William Linklater goes to work

Ile a la Crosse journal William Linklater
Aug 5 1805
"Left Nelson House for the Isle a la crofse with ten Men in two Boats. Sailed untill we come to three points where we put up for the night"

Aug. 6
"Started early the wind a head consequently the men rowed all the day and slept at a narrow below the blood stone fall"

Aug. 7
"Started about four in the morning the wind still a head. this day carried the Goods and launched the Boats past two falls and rowed to the Loon River House where we slept. Received from Wm Oman 36 lbs pounded meat."

Aug. 8
"Started about ten in the forenoon and rowed to a little below Sturgeon Creek where we put up for the night."

Aug. 9
"This day hauled up the Boats with their Cargoes in past two stony points. Launched and carried past two falls and Slept on the Sturgeon Portage."

Aug. 10
"After launching the Boats and carrying the Goods 410 yards we continued our way towards the stony Portage a little below where we Slept."

Aug. 11
"Rainy weather got under way about eight in the morning. this day had three Carrying places at two of which the Boats were Launched we Slept in sight of the Stony Lake."

Aug. 12
"A Gale from the North. started about seven in the morning and came to the muddy Portage where we launched the Boats and carried the Goods 1010 yds and put up for the night"

Aug. 13 1805
"Wind and rain. Started about six in the morning and came to the little Island Portage. After carrying the greater part of the Goods and hauling the Boats up by water were obliged to rest under cover for about two hours time at eleven the rain abated and we continued our way to the Deer River house where we rested for the night"

Aug. 14
"A Gale with rain. Received from Mr. Raymond 398 lbs of all kinds of Provisions. About one in the afternoon the weather cleared and we proceeded on our way. when we came to the branch of the grey Deer River we found two Nd?[Northward?] Indians waiting our arrival wishing to know if the report was true that the Canadians had given out amongst them which was to this Effect. That the Canadians had killed the Englishmen and destroyed Churchill Factory and that the Canadians now had every thing in their power if the Indians would not make their hunts for them that they(the Indians) would in a very short time be pitifull. I did everything in my power to let the Indians know that they had been imposed on, and afsured them that the English from Churchill would always supply them with their necefsaries if they would make themselves deserving by giving to the traders therefrom their yearly hunts. They told me that it was more our fault than theirs that they did not give us their Annual Hunts and their reason was because we did not come into their Country in such numbers as to suport them against the Canadians. I advanced them with the following Goods. 3 yards Cloth, one Striped Blanket, 4 lbs Powder, 3 lbs Ball, 5 lbs Shot,4 lbs Tobacco 4 knives and different other small articles with some Brandy. After giving them such instructions as was necefsary we proceeded on our way to the Kettle fall at which place a Canadian came up with us who means to notice our motions between here and the Rapid River. After getting the Boats and Goods over the Kettle Portage we put up for the night."

Aug. 15 1805
"a disagreeable foggy morning with a head wind. we got under way about six in the morning and after rowing about seven Miles we came to a lodge where were two Sd[Southward] Indian families. they promised to make a hunt and visit Mr. Raymond in about a fortnights time. And as encouragement I gave them some Brandy and a little tobacco and proceeded on our way to the Bay below the Grand Rapid where we Slept."

Aug. 16
"Started about five in the morning & come to the Riuy? Portage where we carried the Goods 750 yards and hauled up the Boats by water on the North side continued our way to Keg portage where we saw by Mr Fidlers marks that he had been there the day before with four Canoes, we continued on our way untill we got above the Island portage and put up for the night."

Aug. 17 1805
"Started early. After Rowing about six miles we came to a lodge where a Sd Indian man and his Family were"... ..."we continued on our way to an Island nearly at the Mountain Portage where we passed the night."

Aug. 18
"Got the Boats and Goods over both the mountain portages in six hours time and proceeded up the Otter Lake where we saw five Sd Indian men with their families who told me that they had seen Mr. Fidler two days ago"..."These Indians presented me with two porcupines, two bladders of fat and two parchment Moose Skins"..." and continued on our way to the Otter carrying place, After getting the Goods carried and the Boats up by water a Mr Robertson belonging to the North West Company with two men came up with us and who means to keep us company untill we arrive at the Isle a la crofse we all put up for the night at this place"

Aug. 19
"At an half past four in the morning just as we were embarking a Mr MacLeod of the NWC for the Athabascow with thirteen large Canoes came up with us. they having seven men in each Canoe consequently soon left us behind, we proceeded to the Deivels Portage where After getting the Goods carried 1150 yards and the Boats hauled up by water we rested for the night."

Aug. 20
"Started at four in the morning and proceeded to the narrows below the burned portage where a heavy fall of rain obliged us to put a shore which continued for two hours. After putting under way we stemmed? a peice of rough current and put up at a short portage below that of the Trout."

Aug. 21 1805
"The last night was the most tremendous I ever saw with wind, Thunder and lightening and the rain pouring down which drenched us compleatly in our tents. This morning still wind and disagreeable weather, got under way about five in the morning and rowed to the Bitch portage and got the Boats and Cargoes over at one in the afternoon. a head wind obliges us to remain here all the rest of the day."

Aug. 22
"The wind continuing with dark weather we proceeded on our way to the upper Rapids in the black Bear Island Lake where we saw two Nd Indian men with their families from whom I traded two parchment Moose Skins Also some pounded meat and fat."

Aug. 23 1805
"Started early and slept at the Poplar Portage"

Aug. 24
"Rainy weather, late before we got under way. we put up for the night at the entrence of the snake Lake"

Aug. 25
"favourable weather. Started early, sailed most of the day and Sleeped at the enterance of the grafsy River"

Aug. 26
"The wind continuing favourable got to the extent of Primos Lake"

Aug. 27
" Started about four in the morning. This day Carried past two falls and hauled and poled up seven Rapids. rowed to the narrows below the little Lake where we put up for the night."

Aug. 28
"Started early and rowed against a head wind to about halfway up the Isle a la crofse Lake where we put up to pafs the night."

Aug. 29 1805
"Started about 5 AM and arrived at the Isle a la crofe house at 1 PM."
1M63 B.89/a/1

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