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Victoria Post Journal 1846 October

1846 October

Thursday 1^st October. Very stormy this morning with heavy rain, wind South West. Cleared up towards noon when we had the Cadboro discharged. 182 bus. potatoes were taken up & housed. People employed as usual. Their orders were given them this afternoon. Our field potatoes are now up making in all{blank} bushels those of both gardens have still to be taken up.

Friday 2^nd Raining during the afternoon wind Easterly. The Cadboro has been ballasted this forenoon & his despatches deliv^d to Captⁿ Scarborough: he is therefore now ready to leave for Vanc^r. 155 bus. potatoes were taken up this forenoon. The people employed as usual. No trade. Their flour, sugar & molasses were delivered to the men this evening.

Saturday 3^rd Alternately clear and cloudy with frequent showers of rain. The weather being unsettled the Cadboro remained in harbour till 4 P.M. when she left. The week's work is as follows: 64 logs ∞ saw sq^d & 16 taken out & rafted home, the main door made & put up on Store #6 with window shutters, the spaces between the foundation blocks of d^o. filled up with pieces, which were also sq^d & taken out of woods, 30 bus. wheat refann^d ∞ seed, 733 bus. potatoes taken up in course of the week, about 20 acres of land ploughed with harrows & ploughs rep^d &c. We had 10 1/2 bus. wheat sown this forenoon being the first this autumn. All the young fruit trees received ∞ Cadboro were planted. There is nothing at all now coming in for trade.

Sunday 4^th A strong westerly wind with frequent showers of heavy rain. Remained quiet. Two canoes of Cape Flatteries arrived this afternoon but we have not as yet ascertained what they brought for trade.

Monday 5^th Windy & showery this forenoon generally clear in the afternoon when we had all the wool carried to the New Store to be out of the way in packing the furs. 15 1/2 bus. wheat were sown & harrowed, 2 large,1 small & 1 put {there is little doubt that Finlayson wrote 'put', though perhaps he intended to write 'pup'} sea otter with some few other furs & oil were traded to day from the Cape Flattery Indians who arrived yesterday. We could not expose any of the furs outside to day, for airing, owing to the wetness of the ground. 2 men sawing battens ∞ fur box & 2 were sawing boards ∞ weather boarding House #3.

Tuesday 6^th Overcast but kept dry all day. We had several bales of furs aired in the Main Hall & packed to day at which 6 hands were employed. Minie on sick list. 18 36 bus. wheat were sown & harrowed to day. The ~~people~~ others were employed as usual. About noon the Cormorant arrived from the North. This evening the Nisqually packages [secured] ∞ Cadboro by the kindness of Captain Gordon, were permitted to be shipped on board of her to Nisqually, whither she is bound early to morrow. Letters & other documents were sent on board late this evening for Dr. Tolmie. Captain Gordon found as much coals as he wanted on the North end of the Island & at a very trifling expense.

Wednesday 7^th Beautiful weather with a light Northerly breeze. We had all the hands that could be employed to advantage dusting, airing, packing and pressing the last shipment of furs from Vanc^r for England. The rest employed sowing & harrowing winter wheat. 16 1/2 bus. of which were to day sown. In dusting the furs some insects were found in several of the skins which retarded our operation of pressing them. Early this morning the Cormorant left for Nisqually.

Thursday 8^th Fine clear weather. We were busily employed all this day also preparing & pressing furs. All the furs for O^t. 4[5] {could be a '6'} are now pressed & numbered & ready for shipment. 10 1/2 bus. wheat were sown to day & Minie , having recovered from his late sickness, was employed sowing. There was a man with two horses rolling the wheat. Nothing done in the way of trade.

Friday 9^th Thick & misty with drizzling rain this forenoon. Cleared up about noon into a fine pleasant day. The people employed as usual. We had several bales of furs packed & pressed to day & carried to Store #6 outside where they are deposited with all the wool, that Store being the lightest we have got & being at some distance from the grain is the best place for keeping the furs free of moth. No trade of any consequence. 7 1/2 bus. wheat were sown & harrowed. George Aitken who arrived here by the Cadboro, has not been able by sickness to perform any duty since his arrival.

