Harmon's journal. 



181 



Wednesday, July 19. Baptiste La Fleur has 

 returned from St. Johns, without having been able 

 to obtain the least intelligence, respecting his 

 poor brother, and the two Indians, who were com- 

 ing down the river, in the same canoe with him. 

 We are, therefore, apprehensive that all three of 

 them have been drowned, in coming down the 

 rapids, as their canoe was made of the bark 

 of the spruce fir tree, and was, therefore, very 

 weak. 



Friday, 21. We have cut down our barley; 

 and I think it is the finest that I ever saw in any 

 country. The soil on the points of land, along 

 this river is excellent. 



The mother of the chief, who died this sum- 

 mer, and who is far advanced in years, now re- 

 mains in a tent, at the distance of a few rods from 

 the fort. Many of the Natives, of both sexes, 

 when they become old and infirm, and unable to 

 travel with their relations, who depend upon the 

 chase for subsistence, and are frequently moving 

 from place to place, settle down near our forts ; 

 and it is easy for us to render them more effectual 

 aid, than their friends could possibly afford them. 



Almost every day, just as the sun is sinking 

 below the horizon, the old lady, above mentioned, 

 goes to the place where her deceased son, when 

 alive, was accustomed to encamp, when he came 



