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1850

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Fort Victoria Post Journal May 1849

1849 May

Tuesday 1^st May- Fine clear weather with a fresh breeze from the South West. Early this morning the Cadboro with the assistance of our Indians was warped out of harbour & left for Langley with a fair wind. Paid a visit to the mill party to day & found every thing there going on well. Some whale bones & furs were traded to day from Cape Flatteries and Tlalums.

Wednesday 2^nd Fine weather still continues with the wind blowing fresh from the South West. People employed carting dung & ploughing the fields for potatoes and oats. 1 large sea otter and other trifles were traded to day from Cape Flatteries. {the following segment was written across the entry for May 2} Our cook Kingston had a quarrel with one of the Songes to day and quite deliberately fired at the man, when crossing to the village in his canoe. Had I not been there to prevent ~~his~~ further proceedings, Kingston's life would probably have been sacrificed & we would have got into a most serious quarrel with the Natives.

Thursday 3^rd Wind and weather same as yesterday. 24 bus. potatoes were planted in course of the day. We got the mares in this forenoon & began thrashing the wheat. Some four or five of them have had foals since they were last taken in.

Friday 4^th Overcast with heavy rain in the afternoon & blowing fresh from the South West. 21 bus. potatoes were planted to day & the carters employed carting dung. We have had the new boat launched this morning & the carpenters are now employed repairing one of the skows. We are now fitting up out the Sale Shop with goods from Depot preparatory to beginning the Servants' Orders.

Saturday 5^th Partially overcast with a fresh breeze from the South West. People employed as usual. 21 bus. potatoes were planted to day & 15 bus. wheat thrashed out by the mares. The results of the week's work are as follows: 66 bus. potatoes planted & dung carted out ∞ d^o. , 20 acres of land ploughed ∞ oats & 15 acres of potatoe field crossed ploughed & drilled, the carpenters employed repairing the skow & making oars for the new boat, 1 desk made for the Rev^d Mr. Staines & 100 bus. potatoes cut for seed. Operations at the Mill much the same as last week. The water in the stream is diminishing fast. Dupuis has now got 5 kegs of butter made & M^cPhail as much.

Sunday 6^th Overcast with occasional showers. Wind blowing fresh from the South West. No occurrence more than usual of a Sunday.

Monday 7th Overcast with the wind light from the South East. Had some rain overnight. People employed as last week except Lazard who was sent to the Mill to repair one of the shafts of the wheels, which broke on Saturday & to [level] up the Mill dam, the water being now too low to [permit] of the Mill working without its aid. Equip^d the Sale Shop to this from Depot.

Tuesday 8^th Fine pleasant weather with a light breeze from the South West. Paid a visit to the mill party to day & found them getting on with the work allotted to them as well as could be expected. Nothing remarkable occurred at this place. 41 bus. potatoes planted to day & yesterday.

Wednesday 9^th Occasionally overcast with light airs from the South East. People employed as usual, planting potatoes & ploughing land for oats. Crawford & Harvey fitting up the rooms in Mr. Staines' room who complains of the poor accommodations in them for him & family.

Thursday 10^th Fine clear weather with a fresh breeze from the South West. 36 bushels potatoes were planted & covered to day. We had the Ft. Outfit transferred to day from Depot & will now commence the remainder of that of Nisqually to be sent by the Cadboro. No trade worth mentioning. The two carpenters are still employed for Mr. Staines. Scarf, Minie & Gagnon still on the sick list.

Friday 11^th Fine pleasant weather & blowing fresh from the Southward and Westward. People employed at their usual occupations. 6 canoes of Cape Flattery Indians arrived in course of the afternoon but brought nothing worth mentioning but whale bone for trade.

Saturday 12^th Weather still continues fine. Late last evening H.M. Ship Inconstant, Captain Sheperd arrived off Esquimalt & this morning sent letters on shore for Mr. Douglas which were sent on this even^g to Nisqually in charge of Mr. M^cNeil who left in a canoe with a crew of Indians. 8 sea otters & 10 land otters & other sundries were traded from Cape Flattery Indians. 172 bus. potatoes were planted & dunged and covered this week which has been the principal result of the week's labor. Some of the officers of the Inconstant paid us a visit on shore in course of the day. The Saw Mill was going since Friday morning, the bridging having been repaired.

