220 SHORT ALLOWANCE. 



doubtless " smoked upon the board" on that 

 glorious day of prescriptive feasting. 



January, 1834. — Some Indians brought a small 

 supply of meat, half dried and very bad; and 

 by a letter from Mr. M c Leod, I learned that the 

 animals had taken a western direction, which, 

 with the coldness of the weather, precluded the 

 possibility of the Indians following them. Mr. 

 M c Leod himself, being a first-rate rifle shot, had 

 by his personal exertions already assisted one 

 party, and was going to visit another. 



On the 13th, the women and children were 

 sent to the fishery, and our own allowance was 

 reduced a quarter of a pound each. Another 

 supply of lean and half putrid meat was sent by 

 Akaitcho, which was augmented a few days 

 afterwards by eighty pounds from Mr. M c Leod. 

 He had been to the fishery, " which," he added, 

 " I was sorry to find unproductive, besides being 

 burthened with a number of starving natives, 

 who proved expensive and annoying, but are 

 now all away. The dogs can hardly stand on 

 their legs. For the two last weeks I have had 

 much trouble, owing to the importunities of the 

 Indians by whom I am surrounded. Some are 

 strangers, but others you have seen. Many are 

 extremely low, but I hope not beyond re- 

 covery. From what I have seen of the coun- 

 try, animals are scarce." At the same time we 



