JOURNAL. 



April, 1800. 

 Tuesday, 29. La Chine. Yesterday, I left 

 Montreal, for this place, in corn pan j with severat 

 other Clerks ; and am on my way to the interiour, 

 or Indian countries, there to remain, if my life 

 should be spared, for seven years, at least. For 

 this space of time I am under an engagement to 

 serve as a clerk to the North West Company, oth- 

 erwise denominated McTavish, Frobisher, & Co. 

 The goods intended for the interiour or upper 

 countries, are here put on boacd of canoes. These 

 canoes which are constructed of the bark of the 

 birch tree, will carry a burden of three and an 

 half or four tons each ; and are severally manned 

 by eight or nine Canadians, who are said to man- 

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