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Fort Victoria Post Journal February 1850

1850 February

Friday 1^st February. Overcast & mild. People employed much the same as usual. This morning Mr. Yates, the carpenter, was sent over to Esquoimalt to assist in caulking the Cayuga. In the afternoon three canoes of Cape Flattery Indians arrived & not aware as yet what they brought for trade. The snow is now fast disappearing from the ground.

Saturday 2^nd Fine pleasant weather with light airs from the North^d and Eastward. People employed at their usual occupations. The most of our people being employed at the Mill no great amount of work can be shewn done for the week. Yates' house has been filled up with pieces, firewood cut & carted home for the use of the Estab^t. No trade in furs worth mentioning. About 6pm the Beaver arrived from Ft. Rupert. On her way down she attempted to go up Fraser's River to Langley but was prevented by ice.

Sunday 3^rd Generally overcast & mild, wind light from the Eastward. Nothing remarkable. The Beaver arrived this afternoon about 6pm & not yesterday.

Monday 4^th Cloudy with some rain, wind light from the Southward and East^d. People employed much the same as last week. Yates & Crawford employed caulking the Cayuga. 7 bales of furs were landed to day from the Beaver from Ft. Rupert.

Tuesday 5^th Overcast with some rain, wind light from the Eastward. People employed ploughing, carting firewood, building, &c. 9 extra Indians were this morning sent to the Mill to expedite the loading of the Cayuga. Two ships are reported to be in the offing, what they are, we have not as yet ascertained. No trade. Paid a visit to the Mill to day & found affairs going on there as well as could be expected.

Wednesday 6^th Rainy weather with the wind blowing strong from the Southward and Eastward. The ship reported yesterday in the offing is the B^qu Victory from the Sandwich Islands with cargo for this place and Columbia River. ~~She~~ Captain Ryan of the Victory reported having seen the B^qu Cowlitz at the Islands where she arrived about the middle of last month. The Mary Dare was still lying there. People about the place employed as usual except Dupuis and Gabriel, who were ploughing. Mr. Yates & Crawford finished caulking the Cayuga this evening.

Thursday 7^th Overcast with occasional showers, wind light & variable generally from the Eastward. People employed at their usual occupations. The Brig Cayuga is now loaded & the Indians employed there will be disposable for other work. Mr. Wear the Supercargo arrived in the afternoon to settle a/cs. No trade worth noticing in furs.

Friday 8^th Raining heavily over night which continued more or less throughout the day. Settled affairs with Mr. Wear the Supercargo of the Cayuga & that gentleman left with Mr. Talmich {Tallmadge} this afternoon. The B^qu Victory in coming in to harbour grounded on Shoal point & will have to wait until next tide. Operations in hand going on as yesterday.

Saturday 9^th Weather wet and disagreeable, with the wind blowing fresh from the South East. The B^qu Victory was moored to day along side the Salmon Wharf. People employed the same as usual. Operations of the week are so inconsiderable as being scarcely worth noticing, indeed the number of men employed here at out door's work are very few. The blacksmith & others at steady jobs are going on with their work as usual. Coté, Dubeau & Peltier (mill men) came up this evening with the intention of leaving the Service. The latter was engaged for two years & the other two leave the Service. The weather is now getting milder & the willow bushes are beginning to show some appearance of budding.

Sunday 10^th Generally overcast but mild pleasant weather, wind light and variable. Nothing remarkable.

Monday 11^th Wind light from the North East, mild weather. People & Indians employed wooding the Beaver, discharging the salt and other sundries from the Victory, cutting & carting wood ∞ use of the Estab^t, ploughing land for spring crops, &c. In the evening Captain Brotchie arrived from New Dungeness with a crew of Indians. Some of the Beaver's crew were to day equipped from the Sale Shop for the Northern trip.

Tuesday 12^th Mild weather but generally overcast. Operations in hand going on as yesterday. No trade worth noticing. The weather is now daily becoming mild & fair prospects of its continuing so the wild Goose berry bushes are budding rapidly. The Beaver is now ready to ~~sail~~ leave for Nisqually. This being Gov^r Colvile's birth day a salute of 9 guns was fired in honour thereof.

Wednesday 13^th Fine clear weather throughout the day with little or no wind. About 8 Am the Beaver left with Gov^r Colvile & suite. The men employed as usual, principally cutting & carting wood, finishing off Yates' house, discharging the Victory, &c. Minie & Lemon were set this afternoon to making a desk for the office.

