" A Sketch of the Principal Occurrences at Saskatchewan Factory &c by James Bird
Commencing July 20th 1813
Ending June 27 1814"

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July 20 1813
" Left Oxford House with thirty six Men in six Boats, laden with Goods, for the Saskatchewan."

July 25
" Arrived at Jack River. Delivered Capt. Miles McDonald forty Pieces of Goods, which I had brought for him from York Factory, and a New Boat of 22 feet Keel, made for him at Saskatchewan Factory."

July 27
" A fresh Breeze of Wind in Lake Winnepeg obliged us to go on shore and unload the Boats: the Breeze increased so fast that before the Boats could be all unloaded the Waves ran so high as to fill one Boat with Water and drove her on shore a wreck; one Man who was endeavouring to unload the Boat was knocked overboard, and nearly drown'd, a Roll of Tobacco he was lifting went over with him and was entirely lost; Some Rolls of Tobacco and a few other things are wet but, I hope nothing further is seriously damaged."

July 28
" The Wind blowing strong we opened every thing which was wet and I am very glad to find that the Goods have not received any serious damage. Repaired the Boat; her bilge planks were forced out."

Aug. 4 1813
" Met Mr James Sutherland with two Canoes on his way to York Factory."

Aug. 5
" A Mr Alex Henry my Neighbour last Year, Mr Stewart & a Mr Keith with thirteen Men in two light Canoes bound for the Columbia, overtook us and encamped with us: - Mr Henry tells me that they have at length really sent a Vefsel, called the Isaac Todd round to the Columbia, and that she is accompanied by the Phebe? Frigate &c. Four Canoes quite empty, and so many proprietors & clerks going to the Columbia, give reason to suppose that the NWC have at last actually sent a Ship Round: They have now near one hundred Men including Officers in that Quarter. and Mr Henry seems confident that they will be able to take pofsefsion of all the American Settlements in that Quarter. - Mr Henry says that their Outfit to the Columbia has cost them 50000 £ and that his opinion is, that the Businefs can never be a profitable one, notwithstanding the high opinion their Agents have formed of it, and the Opinion entertained by some that will be able to carry on their Athapuskow Trade by that Route."

Aug. 8
" Met a Boat, which I had left Orders to have built at the Saskatchewan Factory, loaded with Pimecan and pounded Meat, they bring letters from all the Settlements on the Saskatchewan where nothing important has occurred except the Death of John Corrigle who unfortunately drowned himself on the 10th July in a small Lake, into which it appears he had run hastily after a wounded Swan. Added three Men whose Times are out to the Crew of the Boat, and sent them on with Orders to leave the greater part of their Cargo of Provisions at Jack River for Capt. McDonald, and then proceed on to York Factory."

Aug. 12
" Arrived at Cumberland House."

Aug. 21
" Met a Boat sent according to appointment by Mr Pruden with 26 bags of Pimecan for Cumberland House - sent the Boat on to Cumberland."

Aug. 24
" Arrived at Carlton House and had the pleasure to find Mr Pruden and Men well."

Aug. 30
" Left a proper afsorment of Goods with Mr Pruden and Set off with four Boats for Paint Creek."

Sept. 12 1813
" Arrived at Paint Creek - found all very well, but a very small Stock of Provisions in the House and very few Furs. On our way from Carlton House to Paint Creek we scarcely saw a Buffalo and not a single Indian."

Sept. 15
" Left a proper Afsortment of Goods at Paint Creek, in charge of which I have placed Mr McFarlane, and set off with three Boats for the Factory."

Sept. 25
" Arrived at the Factory and found all very well, but, like all the other Settlements, there is a very small Quantity of Furs & Provisions in the House and all Accounts agree in stating the Buffalo to be at an unprecedented Distance from this place. As to Furs, Beaver have been long gradually diminishing & are now almost exterminated and unlefs Wolves become of a little Value I know not how the trade of this Place? can be supported."

Sept. 26
" Six Canoes manned with thirty three Men, and carrying about eighty Pieces of Goods arrived at the NWC House."

Sept. 27
" A few Muddy River Indians arrived who brought twelve Beavers. They tell us that the principal part of their Countrymen are a great Distance off and that no Buffalo are to be found on this Side the South Branch River."

Sept. 28
" A small Band of Fall Indians arrived. they have slept eleven Nights on their way to the House and in this Distance saw not a Buffalo, the plains being all burnt, so that I am very apprehensive? this will be another poor Year for Provisions, particularly as the weather is remarkably dry & fires have been long raging in the plains in all directions. - The principal part of the Crees of this place arrived also. they have brought a few Swans and Musquashes."

Sept. 29
" The Fall Indians traded and went away - they brought 510 lb of unmade Fat 105 lb of made Fat and a little dry Meat."

Oct. 1 1813
" A few Sufsew Indians arrived: these inform us that the plains are already burnt between the Red Deer River and this River, from the Beaver Lake to the Rocky Mountain so that we can have no hopes of making Provisions in this Quarter: So far the Fires have not extended a great distance below, but they are still raging, and the Weather has been, and still is, so remarkably dry that there is great reason to fear the plains below will be burned also and if this should happen all hopes of making dry Provisions will be at an end."

Oct. 3
" A few more Sufsew accompanied by a few Muddy River Indians arrived. these confirm the Accounts already received of the dreadful extent & havack? of the fires in the plains, not a bit of grafs is left from this to the Rocky Mountains as far South as the Red Deers River, & on this Side (the North) of the River the fires are still burning and such is the Quantity of smoke with which we are, and have long been, surrounded that though the Weather is clear & fine the Rays of the Sun cannot penetrate it, but it appears continually red and dull as the Moon."

