126 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
went to the North West Post but returned in the evening to the Hud- 
son’s Bay Post. The Night was intensely hot and I felt so oppressed 
that I was fearful of a severe Attack of Illness which I feel would have 
followed had we continued there any Time. 
Saturday 28th [July]. Rose very unwell and exhausted,—remained 
quiet till 6 in the evening when we embarked Stopped at the North 
West Fort where we had a Council of Indians to whom I made an 
Address. I stated that though the two great rival Companies had 
coalesced, still that this Union would be in no way injurious to them, 
on the contrary that the active and good would be benefited. We then 
gave them a nine Gallon Keg of Rum recommending them to be sober 
and quiet. The Chief replied that though the Black Bird had told them 
many things, that the Coalition was to oppress them still they did not 
believe it, that their Country was poor and therefore too much must, not 
be expected from them. After the Council we took Leave of Mr. Leith, 
the two Mr. McGillivrays, Junior, ete. We then dropped down the 
River two miles where we encamped waiting for Mr. 8S. McGillivray.’ 
The Heat was so intolerable that I felt we should be more comfortable 
in our Tent and in this we were not disappointed and I rose refreshed 
and well. Indeed many Circumstances made me uncomfortable in the 
North West Post. The Man who had murdered Mr. Keveny,? a Gentle- 
man in the Service of the North West Company, was at large in the Fort 
ar we found afterwards that Mr. Bird and myself had run some Risk, 
one of the Clerks who had been dismissed for Drunkenness having 
declared that he would shoot Mr. Bird or myself. He went about in a 
State of Intoxication with loaded Pistols which were taken from him. 
His Name was Cadot. During our Stay at Rainy Lake we had wild Rice 
for Dinner which is well tasted but ill-cleaned. The Houses are built of 
wood with the Skin of the Moose Deer as Windows. A Lover of Dogs 
would be delighted at Rainy Lake. At the Fort there were more than 
twenty of a large Breed used for the drawing of Sledges in Winter. At 
the Fort was a tame Otter who was as playful as a Dog and as affection- 
ate. He had full Range to go where he liked. He was constantly 
swimming in the River but always returned to the House. 
Sunday the 29th [July]. Mr. McGillivray not arriving we started 
at half-past eight. We are now on the Rainy Lake River which is about 
150 Paces in Breadth, the Banks are low, but very rich beautiful Ver- 

1 Mr. S. McGillivray was in charge of the H. B. Co. post of Rainy Lake in 1823 
when visited by Major Long. Keating’s Long, vol. IL., p. 118. 
? Can this be Owen Keveny who was murdered by Charles de Reinhard? See 
Henry (Coues), vol. I., p. 98. 
