left Michillimakinac in the beginning of September, and arrived at Montreal on the 27th of the same month.
I embraced the first opportunity to call on my old master, expecting to find him in good health, but alas! he had paid the debt of nature, and was succeeded by his nephew, who had been cotemporary clerk with me. He permitted me to lodge at his house for a fortnight, but a few days after my abode with him, my situation being different from what I had experienced during the life of my old master, I asked him to fit me out with an assortment of goods for the Indian trade, and promised to remit him payment in furs. He told me I was welcome to any {153} goods he had in his store that would suit me, but on examining the stock, all the merchandise proper for the Savages was disposed of, and nothing left that would answer any profitable purpose.
I then left his house, returning him thanks for his civility; and having procured pecuniary assistance from a friend, took lodgings in the town, where I stayed some time. I then went to Quebec, where a gentleman accidentally hearing that I was out of employ, and knowing that I could speak the Indian languages, sent for me and engaged me in his service, to go among the Indians at Lake Temiscaming,[1] or any other situation I might think most eligible for commerce.
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- ↑ Lake Temiscaming lies near the source of the Ottawa River, on the boundary between Quebec and Ontario. The savages near here were wandering tribes of rude Algonkins, who traded indifferently with Canada or Hudson Bay.―Ed.
