Harmon's journal. 



near an island, when this disaster happened. The 

 people were, however, under the necessity of 

 throwing a part of their property overboard. 



We find here Mons. Perigne, who was former* 

 ly a clerk to the North West Company, but who, 

 as he informs me, has lately been to Canada, and 

 has come up on his own account. He has 

 brought up a few goods, to enable him to carry on 

 a small traffick with the Natives. He, also, in- 

 tends, occasionally to hunt the beaver, &c, himself. 

 But I am convinced, that, at this great distance 

 from the place of market for furs, the trade cannot 

 be profitably carried on, unless it be done on a 

 large scale, which requires a greater capital than 

 an individual can embark in this undertaking. 

 The experiment has been made, in a number of 

 instances ; and it has uniformly failed. 



Friday, 12. Cumberland House. From this 

 place, I shall take a route, which I have never 

 before travelled. 



Saturday, 13. Entrance of River Maligne, or 

 Bad River. This is a considerable river, which 

 runs into Sturgeon Lake. 



Sunday, 14. Beaver Lake. The greater 

 part of the day, we have employed in coming up 

 the river last mentioned, which, through its 

 whole course, has a continual succession of rapids. 



