Aldérie Ouimei, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Comions.

15th.

16th.

water in order to wait for Morrison who had remained behind with one horse and load. He arrived an hour after : sent McKay to the Fort to fetch provisions for himself, which he had forgotten. Messrs. Chaboillez and Henry came to see me; they remained with us à few hours, bià us farewell and departed.

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Our course since leaving the fort has been west of south, Set off in a south south-west direction, but the plains being burnt, we changed our course north-we.. by west in order to find food for our horses, having been informed that the plains were not burnt in that direction—Encamped at sunset at the last woods upon the second river of the Elk Head, having crossed the first river nearly at its source in the plains.--Mr. McKenzie broke his gun.

Removed our situation to about seven miles higher up the river, there being better food for the horses, and from whence the traverse of the plains is shorter to River La Souris, as it was impossible to get by day to that river from where we slept last night, as there is not a stick of wood in the intermediate space.

Set off early in the morning and did not stop at all in the course of the day. Perceived the woods upon the Souris at sunset and arrived at them before dark, after having crossed a creek in the plains, called by the Indians ‘ Deep River,” from its being very deep in some places, where the water gathers and forms into lakes................…. The plains were burnt in many

Set off one hour and a half before day light,—walked hard till noon, when we arrived at the woods,—stopped one hour to refresh ourselves and horses,—resumed our course, still following the river and encamped upon it at sunset.

low [wo invc A the be b PEOP war, from were ende4 mina betwe to en} Ho beha gave tion befor bein gl robe horse One «

tione any,

ad remained ar after : sent which he had see me; they d departed.

of south. Set , being burnt, order to find he plains were aset at the last having crossed Mr. McKenzie

higher up the 14 from whente jouris, as it Was re we slept last brmediate space.

b at all in the n the Souris at aving crossed à ep River,” from rater gathers and burnt in many

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t—walked hard bped one hour to

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wind blowing from that quarter, brought such volumes of smoke as prevented us from seeing one hundred yards before us, s0 that we were forced to stop at a creek which lay in our way and which disemboges in the Souris, and there pass the night.

Went down the Creek and came to the river which we fol lowed for an hour and à half; we again ascended the hills. The wind having shifted south, the weather was clear for about two hours, when it again veered to the south-west and we were involved in smoke, but not so thick as yesterday.

At 10 A.M., we stopped on a hill to look at a dark spot with pue

the help of a spy glass ; it appeared moving and we found it to be buffaloes, As we were moving off, we heard a number of people wooping and hollowing as Indians generally do when at war. Hills prevented us from seeing whom they proceeded from ; we immediately unsheated our guns for defence, as we were certain that, i’ they were numerous enough, they would endeavour to pillage us of our goous, it being their fixed determination to prevent, as much as they can, any communication between their traders and the Missouri Indians, as they wish to engross that trade themselves.

However, they soon appeared to the number of eight. and behaved very peaceably ; they asked for a little tobacco, we gave them four inches to each and twenty rounds of ammunition among them all. As we were going off, one of them went before the horses and endeavoured to prevent them from passing, being, I suppose, displeased at not receiving more. He let his robe fall and put an arrow in his bow, as if to let fly at the horse; however, we soon got him to give way and went on. One of them followed us for about one mile, and, being queslioned, said he wanted more tobacco. I refused giving him any, being very sorry they had got any at all.

The plains being on fire to the south-west, and the 1h.

7 20th.

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21th.

802 F. A. LAROOQUE

They informed us that they were coming from the Missouri villages, where a great number of their nation, that is Assimboines, had been and were on their way back, whom they said we would probably meet with them and likewise with a band of Knisteneaux who had also been there trading corn and horses.

Continued our journey and encamped at sunset on the side of a creek. The plains all burnt, excepting the spot on which we encamped. When it was dark, we tied our horses with long cords to pickets fixed in the ground, in order that they might not get away from us during the night; kept watch over them all night by turns, being apprehensive that some of these vagabonds had followed us to steel them.

Prepared to set off, but two horses belonging to Lafrance and Azure are missing. Remained her: the whole day to search for them but to no effect.—Killed a bull. At sunset removed a little higher upon the coulée to a better place for the feeding of our horses, where we kept them tied to pickets all night.

Set off at break of day, taking the loads of the missing horses on Mr. McKenzie’s horse and my own.—Found the Assiniboine road leading to the Missouri at S o’clock A. M.;—at mid-day passed one of their encampments, counted seventy-five fireplaces ;--passed two more encampments in the evening and stopped for the night by the side of a small lake around which, and no where else, there was grass for our horses..…................…

Set off at sunrise ; two hours after, met with two of the Big Belly Indians who were going hunting ; they appeared well pleased to see us ; I smoked a pipe with them and departed. At mid-day, saw the smoke of one of the Big Belly villages to the south of which we passed ; at two, arrived at another of their villages where I enquired for Charbonneau, (it being his usual place of residence,) and was informed by a Hudson’s Bay man, who is there for the purposes of trade, that he was with some

America Being u getthe x and mad to Mr. M Left M find, and of the go:

village of Lewis, c Charbonn with him very frien Arrived of the Bla the chief < clothing ai gave a pip Azure and with an eq Lafrance of this villa in charge.

sition.