Saturday 10^th Fine pleasant weather, wind blowing fresh from the S. West. 9 bus. wheat were sown and harrowed. Week's work as follows v^t: all the last shipment of furs ∞ Cadboro packed, dusted, aired & pressed & made ready for shipment to England, 30 boards 2in sawn, 30 bus. wheat fann^d ∞ seed, 77 bus. wheat sown during the week including to day's work & 10 1/2 bus. last week make 87 1/2 in all this autumn as yet. We are now done with the Vanc^r opers & those of the ships & are now ready for the Coast Returns. {following sentence is written over & perpendicular to the previous material} This evening 4 of the sheep were found dead in the park having been much mutilated by the wolves in course of last night.

Sunday 11^th Generally overcast & mild. Early this morning the Cormorant with the Fisgard in tow arrived from Nisqually & brought advices from Dr. Tolmie of the 10^th. Several of the officers came ashore in the evening.

Monday 12^th Fine pleasant weather. Captains Duntze and Gordon with several of their officers were to day on shore, the former had a ride to in the neighbourhood. We have this evening settled all accounts with the Purser of the Fisgard; that ship leaves to morrow morning & is to be towed out of the Straits by the Cormorant. 12 bus. ~~peas~~ wheat were to day sown & harrowed & some logs for the saw rafted across from the opposite side. Instead of the ten tons of hay ordered to be made here for the Fisgard only one was taken off our hands by that ship, the remainder will however be required here for our cattle during the winter.

Tuesday 13^th Had thick fog this morning, weather over cast throughout the day. About 9 A.M. the Fisgard towed by the Cormorant left this {place} for the South. 90 bus. potatoes were taken up to day and 12 bus. wheat sown & harrowed. No trade in furs.

Wednesday 14^th Very foggy all day but clear overhead. 15 bus. potatoes were taken up to day being the last of the year's crop, making in all 2106 bus. About 4 P.M. the B^qu Columbia Captⁿ Duncan arrived from the North with the returns of that quarter. 9 1/2 bus. wheat were sown to day. We had a gang of Indians employed cutting wood intended for the Steamer when she arrives.

Thursday 15^th Slight drizzling rain this morning, afterwards cleared up into a fine pleasant day. A scow load of the Coast furs were landed to day. The people employed as follows: 4 pit sawing boards ∞ weather boarding House #3, two caulking the spaces between the pieces in wall of Main House, 3 digging a pit behind House N^o. 3 ∞ water closet & the rest employed as usual as ∞ the labor book. {blank} bus. timothy seed was sown to day amongst the apple trees in the orchard.

Friday 16^th Beautiful weather with a strong northerly breeze. We had almost all hands employed to day dusting, airing & packing the Ft. Simpson furs & discharging the furs from the Columbia. Late this evening the Cormorant returned from Cape Flattery. 12 bus. wheat were to day sown & harrowed.

Saturday 17^th Beautiful weather, wind light from the North^d. About 10 A.M. H. Majesty's Ship Cormorant entered the inner harbour, where Captain Gordon intends to pass the winter. We gave him a salute of 7 guns from the S. Bastion. Were busy all day dusting, airing & packing the Coast furs. Week's work as follows: 46 bus. wheat were sown in course of the week, 105 bus. potatoes taken up, 30 boards 20 feet long 1in sawn, 100 logs hauled up the bank & rafted home, about 60 acres of land harrowed & various other jobs performed about the Estab^t. No trade of any consequence. Captain Duncan having made a demand for fresh beef we had to kill an ox which was carted in this evening.

Sunday 18^th Had a little frost overnight, fine pleasant weather throughout the day. Nothing transpired of any consequence.

Monday 19^th Beautiful weather. We had almost all hands employed to day packing & dusting furs. The ploughmen were harrowing C{lover} Pt. field & opening ~~drills~~ furrows in the fields already sown & rolling [said] field. In consequence of a considerable number of moths being found in the furs we have not advanced so much as could be expected with the packing. Some sheep were slaughtered to day for the Cormorant.

Tuesday 20^th Had very thick fog this morning and during the afternoon. People employed as yesterday, packing & dusting furs, ploughing & harrowing. Some articles were sold to day for cash to the crews of the Cormorant.