Sunday 13^th Blowing fresh from the South West with clear weather. Nothing remarkable.

Monday 14^th Still blowing strong from the South West & weather still continues dry & clear. This forenoon a party of Quomitchins with Tsoughelum at their head shot a poor Tlalum lad the name of Tsa[me]m whom we had employed at Dupuis' Dairy milking the cows. He was shot while warming water to wash the dishes in front of the house, several shots having been fired at the same time which pierced the poor lad's body in several places. The whole party left the Dairy & came to the Fort & say they will not risk their lives any longer there. Mr. Nevin & 7 hands were sent over this evening all armed to milk the cows & saw two Indians who fled into the woods at their approach. The Indians are now in such a state of excitement, that it is dangerous to go any distance from the Estab^t. We are much alarmed this evening for the mill party as the Quomitchins may have gone there. We had the remains of poor Tsa[nu]m taken home & remain for the night within the Fort. 13 bus. of potatoes were planted to day being the last of our seed & all we intend planting this year, making in all 380 bus. 5 animals were slaughtered to day ∞ use of H.M. Ship Inconstant.

Tuesday 15^th Occasionally clear and cloudy with a light breeze from the South East. We have now got 4 hands in charge of Mr. Nevin going out morning & evening to the Dairy all armed to milk the cows. This evening the remains of poor Tsa[nu]m were consigned to the tomb & according to Indian custom & to make up matters with [Ta loche], whose son was killed I paid him 8 blankets 2 1/2 pts & about 3/4 pt of powder & shot at which the poor man appeared as pleased as his condition would admit of. We intend to discontinue ~~ing~~ issuing, out arms & ammunition to the Kawitchins until this affair subsides or is brought to some settlement with that tribe.

Wednesday 16^th Fine dry weather as yesterday but partially overcast, wind light from the Southward and westward. The few men whom we have got employed here are occupied fitting up the room for Mr. Staines & attending Dupuis' Dairy & sowing & harrowing oats, 24 bus. of which were sown to day.

Thursday 17^th Had a little rain over night & fine pleasant weather throughout the day, wind light & variable. This forenoon 12 large canoes of Tlalums and Songes left for Tsoughelum's village with the intention of exterminating that vagabond & his followers. Operations going on as yesterday. 8 tons of coals were taken to day from here on board the Inconstant, being part of that belonging to lot rem^g here. Slaughtered 4 animals to day ∞ use of the Constant. {Inconstant}

Friday 18^th Weather still continues dry with a fresh breeze from the South West. People employed principally as usual. No trade worth noticing. The war party which started from here yesterday, notwithstanding all their bravadoes before leaving returned this afternoon having had one of the party killed & two wounded without inflicting any injury on the enemy in fact they fled at the first shot fired without attempting to take the remains of the poor fellow who was shot. Dupuis & Peltier on returning from the Dairy last night reported having seen an Indian lurking amongst the rocks between this & that place.

Saturday 19^th Weather clear & dry as yesterday & wind from the same quarters. This morning the dairy men objected to going out to milk the cows at the outer Dairy in consequence of what they had seen last night, but after some persuasion prevailed upon them to go {illegible deletion} out with the interpreter they are all of course provided with arms and ammunition. In the event of a [clash] with the Natives, we are at present, but awkwardly situated the mill party exposed to their inroads & ~~the~~ some of the few hands we have got here are not the men to stand fire especially Dupuis & Peltier who appear to be alarmed at the appearance of any Indian on the plains. This system of sending out armed parties, stops the work very much & this week's does not show any great result except 73 bus. oats which were sown & harrowed.

Sunday 20^th Overcast with a few light showers of rain, wind ~~ligh~~ blowing strong from the Southward and Westward.

