bered forty-two persons in the fort, which means a large consumption of food. Mr. de la Marque left on the 16th[1] of the month. I received news from him shortly after. He informed me that he dreaded a famine, not seeing Indians. We are now in the 16th of April and have not yet seen any one. I do not know how God preserves us.
I sent my son, the Chevalier, that morning, the 16th of April, with an Indian to go to make a search for the fort of Lake Winipigon,[2] and to take notice of the rivers which fall into it, especially the White River[3] (to which I intend to go on the return of our canoes), from the mine which is in the lake, and from that which is in the White River, from the outlet into it, especially the White River (to which I intend to go on the Indians from going to the English, by making them hope for our speedy arrival.
I received a letter from Mr. de la Marque on the 23rd of April, which notified me that he had not yet had any of the Indians; that he has decided to go to find them in the great River Winipigon[4] where they are engaged building their canoes.
I think he is leaving the post too early; the Indians might arrive from Red River after his departure. On the 22nd of the present month I learned from an Indian that a large band of Assiniboines had drawn up on the Lake of the Prairies who were working on their canoes to go to the English.
On the 24th I sent Sanschagrin with a hired man to bring them here so as to turn from going to the English. On the 30th five Assiniboines arrived towards evening to let me know that a large number of people was coming; we have much need of them, having done nothing till now.
