Harmon's journal. 



139 



pf the people had drunk so much, as to be incapa- 

 ble of walking straightly, the other fourth thought 

 it time to put an end to the ball,, or rather bawl. 

 This morning, we were invited to breakfast at the 

 Hudson Bay House, with a Mr. M c Kay, and in the 

 evening to a dance. This, however, ended more 

 decently, than the one of the preceding evening. 



It is now more than fifty years, since a French 

 missionary left this place. He had, as I am inform- 

 ed, resided here, during a number of years, for the 

 purpose of instructing the Natives in the Christian 

 religion. He taught them some short prayers, in 

 the French language, the whole of which some of 

 them have not yet forgotten. 



The surrounding country consists chiefly of 

 plains ; and the soil appears to be richer, than 

 that which is farther up the river. 



Tuesday, 30. In the morning, I left Mouse 

 River; and I have with me upwards of forty men, 

 in five boats and seven canoes. 



Saturday, June 1. We are now a little below 

 what was called the Pine Fort. It is twenty 

 years since this fort was built, and eleven since it 

 was abandoned. This River is now so low, aris- 

 ing from the fact that we have had no rain this 

 spring, and we have such a number of boats and 

 canoes, that we drive the sturgeon upon the sand 

 banks, where there is but little water ; and we 



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