Oct. 4
" The Sufsews &c traded and went away - they brought nothing but a few Rats and five Beavers - They have not seen a Buffalo this Month past. Most of the Southward Indians took Credit and went off to their Winter Quarters."

Oct. 7
" A party of Muddy River Indians, another of Blood Indians and another of Fall Indians, with two Sufsews, altogether thirty six Men, arrived. they appear to have brought a few Beavers, a few Rats and some dry Backfats. Most of these Indians have slept from fifteen to seventeen Nights on their way to the House & in this Distance have not seen a Buffalo; but beyond their Tents the Buffalo are numerous and if the Winter proves fine without much Snow I have hopes that we may get a little Dry Provisions."

Oct. 8
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away they brought us, twenty four Beavers and 527 lb Backfat, of which we will make about 300 lbs of Fat. A little Rain, in course of last Night, has at last extinguished the Fires by which we have been surrounded though not till there is hardly any Grafs left for our Horses: This is the first Rain that has fallen since the 8th of September. - The NWC traders have desired the Indians to kill good Wolves, and I have in consequence told them that we will take a few also as I conclude that if Wolves are worth their taking they must also be of some little Value to the Honorable Company."

Oct. 10
" A small party of Fall and Blood Indians arrived.
The Fires on each side the River rekindled and quite enveloped us in Smoke so strong as to be painful to the Eye."

Oct. 11
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away - they brought 14 Beavers and 290 lbs of Backfat."

Oct. 13
" Six Muddy River Indian young Men arrived for Tobacco for sixteen chiefs who are to be here the 15 or 16 inst. - they say they have all a few Beavers. Sent off two Men to fish at the Gods Lake."

Oct. 15
" An Indian and two Canadians who escorted Mr Henry and party to the portage in the Rocky Mountain arrived at our Neighbours. The Indian describes the Road from this place to the portage in the Mountain to be long and extremely difficult, both from the nature of the Country and the scarcity of Animals for Food. He says Mr Henry and party slept twenty eight Nights on their way to the Mountain, although their Horses were very lightly loaded, and that he himself has slept fifteen Nights on his way back on Horseback. these Difficulties it is clear, however, may be all surmounted if Furs could be obtained of sufficient Value to defray the Expences of such an Undertaking as an Expedition to the Columbia, but this, when the Strength of the Americans and Canadians in that Quarter are considered, appears to be extremely improbable.
My Neighbour has of course received Letters from all the NWC Settlements on the Waters of the Columbia, he tells me that the Americans made there last Season 140 packs (of 90 lbs each) of Furs, principally Musquashes, and that the NWC made 74 Packs of the same Weight and nearly the same Quality. It is impofsible to know what degree of Credit may be due to this Account as a love of Truth makes no part of the Character of my Informer."

Oct. 16
" A Band of Muddy River Indians arrived - they seem to have brought a few bad Beavers, but no Provisions, owing to the long distance they have come."

Oct. 17
" The Indians finished trading and went away. They brought us one hundred and thirty three large Beaver, forty two small ones and one hundred and sixty four Pounds of Back-Fat. The Beaver are all of a very bad Quality, for it is only in the Summer Season that these Indians will take the trouble to kill Beaver; no consideration would induce them to perform the labor required to kill Beaver in Winter."

Oct. 20
" A Band of Blood Indians arrived. They seem to have brought very little."

Oct. 21
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away. They brought 245 lbs of Back-Fat, 15 Beavers and 152 Musquashes."

Oct. 22
" A fall of Snow last night once more quenched the Fires by which we have been so long surrounded - though not till there is hardly a bit of Grafs left near the House in any direction."

Oct. 24
" Two Muddy River Indians arrived."

Oct. 25
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away. They brought 32 Beavers of sizes but no Provisions, they slept twenty Nights on their way to the House and in that distance saw no Cow Buffalo."

Oct. 27
" Three Muddy River Indians arrived who brought a few Beavers."

Oct. 28
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away. Received from them 37 Beavers of sizes and a few Rats but not an ounce of Provisions. A Southward Indian also arrived who brought 140 Rats and 2 large Beavers."

Nov. 5 1813
" The River froze over."

Nov. 12
" A Band of Sufsew Indians arrived. They are come from the Red Deer River on the other Side of which Buffalo are numerous and if the ground had not been so burned as it is we might have expected them nearer in course of the Winter."

Nov. 14
" The Indians of yesterday finished trading and went away. They brought us one hundred and ninety one Beavers of sizes & three hundred Musquashes but no Provisions."

Nov. 15
" Mr Carswell & a Man from Paint Creek arrived with your Honors packet for this Factory and our private Letters from England. I am extremely sorry that there should have been occasion for the two Remarks in the second paragraph of your Honors Letter; the Cause of the first I have already endeavoured to explain and I hope to be able to demonstrate that an equal or greater degree of Economy was enforced in procuring trade of 1811 and 1812 than could pofsibly be introduced the Winter preceding. - The Change your Honors have thought proper to adopt in managing the Trade shall be made known to all the Officers of this Factory whom it concerns, as early as pofsible and I beg leave to say that no private Considerations shall abate that attention and activity with which I have always endeavoured to conduct the Businefs entrusted to my care. - Copy of a Letter from Capt. McDonnell
Hill River 22nd Sept. 1813
Dear Sir
From the number of Settlers to be brought up next Summer and Autumn for R.R.S. we shall require many Boats we will therefore chearfully pay you for 3 or 4 of the second largest sized Boats or more if you can build them for us, to be delivered any where on the communication below Lake Winnepeg. We shall also require all the Pimecan you can pofsibly spare for us, to be left at Jack River, three or four hundred Moose Skins, and 1000 or 1500 pairs of made Shoes. I shall be glad to hear from you in course of the Winter what prospect there may be for our receiving these supplies from you.
I am
Dr Sir
Your Most Obt. Servant
Miles MacDonell.

