THE
JOURNAL OF OCCURRENCES
AT
FORT LANGLEY

Transcribed by Roger H. Newman

(Delaunois/Delonie)

About 8 O'Clock last night we had a sudden Call from the man on the watch of Canoes & singing down the river and in a moments had the agreeable Surprise of taking our Governor in Chief by the hand – he is accompanied from York Factory by Mr. Chief Trader Arch. McDonald and Dr. Hamlyn and 20 men exclusive of Mr. James M. Yale & 7 men from New Caledonia & Thompson's river – They left the mouth of that river in the morning of the 9th & to there from Kamloops House took them a day and a half.  It would appear the river is worse than any idea we Could have formed of it and renders the practicability of opening a regular Communication this way with the Interior most doubtful.[1]

Since the Governor's arrival here it has been Settled upon that Mr. McMillan be allowed to avail himself of his rotation of forlough [furlough] next Season and as a Change of this kind may be attended with danger and inconvenience in the Spring, he now accompanies the Gov. to Vancouver, and Mr. McDonald assumes the Charge of this place keeping Mr. Yale in the room of Mr. Manson and the Complement of men reduced from 20 to 17 – Mr. Annance Continues Indian Trader  - The furs now procured on account of Outfit /28 are 716 Beaver and 208 Land Otters including 96 Beaver & 39 otters Shipped in April – N.B. The Journal will now be kept by Mr. McDonald.[2]

Much rain for the last three days – very little doing about the Fort – {In the Afternoon the New Comers were Sent out to Cut Pickets except one of them finishing a WheelBarrow he began before he went off and another Squaring Wood for the Sawyers.} 9 P.M.  The man in the Watch fired a shot and before we Could gain the Gallery fired a Second – Nothing human Could be seen, & however possitive [positive] Master Delenais as to the object of his firing, I am almost Sure he Saw nothing – neither was he heard Challenging any one – In Such Circumstances he is told how to act in future – he is a new hand in the Fort – No one ought to fire that early in the night on Indians at the wharf without Consulting the Gentlemen within first.[4]

At an early hour, received the usal Compliments of the day from our men, and in his turn each was Regaled with a pint Rum, 3lbs. Flour – ½ lb. Grease and each House ½ Gall Pease – a quarter of Elk meat & a whole Beaver, with which to make merry rest of the day – Joe traded his furs – 37 Skins – all for Blkts. - he was to be indulged with a Gun in part payment if he had a mind, but declined it in Consequence of the difficulty in obtaining ammunition – {He tells us that the unfortunate affair of our people in the Sound is the cause of much trouble now among themselves.}  He is to be back in a Couple of months, after visiting the Yewklatas and Tribes still further to the Northward along the main Shore.  Went off well pleased of Course with fair promises of doing well – Our people, with the exception of one no wise irregular, were allowed lights and the use of a House to enjoy themselves at a dance this evening – mean time the watch was mounted, who discovered early in the night that the drunken Sot Delannis had Contrived to haule [haul] one of the Quaitline damsels up by a port hole in one of the Bastions – At first we apprehended there were more than one in the Complo.  But no.  And even him, there being no irons at the place am at a loss what to do with him.[5]

Having obtained the necessary information beyond doubt as to Louis Delinnis' guilt in the affair of last night, he was Called in and in the presence of two of the most Credible men among themselves laid open before him the Criminality of his Conduct – He was told that had there been Irons he Should have felt the weight of them for Some time, but now that one half his year's wages – Eleven pounds – Should be the forfeiture of So unpardonable a Crime and to take no liquor during the present year of our Lord – he did not Seem to think his Sentence hard – Said not a word in justification and with all appeared penitent – Situated as we are tis highly necessary to take this formal notice of these indiscretions – Plemmenden and Etienne are off on another attempt for Pierre Charles' Traps and will make a round in Search of Beaver.[6]

Another of our men – Louis Delenais – is permitted to take a wife.  Heretofore it was thought desirable to have no  connection of this kind with the Cawaitchens, and the few women that were admitted were from a distance – The plan however does not Seem to answer our purpose, for these Laddies [ladies] in themselves have nothing very worthy or Conciliating about them, when they come to have intercourse with the natives here: & like all Indians their attachment to their own lands and friends keeps them for ever on the wing to be back again, which Cannot fail leading to the Same disposition in the husband -  Again those of the men that had not been lucky enough to Come in for a Chance of this kind have no inducement at all to remain at the place.  We have therefore, thought that if Indian Connection is at all countenanced the one is as judicious as the other, & to reconcile the bucks to Fort Langley without Some indulgence of this nature is utterly out of the question – to leave them to prowl about in the Camp would be the worst policy of all – What remains for us then, is to make the best & wisest Selection we Can for every man of them, which I think will be tantamount to a few yearly Contract[s] & the evil be not quite So great as was first apprehended.[10]

