FORT RESOLUTION AND ITS FOLK 145 



man has his price. Snuff's price was half a pound of 

 tea; and the crew came back, bringing, however, 

 several new modifications in our contract. 



Taking no account of several individuals that joined 

 a number of times but finally resigned, the following, 

 after they had received presents, provisions, and ad- 

 vance pay, were the crew secured to man the York boat 

 on the "3 or 4" days' run to Pike's Portage and then 

 carry my goods to the first lake. 



Weeso. The Jesuits called him Louison d'Noire, 

 but it has been corrupted into a simpler form. "Wee- 

 so" they call it, "Weeso" they write it, and for 

 "Weeso" you must ask, or you will not find him. So 

 I write it as I do "Sousi" and "Yum," with the true 

 local colour. 



He was a nice, kind, simple old rabbit, not much 

 use and not over-strong, but he did his best, never 

 murmuring, and in all the mutinies and rebellions that 

 followed he remained staunch, saying simply, "I gave 

 my word I would go, and I will go." He would make 

 a safe guide for the next party headed for Aylmer Lake. 

 He alone did not ask rations for his wife during his 

 absence; he said, "It didn't matter about her, as they 

 had been married for a long time now." He asked as 

 presents a pair of my spectacles, as his eyes were fail- 

 ing, and a marble axe. The latter I sent him later, 

 but he could not understand why glasses that helped 

 me should not help him. He acted as pilot and guide, 

 knowing next to nothing about either. 



Frangois d'Noire, son of Weeso, a quiet, steady, in- 

 offensive chap, but not strong; nevertheless, having 