James Bird Esq."

Nov. 19
" Sent the Man who accompanied Mr Carswell back to Paint Creek, ordered the Carpenter to make three Boats of the size Capt. McDonel desires."

Nov. 22
" Examining the Accounts of 1813 written at York Factory by Mr Carswell I perceive an Error of such Magnitude that I am fearful it must lead your Honors to form most unfavorable Opinions of my Conduct. This Error has arisen from a Transaction with York Factory which I am afraid I shall be unable clearly to explain - The Leward Island Rum landed at York Factory on Account of this Factory 1811 remained of course at the former place the ensuing Winter. Instead of rectifying this Rum for our use Mr Cook supplied us in July 1812 with rectified Spirits distilled from York Factory Rum, and as Mr Auld was not at York, it remained unsettled whether, I should take the York Factory Spirits to Account, and still retain the Saskatchewan Factory Rum on Remains, or York should receive the Saskatchewan Factory Rum instead of the Spirits with which it had supplied us. - This being still undetermined on the 1th? of June 1812 we forbore to take the Rum received pr Invoice 1811 on Remains till we should arrive at York Factory and know from Mr Auld how the affair was to be settled. Me Auld determined that York should receive from us in exchange Rum equivalent to the rectified Spirits with which it had supplied us. Now it happened in course of the Winter 1812 and 13 that Mr Auld rectified the Saskatchewan Factory Rum of 1811 for our use the ensuing Season 1813 and the Saskatchewan Factory Rum received pr Invoice 1812 was of course remaining at York, it therefore became necefsary to return to York Factory 964 Gallons of the Rum of 1812 instead of the Spirits we had received and which, by the exchange already made had became the property of York. Mr Carswell seeing that 964 Gallons of the Rum received pr Invoice 1812 was delivered to York Factory and forgetting that Saskatchewan Factory had received its equivalent in rectified Spirits (which makes our present Stock here) conceived that he must lefsen our Remains of Rum according to the Quantity York had received from us, having entirely lost sight of the Rum received pr Invoice 1811. The Remains of this Factory as pr Account 1813 are therefore 964 Gallons of Rum lefs than they ought to be."

Nov. 24
" An Indian arrived at our Neighbours who informs me that one of our best Indians is so ill that his life is despaired of, that no lefs than ten Tents of Indians have gathered around him, some of them his Relations, others pretended Doctors, and that all are doing nothing whatever."

Nov. 27
" Two Indians arrived from our hunting Tent to inform us that an Indian who was living with our Hunters had stolen two of the Horses we had there for the purpose of fetching Meat to the Tent, and that he was gone off with them on the road to Paint Creek."

Nov. 28
" The Rise in the price of our Tobacco and the fall in the Value of Musquashes, render it almost impofsible for us to trade them to advantage, yet we must pay the Musquashes as the Canadians do because the Indians who bring them may at times bring a chance Beaver. - These considerations induced me to to propose to our Neighbour that we should both of us take 10 Musquashes as a Skin or MB but this he would not agree to because, he said, which would in a great measure be the case, if we take 10 Musquashes as a Skin the Indians will not kill them, he added that, in balancing his Account here, he was still allowed to credit himself 10? for each Musquash, and that in taking 16 Musquashes for 1 lb of Tobacco (2 MB) he made a good profit, for, continued he, our Tobacco does not stand us here in more than 7 s? [shillings?] pr lb. - I think his Tobacco must stand him in more than 7 pr lb, but without a doubt he has it much cheaper than we have. - To dispose of the small quantity of Goods for which we can at present procure on the price so as to obtain a profit on them sufficient to defray all the Expences of this Factory we must sell them at an advance of 220 prCent on the price at which we receive them from England. This the following Statement makes evident. - From the of? June 1812 to the first of June 1813 we expended (including Carlton House) Goods to the Amount of 1700 £, of this Amount, 600 £ were expended in Stores, English Provisions and in procuring fresh Provisions and other House Expences here, consequently 1100 £ only remained to be disposed of in Trade. - To prevent a lofs, these 1100 £ worth of Goods must procure Furs, to pay amount of Goods expended, viz. 1700 £, Amount of Mens Wages viz. 1680 £ and 187 £ lost by deduction of 1/5 on Mens Debts making together a total of 3567 £ - ? It was therefore necefsary last Year for us to procure for each pound of Tobacco disposed of to the Indians, Goods to the Value of 11?-9? [Shillings-pence?] without making any allowance whatever for presents to Indians. This Year Tobacco is considerably dearer and as it makes so large a part of the Goods we dispose of here, and when to this is added the advanced price of Rum, it will be impofsible to carry on a profitable Trade till the establishment of this Factory is considerably reduced: At present we have fifteen more Men than are necefsary to us, an Excefs occasioned as I imagine by the unfortunate Circumstance of your Honors Ships going first to Churchill."

Nov. 29
" Two Young Indians arrived from the Beaver Hill, they confirm the Account previously received that one of our very best Indians has been ill ever since the latter part of September, that all his Relations and Friends. amounting to ten Tents, have remained together on this Account idle and half starving and that they will not seperate till his Death, which is now hourly expected, takes place."

Nov. 30
" Sent two Men with the Indians of yesterday to collect the few Skins that are amongst the Indians they came from."

Dec. 3 1813
" The two Men above arrived: they brought 17 Beavers of sizes 108 Martins and a few Musquashes - The Hunts of twelve Men. The Indian, above alluded to is, by the Account of our Men past all recovery and had Debt amounting to thirty Skins irreparably lost, but this unfortunately is not the least consequence of his Sicknefs - it has prevented twelve other Indians from killing Furs."

