Harmon's journal. 



269 



on account of the large quantities of ice that was 

 drifting in Peace River, they were obliged to 

 leave the greater part of the goods, which they 

 had on board of the canoes, but a short distance 

 this side of the Rocky Mountain Portage. We 

 shall be obliged, therefore, to bring these goods 

 on sledges, drawn by dogs from that place, which, 

 is distant from this, about two hundred and eighty 

 miles. 



Sunday, February 28, 1819. Mr. George M. c 

 Dougall has arrived here from Frazer's Lake, to 

 remain, as I am going to M^Leod's Lake, to pre- 

 pare for a departure for Head Quarters ; and my 

 intention is, during the next summer, to visit my 

 native land. I design, also, to take my family 

 with me, and leave them there, that they may be 

 educated in a civilized and christian manner. The 

 mother of my children will accompany me ; and, 

 if she shall be satisfied to remain in that part of" 

 the world, I design to make her regularly my wife 

 by a formal marriage. It will be seen by this re- 

 mark, that my intentions have materially changed, 

 since the time that I at first took her to live with 

 me ; and as my conduct in this respect is differ- 

 ent from that which has generally been pursued 

 by the gentlemen of the North West Company, it 

 will be propor to state some of the reasons which 

 have governed my decision, in regard to this 



