[GARRY ] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 145 
did. For they had scarcely landed when the Storm increased and con- 
tinued the whole Night with Thunderstorms and Lightning. We learnt 
afterwards that the Standing out was only a Bravado, wishing us first 
to encamp that they might have the Opportunity to vaunt their Prowess. 
Miserable Vanity, which might have cost the Lives of many brave 
People, who protested against the Step. The steersman was actually 
changed refusing to conduct the Canoe. The History of this Vanity 
was that after an Attempt at Fort William to give me a weak Crew and 
a bad Canoe it was a Source of great Annoyance that we led the March. 
We passed an uncomfortable Night drenched with Rain and annoyed by 
a small invisible Insect which produced Smarting and Irritation, pre- 
venting Sleep and Ease. 
Wednesday the 8th of August. The Wind continuing to blow a 
Storm we must wait with Patience. The Island on which we are is a 
flat Rock, swampy and covered with Reeds, Willows, great Quantity of 
Raspberries, Gooseberries, Hurtleberry small ground Plant with a blue 
Berry. The Rock is within half a Mile of the Main Land on the East 
Side a few miles to the South of the Beaver River. We remained here 
the whole Day which I employed in writing my Journal and altogether 
did not find the day tedious. 
Thursday the 9th [August]. The Wind having abated we em- 
barked at 3 o'clock. At 4 past 8 met two Canoes on Shore making 
Signals. We immediately approached them when we found Mr. Chas- 
tellair a retired Clerk from the Service of the Hudson’s Bay Company 
with twelve Men going down to Montreal. He had Letters for me from 
Mr. Simpson. Wrote to Mr. Pelly on the Beach dating my Letter Lake 
Winnipic five Miles to the south of the Pigeon River. At half-past nine 
we embarked. Mr. Thomas thinks unfavourably of the Colony—fears 
much Annoyance from the Indians who are increasing in Numbers ; 
considers the Presents necessary to be made to them will amount to a 
great deal of Money. From its great Distance from the Sea and the 
Difficulty of navigating the Lakes and Rivers considers it can only be a 
Means of Existence to the Inhabitants never a Source of Profit.” 
At a quarter past 10 passed within a few Paces a Point of the main 
Land on the East Side. Thousands of Geese. Traversed a Bay at the 
Bottom of which is the Pigeon River. At half past eleven we were 
abreast of Behrens River. Four Miles distant on the East Side appears 
a broad Stream denoted by a [illegible] Stick. This River communicates 
with the Pigeon River and some interior Posts, the last, Albany House. 
——— 


1 Probably Vaccinium Canadense, or V. cœspitosum. 
See Appendix [C.] 
