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Fort Victoria Post Journal December 1849

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1849 December

      Saturday 1st December.  Slight drizzling rain, which continued all day, wind light from the South East.  The result of the week's labor: Bqu I.W. Carter repaired, 9 bus. pease thrashd, staves raised & carted in for casks & kegs, the sleepers hauled out & squared, 6 beams planed & raised with posts & sundry other jobs performed about the Estabt.  No trade worth mentioning.  This evening having no rations for the Indian labors made an arrangement with them to give them an extra blkt. & a fn. baize for six months instead.  Captain Grant arrived in the evening. 

      Sunday 2nd  Keen frost over night with fine clear weather during the day, wind blowing fresh from the Northward.  The American Bqu I.W. Cater still remains in harbour but is now ready for sea. 

      Monday 3rd  Frosty weather still continues with fine clear weather.  The people employed principally as last week but some of the men were absent having been carousing & drinking all day yesterday & Saturday night.  They purchased the liquor from the passengers on board the I.W. Cater.  No trade worth noticing. 

      Tuesday 4th  Frost overnight & cloudy throughout the day.  Wind light from the Northward and Eastward.  People employed at their usual occupations, except two of the Iroquois who are laid up still from the effects of Sunday's carouse.  Captain Grant, who arrived the other day from Soke was supplied from the Sale Shop with goods amounting to 3 00 dollars. 

      Wednesday 5th  Keen frost over night, with fine clear weather throughout the day, wind light from the Northward.  People employed much the same as usual.  Paid a visit to the Mill to day & found all well there, the shingle makers are also going on well.  Trade, 34 large fresh salmon from the Songes.  Captain Grant started to day for Soke with a loaded canoe & returned in the evening being unwell. 

      Thursday 6th  Frosty weather still continues. Weather mild and overcast during the day, wind light from the Northd & Eastward.  People employed much the same as usual as ∞ labor book.  No trade worth mentioning.  This forenoon the charcoal pit has been slaked & only gives about 30 bus. charcoal having burnt but badly & no doubt not having been well attended. 

      Friday 7th  Fine clear weather with a fresh breeze from the Northward.  People employed much the same as usual.  Gabriel having broken his plough this forenoon & there being no others was sent to assist in building the Priest's house.  One of the canoes which left for Nisqually with the Americans returned this evening & reports that the other canoe will be here tomorrow. 

      Saturday 8th  Had some frost over night with fine weather throughout the day, wind light from the Northd and Eastward.  The principal results of the week's work as follows: the frame work of the priest's house erected as was also that of Bachelors' hall, blacksmith employed at various jobs, a quantity of pease thrashed & the operations at the Mill going on as usual.  The water there is now getting low so much so that it had to be stopped this forenoon. Late in the evening Thomas arrived from Nisqually & brought letters from that place but no advice from Vancr.  

      Sunday 9th Overcast with the wind light from the Northward and Eastward.  Nothing occurred of any note. 

      Monday 10th  Had some snow over night & sleet in course of the day.  Wind light from the South East.  People employed principally as last week: building, carting, thrashing, making repairs in the school room, &c.  Some Skatchets and Kawitchins arrived, the former disposed of 160 dollars and the latter brought some potatoes, cranberries, &c. for trade. The Whotlumie chief also arrived & brought some furs.  The formidable Amazon who attacked & killed the famed Kawitchin slave-kidnaper arrived he at the Songes' village having the weapon with which she did the deed in her possession & wonderful stories are told of her prowess & the dreadful manner in which his body was mangled is told with high glee, a sufficient indication of the unpopularity of that arch villain. 

      Tuesday 11th  Keen frost over night, with a heavy fall of snow & continued freezing more or less all day.  Men principally employed cutting and carting firewood, building, &c.  13 large beavers and other small furs were traded to day from the Whotlumies. 

      Wednesday 12th  Keen frost over night with a strong breeze from the North which continued so all day with clear weather.  People employed principally carting & cutting firewood, building, &c.  No trade worth mentioning.  The Mill does very little there being but little water. 

      Thursday 13th  Had a heavy fall of snow over night and continued snowing all day with the wind from the south East.  People employed as usual, cutting and carting wood, building, &c., & making repairs in the school room.  Traded about 130 dollars from the Skatchets with some furs. 

      Friday 14th  Fine clear frosty weather, with the wind blowing strong from the North East with snow drift.  Operations going on as yesterday.  About 11 Am Mr. R. Finlayson was married to Miss Sarah Work Mr. by the Revd Mr. Staines.  The Indian laborers do not now attend to their work as usual owing no doubt to the cold weather & their being busy at present with their annual Seremonies. 