Dec. 10
" A Young Indians arrived from two of our principal Beaver Hunters who have no more than 10 Beavers and 6 Martins between them."

Dec. 13
" Sent off Men for to fetch Fish."

Dec. 14
" Our Indian Hunter arrived who informs me that, that the Indian whom our Men left so ill on the 2nd inst. expired a few Days since - This is the second very good Trader we have lost since last July."

Dec. 19
" In course of Conversation with my Neighbour to Day he said that in two Years the NWC would form Establishments in the Muddy River Indian Country by way of the Columbia and effectually cut off that part of the Trade of this River - We must, said he, do something of this kind that we may be enabled to get some of those Beaver of the Mifsouri so long desired. A plan of this Nature can however always be frustrated by forming a Settlement near the Mountain in the South Branch River."

Dec. 25
" Two Canadians arrived from Paint Creek by whom I received Letters from Mr McFarlane who informs me that, the Stone Indians have lately killed six Blackfeet, and that the Blackfeet are in consequence trying to rowse all the Tribes with which they are connected to War, and intend to go in quest of the Stone Indians as soon as pofsible, that this affair and a very great scarcity of Buffalo will, he is afraid, prevent his getting any dry Provisions of consequence. - I begin now to think that the Indians are becoming so numerous as to prevent an abundance of Buffalo near this River. They form a Line of Tents at distances from the Rocky Mountains to Carlton House which prevents any great number of Buffalo pafsing and the few that do pafs are so harrafsed that they soon return to the large plains near the Mifsouri."

Dec. 29
" Two Indian Lads arrived for Men to fetch a few Furs."

Dec. 30
" Sent two Men with the above Indians."

Dec. 31
" The two Men above arrived with one hundred and five MBeavers in sundry Furs, the Hunts since the 3rd inst of twelve Men. - Men arrived with the last of 3000 Tickameg which is the Number our Fishermen have caught."

Jan. 6 1814
" Two Indians arrived - their Hunts since the fall consist of thirty Skins in Martins and three Beavers."

Jan. 10
" An Indian arrived in a very weak State from Starvation not having he says tasted any kind of food these six Days past. He left his own and two more large Families, two Days ago without a morsel of any kind of Food and with little Hopes of getting any till they receive it from us. - He says he is fearful that they will be forced to eat the few Beaver Skins they have killed before he can return to them, as he is to weak to start tomorrow."

Jan. 12
" Sent one Man with the Indian above with some Provisions for his Family &c and to fetch the few Furs they may have."

Jan. 13
" The Man above returned - he brought 10 Beavers 4 Bears 1 Otter and 16 Martins - He found the Indians in so weak a state that it would have been impofsible for them to have survived much longer. Three Canadians set off for Paint River and Carlton House by them I have written to Paint River and Carlton House.
Copy of a Letter to Mr Pruden
Sir
I cannot more fully give You the Information You ask Viz. Your share of Profit for the two last Years, and at the same time acquaint You with the Alteration the Committee have now made in their System of Trade, than by sending You Copies of the Account Current? of this Factory for 1811 and 1812, and quoting the following parts of the General Letter I have received this Fall,
" We have resolved that the Profit of all the Factories should be thrown into One aggregate Fund out of which Shares should be distributed among the Officers of our whole Establishment in various proportions. In this way there will be a more cordial and complete cooperation between the Officers at the adjoining Factories than we can expect under the existing Arrangements, and the Efforts of any Individual Trader may not tend in so direct a manner to his own particular Emolumins?, there is no reason to apprehend that this will lead to any relaxation of exertion as every one must feel that he is under observation and controul? of the Superintendent and that the Eyes of all his Afsociates will be on the Watch to observe his Conduct. Upon this principle we have ordered that the One Half of the Profit of the Trade which is allotted to the Officers of the Company, and which it is not our Intention to diminish, being brought into one aggregate Fund should be divided into Shares Viz. 10 Shares to each of the Superintendents
4 Shares to each chief Factor
2 Shares to the second of each Factory
&? 1 Share to each Junior or Master Traders, into which
clafses all our Servants must be divided, the promotion from the junior to the Senior Establishments will depend on Vacancies and the Merit? of Officers will always be considered on the promotion from a lefs to a higher.
4. The Stipulations contained in our Letter of 1810 ? that for the term of 3 years the share of Profit of the Master Traders in your District should not be lefs than 20 £ we have directed their Accounts to be? credited? accordingly a? part? of those ? ? ? Master Traders must be forwarded by the Ships. - That term of 3 years will expire when the Sales of the Trade expected by the return of the Ships of this Season are brought to Account and we shall then divide the Profits which may appear to have been made by each Factory during these 3 years agreeable to the printed Regulations and when the Share amounts to more than the Sum guaranted and previously? carried to Account the difference will be credited. The modified Arrangements of our Trade as declared in 3 parc'l of this Letter will take effect on the Trade of 1813/14 for which year we will warrant that each Share shall not produce lefs to our Servants than £ 20 unlefs it should appear to us that there has been any neglect or mismanagement: but we trust they will produce double this Sum, the fixed Salary of the seconds and Masters of Trading Districts will continue at £ 50 which we shall continue the next 3 years as we intend the Emoluments of our Officers shall depend on the Profit of the Trade they make we though do not chuse to pledge ourselves for more than one year as to the amount of their Shares."
It has occurred to me that the great Scarcity of Buffalo latterly experienced at these upper Settlements has been, in a great Measure, occasioned by the Situation of Carlton House. The Indians form an almost uninterrupted Line from this place to You and thereby render it nearly impofsible for the Buffalo to obtain accefs to this River. I have therefore thought of abandoning your present Situation and forming a Settlement, for the Winter Season only, exactly at the Moose Woods, which would insure? to You a greater quantity of dry Provisions than You at present can procure, would also for a Year or two, enable You to obtain a few more Beaver and by drawing the Indians from this River allow the Buffalo to come in plenty to the Neighbourhood of Paint River. I wish You therefore to make every necefsary Inquiry of the Stone Indians and Crees in this Subject, and to send me the Results; with your Opinion of the propriety of such a measure. If we build at the Moose Woods, I propose leaving a few Men for the Crees who Winter below You in the Vicinity of old Carlton House.
There is not the least prospect of our being able to procure any dry Provisions of consequence either here or at Paint River - all our Dependance is on You, and You will therefore make use of every Means in your Power to obtain as much as pofsible.
Wishing You every Succefs
I remain Sir
Your hble Servant
James Bird."