Thursday 14^th Overcast with some rain, wind light from the Southward and Eastward. People employed ploughing, carting wood & bales for shipment on board the Victory. Some Tlalums and Kawitchins arrived & traded some furs & oil & dried salmon, 3[h] feet lumber were shipped on board the Victory, sold Captain Ryan in exchange for some goods. The Steamer arrived in the afternoon, having left Gov^r Colvile & party within 30 miles from Nisqually.

Friday 15^th Had some rain over night, fine mild weather throughout the day, with the wind light from the South East. People employed principally finishing off Yates' house, shipping cattle & horses, &c. on board the Cadboro for Mullachard. Purchased some few articles, say 2 barrels pork, 2 barrels beef & other articles from Captain Ryan. About 9 Am Miss Elisa Kennedy, daughter of Dr. Kennedy Fort Simpson departed this life, her complaint was a consumption. Trade, some dry salmon & other trifles from Kawitchins. We are now clear of the B^qu Victory & she is ready to sail for Columbia River.

Saturday 16^th Fine pleasant weather, with light airs from the Southward and Westward. People employed pretty much as usual, except Gagnon and Lazard who were making a coffin for Miss Kennedy. The remains of that poor girl were this evening consigned to the tomb. The Beaver with the Cadboro in tow left this morning for Mullachard & returned in the afternoon having landed the cattle & horses there. The American B^qu Victory was towed out of harbour to day, bound for Columbia River. No trade worth noticing.

Sunday 17^th Generally overcast with the wind light from the South East. Had a little rain in the afternoon. This day passed away as usual in its peaceful observance.

Monday 18^th Blowing fresh from the South West, with the weather generally overcast. Men employed much the same as last week: had three ploughs preparing the field behind the barn for wheat. Mr. Hancock arriv^d from Cape Flattery, where he has commenced building a Mill & bought some things to day from the Store.

Tuesday 19^th Fine mild weather but generally overcast, wind light from the Southward and Westward. People employed at their usual occupations. Dr. Tolmie and Miss Jane Work were to day married by the Rev^d Mr. Staines.

Wednesday 20^th Had some rain over night which continued more or less throughout the day, wind mod. from the South East and Eastward. People employed as yesterday as ∞ labor book. Were busy to day laying out goods for the New Caledonia Outfit & three ploughs underway preparing land for wheat.

Thursday 21^st Fine clear weather, with light variable airs. People employed at their usual occupations. Some furs were traded to day from the Whotlumies. Had some packages made up for Nisqually in course of the day. Some of our people have been employed for the last two days endeavouring to get up the skow that had sunk in the harbour, but have not as yet succeeded in getting her up.

Friday 22^nd Keen frost over night, fine clear weather throughout the day, with the wind light from the Northward. People employed much the same as usual, preparing land for spring crops, shipping sundries on board the Cadboro for Fort Nisqually. Trade of no importance.

Saturday 23^rd Keen frost over night & fine weather during the day, wind light from the South W. This week an office desk was made, cargo prepared & shipped on board of the Cadboro, some 6 acres of land reploughed for wheat & sundry other operations performed about the Estab^t. The operations at the Mill went on this week pretty well. No accidents having happened. This evening the Cadboro with Mr. & Mrs. Tolmie & Mr. M^carthur passengers the latter is the bearer of the Express to Ft. Vancouver, where he remains. No trade worth mentioning.

Sunday 24^th Blowing strong from the Southward and Westward & showery. Had some heavy rain over night.

Monday 25^th Overcast with a fresh breeze from the South East & East. People employed much the same as last week, ploughing, carting, &c. Yates and Lazard were repairing the skow, Gagnon and Charbauneau with two Indians were packing the New Caledonia Outfit. Some trifles were traded from Songes and Kawitchins in course of the day.

Tuesday 26^th Keen frost over night & clear weather during the day with the wind blowing fresh from the Northward. People employed after cattle, carting wood, repairing the skow, pressing the interior bales &c. No trade worth noticing. Were busy in the Store to day packing the New Caledonia Outfit.

Wednesday 27^th Keen frost during the night, with fine clear weather during the day & very cold, wind Northerly. People employed as usual except Thomas from the Steamer, who was employed with two Indians building the Governor's house. Trade of no consequence.

Thursday 28^th Cold frosty weather with a light breeze from the Northward, wind veered to the South East in the evening. People employed as yesterday at the various occupations now in progress. Several tribes of Indians arrived in course of the day but brought but very little for trade. Were employed to day in the Store packing the Colvile Outfit.

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