Messrs. Yale & Annance & ten of our best here viz. Faneant – Plomondon – Delenais – Charpentier – Pepin – Ossin – Terrien – Faron – Puopuoh & Como, are preparing for a Start tomorrow the length of the Cowlitz Portage – They are Served out with 10 days provisions in potatoes & Salted Salmon – The packet, exclusive of private letters is made up with the Journal up to 17th Feby. – District account Book of Course Comprehending Inventory & Returns – Men's winter advances – Men's orders for ensuing Season, and the Requisition for Current Outfit, beside Letter to Governor and Council, and two to John McLoughlin Esqr. Chief Factor.[11]

Two or three of our men indisposed today – one in particular Delinais, who was Suddenly taken ill in the field yesterday evening – a Nanimoo in Spite of all temptation from the Coaster Came to us with 8 or 10 Skins that he traded for Blkts. though a Couple of Guns was the demand at first.[13]

No trade of any description – & the doing at the Establishment is very little – Faniant & his man Continue at the Casks – the two Iroquois [and] Therien hoeing the potatoes – Delinais always at Gate & on Gallery – Domque Cooks & P. C. indisposed.[14]

THE
JOURNAL OF OCCURRENCES
AT
FORT NISQUALLY

Transcribed by Roger H. Newman

(Delaunois/Delonie)

A new fence is making round a small spot of ground intended for a kitchen garden, which was again ploughed over.  Ouvre has been employed making horse collars.  This afternoon Louis Delonais arrived from Langley sent hither as desired by Mr. Chief Factor McLaughlin to make up my seventh man.  Mr. Yale writes me that the party sent from here on the 16th Ulto. [16th Feb.] got up there and all is well about him.  Delightful weather – foggy morning.

Louis, Dominique, Delonais and Quenelle have been busy at getting a fence up round a spot of ground west of the Fort.  Mowat kept at harrowing.  Anawiscum and Ouvre made up a few bales of furs.   The weather cloudy a part of the day, and a little rain fell.

Anawiscum, Delonais, Quenelle, and Dominique were squaring.  Louis sick.  Ouvre and Mowat employed about the fort.  Fair weather.

The four men above mentioned were employed at grooving the post of the Barn at the place where it is to be erected. …

Sent off Delonais, Dominique and Quenelle with a couple of Indians to gather cedar bark for roofing our barn and sundry other small buildings now on hand.  Anawiscum is gone with them to show where the cedar is to be got.  A small shower in the afternoon.  Fair rest to the day.  Louis sick.

The trashing floor completed at breakfast hour, after which the men were employed squaring rafters for the Barn.  This evening, Delonais, Dominique and Quenelle arrived from the Cedar Bark and brought a few with them.  In course of their stay from us they succeeded in getting 700 pieces of good Cedar Bark and report more can be got.  The weather fair.

Delonais and party off for more Cedar Bark.  Anawiscum was busy at making a cart and Louis completed the number of rafters.  Traded four Beaver and an Otter.  Cloudy at intervals but very warm.  The women were out hoeing up ground about the potatoes in the field near the small lake.

The usual employment for the men, at the bark and squaring.  Mowat and a young Indian carted up the bark brought yesterday.  Traded twenty Beaver skins besides other small furs.  Delonais and party have brought home 260 pieces of bark this evening.  Cloudy in the forenoon.

Late this evening Delonais and party arrived with the remainder of the Cedar Bark being 227 pieces, making altogether 1500 pieces of cover for our roofs for the buildings we have on hand.  Last year we could only get after much trouble 1100 pieces of indifferent cedar Bark owing to my being a stranger to the country.  McDonald and Louis employed as usual.  The weather cloudy.

Louis and Delonais squaring wood for a milk House.  McDonald, Dominique and Quenelle were working at the wood of the grain Store which is brought home.   Mowat brought up all the bark from the beach. …

Louis, Anawiscum, Delonais and Quenelle have been employed at putting up the flooring of the grain store.  Dominique sick.  Fair weather.

Louis, Quenelle and Delonais were employed at squaring wood for the milk house.  McDonald still employed at the Grain Store. …

Louis, Dominique and Delonais were employed at squaring wood for the dairy.  McDonald and Quenelle off to hunt deer.  Late this evening Plomondon arrived from Vancouver with 4 oxen, 4 cows and their calves, besides five plough horses.  He has been twenty three days on the voyage.  The cattle in fine order.   Fair weather.

Anawiscum was working at the square of the Milk House.  Louis and Quenelle were ploughing ground about the potatoes.  Delonais and Dominique were employed at getting fence poles for making an inclosure for the cattle.  The fall wheat has been out in the ear the week past and looks most beautiful.  The weather overcast.  The cows lately come gave us about 2 gallons of milk in course of the day.