Jan. 17
" Two of our Hunters arrived, for Provisions to eat; the Weather this Week past has been very calm that they have been unable to kill any Meat either for themselves or us. It is fortunate that we have been able to procure a tolerable Quantity of Fish."

Jan. 25
" Received Letters from Mr McFarlane at Paint Creek. The Indians of that place are doing very little in the Fur way, and he has not traded an Ounce of Provisions this Month past, neither can he form any reasonable hope of being able to procure any Quantity of Consequence, although I have urged him repeatedly to try every Means to procure as much as pofsible."

Jan. 27
" Received Letters from Mr McFarlane again, by Servants of the NWC who arrived with an Exprefs from Isle a la Crofs. Since his last some Indians from the plains had arrived at Paint River who inform him that Buffalo are so very scarce that, at present, there is not the least probability of their being able to make any Dry Provisions for Trade."

Jan. 28
" Two of our Hunters and their Families arrived at the House starving having eat nothing these four Days past."

Jan. 30
" A Man arrived from another of our Hunters, for Men to fetch the Meat of ten Moose and Red Deer."

Jan. 31
" Our Hunters who arrived the 28th inst went away to join our other Hunters."

Feb. 8 1814
" Copy of a Letter to Mr Pruden
Dear Sir
Captain Macdonel is desirous to know what Quantity of Pimecan we will be able to furnish him with next Spring. You are therefore to send off two Men with the inclosed Letter to Swan River, and, as I am unacquainted with your present Stock, and future expectations of Dry Provisions, write to Captain MacDonel yourself and acquaint? him with the amount of both as accurately as Circumstances will permit.
Nothing worth mentioning has occurred here since my last. I have therefore nothing further to add than that I am
Sir
Your humble Servant
James Bird
S. Factory 8th February
1814"

" To the Gentleman in charge at upper Swan River
Sir
Captain Macdonel is anxious to know what Dependance he may place on us for certain Supplies that he requests of this Factory. To give him the Informaion he wishes I have desired Mr Pruden to send two Men with the inclosed Letters, to your Settlement under a Belief that You will embrace the earliest Opportunity of forwarding them to Swan River.
I have no pleasing News to give You from hence except that of our enjoying good Health; Trade is extremely poor, Dry Provisions very scarce, and as we are quite abandoned by the Buffalo our living is of course far from being enviable.
Hoping to hear more favorable Accounts from You I conclude
And am Sir
Your humble Servant
James Bird."

" To Captain Macdonel
Dear Sir
Ageeable to your wish I have desired Mr Pruden to send two Men with Letters to Swan River to acquaint You how far we will be able to furnish the Supplies You request of us.
It is with considerable Regret that I am again obliged to inform you that I much fear You can place no Dependance on receiving a Supply of Pimecan from this River. The plains for sixty Miles round this place were entirely ravaged by Fires last Fall and the consequence has been that we have neither seen an Indian from that Quarter nor heard of a Buffalo since that Time. Our next Settlement downwards is nearly in the same Situation for, though the plains are unburnt, Buffalo are so very scarce and at such a great Distance that we have not been able to procure at that place one Ounce of Provisions since the beginning of the Winter. All our Hopes therefore rest on Mr Pruden at Carlton House from whom I have not heard since November last, but whom I have on this Account desired to acquaint You with the Stock of Pimecan in his Pofsefsion and the Quantity he may reasonably expect to procure hereafter. If then, to the Quantity Mr Pruden expects to procure, You add 3300 lbs the present? Stock on hand at this place and Paint River. You will know the total Quantity that we have any hopes of procuring. But still I am unable to inform You what part of this You can expect to receive, because I have had no Letter from Mr Auld and of course know not how much I may be directed to leave at Cumberland House. All I can do is to acquaint You with the Quantity required for the Summer expenditure of this River which is 5600 lbs. this deducted from our whole Stock will of course leave the Quantity we have to dispose of.
I expect to be able to Supply You with the full Quantity of Leather and Shoes You desire; three Boats of twenty four feet Keel will also be ready for You at Jack River, or any other place You may wish to receive them.
With my best Wishes for the prosperity of the Colony and your own Happinefs.
I remain Sir
Your obedient Servant
James Bird
Sask. Factory
Feb. 8th 1814"

Feb. 9
" A Sufsew Indian arrived: He is come from the Red Deer River where he is living alone and has not seen an Indian, of his own or, any other Nation since the beginning of the Winter. - He says that the Indians of the plains are all gone off to War on the Flat Heads, and that the plains are burnt far South of the Red Deer River, so that we can have little Hopes of procuring Dry Provisions at this place."

Feb. 20
" Two Men arrived from Paint Creek with Letters from Mr Auld and Mr House who arrived at Paint Creek the 12th Inst. They have also brought Letters from Mr Pruden who entertains Hopes of being able to procure a tolerable Quantity of Dry Provisions; from information latterly received at Paint Creek there is Reason to expect that a small Quantity will be procured there also. But at both these places and Carlton House in particular, the Trade in Furs is poor indeed, which together with the number of extra Men sent us from York Factory cannot fail to make the Accounts of this Factory appear unusually difsatisfactory."

