1889-90.] DIARY OP GOVERNOR SIMCOE. I37 



going to their wintering ground. We gave l,im some powder and shot • he 

 gave us two ducks, and promised to take care of our men until we returned 

 Sailed on, and near the entrance of the lake we met two canoes with twa 

 Indians m each. Got eight ducks from them for powder, shot, and a 

 lookingglass. Hauled the canoe on shore, made a fire, and gum'd her 

 Havmg made her as tight as we could, we again pushed off, hoisted sail 

 and, passmg the village, landed in the bay where we dined on the 29th 

 September. Hauled' the canoe on shore, turned her upside down, and 

 made a fire. It being late when we arrived we had not time to get much 

 wood, had scarcely sufficient to broil two ducks for supper. It beginning 

 to rain, and the wind shifting suddenly about, we were forced to carry 

 our canoe, &c., to the opposite side of the fire, and turned our backs to 

 the lake. Crept under the canoe, and parsed a very uncomfortable night. 



15th.— Early in the morning three squaws came down to gum our canoe, 

 and the Indians bartered as much corn with us as we wanted. It blew so- 

 hard that we could not possibly set out on our return, and it being too cold 

 to remain on the beach went further into the woods to encamp. We 

 lamented much not being able to return to our men, the more so as they 

 had but a scanty allowance of provisions when we left them, although we 

 took none from them. About two o'clock we broiled a couple of ducks 

 and breakfasted. Shortly after two squaws came down to our lire with 

 more corn to sell. We told them we i>ad enough to bring us home and 

 wanted no more, that we were chiefs, not traders. We gave them a few 

 broaches and some ribbon, and desired them to carry their corn home. 

 In the evening two more came on a similar errand, and we made the 

 same reply as to the former two. They brought us a sufficiency of fire- 

 Avood, for which we gave each a ribbon. They then left us, and we had no> 

 more offers of corn to barter. Being sleepy we went early to bed, but. 

 were both too unwell to get any rest. 



16th.— Got up at daylight, tho' still very sick, but, seeing the necessity 

 of returning to our men, launched our canoe, put everything on board, and 

 pushed off to go to Mr. Cuthbertson's (an Indian trader), on the opposite 

 side of the lake. Putting the canoe in the water was a disagreeable task, 

 as It had frozen hard the night before and was then so cold that the water 

 froze upon our paddles, About half way over to the trader's Mr. Givens 

 got so very sick that he could not paddle, and as I was also unwell and 

 not able to work now, we were a considerable time in getting across. 

 Upon our arrival Mr. Cuthbortson received ns very hospitably. He gave 

 us chocolate for breakfast which revived us. Finding that in our them 

 situation we could not bring the canoe up by ourselves we hired an Indian,, 

 and Mr. Cuthbertson let us have one of his men to help us. Having got a 