Wednesday 21 Fine weather with thick fog in the evening. Our people employed as usual preparing the furs for shipment to England. About 3 P.M. the Steam Vessel Beaver arrived from the North with Mr. C{hief} T{rader} Work as passenger. No trade in furs except a few martens from the Kawitchins & also some provisions.

Thursday 22^nd Had thick fog this morning which cleared up in course of the day, little or no wind. Operations going on as usual. 12 bus. wheat were sown in C{lover} point field. All the property intended for Nisqually was shipped to day on board the Beaver.

Friday 23^rd Thick fog all day with little or no wind. Men employed as usual pressing & packing furs, ploughing & harrowing. 16 bus. wheat were sown in course of the day. Letters & other documents were written to day for Vancouver & given to Mr. Work this evening, the Steamer being ready to leave for Nisqually to morrow morning. Allard employed making a paper box. 15 sheep were slaughtered to day ∞ for use of the Cormorant.

Saturday 24^th Overcast and mild. The result of this week's work is as follows: 40 packs and 12 puncheons of the Coast furs packed & press^d, 20 1in boards & 10 2in boards sawn, 28 bus. wheat sown & harrowed, 1 cassette made by Allard, the forge & bellows repaired & sundry other jobs performed about the stores. About 8 A.M. the Beaver left for Nisqually with Mr. Work as passenger. No trade in furs.

Sunday 25^th Beautiful weather with a refreshing breeze from the North. Nothing remarkable.

Monday 26^th Clear weather with thick fog in the evening. Minie & Allard making winnowing machine, Coté, Keave & Robis C[o]e caulking Main House, 4 pit sawing battens ∞ the fur box & the rest as usual, harrowing & carting. Lazard & Gagnon packing the whalebone. No trade in furs worth noticing.

Tuesday 27^th Had very thick fog in course of the forenoon, cleared up in the evening. Coté squaring wood ∞ water closet ∞ House N^o. 3, Garipie & Gabriel sq^g sills & posts ∞ fur box & the rest employed as usual. 8 bus. wheat were sown & harrowed in C{lover} point field, Gagnon & Lazard packing whale bone, Kamakeea & Bole turning wheat in store.

Wednesday 28^th Generally overcast with heavy rain in the evening. Men employed as usual. Some sheep were killed to day for the Cormorant. No trade worth mentioning.

Thursday 29^th Fine & mild with a light shower of rain. 11 bus. wheat were sown to day & harrowed, two hands were draining fields, Satakarata was employed both to day & yesterday roofing a house Captain Gordon got built at the end of House N^o. 3, the others employed as yesterday. A Gov^t Bill of £30 ~~was cashed~~ from Mr. Baskerville of the Cormorant was cashed to day at the exchange of 4/2.

Friday 30^th Had a light shower of rain but the weather was generally clear. We had three men employed to day draining off the pickle from the beef casks in Depot & replenishing them with fresh pickle preparatory to being shipped ∞ B^qu Columbia. 6 1/2 bus. wheat were to day sown & harrowed being the last we intend to sow this autumn, the others employed as usual. About 4 P.M. the Beaver arrived from Nisqually with 41 head of horned cattle. Captain Chunnley late of H M's 8^th Reg^t of foot & his brother came as passengers, advices were received by the Beaver from Vanc^r up to the 21^st October, news favorable from that quarter. We have now about 110 acres sown with winter wheat, seed amount^g to 187 bushels being all we intend to sow this autumn.

Saturday 31^st Overcast with a strong breeze from the Eastward. Week's operations show the following results: 40 boards 20 ft long sawn, 108 battens ∞ fur box sawn, 1 small house erected behind N^o. 3, 28 acres of land sown with wheat and harrowed, 83 logs ∞ fence cut & hauled home, 20 bbls. of beef repickled & the frame work of a winnow^g machine made, all the whale bone both from this place & the Coast packed & the oil cask coop^d. Some sales for cash took place but no trade in furs.

Aitken, George (birth/death dates unknown). Served the Hudson's Bay Company as a blacksmith at Fort Victoria briefly in 1846...(Read More).

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