"1837, May 19. Felix and Roderick McLeod made twelve bags of pemmican to-day."
1837, May 21. The Mackenzie River broke up to-day, and continued drifting pretty thick till evening."
"1837, June 18. Some of the Indians killed a bear before the door and it supplied us with a little fresh meat."
"1837, June 19. Flies so numerous that we are under the necessity of putting our cattle into the stable, otherwise they will fall victims to the cruel insects."
"1837, June 20. Weather very suffocating, thermometer 85 above at three p.m., not as much as a cloud to be seen in the firmament and not the least air to afford any refreshment; this along with the solitude of the time is enough to make people dull. No Indian from any quarter: well supplied with ammunition last spring, they forget us when they can get their own mouths satisfied. Ashley grinding barley in the steel mill."
"1837, June 21. Le Mari has just brought in some fish and a little bearskin in order to get a chemise, he says he is not able to hunt without a chemise, as there are so many flies just now. I have taken it upon myself to give him the shirt on credit."
Here a new hand writes the records, untrammelled by any orthographic rules.
"1837, June 24. Flys very numerus and trublsome to the Cattel."
"1837, July 11. Starvan Indians going and coming ourly."
"1837, July 13. Six squas arrived with plenty Bearrys—that's all they subsist on in this part of the River."