ised not to leave us, @ said they were very thankful we had come on their Lands; after some Conversation they told me plainly that the Situation of the Building was bad, as it was far from water, @ open to the insult of the Peagans, who seldom fail every year to/make a Visit @ steal Horses. I had a long thought on this myself but was at a loss where to find a better Place; after much looking about, at last found an eligible Spot on the Kootanae River, in a commanding Situation, the water quite near, a rapid River in front, with a small, nearly surrounding Lake, that precluded all approach but on one Side, @ Pines enough at hand; these advantages decided me to change the Place of my Building. As I arrived in the evening an alarm was given of a Body of strange Indians being close on us, we ran to Arms; but fortunately it turned out to be only 3 Kootanae young Men, who had come ahead from a Band of 10 Men in the eastern Mountains, @ who are shortly to be in here; they had sent these three young Men to hunt for us, @ they brought us a scanty Meal on their Backs. July 29th we removed every thing to the Kootanae River, @ began cutting wood for the ^axehouse, which we completed on the 1st Augst. bad weather had hindered us much, during this Time we had made a shift to live by the huntg. of the Kootanaes, but our Nets however well attended @ changed from Place to Place yielded not a single Fish— Being now again totally destitute of Provisions, we dispersed ourselves to find Berries to satisfy our Hunger, @ were so fortunate as to angle a few fair Mullets, a dram of H wines had often done us much good, but our Keg, what with leaking @ with expenditure was nearly finished. Augst. 4th late in the evening the young Men came from huntg. @ brought 2 poor small Chevreuil @ next day one of the Men killed a Bear this gave us Life again, @ we began to cut wood for a dwelling House of 16 ft. by 16 ft. in the clear which was all cut and the major part/hauled to the Spot for the building. The Men whom I had sent for the Horses also arrived, with all the Horses of private
