Harmon's journal. 



161 



who are in the Nipigon country. In this country, 

 which is at least seven hundred miles long and 

 five or six hundred broad, more people have starv- 

 ed to death, than in all the rest of the Indian coun- 

 try. At this lake, several years since, eleven 

 Canadians lost their lives for want of food. We 

 experience at present, no difficulty in this respect; 

 and I am of opinion that the distresses of our 

 predecessors were, in a considerable measure, 

 owing to the want of good management. 



Monday, November 9. Our people have re- 

 turned, and inform us, that they have caught only 

 fourteen hundred fish of all descriptions. These, 

 however, with what corn, Hour, wild rice and meat 

 we have, together with the trout which we hope 

 to take with set hooks and lines, as soon as the 

 lake is frozen over, will, we expect, furnish us 

 with a comfortable subsistence, during the winter. 

 We are in a solitary place, where we see no one, 

 excepting the Natives ; and they are few in num- 

 ber, compared with those, among whom I have 

 formerly been. Happily for us, we have a 

 few good books; and in perusing them, w r e 

 shall pass the greater part of the time. The 

 Doctor, who is of about the same age with 

 myself, is an excellent companion, and fond 

 of conversation ; and I trust, that a friendly inter- 

 course will mutually cheer our spirits, and that we 

 21 