      Saturday 15th  Generally overcast with the wind from the same quarter, North East.  The operations of the week are as follows: several beams of Bachelors' hall plained & the wallplates put up in do, alterations made in Mr. Staines' house for the accommodation of the scholars, several bushels of pease thrashed, a quantity of firewood cut & carted home. Very little timber has been sawn at the Mill owing to the ice in the Mill Stream.  Trade from of no consequence. 

      Sunday 16th  Weather cold and frosty with the wind blowing strong from the North. 

      Monday 17th  Had a little snow over night. Weather generally overcast all day, the snow now lies 15ins thick on the ground.  People employed principally as usual, carting & cutting firewood, building, &c.  No trade worth mentioning. 

      Tuesday 18th  Generally overcast with a light wind from the Eastward, weather much milder than usual.  People employed much the same as usual, see labor book.  Nothing traded & no strange arrivals nor departures. 

      Wednesday 19th  Overcast with thaw. Wind blowing strong from the Eastward.  People employed at their usual occupations & little or nothing done in the way of trade. 

      Thursday 20th  Heavy rain this morning & several showers during the day with the wind from the South East.  The snow is now gradually disappearing.  People employed principally as yesterday, cutting & carting firewood, erecting an outside building to {sic} Mr. Staines.  No trade worth mentioning. 

      Friday 21st  Overcast with heavy rain, wind blowing strong from the South East.  People employed much the same as usual.  About 3pm Govr Colvile & Douglas arrived from Nisqually in the Cadboro, two other gentlemen accompanied them vizt: Sir Edward Poor & Mr. Franklin who are on their travels.  24 carcases of mutton & 2 quarters beef was received from Nisqually. 

      Saturday 22nd Overcast with heavy rain as yesterday, wind light from the South West.  Operations in hand going on as usual.  The principal results of this week's operations are the work as follows: firewood cut & carted home for the people & for the use of the Estabt, a quantity of pease thrashed, alterations & improvements effected in Mr. Staines' house for the scholars & some window frames made for and sawn boards ∞ lining planed for new Bachelors' hall.  Trade of no importance. 

      Sunday 23rd  Overcast & mild with the wind light from the South East.  The snow has now entirely disappeared from the low land.  A ship appeared in the offing this afternoon which proved to be the Orbit Captain Dunham with passengers from Sn Francisco, bound for Oregon. 

      Monday 24th Overcast with the wind from the Southwards and Westward, attended with some rain.  People employed much the same as usual, carting & cutting firewood, discharging the Cadboro.  No trade worth mentioning.  This evening the people were served out their Christmas Regale. 

      Tuesday 25th  Generally overcast with heavy rain in the afternoon.  Wind blowing strong from the Southward and Westward.  The Brig Orbit was taken to the entrance of the harbour & there anchored, the Captain & some of the passengers landed in course of the afternoon.  The Revd Mr. Staines read divine service & in the evening the people were enjoying themselves as usual on this day. 

      Wednesday 26th  Fine mild weather with little or no wind.  People employed much the same as on Monday, discharging the Cadboro, carting & cutting firewood, building, &c.  Nothing traded worth mentioning.  Property to the amount of about $80 tra sold from the Sale Shop to Captain Denham of the Orbit. 

      Thursday 27th  Weather mild and pleasant with little or no wind.  Carpenters employed making a cathead & cap for the Cadboro, effecting some alterations in Mr. Staines' house for the accommodation of the scholars.  No trade worth mentioning.  McPhail is on the sick list, consequently there is no one now to attend the Dairy.  The Brig Orbit is still at anchor being unable to leave from want of wind. 

      Friday 28th  Fine pleasant weather, with light variable airs.  People employed at various occupations as ∞ labor book.  The Brig Orbit left the offing this forenoon for Nisqual. {sic}  Very little traded from the Natives. 

      Saturday 29th  Overcast with light winds from the Northward and Eastward.  People employed at their usual occupations.  The result of the week's work as follows: various alterations effected in Mr. Staines' house, cathead & cap made for the Cadboro, a quantity of wood carted home & cut, several axels & other iron work made by the blacksmith, a quantity of pease thrashed and winnowd.  This morning Gov. Colvile with Sir Edd Poor & Mr. Franklin started for Captain Grant's place. No trade. 

      Sunday 30th Generally overcast with light variable winds.  Nothing remarkable. 

      Monday 31st Keen frost over night, weather generally clear throughout the day, wind fresh from the Eastward.  People employed much the same as yest last week.  This afternoon their New Year Regale was served out to the people.  No trade worth noticing.

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