78 FORT CONFIDENCE. 



received rations, and the children smaller allow- 

 ances. Barley and potatoes were issued in addition 

 as long as they lasted, and flour occasionally. All 

 the men preferred barley-meal to wheaten flour, as 

 it answered better for thickening the soup, and 

 they thought that it was a more substantial article 

 of diet. The rough barley was beaten in a wooden 

 trough until the husks separated, and then boiled 

 whole along with venison, in which way it made a 

 nourishing soup, that was much relished by all the 

 party. Few of the Europeans consumed the whole 

 of their provisions, and the Indians were generally 

 in attendance at their meals to receive the surplus. 

 Several feasts varied the monotony of our winter 

 life : one was given as a house-warming when the 

 buildings were finished ; another, as is customary 

 at all the posts, on the first day of the new year ; 

 and two others when the winter was further ad- 

 vanced. On these occasions, the fishermen and 

 wood-cutters were called in, and the whole esta- 

 blishment, man, woman, and child, supped at long 

 tables placed temporarily in the hall. Preparations 

 for the feasts were made by a great baking of 

 bread, pies, and tarts * for two days previously ; 

 and tea was served liberally as long as any of the 



* We had large supplies of cranberries, bleaberries, and the 

 fruit of the amelanchier, the produce of the country ; which, with 

 a few pounds of Zante currants, served for tarts and pies all the 

 winter. 



