of the Bottom @ may be abt. 60 yds. wide. June 30th Heavy Rain came on @ detained us till 8½ A. M. when we set off; cleared pieces of the Road, tho' in generall it was passable from the nature of the Country; crossed a Hill that forms a Point between this @ the Kootanae River, on the Banks of the latter, thank God, we camped all safe at 3½ P. M. set to work @ dried the Goods lost part of my little Stock of Sugar by the Water.
July 1st a very fine Day, we completed drying the Goods and put them all in good Order. July 2nd at 3 A. M. sent off two Men in a small Canoe up the River to endeavour to find the Kootanaes @ bring a few of them to our assistance, at 6 A. M. sent 4 Men with the Horses to recross the Portage for the rest of the Goods. My whole Stock of Provisions was now only 6 lbs of Pemmican, in a close woody Country/ very scarce of Animals, nor would our Provisions have held out so long, had I not shared out to each Man the scanty allowance of the day. I staid with 2 Men, one of whom very sick, unable to do any Duty. Having examined the Canoes built last year at a great Expence, I found one of them useless for Carriage, the other capable of carrying only 8 Pieces with 2 Men, so that I found myself absolutely obliged to build a large Canoe, otherwise I could not advance with the Merchandise; there being no farther Road for Horses: The information we had received ab*. the Birch Pine Cedar &c. proved to be quite false, @ I was obliged to search the Islands before I could find the Materials for a Canoe, on which I set to work with all Diligence being pinched by Hunger we tried angling, but could not procure Fish of any kind.
July 8th In the Evening the 2 Men sent to look for the Kootanaes, returned with 3 Lads @ the Meat of a small Chevreuil a grateful Sight, they had found 2 Tents of Kootanaes near the Lake @ had learnt from them that the body of the Tribe with the old Chief was very far off with the Canoe Flat Heads. Next morning sent the Lads an huntg. July 10 Mr. Finan McDonald with the Men