Feb. 23
" Sent Mr Carswell and a Man with him to Paint Creek to settle the Account of that place and to arrange papers which Mr Howse has brought with him from York Factory. The Paint Creek Men went away in Company."

Feb. 24
" A party of young Blood Indians arrived with Dogs hauling small parcels of Wolves &."

Feb. 25
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away : They brought 4 bad Beavers, 26 Kitts 13 Wolves and 7 Buffalo Robes. These young Men say that they slept sixteen Nights from their Tents, which are at the Belly? River, to the House and the last three fourths of this time saw not a Buffalo; they also informed us that the Fall Indians and the Muddy River Indians are tenting on the Borders of the Bears or Maria's River which is of course such a great Distance from this that we can entertain no Hopes of their bringing any dry Provision ; indeed it is doubtful if any great Number of them visit the Houses this Spring."

Feb. 28
" A Band of Blood Indians (thirty Men) arrived. - They have slept twenty four Nights on their way to the House, are now absolutely in a state of Starvation and seem to have brought nothing of the least consequence whatever with them. It is astonishing that these Fellows can take the trouble to come such a great Distance for the trifles they can receive from us and at the Expence of their Horses (for most of these will inevitably perish before they reach their Tents) and yet that they will not make use of the least Exertion to kill a few Skins to render their Journey here beneficial to them. These people in their War Excursions last Autumn went to a greater Distance south along the Mountain than usual : They found and destroyed a few scattered Tents of a Tribe of Indians, that they seem to have had very little previous Knowledge of, who had a few Beavers in their Tents and whose coverings were principally Beaver Robes. In this Country they say the Beaver are as numerous as it is pofsible to conceive them to be and this Account is corroborated by Information we have often previously received and the truth of which has long been deemed evident. It is the Beaver which are known to be numerous near the different Sources of the Mifsourie River and to the southward of them, on which the NWC place their principal Hopes of Succefs in their Adventure to the Columbia for it is well known that from this River near to the first large Branch of the Mifsourie (on both Sides the Mountain) very few Beaver remain, and if they can succeed in a plan they have formed to bring about a peace between the Indians living along the east & west Borders? of the Mountain and induce the latter to work Beaver they cannot fail to obtain very great and profitable Returns. - This however is an object which they cannot hope speedily to accomplish, but in the mean time they will attempt to establish a strong Fort in the Mountain and by arming and afsisting the flat Heads and other Tribes endeavour to curb the Incursions of the Indians of this Quarter so as to admit of the free Canadians and the Flatheads & working Beaver at certain Seasons.
I have unremittingly endeavoured to obtain all the Information I could of the Nature and Value of the Country west of the Rocky Mountain, and I have had several opportunities of acquiring all that several Iroquois and Free Canadians, and the Children of the latter, who have wintered there, could supply, and it all Amounts nearly to them? that the new road from hence acrofs the Mountains is long and extremely bad both from the face of the Country and a scarcity of Food, that the Navigation of the Rivers on the other Side of the Mountain is not Dangerous to Men of any Experience, that Rivers are so numerous as (together with the occasional afsistance of Horses which are there easy to be had) to render communications with every part of the Country easy, that so far as they have been, and one of them wintered quite near where the River Capt. Lewis descended joins the Columbia the Beaver are not numerous nor the Indians industrious, but that southward and westward of the Limits of their travel all Accounts agreed in describing the Beaver as extremely numerous and that fear of the Tribes on this side the Mountain alone prevented their going to try their Fortunes their. All the Tribes of Indians they Saw were friendly and Hospitable to them.
The principal Obstacle in all Enterprizes in that Country is a scarcity of Food which cannot be procured with such facility or in such Quantities as an extensive Trade would require. This, however, is an Inconvenience that the Canadians feel lefs, perhaps, than any other People, they can feast with pleasure on Horses, Dogs, or any Substance whatever that can yield Nourishment to a human Being, and even support a Deprivation of all Food a greater length of time and with lefs concern than any other Men on the Face of the Earth. But the NWC will soon have it in their power to lefsen the Inconvenience they at present feel from a scarcity of Food as they are already beginning to rear Indian Corn and Potatoes &c and the Soil and climate are so favorable as to promise every Succefs that their Labors can merit Which will come to Perfection there & Melons it is said ripen much better than in Canada. - The fine Navigation which the lower part of the Columbia affords is too well known to require any Comment and whether Goods can ever be carried acrofs the Mountains by this Route cheap enough to admit of a succefsful Competition with Traders from the west Coast of America is a Question that can be better decided in England than here. Goods cannot be conveyed from York Factory to this place much under thirty PrCent, and according to the opinion I have formed of it, it would be far easier to go from the Mouth of the Columbia to the Countries were Beaver are numerous than from hence, at least by the present Route. - The South Branch (the nature of the Country alone considered) affords the most natural and easy Communication with the Countries bordering on the Mifsouri, and with the Columbia, the Country around it abounds in Animals for Food and the pafses through the Mountain are so good as to afford easy conveyance for Merchandize; But the numerous, fierce, and treacherous Tribes of Indians who pofsefs this fine Country render, at present, all these Advantages of no Value. Were however Wolves and Kitts to become sufficiently valuable and a great Quantity of dry Provisions required which might defray the principal part of the Expence of a large Outfit, an enterprizing Mind might project, an Expedition up the South Branch to the Foot of the Rocky Mountain, with a view of procuring some of those Beaver of the Mifsouri so long desired, & propose, with at least as much probability of Succefs and the NWC establishing a peace between the Natives of this and the west side of the Mountain, and hope eventually to open a trade with the Inhabitants of the latter Countries. - This however? is a project that can never be thought of if the Americans pofsefs the Columbia and trade up the Mifsourie."