Monday 21^st Blowing strong from the South West with occasional showers of hail & rain & very cold for the season. About 10 Am the Cadboro arrived from Ft. Langley which she left on the 13th with 350 barrels of salmon. People employed principally as last week. The outer Dairy attended by an armed party in charge of Mr. Nevin. Some four or five animals were slaughtered to day ∞ use of the Inconstant.

Tuesday 22^nd Fine weather with a light breeze from the South West. Paid a visit to the mill party & found all well except Kaau who is on the sick list with a sore foot. The men there were employed stopping the water from running under the dam & hauling out logs. Several articles were sold to day to the crew of the Inconstant.

Wednesday 23^rd Fine clear weather with light variable airs. Every package we had for Nisqually has been shipped on board the Cadboro & she is now ready to leave for that place. Some goods were sold for cash to day also. Captain Sheperd paid us a visit this morning & had a ride over the plains to Mount Douglas. Told William Kingston to get his things ready this evening to proceed to Nisqually on board the Cadboro as his remaining here would endanger the lives of some of our men on account of his attempt at shooting one of the Indians the other day who wish to have revenge.

Thursday 24^th Weather fine & warm with a light breeze from the South East. Early this morning the Cadboro left for Ft. Nisqually & about 9 Am couriers arrived from Ft. Langley with an express from New Caledonia which was immediately sent after the Cadboro. Kingston declared this morning he would not go on board the Cadboro for me or any one else for which I seized him & sent him on board in irons. 29 bus. oats and 4 1/2 bus. pease were sown to day, being the last this season. Making a total of 102 bus. oats and 45 bus. pease.

Friday 25^th Beautiful weather with a light breeze from the South West. People employed the same. Sent Mr. Nevin with the boat to day to the Mill with provisions for that party. Some goods were sold to day also for cash to the Inconstant's crew. This forenoon the Indians who arrived from Langley with the New Caledonia Express returned & brought a letter back for Mr. Yale.

Saturday 26^th Fine weather but became overcast towards evening with the wind strong from the South West. The week's work done at this place does not show any great result, three of the few men whom we have employed being on the sick list. The oat field was sown & harrowed, some of the fences rep^d & 10 animals taken in & slaugh^d ∞ use of the Inconstant & the carp^s repairing the skow. Called two of the men from the Mill to work here there being more for them to do now here than there owing to the scarcity of water. Coté & party have been for the greater part of the week repairing the Mill Dam.

Sunday 27^th Fine warm weather with light variable airs & partially overcast with a few drops of rain. Nothing remarkable.

Monday 28^th Beautifully clear & very warm, wind light from the Southward & Eastward. 5 men at Dupuis' Dairy, two of whom hauling poles with oxen for a calf park. Lazard & Sagoyawatha, making some alterations in the Mess House & the rest employed as last week. Two animals were slaughtered to day ∞ use of the Inconstant. Several officers were on shore to day riding.

Tuesday 29^th Beautiful weather with heat intense during the day, wind light and variable. People employed at their usual occupations. Some whale bone & other trifles were traded from the Cape Flattery Indians, who arrived this morning. Paid a visit to the mill party & found them repairing the foundation of the Mill Dam.

Wednesday 30^th Heavy dew over night & fine clear weather during the day, wind light and variable. About 4pm a ship appeared in the offing & shortly afterwards an Indian brought me note from the Capt. announcing her to be the Harpooner from Eng^d with settlers. She missed the harbour & bore for Trial Island & I sent Mr. M^cKay out in a canoe to [assist] her in to harbour. She is still at anchor off Trial Island. The few men whom we have got here to employ now at their usual occupations. Thomas with 7 Indians was sent to the Mill for a skow load of boards.

Thursday 31^st Fine pleasant weather with light variable airs. This afternoon the B^qu Harpooner entered the harbour, when the packet box from England was landed. People employed much the same as usual. 8 miners with their families, 4 carpenters, baker & some settlers came out as passengers by the Harpooner. A surgeon & clerk the name of Dr. Benson also came out.

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