Last "miscellaneous"...I think.

Feb 3, 1786 York Factory, Humphrey Marten, Chief Factor
" Once more I am obliged to Complain to your Honours of the Irritating behaviour of the Surgeon who after accusing me of encouraging the Indians to insult him and threatening to send some of them away called me by the more opprobious names. I am naturally passionate and having been sorely afflicted with the gout Flying from head to foote, am, I own also at times peevish, the aforesaid accusations aroused me to too greater heights of passion. I gave him language like his own, threw some bumboo[a drink] in his face and tryed to shove him down stairs, for part of this behavior I own my Self blameable but flesh and blood cannot bear with such expressions as Old Brute, Lyar, Scoundrel etc. etc.. Indeed he is a sly morose sour man and notwithstanding he hath both guns sett and traps made for catching Foxes and martens etc. I have received but one marten from them and that was brought in by an Indian Woman. He is continually threatening to send some Indians away and says if he doth they come no more here. Indeed my putting a stop to his giving the Indians frequently Brandy hath given some of them disgust. how unhappy must be the Situation of a man troubled with that cruel disorder a wandering gout. but when in deep pain in various parts of the body and not knowing but a few hours may put an end to his existance instead of finding a soothing friend or an agreeable Companion in the Surgeon is too frequently upbraided with being not only peevish but Tyrannical by the very person that advice etc. ought to administer Comfort."
1M160 B.239/a/86

From what I hear about Humphrey Marten, I'd like to hear the other side of the story. These next three are by him too.

Nov. 29, 1785
..."Gilbert Duncan soon returned not being able to proceed on account of a shortness of breath occaisioned by extreme fatness. This man though frequently admonished to abstain from fat meats will gorge himself on the fatest and even cheat his Messmates to get it. he is a lazy Grumbling fellow"...
Feb 8 ,1786
..."Gilbert Duncan of no manner of use, yet he can destroy as much food as any man at the House"
Feb 9, 1786
..."Duncan a Glutton and lazy, my Self old and crazy."
1M160 B.239/a/86

Jan 21, 1790 York Factory
..." The natives that came in yesterday shew they had been driven to extremities by their dressing a dog (that had lain dead on the River some weeks) and eating it as we have no fresh meat of any kind in the House to give them."
1M160 B.239/a/91

Feb 11, 1791 York Factory Joseph Colen Master
"This morning I went to visit my Invalid Natives across the river: it happened at a time when they were making a human Sacrifice, the funeral pile was lighting just as I got there, and the devoted victim, a female Child of three years Old. From what I learned the infant had had Convulsed fits a few days before and which happened to return on her with greater violence this morning, as to alarm its' Mother and the rest of the old Natives- who concluded from the distortion of the Child's features that it was Mad - and to prevent its doing them mischief dispatched the Innocent to its long homes - And in order to keep the babe from Molesting them hereafter as well as to prevent its' injuring any Traveller in its Journey to this other world commited this body to the flames where I saw it consuming.- Indeed I saw sufficient to shock my feelings which makes me shudder while writing.- I have been particular in relating this circumstance as I cannot hear from the Oldest Servant in this employ an instance of this kind among these low Country Natives. And had it not been for one of the Old Natives who came this afternoon to beg a little Grog (as is always customary at the Death or funeral of any Relations) I should have been still ignorant of their motives for such an inhuman act. From this Old Man I had the above particulars - tho' he told it me as a secret and in confidence - he said it was common among them to have human sacrifices - but that it was performed with the greatest privacy and none but those who were turning Mad were commited to the flames."
1M160 B.239/a/91

Excerpt of a letter dated 20 Mar. 1818 From James Swain to James Bird
"it gives me the greater concern to have to tell you that Several of the Men have been afflicted with that dreadful Disorder the Scurvy. John Furrigan and Allan Murray have both fallen Victim to its dreadful effects, two others are now bad of the Same Disease, one of them very dangerously ill and very little hope can be entertained of his recovery. The great Scarcity of the Country Productions is more extensive and distressing than I was aware of. The poor Natives have been severely Visited by the chilling and Penurious Hand of Want with all its Concomitant Pain, Misery, Despair & Death. the remains of one Party of these poor Wretches came in yesterday three of them had ended their Wretched Existance and had it not been for the timely relief sent to them not one [would have] Survived to have related this Tale of Misery & Woe"
1M258 B.239/b/86b

From a letter dated Jan 4 1796 to William Stayner from Joseph Colen
"An unfortunate Accident befell my nephew Thomas Colen the evening of the 5th Nov. last. A Quantity of Fire Works that? he had in his Breast pockets took fire by which his Body Hands Neck Face were burnt in a dreadful manner. The Flesh in many parts was blown from the Bones, in short he exhibited the most shocking spectacle I ever beheld, but being blessed with a good Constitution nature has worked miracles in his favour, he is on the recovery."

From John Peter Pruden at Buckingham house to John Ballenden? Aug. 10 1799
"Sir,
The Canadian named the Little Wolf that is going down to meet the canoes gives me an opportunity of informing you how affairs is going on in this Quarter. Alexander Flett has been on discovery to the Red deers lake from Edmonton House but has returned without success the Bogs & Woods being so bad that he was obliged to return short. The Northwest Companys men that was sent to build a house at the stonny mountain returned on the first part of the Summer they were sent off again with Strict orders to Build and a few days ago they all came back Bag & Baggage. The reason of this I cannot properly tell but they seem to say that the southard Indians is against it and that there is no provisions to be got there but they are determined to Build there when their canoes arrive. There has been but a few slopey ground Stone Indians & the Little Old Man with his Family & the big bastard that is tenting with him in here since the Craft left in the spring. None of the Blackguards that used to visit this house every summer has been seen yet and now we don't expect them as the time of the year has past. JP Pruden"

Home

HBCA microfilm numbers:

Reel 1M18 Doc. Ref. No. Coming