Sunday 2nd. Toward break of day this morning we were visited by a dreadful hurricane of wind which tore up some of the largest trees by the roots, broke others and nearly blew down the fort which was only saved by the shelter of the woods to windwards and the props we placed to support it.
February 1834. Monday 3rd. All hands employed squaring the frame wood of the bastions that already prepared being useless. It is this clumsy manner we have all along got on with our work for want of skilful workmen - most of the jobs having to be done twice before they will any thing like answer. Weather still boisterous.
Thursday 6th. Two men employed squaring logs for building a kitchen and the rest at making the bastions. Traded a few beaver and otters. Weather rather more settled than for some days past. No trade.
Friday 7th. The people employed as yesterday. Weather rainy. No trade. Late in the evening Ouvrie returned and reports that the story about the shipwreck is a mere fabrication which he ascertained at the Clallum village at New Dungeness. Traded a few skins.
Saturday 8th. Duties of the place as above. Rained heavily during the night, but the day was clear and pleasant. Traded a few skins and a little venison - sufficient to give one days rations to the people, which is the first rations, the produce of the place they have had.
February 1834. Sunday 9th. Rained during the night but clear and serene in the day time.
Monday 10th. Weather as yesterday. Two men hauling home logs with the oxen, three men making bastions and two squaring logs for making a kitchen of 15 feet square. No trade.
Tuesday 11th. As yesterday.
Wednesday 12th. Heavy rain and high wind. The bastions were at last finished - at last every thing is fitted and put together on the ground so that we only want hands enough to raise them. Two men as usual preparing wood for a kitchen.
Thursday 13th. The weather but little improved. All hands wmployed putting up a kitchen of 15 feet square. No trade.
Friday 14th. As yesterday.
Saturday 15th. Nothing particular.
Sunday 16th. Snow about a foot during last night and continued snowing heavily during the day.
Monday 17th. Sent Ouvrie and Brown on a trading excursion to environs of Ouvrie's River. The rest of the people employed as on Saturday. Traded a few skins from a few Indians of the Sound who arrived yesterday. Snowed again today.
February 1834. Tuesday 18th. Snowed so heavily as to render it impossible for our people to carry on the building for the kitchen. Nothing a doing.
Wednesday 19th. Weather a little improved and but little work done except getting firewood.
Thursday 20th. Weather cold and clear. Two men sawing two hauling home firewood and the rest cutting firewood. Traded a few skins.
Friday 21st. Our people at length returned from Frazers River, after experiencing a very tedious and unpleasant voyage, both going and coming. They brought some supplies for Outfit 1834, but not all that were requested.
Saturday 22nd. Sent Ouvrie, with four men and an Indian Chief as a protector, on a trading excursion to the Klalims etc. And sent Pierre Charles with three men o a hunting excursion among the Island of the Sound. The few hands at home employed airing the furs and goods which I find rather damp.
Sunday 23rd. Clear mild weather.
Monday 24th. The men at home employed cutting and hauling home firewood. Traded a few skins from Nisqually and Satchet Indians who again begin to grumble sourly at our two beaver tariff. Weather mild and snow deep.
February 1834. Tuesday. Pierre Charles and his associates returned with the meat of 8 Chib: deer. The snow thaws a little in the day time but it freezes strongly during the night. Traded five beaver skins from a Soquamish Indian.
Wednesday 26th. The people who yesterday arrived did not work and the employed as yesterday and the day before, drying furs and goods which are rather damp. Weather clear and mild in the day time, but cold at night - snow still deep.
Thursday 27th. The men all employed cutting fence poles. The trade now very dull the Indians being determined to hold up their furs now that the severity of the winter is over, in hopes of an opposition casting up - Fine warm weather in the day time but the nights are still cold, the now, however, is nearly all gone except in the woods, where it is still half a foot deep.
Friday 28th. Took the Inventory of the property in store and closed the business of Outfit 1833 - The men employed as yesterday. The weather continues fine.
Outfit 1834
March 1st Saturday. The people of the place employed cutting fence poles. And Ouvrie and party returned from the Klalums with about fifty made beaver, being but a small portion of the furs that those Indians have on hand, but with which they will not part at our prices, resolved like all the other tribes to wait the arrival of an opposition. Weather fine.
Sunday 2nd. fine weather. The ground nearly all bare of snow.