Harmon's journal. 



65 



The buffaloes are as yet a considerable distance 

 farther, out in the spacious prairies. Nothing but 

 severe cold weather will drive theui into the 

 woodj part of the country, to which they will 

 then come, in order to be less exposed to the 

 wind and weather, than they would be, to remain 

 in the open plains. 



Sunday, 21. There is now about a foot of 

 snow on the ground; and, on the 11th instant, 

 I left this place, in company with seven Canadians, 

 for Swan River fort. Each man had a sledge, 

 drawn by two dogs, loaded with one hundred and 

 fifty pounds weight of furs, besides provisions to 

 serve man and beast, to perform the trip. On 

 our return, the sledges were loaded with goods. 

 We reached our fort, this afternoon, where I am 

 happy to find Mr. Hugh M c Gillis, on a visit from 

 Red Deer River, and also, two men with letters, 

 from Fort des Prairies, or Sisiscatchwin River. 

 The former place, lies about one hundred and 

 fifty miles from this, and the latter, four or five 

 hundred, in nearly a north direction. 



Wednesday, 24. Yesterday, I went to see 

 the fort of the Hudson Bay Company, which is 

 situated about nine miles down this river, and is 

 in the charge of a Mr. Sutherland. He has a 

 woman of this country, for a wife, who, I was 

 pleased to find, could speak the English language, 

 9 



