The Journals of Alexander Henry New light on the early history of the greater Northwest. The manuscript journals of Alexander Henry, fur trader of the Northwest Company 1799-1814. Exploration and adventure among the Indians on the Red, Saskatchewan, Missouri and Columbia rivers. Edited by Elliott Coues.
A Picturesque Concession, Oct 3, 1803
The Pembina River Post 1803-1804, Cha. 6, pg. 225-226Mr. Langloise and others started for the Hair Hills. This Caravan demands notice, to show the vast difference it makes in a place where horses are introduced. It is true they are useful animals, but if there were not one in all the North West, we should have less trouble and expense. Our men would neither be so burdened with families, nor so indolent and insolent as they are, and the natives in general would be more honest and industrious. Let an impartial eye look into the affair, to discover whence originates the unbounded extravagance of our meadow gentry, both white and native, and horses will be found one of the principal causes.
Let us view the bustle and noise which attended the transportation of five pieces of goods to a place where the houses were built in 1801-02. The men were up at break of day and their horses tackled long before sunrise; but they were not ready to move before ten o'clock, when I had the curosity to climb on top of my house to watch their motions and observe their order of march.
Antoine Payet, guide and second in command, leads the van, with a cart drawn by two horses and loaded with his private baggage, cassetetes, bags, kettles, and mashqueminetes(?). Madame Payet follows the cart with a child a year old on her back, very merry. Charles Bottineau, with two horses and a cart loaded with 1 1/2 packs, his own baggage, and two young children with kettles and other trash hanging on to it. Madame Bottineau with a squalling infant on her back, scolding and tossing it about. Joseph Dubord goes on foot, with his long pipe-stem and calumet in his hand; Madame Dubord follows on foot, carrying his tobacco pouch with a broad bead tail.
Antoine Thellier, with a cart and two horses, loaded with 1 1/2 packs of goods and Dubois' baggage. Antoine La Pointe with another cart and horses, loaded with two pieces of goods and with baggage belonging to Brisebois, Jasmin, and Pouliot, and a kettle hung on each side. Auguste Brisebois follows with only his gun on his shoulder and a fresh-lighted pipe in his mouth. Michel Jasmin goes next, like Brisebois, with gun and pipe puffing out clouds of smoke. Nicholas Pouliot, the greatest smoker in the North West, has nothing but pipe and pouch. Those three fellows, having taken a farewell dram and lighted fresh pipes, go on brisk and merry, playing numerous pranks.
Domin Livernois, with a young mare, the property of Mr. Langlois, loaded with weeds for smoking, an old worsted bag (madame's property), some squashes and potatoes, a small keg of fresh water, and two young whelps howling. Next goes Livernois' young horse, drawing a travaille loaded with his baggage and a large worsted mashguemcate(?) belonging to Madame Langlois. Next appears Madame (John) Cameron's mare, kicking, rearing, and snorting, hauling a travaille loaded with a bag of flour, cabbages, turnips, onions, a small keg of water, and a large kettle of broth.
Michael Langlois, who is master of the band, now comes on leading a horse that draws a travaille nicely covered with a new painted tent, under which his daughter and Mrs. Cameron lie at full length, very sick; this covering or canopy has a pretty effect in the caravan, and appears at a great distance in the plains. Madame Langlois brings up the rear of the human beings, following the travaille with a slow step and melancholy air, attending to the wants of her daughter, who, notwithstanding her sickness, can find no other expressions of gratitude to her parents than by calling them dogs, fools, beasts, etc.
The rear guard consists of a long train of 20 dogs, some for sleighs, some for game, and others of no use whatever, except to snarl and destroy meat. The total forms a procession nearly a mile long, and appears like a large band of Assiniboines.
Ladings at Panbian River, Jun 1, 1808
Manning and Lading of Canoes, Cha. 12, pg. 441-443A Long Boat - Angus McDonald, Charles Larocque, Pierre Martin, Jean Baptist Lambert
282 bags of pemmican, 1 bag of potatoes, 42 kegs of grease, 2 kegs of gum, 224 pieces, 2 pairs of cart-wheels, 1 leather tent, 1 oilcloth tent, 1 cow, bark and wattap (etoupe)A Boat - Joseph Lambert, Pierre Vandle, Antoine Lapointe
5 kegs of grease, 2 kegs of gum, 107 pieces, 1 bag of potatoes, 1 pair cart-wheels, 1 leather tent, 1 oilcloth tent, 1 cowA Lake Winipic Canoe - Houle, Charbonneau, Fleury, Surprennant
21 bags of pemmican, 1 bag of potatoes, 3 kegs of grease, 24 pieces, 1 buffaloA Canoe - Andre Beauchemin, Joseph Bourree
20 packs, W.W.2, 13 bags of pemmican, 1 bag of potatoes, 3 kegs of grease, 36 pieces, 1 buffaloA Canoe - Angus Brisebois, Jean Baptiste Larocque, Jean Baptiste Demarais
20 packs, W.W.2, 9 taureaux, 3 kegs of grease, 2 bags of potatoes, 32 packages, McD.'s baggage, 2 bales of meat, 1 buffaloA Canoe - Louis Demarais, Joseph Plante, Cyrile Paradis, Michel Damphousse
10 packs, W.W.2, 2 kegs of grease, 2 bags of potatoes, 12 pieces, my baggage, 2 buffalo, 4 bales of meatL. L. Canoe - Charles Bottineau, Jervis (Gervais), Assiniboines
22 kegs of grease, 1 bag of potatoes, 10 bags of potatoes - Bas de la Riviere, 32 pieces, 1 buffaloS. Canoe - Antoine Larocque, Bonhomme Montour
10 kegs of grease, 1 bag of potatoes, 1 cow
The Bottineau Family
My Elusive Ancestors
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