[Garry ] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 109 
past three we embarked and at seven arrived at Drummond’s Island. 
After breakfasting we walked over a newly made Road of about a mile 
to the Fort. Drummond Island is named after Sir Gordon Drummond* 
who commanded in Canada. During Breakfast a little Fleet of Indian 
Canoes passed our Tent with two British Flags flying denoting the Pre- 
sence of two Chiefs. The Fort is commanded by Major Winnett of the 
62nd. Two Companies of this Regiment were in Garrison with a few 
Artillery Men. A great deal of Ground has been cleared away to erect 
very extensive Fortifications, but by Mr. Thompson’s Survey it is ascer- 
tained that the Island is within the American Line according to the 
Treaty of Ghent and must thus be given up. It is said the British will 
erect a Fortification on the main Land opposite to the Island of St. 
Joseph and this will be decided by Lord Dalhousie who will visit the 
Island this Summer. We called on Dr. Mitchell a very old Gentleman; 
he is Staff Surgeon and his Wife, who is an Indian, a great Fur Trader. 
They live at Michilimackinac. We found here the Indians who had 
passed us in the morning preparing their Encampment which was 
entirely done by Women, whilst the Men were lying on the Ground 
smoking their Pipes. They were from the Missisaga Country, a River 
running into Lake Huron on the North Side. The Chiefs were in fine 
Dresses, red Coats faced with blue, Silver Lace, their faces painted 
with Vermilion. The Women were ill dressed and were disgusting in 
their Appearance. One of the Women who did not appear to be more 
than thirteen had a Child hung on the Branch of a Tree swinging back- 
wards and forwards in a Sort of Basket the Head peeping out and the 
Body in an erect position. They came to the Fort to receive Presents 
of Blankets, &c. Last Year 4000 received Gifts. Major Winnett who 
received us with great Politeness was anxious that we should remain to 
Dinner but in a Canoe Voyage all is Expedition. The Major however 
supplied us with a most excellent cold Dinner, Ale, Vegetables. The 
latter were a great Treat, as we had not tasted them since we left 
Montreal. Travelling this way is very much the same as a Sea Voyage, 
that is, here you travel over Land in an uncultivated Country and 
all your Comforts and Luxuries you must carry with you. At six 
o’clock we passed the site of the Village of St. Joseph upon an Island 
of the same Name. The Ruins of the old British Fort are still stand- 
ing. The Situation is very commanding. A Corporal’s Guard is now 
on the Island for the Protection of the Powder Magazine which has 



1 Sir Gordon Drummond, born 1772. Saw much service in the Netherlands and 
Egypt. Appointed second in command to Sir G. Prevost in 1811. Won the battle 
of Niagara, or Chippewa, July 25, 1814. K. C. B. in 1815. G.C. B. 1837. Died 1854. 
See Dict. National Biography. 
