[GARRY] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 143. 
Arms, given to him by Lord Selkirk. He showed me a Testimony writ- 
ten on Moose Skin stating he had always been a faithful, sincere friend 
to the Colony and recommending him to the Attentions of the Officers 
in the Service of the Hudson’s Bay Company. It was short, but written 
in that beautiful Style which marked Lord Selkirk’s Writings. I made 
him a short Speech thanking him for his Friendship and requesting its 
Continuance. He entreated me not to send the usual Supplies to the 
Sieux. He is of the Sauteux or rather the Chippeways. 
The North West Fort at the Red River being in a better Situation 
than the Hudson’s Bay House (it being at the Confluence or Forks of 
the Assiniboin and Red River) and there being the Framework of an 
excellent House I had requested Mr. Bird, the Gentleman in Charge, 
to change the House; but considering the Malignity and fearing that. 
the Consequences which might arise from such a [illegible] as the Chang- 
ing the Hudson’s Bay Fort to the North West might have a bad effect on 
the Minds of the Indians I requested Mr. Bird to continue in the Hud- 
son's Bay House. In ten Minutes we arrived at the Post where the 
Horses are kept, at half-past at the Branch of the River which we came 
down. We now leave it to the Right. In an Hour we arrived at the 
Embouchure of the River, having paddled from our Encampment 9 
Hours, the Day intensely hot. At two we landed to Dinner on the West 
Side of the Lake, the Shore low, uninteresting, sandy; Willows, low 
Pine. The Water so low that we were carried several Yards. Great 
Quantity of wild Pease. 
At 3 we embarked continuing our Course Northward, running along 
the West Coast which does not vary in interest or Appearance. About 
4 Miles from the Shore the opposite shore is not visible. (The Red 
River is so winding that though Mr. Birds House by Land is only 6 
miles by water itis nine. The Water of the Red River is not well tasted. 
The Stone or Assiniboin Indians who are Allies of the Sauteux killed a 
poor Sieux who was living peaceably with them. This is the Cause of 
the War). The Water of Lake Winnipic is thick and has a muddy 
Appearance. The Bottom is a sort of white Earth. 
At 9 we landed on a sort of Peninsula on the West Side, low sandy 
Shore. Prevented bathing by a Quantity of Toads and Sand Fly. 
Thursday the ?th of August. Embarked at 3 Wind, South East. 
Ran along the West Shore with an Island to the East. Wind rather too 
strong. At 9 landed to Breakfast on a small Island, sandy Ground, 
rather high Rock covered with Fir. I find when I was asleep we passed 

1 This, I suppose, is the Fort Gerry of Keating’s Long. ‘The beautiful con- 
fluence of the Assiniboine and Red River washed the base of the bluff” [on which 
the fort stood]. (1825) vol. ii., p. 68. 
