Harmon's journal. 



133 



bring us the pleasing intelligence, that there is a 

 plenty of these animals within a day's march of us. 

 This supply of provisions could not have come 

 more opportunely, for our potatoes are almost 

 gone. 



About a month since, I sent Mr. Goedike, ac- 

 companied by ten men, out into the plains, in 

 hopes that they might fall in with the Natives, 

 who would be able to furnish us with food ; but 

 we have heard nothing from them, and I cannot 

 conjecture what should have detained them so long, 

 as I did not expect that they would be absent, for 

 more than ten days, from the fort. 



Thursday, February 7. At the most of the 

 forts in the Swan River department, they have 

 not a sufficiency of provisions ; and they have 

 therefore, sent the greater number of their peo- 

 ple, to pass the remainder of the winter here. 

 We now have bufFaloe in abundance, though our 

 family consists of upwards of seventy persons, who 

 consume, at least, four hundred and fifty pounds, 

 daily. 



Thursday, 19. On the 8th inst. two men ar- 

 rived from Montagne a la Basse, with a packet of 

 letters, informing me, that a coalition took place, 

 the last autumn at Montreal^ between the North 

 West and the X. Y. companies, which letters I 

 have forwarded to Fort des Prairies. 



