272 



Harmon's journal. 



most of our people embarked with the returns of 

 this place, in three canoes ; and a few hours 

 hence, I shall, with my family, proceed in another, 

 which will be pushed on by six Canadians. 



It is now eight years and an half, since I came 

 to the west side of the Rocky Mountain. My life, 

 which has often been in jeopardy, is still preserv- 

 ed ; my family have generally enjoyed, in a high 

 degree, the comforts, which this part of the world 

 affords ; and, especially, they have been exten- 

 sively blessed with health of body, and content- 

 ment of mind. Our worldly affairs have prosper- 

 ed, to as great an extent as we could reasonably 

 expect. For all these blessings, it becomes us to 

 return unfeigned thanks, to the great Giver of ev- 

 ery good gift. 



Friday, 14. Rocky Mountain Portage. All 

 the way to this place, we have drifted down, 

 amidst great quantities of ice, by which, at five 

 different places, the river was completely blocked 

 up, so that we were obliged to tarry, until the 

 water rose so high, as to remove these barriers. 

 This is the reason why we have been so long in 

 coming to this place. Had the river been high, 

 and yet clear from ice, the current is so strong, 

 that we might have reached here in two days. 



Wednesday, August 18. Fort William. I have 

 at length arrived at head quarters. In coming 



