BURPKK] AN ADVENTURER FROM HUDSON BAY 117 



9. Friday. We proceeded : Our Course about S.W. & distance 4 

 miles: arriving at the place we left on the 37th ult., wliei'e we intend to 

 continue, until we embark for our voyage to York Fort: Keturned Louis 

 Pi*imo's two Natives, & sent by them two presents of Tobacco to two 

 valuable Leaders. Much water running over the ice in the river, & 

 blowing up in holes in places. 



10 to 19. Saturday, 10th, to Monday, 19th instant. All hands em- 

 ployed collecting materials & building Canoes. No Snow on the ground, 

 but what is in the Woods. Indian Visitors coming & Igoing; whose 

 people generally employed as we are, preparing Canoes. 



20. Tuesday. Eiver broke up, & nmch ice came down. A young 

 Buffalo seen, but too swdft to be overtaJ<:en on foot. 



21. Wednesday. Three tents of Asinepoet Natives unpitched and 

 went Northwards. 



22 to 24. 1'hursday to Saturday. Ice mostly drove past us. & the 

 Currant somewhat abated : Several Young men crossed the river in a 

 temporary Canoe covered with skins. Frogs croaking. 



25. Sunday. One tent of Indians came to us from the Eastward ; 

 provisions hath been scarce with them : ]\Iany Natives Itelow us hatJ» 

 been in at Saswee, alias Francois. & traded part of their most valuable 

 furs. I find the liquor attracts them : Gratitude for favours received, 

 being a virtue the Natives in general are unacquainted with. 



2G to May 1. ^londay to Saturday. Busy with the Canoes. Mos- 

 quitoes plenty. 



2. Sunday. Sent two Young men to the Natives down the river 

 with a present of tobacco, with orders to desist going to the pedlars. 



3 to 4. Monday. Our Canoes are in great forewardness. 



5. Wednesday. An Indian came from those down the river: In- 

 forms me that many are sickly, & that we are much forewarder than they 

 in building our Canoes ; that they have been fighting, occasioned by the 

 liquor presented to them by the pedlars.^ 



6 to 15. Thursday, Gth, to the loth instant. Musquitoes plenty 

 & troublesome: after a shower of rain intolerable: Canoes ready; & 

 we propose setting out to-morrow for York Fort. We have a good stock 

 of food. Viz., Buffalo flesh & several bladders of fat. 



16. Sunday. We embarked & paddled a small distance; stopping 

 to kill Buffalo & Waskesew: Several grazing in sight. 



17 to 18. Monday & Tuesday. Paddled down the river slowly. 



1 Andrew Graham notes: — "My Opinion is, that 'n order to have pre- 

 vented the Natives from visiting the Canadians, Mr. Cocking- should have 

 taken a Station underneath all his Natives." 