Mar. 2 1814
" The Blood Indians went away : They brought us 8 Beavers, 23 Wolves, 103 Kitts, 8 red Foxes, and 21 Musquashes and 15 Buffalo Robes."

Mar. 6
" In course of Conversation with our Neighbour the NW Proprietor our Discourse turned on the Countries west of the Rocky Mountain and their late Adventure to the Columbia: He became quite animated on the Subject and spoke with a warmth that indicated Sincerity. - He declares that it is impofsible for them ever to obtain any profits there, that they have now obtained a most extensive Knowledge of the Country and yet Beaver have no where been found in great Numbers except at the Sources of the Mifsourie, that the Americans and them together, notwithstanding all their Efforts, did not, last Year obtain Furs to the Amount carried, by us and the NWC in the same Season from this River, and that he firmly believes that the Agents of the NWC have projected the Undertaking with no other View than, by difsipating great part of the property of the Winter partners &? to render them lefs independant and consequently, to pave the way for themselves an Advantageous Agreement when the Term for which the present Company was formed expired. I am so certain said he of this & the lofses that will be sustained that is the Lives on board could be saved I would wish from the very bottom of my Heart that the Isaac Todd and her Cargo might go to the bottom before she reaches the Columbia, and my 1200 £ which is embarked in her be my first and only Lofs. Sir Alex. McKenzie he thinks is ambitious to be the founder? of a Colony at the Columbia and wishes to do it at the NWC expence &c &c."

Mar. 8
" Mr Howse arrived with Mr Carswell from Paint Creek."

Mar. 13
" Two Canadians arrived at our Neighbours with Letters from Montreal so late as the beginning of October last - Our Neighbour confefses that According to these, the NW Agents seem? to apprehend that the Americans will become Masters of the Lake and consequently of the Navigation even to Fort William and totally prevent a pofsibility of their carrying out their Furs by the way of Canada. - Their Canoes are therefore ordered to wait next spring at the Great Rapid till they receive further advice from Canada. Our Neighbour also informs me that Captain Miles Macdonel has ifsued a Proclamation in Red River importing that he will not allow more Pimecan to be carried out of the Red River by the NW than is actually necefsary for the Summer Subsistence of their Men employed in that River. He pretends to treat this proclamation, and Captain Miles Macdonels authority altogether, with the utmost contempt,and says that they are determined to bring away their Provisions by force if necefsary &c &c; but the pafsionate ardent way in which he exprefsed himself sufficiently proves that this Affair has given him no small uneasinefs."

Mar. 20
"Paid off our Hunters principally in Rum and they returned to their Tents."

Mar. 21
" An Indian Woman arrived from the Indians whom our Hunters had invited to Drink. she informs me that a Quarrel had taken place among the Indians in consequence of which two Men are killed and a third mortally (it is supposed) wounded, all unfortunately, our Traders and all more or lefs in Debt. Between Murders and natural Deaths we have lost at this place since last Spring seven trading Indians and two of these were the best Hunters we had."

Mar. 22
" A small band of Muddy River Indians arrived they seem to have brought very little."

Mar. 23
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away. They brought us 14 Beavers, 1 Bear and thirty Musquashes. - The Indians informed me that their Countrymen have neither Furs or? Provisions : Buffalo have been extremely scarce with them all the Winter owing as they say to the extreme mildnefs (with them) of the Season in consequence they have done nothing and they say further that we need? not expect to see many Indians from the plains till the Summer."

Mar. 24
" Two Canadians arrived at our Neighbours with Letters from the Columbia brought by the way of Slave Lake. These Letters, left the borders of the Pacific Ocean the latter end of October, at which time we are told, the NWC were in pofsefsion of all American Forts and property in that Country. - The Agents and Traders for the American Company in the Neighbourhood of the Columbia are principally British Subjects and therefore? on being informed of the War between Great Britain and the United States made, it is said, little Difficulty in resigning themselves 80 in number and their property into the Hands of their Rivals. - It is impofsible to know what truth there may be in the above Report, but our Neighbour seems to be quite elated with the News - He says that in Goods Vefsels &c &c they have acquired American property to the Value of 16000 ?. By a kind of Capitulation made with the American Traders they are to keep pofsefsion of all the Furs they had in hand. - the common Canadians say that, the NW have purchased the Goods &c of the Americans and that forty five Americans are coming this way next Spring to return to their own Country."

Mar. 25
" Geese seen to day."

Mar. 27
" A Free Canadian arrived at our Neighbours bringing with him the dead Body of his Companion, another Freeman, who left this on Friday in Company with three Southward Indians by one of whom he was killed at their encampment the Night they left the House. The only reason afsigned for this Murder is the Deceased having refused to give his Daughter, a Girl of about twelve Years, to the Indian who in consequence, and with a view to pofsefs himself of the few Goods the Deceased? had carried from the House, killed him."

Mar. 28
" A small Band of Blood and Fall Indians arrived. - They have slept fifteen Nights on their way to the House and yet appear to have brought hardly anything."

Mar. 29
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away. - They brought us thirty Wolves forty Kitts three Beavers a few Buffalo Robes and 160 lbs of dry Meat."

