124 Harmon's journal. 



in a boat, loaded with pimican, to be transported 

 as far as the entrance of Winipick River. — The 

 country all around us, is on fire. 



Sunday, 29. Yesterday, the greater part of 

 our people set out for Swan River; and to day, 

 Mr. M c Gillies, and the most of those who were 

 left, have departed for the New Fort, which is 

 distant about forty five miles, to the north west 

 from the former general rendezvous, the Grand 

 Portage, which the Americans have obliged us to 

 abandon. 



It is thought necessary that I should pass an- 

 other summer at this place ; but I am happy in 

 having with me my friends Henry and Goedike. 

 There are here also one interpreter and several 

 labouring men, besides women and children. We 

 are preparing a piece of ground for a garden, the 

 cultivation of which, will be an amusement ; and 

 the produce of it, we hope, will add to our com- 

 forts. Mr. Goedike plays the violin, and will occa- 

 sionally cheer our spirits, with an air. But the 

 most of our leisure time, which is at least five 

 sixths of the whole, will be spent in reading, and 

 in meditating and conversing upon what we read. 

 How valuable is the art, which multiplies books, 

 with great facility, and at a moderate expense. 

 Without them the wheels of time would drag 

 heavily, in this wilderness. 



