280 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



river among some wide-spreading oaks, and on the opposite side the Eoman 

 Catholic church and Mission estabKshment, both forming a fine effect. 

 Called at Fort Garry and presented myself to Donald McKenzie, Esq., 

 the Governor of the colony, who received me with great kindness. While a 

 basin of tea was preparing at my request, a large tureen of fine milk was 

 placed on the table, which I found excellent. I handed him Governor 

 Simpson's note, but found that a note was unnecessary with Mr. McKenzie. 

 His conversation to me is the more acceptable from the intimate knowledge 

 he possesses of the country west of the Eocky Mountains. In 1819 he 

 ascended the Missouri River and crossed the continent to the mouth of the 

 Columbia with an American party ; was the companion of Messrs. Nuttall 

 and Bradbury as far as they accompanied the expedition up the former 

 river. He has travelled largely through the country south of the Columbia, 

 in the interior, behind the Spanish settlements, and like all who share in 

 such undertakings, shared in the fatigues and hardships attendant on 

 these expeditions. But his was more than usual, being the first who ventured 

 on these untrodden wilds. He has since recrossed by the Columbian 

 route. Had a visit paid me by Spokane Garry, an Indian boy, native 

 of the Columbia, who is receiving his education at the Missionary school- 

 He came to inquire of his father and brothers, whom I saw ; he speaks 

 good English ; his mother tongue (Spokane) he has nearly forgotten. 

 Sent the box and letters under my care to the Bishop. Evening fine. 



Friday, 13J A.— Arranged plants ; dried paper, and took a short walk 

 in the evening ; found a few plants not in the collection. Showery, 

 thunder and lightning. 



IM.— Made a short excursion up the Assiniboine River and returned to 

 breakfast. At eleven o'clock Monseigneur J. N. Provenchier, the Bishop 

 of the Roman Catholic Mission, the Rev. TheophHus Harper, and Mr. 

 Buchier, a young ecclesiastic, called on me and made a long stay. The 

 Bishop speaks good English, but with that broken accent peculiar to 

 foreigners. Mr. Harper speaks the Enghsh language with as much fluency 

 as his native tongue, French. They conversed in the most unreserved 

 affable manner and made many inquiries concerning the different countries 

 I had visited. I have some reason to think well of their visit, being the 

 first ever paid to any individual except the officers of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company. I am much dehghted with the meek, dignified appearance of 

 the Bishop, a man considerably above six feet and proportionaUy stout • 

 appears to be a man of the most profound acquirements, seen only 

 through the thick rut of his great modesty. Resumed my walk in the 

 evemng, still adding some things to the collection. 



Sunday, Ibth.-kt church. Heard a sermon from the Rev David T 

 Jones, minister of the English church. There being no timepiece for the 

 colony and the habitations widespread, the hour of the day is guessed by 

 the sun. The service being begun half an hour before I got forward in 

 consequence of missing the proper path, the clergyman, seeing me from 

 one of the wmdows, despatched a boy to fetch me on the proper path. 

 This struck me as the man of the world who, in the parable, was compeUed 

 to go to the feast by the person stationed on the wayside. After service 