Apr. 3 1814
" Six Canadians arrived at our Neighbours with ten pieces of Goods brought on Sledges from the NWC Settlement at Carlton House. These Goods, Report says, are intended for their Settlements on the Columbia, in case any accident should have happened to the Ship they have sent to that River, and this our Neighbour seems secretly to be very apprehensive of, he having expected to have news here in January of her Arrival whereas, he confefses that the Vefsel had not yet been heard of when the Letters lately received and which, he says, left the Columbia in October were sent off. Between their Apprehensions arising from the non arrival of this Ship at the Columbia and their Fears that their Supplies from Montreal will be entirely cut off by the Americans, our Neighbours seem to be quite uneasy and embarrafsed, their Men, the Canadians, are told that the NWC have bought up all the Goods and Furs, 200 Packs the collection of two Years the Americans had in the Columbia, that an American Ship arrived there last Fall loaded with Goods which the NWC had purchased also. So say they, if the Americans prevent our getting Goods from Montreal, and the Hudsons Bay Company can prevent our receiving Supplies by the Bay, it will always be in our power to get Goods from the other Side the Mountain. This story is evidently fabricated for the purpose of quieting the Canadians who are getting uneasy as the prospect of their receiving no Supplies of Goods next Season. By the bye it is worth mentioning that the American Ship which has now arrived so opportunely at the Columbia was, by our Neighbours Account despaired? of and thought to have been taken by some of the South Sea Islanders or to have foundered at Sea."

Apr. 9
" Seven thick Wood Stone Indians arrived : Their Hunts since last Fall amount to forty two Beaver, twenty three Martins, two Otters, two Bears and a few Drest Skins."

Apr. 14
" Four Muddy River Indians arrived : - they have brought no Furs whatever and in short nothing but a few dry Back Fats. They have not seen any of their Tribe since February and cannot therefore inform us whether we may expect to see more of them or not."

Apr. 15
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away : they brought us four Kitts 160 lbs of Back-Fats, 20 lbs dry Meat and 2 Buffalo Robes."

Apr. 23
" The Ice of the River broke, drove down about a half an Hour, but then stopt."

Apr. 25
" The River Ice cleared away."

" Copy of a Letter from Mr Pruden
Carlton House March 1st 1814
Sir
Yours dated 12th of January I duly received on the 10th of February Containing some extracts of General Letter as also the copies of the Accounts Current of this Factory for the year 1811 &? 12 wherein I am very sorry to see the sudden fall of the Sale of Furs in 1813.
In answer to your Paragraph concerning Abandoning this place, and to Establish a Settlement at Moose Woods next Fall. I have made every inquiry of all the Indians I have seen on that subject; but they disapprove of it, saying that it is a very dangerous place in Winter as well as Summer, owing to the war Parties of Indians from Mifsourie River who always come as far as that Place.
Most of the Indians of this place intend Pitching away to the southward to go to War. one band of Stone Indians excepted which is uncertain whether they join the Rest, or remain to work Provisioms About Jack Lake during the Summer, this is Dirty Belly's Band.
With my best Wishes for your Succefs
I remain Sir
Your obt. Servant
John P. Pruden."

Apr. 27
" Four young Sufsew Indians arrived for a small Supply of Tobacco and Ammunition : They left the principal part of their Country men, who are moving this way, at the Bow Hills on the South Branch. - These Indians accompanied the Blood Indians beforementioned in their War Excursion to the southward along the Mountain, and confirm the Accounts, given by the latter of the abundance of Beaver, and the nature of the clothing of the Indians they killed; and add that they saw many Beaver from the Bears River to the Extent of their Excursions which they say terminated at the third large River south of the Bears River, or nineteen Days Journey (each Day perhaps about thirty Miles) from this last mentioned River. - This is the first Winter that the Sufsews have past so far to the south, but they now say that Buffalo are so numerous there, and the Beaver so abundant that they may probably hereafter make that their Country."

Apr. 30
" Sent off three Men in a Boat with Birchrind &c for two Canoes to be made at Paint River for York Factory."

May 5 1814
" A Band of Fall and Blood Indians arrived, twenty two Men, they seem to have brought very little."

May 6
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away. -They brought us thirteen Beavers, twenty seven Wolves one hundred and forty two Kits and 420 lbs of dry Provisions. - These Indians informed us that we may expect to see, next Fall, one hundred Tents of Fall Indians from the Mifsourie who traded last Year with the Americans. But the Americans they say have now left them and they wish to get a few Supplies from us."

May 9
" Sent away another Boat for Paint River."

May 11
" Sent Mr Carswell, in a Boat, to Paint River to take the Remains and make out the Account of that Settlement."

May 12
" Left William Flett Sen., with seven Men, in charge of the Factory and embarked for Paint River."

May 15
" Arrived at Paint River. The Trade of this Settlement is considerably better than last Year; but only twenty six Bags of Pimecan have been procured here."

May 16
" Left Mr McFarlane, with five Men, in charge of Paint River and embarked with six Boats and two Canoes for Carlton House."

May 21
" Arrived at Carlton House. The Fur Trade at this place has diminished in a most sensible Degree owing in a great measure to the unfortunate Affray? between the Stone & Blackfeet Indians already mentioned which induced the former, as well as the Southward Indians to afsemble & live in large Bands all the Winter & they of course remained among the Buffalo quite idle. Of Provisions Mr Pruden has fortunately procured a tolerable Supply."

June 1 1814
" Arrived at the bottom of the Grand Rapid but the Lake is so full of Ice that it is impofsible for us to proceed."

June 5
" A Breeze of Wind from the West opened a pafsge for us & we proceeded on through the Lake."

June 7
" Arrived at Jack River and had the pleasure to find Mr Sinclair well. - Remained here in Expectation of receiving Instructions from Mr Auld by the Boats from Red River."

June 8
" Sent all the Boats but my own off for York Factory."

June 16
" Thinking it imprudent to remain here longer (the Saskatchewan Boats being so far advanced towards York) I embarked for that Factory."

June 27
" Arrived at York Factory with all the Saskatchewan Boats - their Cargoes in good Condition."


1M49 B.60/a/12

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