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Page 41
We arrived early on the 16th at the Company's establishment at Sault
Sainte Marie, where there is a large dep�t of provisions for the
purpose of supplying the canoes passing to and from the interior and
the surrounding districts. The south side of the river is occupied by
the Americans as a military post, and it was gratifying to see the
friendly intercourse that subsisted between the American officers and
the gentlemen in the Company's service. Would that the same good
feeling were more universal between two nations of one blood and the
same language!
The rapid which unites the waters of Lakes Huron and Superior is
avoided by making a portage. The carrying of the canoes and goods to
the upper end of this portage occupied the men till about noon, when
we embarked on the "Sea of Canada," having Messrs. Bethune and
McKenzie on board as passengers. We proceeded about fifteen miles and
encamped. We were ready to embark at the usual hour next morning, but
being prevented by the high wind, to make the best of the time we
turned in again, and after a most refreshing nap got up to breakfast.
The weather moderating soon after, all hands were ordered to embark,
but all hands were not there; four of them had deserted during the
night, and were not missed until the crews mustered for embarkation.
While we were holding a consultation regarding this unpleasant matter,
an Indian canoe luckily cast up, and it was determined to despatch a
party of Iroquois, conducted by a passenger in disguise, in pursuit of
the fugitives. Another party was sent by land, and after an absence of
about three hours returned with their prisoners. No criminals ever
appeared more dejected than they; so humble did they seem, that they
got off with a slight reprimand.
We reached the post of Michipikoton early on the morning of the 19th,
and passed the remainder of the day waiting for despatches which Mr.
K---- was preparing for the interior. We left on the 20th, put ashore
at the Pic on the 23d, where we dined with Mr. McMurray, and after
experiencing much bad weather, adverse winds, together with showers of
snow, we reached Fort William on the 28th, about noon.
We found the grand dep�t of the North-West Company falling rapidly to
decay, presenting in its present ruinous state but a shadow of
departed greatness. It is now occupied as a petty post, a few Indians
and two or three old voyageurs being the sole representatives of the
crowded throngs of former times. It must have been a beautiful
establishment in its days of prosperity; but the buildings certainly
do not appear to have been erected with a view to durability. We here
exchanged our large Montreal canoes for those of the North, (the
former carrying seventy packages of ninety pounds, the latter
twenty-five, exclusive of provisions;) and each of the passengers had
a canoe for his own accommodation--an arrangement that seemed to
increase in no small degree the self-importance of some of our number.
Our guide was now obliged to perform the duty of bowsman, still,
however, retaining his authority over the whole brigade.
We bade adieu to Fort William and its hospitable commander on the
29th. Mr. McI----h had supplied all our wants most liberally, but the
men were now allowed only Indian corn and a small quantity of
grease;--a sad and unpleasing change for poor Jean Baptiste; but he
had no help but to submit, though not perhaps with the utmost
"Christian resignation."
Our men being now well disciplined, and our canoes comparatively
light, we sped over our way at an excellent rate. We encamped on the
4th of June at one of the Thousand Lakes, and the canoes were drawn up
before M. Thibaud (the priest) arrived. I was surprised to observe his
frowning aspect on landing, and ascribed it to the circumstance of his
being the "harse," or harrow, a term of derision applied to the
slowest canoe. Calling me aside, however, he explained the cause of
his discontent, which was very different from what I had surmised: his
crew, whenever they found themselves sufficiently far in the rear to
be out of hearing, invariably struck up an obscene song, alike
unmindful of his presence and remonstrances; and this day had not only
sung, but indulged in conversation the most indecent imaginable. This
announcement appeared to me the more strange, that most of these young
men had never before quitted home; and I had always understood the
authority of the priest to be, at least, equal to that of the parent.
Although, therefore, I never had any very great reverence for the
(so-called) successors of St. Peter, I yet felt for my fellow-traveller,
and addressed the miscreants who had insulted him in terms of grave
reprehension, threatening them with severe punishment if such conduct
should again be repeated.
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