150 Harmon's journal. 



of the Indians, in attacking these forts, was pluiK 

 der. 



Mr. William Smith and myself, together with 

 fifteen labouring men, &c. are to pass the winter 

 here ; and a few hundred paces from us, the Hud- 

 son Bay people have a fort. 



Thursday, October 10. This day, a Canadian's 

 daughter, a girl oT about fourteen years of age, 

 was offered to me ; and after mature considera- 

 tion, concerning the step which I ought to take, I 

 have finally concluded to accept of her, as it is 

 customary for all gentlemen who remain, for any 

 length of time, in this part of the world, to have a 

 female companion, with whom they can pass their 

 time more socially and agreeably, than to live a 

 lonely life, as they must do, if single. If we caa 

 live in harmony together, my intention now is, to 

 keep her as long as I remain in this uncivilized 

 part of the world ; and when I return to my na- 

 tive land, I shall endeavour to place her under the 

 protection of some honest man, with whom she 

 can pass the remainder of her days in this country, 

 ,much more agreeably, than it would be possible 

 for her to do, w 7 ere she to be taken down into the 

 civilized world, to the manners, customs and lan- 

 guage of which, she would be an entire stranger. 

 Her mother is of the tribe of the Snare Indians, 

 whose country lies along the Rocky Mountain. 



