MAY 1834⁽¹⁾

--------to return on their road and remain at Nisqually until further orders. In the evening we all reached the Fort which we found under the management of three masters Ouvrie trader, Brown Store keeper, and Pierre Charles Master of Works. On my arrival I assumed the whole duty, and ordered the men to prepare for building up the place. The Indians are few. Fair weather.

Monday 19. The men at the place are nine in number, namely Ouvrie, P. Charles⁽²⁾, William Brown, Plomondon, Louis Saghanenchter, Silvan Bourgean, Anaweskun McDonald⁽³⁾, John McKie and Tai(4). Most of them employed taking down the frame of a kitchen and erecting it into a better situation. Besides this building there are the dwelling house of 50 feet by 21, twenty feet of which is floored etc. and was the residence of the Gentleman in charge the rest of it without flooring, a store of thirty feet very imperfect and another building of the same size for the men. The Bastions are good, but not complete wanting the roofs. Inventory of goods on hand taken as also the Furs, the later as follows:
180 Large Beaver, 42 Small, 4 1/2 cuttings ditto, Bears 44, 9 Fishers, 153 rats and 20 Racoons, Passing showers of rain in course of the day.

20th. Thursday. Five men out squaring wood for a dwelling house, the present one to be taken down and made a store of. The rest of the men employed at the Kitchen. Weather as yesterday.

21st. Wednesday. The same duty for the men. Traded a few skins. The weather cloudy in the morning, some hail fell and it thundered.

22nd. Thursday. Pierre Charles, Brown and Tai were employed at making a chimney, McKee was hauling earth for the same and the rest squaring wood. A few Indians arrived to trade. Rained some in the forenoon.

23rd. Friday. The men employed as yesterday. Traded 13 beaver skin and an otter, rained all day.

24th. Saturday. The men employed at changing the doors of their dwellings so as to have them facing the square the Gable end of the Indian shop and that for the men's house, facing it, were plastered and whitewashed. The end of the men's house made into an Indian Hall. The chimney of the kitchen completed and part of the roof on. Fair at intervals.

25th. Sunday. Everybody at rest about the place. Twenty Indians were dancing in front of the Fort in honor of the day. Fair weather.

26th. Monday. Plomondon, Louis, McDonald and Tai were all employed squaring. Brown and Bourgean were plastering the house and P. Charles completing the roof and flooring. McKee was hauling logs and water. Ouvre as usual attending to the Indians. Traded a few beaver skins. Fine warm weather.

27th. Tuesday. The same routine as yesterday. Traded a few beaver skins. Fine warm weather.

Wednesday 28th. The kitchen is now completed and looks like a farmers cottage. Changed my place of residence for the above. The men were employed taking down the Bourgeau's house, two squaring, and two sawing wheels for a new wagon. Indians bring a few fresh Salmon which are small and traded at two Ball and Powder a very dear price. Clear and very warm weather.

29th. Thursday. The same work going on as yesterday. Rained much today.

30th. Friday. No change in the employment of the men. The Princess' husband arrived and brought us letters from Vancouver enclosing others from London, all's well. The brig Lama is on her way hither. Fair weather.

31st. Saturday. The square of the store commenced and the wood for the new dwelling all squared. In the afternoon the men were put at clearing the Fort. The trade since my arrival as follows: 43 Large Beaver. 10 small do. 2 lbs. cuttings do. 5 large black do. 1 small black do. 2 Fishers. 5 minks, 49 musquash, 17 otters, 29 Racoons, 2 lynx, 1 dressed red deer skin, 18 dressed red deer skin, 12 fresh salmon, and 300 lbs. venison. More Indians have arrived to trade. Fair weather.