from a motive of curiosity to see me, not having heard of
any person wintering so far inland before, except the
servants belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. At
that time I had very little provisions, and eight men to
maintain, besides Mr. Joseph La Forme's Canadians;
our chief food was tripe de roche; on his arrival the kettle
was on the fire with the leaves: he asked what food I had;
I ordered some to be taken out of the pot, and put into a
bark dish, which he tasted, but could not swallow. I
informed him that it had been a principal part of our
diet for many days, and in the best of times we had
nothing but wild animal food, and seldom any flour, as
the quantity of Indian corn we were able to bring along
with us from Pays Plat was not sufficient to last the winter.
When I had given him a description of my mode of living,
which he confessed was very different from the comforts
he enjoyed, I took him into my store, and shewed
him the packs of beaver I had collected: this increased
his surprise, as he could not conceive how it was possible
to transport a sufficient quantity of goods to barter for the
value I seemed to be in possession of. He asked me to
return with him, and promised to supply me with provisions;
but I told him I was engaged in an employ, and
had supported the same disagreeable situation the preceding
winter at Lac la Mort; and as I could not expect
to pass my life among the Indians with so much ease as in
England, my duty obliged me to remain till the season
was over, when I should return and endeavour to make
myself some amends for the hardships I had endured, by
————
Troyes's expedition; and Iberville re-christened the post, Fort Ste. Anne. It remained in French hands until 1693, when retaken by the English, who never again lost it, although besieged by the French in 1704. The later fort was built on Factory Island, in the mouth of the river, about two and one-half miles from the old fort on the mainland.—Ed.
