Harmon's journal. 



97 



of the year, when almost all wild animals are 

 the fattest ; and therefore, it is the best time to 

 kill them, and make them into dry provisions. 



Friday, 23. There are at present, in this vi- 

 cinity, grass-hoppers, in such prodigious numbers, 

 as I never before saw in any place. In fair 

 weather, between eight and ten o'clock, A. M. 

 which is the only part of the day when many of 

 them leave the ground, they are flying in such 

 numbers, that they obscure the sun, like a light 

 cloud passing over it. They also devour every 

 thing before them, leaving scarcely a leaf on the 

 trees, or a blade of grass on the prairies ; and our 

 potatoe tops escape not their ravages. 



Tuesday, August 3. The most of the mosque- 

 toes and horse flies, which are so troublesome to 

 man and beast, have left us, as the nights now be- 

 gin to be cool. 



Yesterday, six families of Crees came to the fort; 

 and they have been drinking, ever since. An In- 

 dian had a few wrangling words with a squaw, be- 

 longing to another band, to whom he gave a slight 

 beating. At that time, the chief, who was the 

 friend of the Indian, was passing by ; and he was 

 so enraged at the abusive language given by 

 ' the woman to his friend, that he commenced 

 beating her on the head with a club, and soon 

 terminated her life. This morning, the Indian 



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