The ploughers have resumed their work and I am sorry to say we cannot succeed with our ploughs.  Delonais was hauling fence wood to surround the Barn.  McDonald was busy at altering a plough.  This evening Dominique arrived having parted from the Doctor on Wednesday evening, who immediately descended the Cowlitz.  One of the young Indians left at the above river has also come under our protection not being at the Portage at the embarkation of Mr. McLoughlin.  This morning it was clody and a little rain fell but not enough to wet the soil.

Louis and Quenelle were ploughing up new ground on the road to the river. Anawiscum was out getting plough wood. Delonias and Dominique were sawing wheels. Our surplus hands were employed cleaning up the Fort as usual on this day. …

Louis, Delonias, Dominique and Louis the Iroquois were employed all day reaping the Barley and after breakfast Mowat joined in the same duty.  Dominique with the Women began to gather up the Pease, assisted by Indian women.  The weather the same.

Quenelle, Louis the Iroquois, Delonais, Dominique and after breakfast, Mowat were reaping the fall wheat, they altogether cut only 3 acres. Traded a dozen of Beavers from Challacum’s brother. The weather very warm.

The new house for Delonais and family is completed and Ouvre is again alone in his house.  Got the Kitchen Chimney repaired.  The ploughers continue their job.  Traded above forty skins today from the Indians that arrived yesterday.  The weather fair but we scarcely can see the sun from the smoke around.

The ploughers have done their work and repaired the fence. Anawiscum, Delonais & Dominique were employed about the place. It rained during the night and day and our rain receiver was this evening full.

The men employed making a trough for the pigs. This evening Mr. Work arrived with two canoes loaded with 33 bushels of peas. He has 8 men.

Mr. Work off to Vancouver with 2 of his men and Delonais. The remainder of his hands are to conduct my returns to Head Quarters. Fair weather, day cloudy.

The same duty for the men.  This afternoon Delonais and Farron arrived from Vancouver with the Express from the east side of the mountains.  They brought also 4 bags of flour requested from there.  The arrivals from York Factory are Messrs. Finlayson, McLeod, Douglas, all commissioned Gentry.  Mr. McDonald has returned also and has made Coleville a fixture for himself.  Cloudy weather.  This morning the sick woman mentioned yesterday died.

Anawiscum, Delonais and Quenelle have gone in search of hoops for Ft. Langley.  Ouvre, Louis and Dominique have been employed at gathering up good potatoes for seed.  Cloudy weather.

The men sent for hoops have come home unsuccessful owing to the great fire last summer.  The rest of the men were busy chopping firewood.  Thick fog in the morning.  Fair as the sun rose.

Anawiscum and Delonais again off in search of hoop wood. …

Again unsuccessful with our hoops. …

Dominique, Delonais and Quenelle were chopping.  Old Ouvre doing the same for his own house and Indian Hall.  Mowat keeps the cattle and cooks for myself.  The weather fair.

Dominique, Delonais & Quenelle were employed at cutting fire wood in order to reduce the felled trees near us.  Ouvre does a little work for himself and Indians in the same way as the above men.  Mowat acts as cook and minds the cattle.  The gale very severe all night and today it continues with much rain.

The duty of the men is little or nothing as most of them are sick.  Delonais only busy making up pegs for the new fences.  Rained much all night and day, our rain receiver full.

The only man at work was Delonais.  This afternoon Anawiscum and Louis arrived from Vancouver.  All well at that place.  The Llama off to the coast.  Indians reported, say, that the natives about Nez Perces tied Mr. [Pennbarn] and two of his men in order to get a reduction of the tariff which they gained from the fear of their acting a more serious part.  The men took ten days on their voyage.  The day fair.

Delonais and Quenelle at work. Indians have arrived with furs to trade. Fair weather.

The men were out cutting fence poles that is Anawiscum, Delonais, Louis & Quenelle. Dominique still sick. This evening Pierre Charles arrived with his family, having with them [Challacum] who brought me Mr. Yale’s accounts & letters for spring express. All well in that quarter. Some snow fell during the night but soon disappeared. 421 fence poles cut and split.

Anawiscum, Delonais & Quenelle were employed at the gallery.  This morning Louis Sagohanenchto & Dominique Farron started with Mr. Yale’s express and my accounts for Outfit ’85 for  Fort Vancouver.  Pierre Charles and family have accompanied the above for the same place.  In the morning it rained for remaining part of day.

McDonald, Delonais & Quenelle have proceeded with squaring business.  A few Indians came in but brought little or nothing to trade.  Fine and most delightful weather.

Quenelle was busy chopping firewood.  McDonald and Delonais were employed squaring wood for a gallery south corner of the Fort.  Mowat as usual employed about the cattle and cooking.  Ouvre attending to the Indians.  The  weather cloudy and a little rain fell.

Sent off  Pierre Charles and Delonais to Fort Langley being both appointed to the Place.  Our Gallery completed.  The weather [off page]