" A Diary of the transactions and occurrences at the South Branch House by James Bird"

"Commencing Sept. 2nd 1793"
" Ending 1794"



"Sept. 2 1794"
" Monday a fresh Breeze Ely clear Weather
At 9 AM embarked with two Canoes loaded with trading Goods etc for the South Branch House paddled till 7 PM then put up"

Sept. 3
" Tuesday a strong Gale NW Cloudy Cold Weather
Too much Wind for us to proceed"

Sept. 4
" Wednesday a light Breeze NW clear Weather
At 5 AM embarked, paddled and tracked till 6 PM then put up"

Sept. 5
" Thursday a fresh Gale NW clear Weather
At 5 AM embarked, paddled, poled and tracked till 6 PM then put up a little below the Sturgeon River House"

Sept. 6
" Friday a light Breeze Wly clear fine Weather
At 5 AM embarked, paddled and tracked till 6 PM then put up"

Sept. 7
" Saturday Wind and Weather as yesterday
At 5 AM embarked, tracked till half past 5 PM then put up"

Sept. 8
" Sunday light Breezes variable clear fine Weather
At 5 AM embarked tracked till half past 5 PM then put up"

Sept. 9
" Monday a fresh Breeze NW Cloudy Weather
At 5 AM embarked, tracked till 6 PM then put up. - pafsed five Tents of Indians"

Sept. 10
" Tuesday a light Breeze Ely clear Weather
At 5 AM embarked tracked till 6 PM then put up a little below the mouth of the Branch"

Sept. 11
" Wednesday light Breezes Wly clear hot Weather
At half past 5 AM embarked tracked till 6 PM then put up"

Sept. 12
" Thursday Wind and Weather as yesterday
At 5 AM embarked tracked till 6 PM then put up"

Sept. 13
" Friday light Breezes variable clear warm Weather
At 5 AM embarked, tracked till 11 when we arrived at the South Branch House, where I had the pleasure to find all well, took an inventory of the Store trading Goods etc. and charge of the House"

Sept. 14
" Saturday Wind and Weather as yesterday
Sent two Men with Horses to the other River, the rest (at the House) getting ready to set off for Cumberland House. in the evening two Men and our Hunter arrived with part of the flesh of 5 Cow Buffalo"

Sept. 15
" Sunday light Breezes Nly clear Weather"

Sept. 16
" Monday Wind and Weather as yesterday
Early AM one Canoe arrived from Cumberland House loaded with trading Goods etc. and at Noon returned with two more for the said place; with these I have sent Birchrind for making two Canoes"

Sept. 17
" Tuesday a fresh Breeze Wly clear Weather
One Man employed putting up a Partition and the rest digging a trench for Stockades"

Sept. 18
" Wednesday Wind and Weather as yesterday
Sent two Men with the Hunter on hunting, the rest employed as yesterday"

Sept. 19
" Thursday a fresh Breeze Wly till the evening when it varied NW and blew strong Gale with heavy Rain
Men at the House employed as before, those who went on hunting yesterday arrived with the flesh of two Cow Buffalo"

Sept. 20
" Friday a fresh Breeze NW part clear part Cloudy Weather
One Man employed in the House the rest digging a trench for Stockades"

Sept. 21
" Saturday a fresh Breeze Wly clear Weather
One Man employed in the House and the rest taking up Turnips"

Sept. 22
" Sunday Wind and Weather as yesterday"

Sept. 23
" Monday light Airs Nly clear Weather; a sharp frost last night
Men employed erecting Stockades"

Sept. 24
" Tuesday light Breezes NW part clear, part Cloudy Weather
Sent two Men with our Hunter on hunting, one looking for the Horses and the others making Gate Posts"

Sept. 25
" Wednesday a fresh Gale NW part clear part Cloudy Weather
Men at the House employed as yesterday, those who went for Meat came home with the flesh of one Cow."

Sept. 26
" Thursday Wind and Weather as yesterday
One Man looking for the Horses and the rest putting up Stockades"

Sept. 27
" Friday a strong Gale Nly Cloudy Cold Weather
Men employed as yesterday"

Sept. 28
" Saturday a strong Gale NNW Cloudy Weather with showers of Rain & Hail
Sent two Men with our Hunter on hunting and the rest employed as before"

Sept. 29
" Sunday a fesh Gale WNW clear Weather
The Men who went on hunting yesterday came home with the flesh of a brick red Deer."

Sept. 30
" Monday a fresh Breeze Wly Cloudy Weather
Men employed erecting Stockades - Three Indian young Men arrived for a supply of Tobacco and Ammunition"

Oct. 1 1794
" Tuesday Wind and Weather as yesterday
Mrn employed as before
The Indians of yesterday went away"

Oct. 2
" Wednesday a fresh Breeze Wly clear Weather
Men variously employed"


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