SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 335 



upset ; the men who were in it regained the shore with 

 some difficulty, but much of the cargo was lost or damaged. 

 Among the articles lost, the most important was a keg of 

 tobacco, which was intended for presents to the Indians, 

 and a considerable part of our ammunition, which, getting 

 wet, became either totally unfit for use, or very much da- 

 maged. We had scarcely repaired, as much as lay in our 

 power, the bad effects of this accident, when we observed 

 the heavens overcast with dark clouds portending an ap- 

 proaching storm. We immediately landed with a view to 

 shelter our stores and our persons against the rain. About 

 seven in the evening, the storm broke out with more vio- 

 lence than usually happens in our climates. The precau- 

 tions which we had taken proved of but little or no avail. 

 The stores, which had been carefully packed up in a canoe 

 and covered up as well as our means permitted, were 

 much damaged by the water which half filled the canoe. 

 Among them was our biscuit, coffee, sugar, &c. The tent 

 had been pitched in as favourable a spot, with respect to 

 the trees, as the ground would admit of, but not sufficient- 

 ly so to render it either safe or comfortable. Several trees, 

 in the vicinity of the tent, were struck with lightning, and 

 the wind blew with such force that the crash of falling tim- 

 ber was frequently heard during the night. The rain con- 

 tinued to pour down with great abundance until morning, 

 when we were pleased to observe the sun rise fair, and af- 

 ford us a chance of drying our baggage and stores. That 

 spot being inconvenient for the purpose, we proceeded a 

 few miles higher up, to an old wintering camp of the 

 traders ; we remained there several hours ; our canoes be- 

 ing occupied in transporting the baggage of the land party to 

 the left bank of the river. The St. Peter is here fordable for 

 horses. During our stay at this place Major Long found 