Went ove about 250 p returned fr bonneau at Bellies ; ha he could desired me that, as he during the

fissouri Assini- 1ey said band of horses.

he side y which ith long y might er them ese vaga-

ance and earch for ed a little ng of our

ng horses ssiniboine mid-day five fire.

ning and hd which, of the Big ared well hrted. At ges to the rof their his usual Bay man, vith some

Americans, below the Mandan village, Lo whom he is engaged Being unwilhng to leave the Hudson’s Bay man here alone to get the whole trade of this village, I got the horses unloaded and made a small equipment of goods which I gave in charge to Mr. McKenzie.

Left Morrison with Mr. McKenzie in the best lodge we could 2sth. find, and proceeded to the Mandan villages with the remainder ye nects of the goods—excepling an equipment destined for the upper A village of the Big Bellys—On the road thither, met with Captain Lewis, chief of the American party—with Jussiaume and Charbonneau— ; had about a quarter of an hour’s conversation with him, during which he invited me tn his house and appeared very friendly.

Arrived at the Mandan village at 3 P. M., entered the lodge of the Black Cat, the chief of the village, sent for the “ Grand,” the chief of the other Mandan village, gave them both a chief's clothing and explained to them the motive of my coming &c— gave a pipe of tobacco to all the grown men as usual; sent Azure and McKay with the Grand on the other side of the river with an equipment of goods in charge of Azure.

Lafrance traded 350 skins in wolves in kitts from the Indians 2çtn. of this village, he being the person to whom I gave this outfit in charge. The Indians appeared to be of a very thievish disposition.

Went over to see Azure, and what trade he had, which was oytp. about 250 plues. Returned to the Black Cats. Captain Lewis returned from above and stopped at the lodge.—Spoke to Charbonneau about helping as interpreter in the trade to the Big-

Bellies ; he told me that, being engaged to the Americans, he could not come without leave from Captain Lewis, and desired me to speak to ‘him, which I did. Capt. Lewis told me that, as he had no business for Charbonneau but at times during the winter, he had no objections to his helping me upon

28th.

29th.

The “Lewis

expedition.

804 F. A. LAROOQUE

certain conditions, which agreeing to, Charbonneau promised

me he would come next morning.

The Black Cat went to dine with the Americans with two other chiefs, upon an invitation from Captain Lewis, who had also invited me, but, expecting Charbonneau, I declined going,

Still very bad weather which, as I thought, prevented Char. bonneau from coming. In the evening the weather cleared,

& Clarke” went ta see what was the reason he did not come,

—Wäas very

politely received by Captains Lewis and Clarke and passed the night with them. Just as I arrived, they were despatching a man for me, having heard that I intended giving flags and medals to the Indians, which they forbid me from giving in the name of the United Siates, saying that the Government looked upon those things as the sacred emblems of the attachment of the Indians to their country. As I had neither flags nor medals, I ran no risk of disobeving those orders, of whichI

assured them.

They next called Charbonncau and gave him leave to come with me, but strictly enjoined not to utter a word to the Indians which might in any way be to the prejudice of the United States, or of any of its citizens, although I should order him to do so, “* which,” said they, turning to me, “ we are

very far from thinking you would.”

Their party consists of 40 odd men besides themselves, and are sent by Government for the purpose of exploring the North West countries to the Pacific Ocean, so as to settle the boundary line between the British and the American territories ; likewise to make it known to the Indians on the Missouri and adjacent country, that they are under the Government of the Big Knives, who will protect them and supply them with all their wants, as long as they shall behave as dutiful children

of the Great Father, the President of the United States, ke.

L never be

&c.—whi to the Indi They sh from the Washingt( scientific a all persons that party be in want have, likev for the pay They left Ohio, passe Lewis, in t] to come to !

last. They they saw or were very of a flag, other trinke saw, but ha They told restrain Co belonged to come in thei

unless his ditizen hims lo pay for pe the Spanish, one will be f

One thing about Detroi

omised

th two ho had | going, d Charcleared, vas very ssed the tching a lags and iving in yernment 1e attachflags nor f which!

to come brd to the e of the buld order ‘we are

elves, anû he North boundary ries ; likessouri and ent of the m with all il children btates, &C.,

&kc.—which has been the continual subject of their harangues to the Indians throughout the winter,

They showed me their passports and letters of recommendation from the French, Spanish and British Ministers at the city of Washington, which say that the object of their voyage is purely scientific and literary, and in no way concerning trade ; desiring all persons under their respective Governments to aid and assist that party as much as in their power lies. in case they should be in want of anything in the course of their voyage. They have, likewise, letters of credit from the American Government for the payment of any drafts they should draw upon it.

They left Philadelphia in the Spring of 1803, came down the Ohio, passed the winter at the mouth of the Missouri, at St. Lewis, in the Illinois country. It took them the whole summer to come to the Mandans, at which place they arrived in October last. They made treaties of peace with all the Indian nations they saw on their road, excepting the Sioux, with whom they were very near coming to an engagement. They made presents of a flag, medal, chiefs clothing, tobacco, knives, beads and other trinkets to every chief of the Indian nation which they saw, but have not given a single shot of ammunition.

restrain commerce, and fetter it as was the case when Lousiana belonged to the Spanish ; that we and all persons who should come in their territories for trade or for any other purpose, will never be molested by an American officer or commandant, unless his behaviour is such as would subject an American dtizen himself to punishment. Nor will any trader be obliged to pay for permission to trade, as was formerly the case under the Spanish, as no exclusive priviledge will be granted. Every one will be free to trade after his own manner.

One thing that Government may do, as it has already done about Detroit and other places where opposition in trade ran

They told me it was not the policy of the United States to Frec trade

with the Indians.

30th.