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Fort Victoria Post Journal April 1850

1850 April

Monday 1^st April. Fine pleasant weather, with a few light showers of rain in the evening. People employed at various occupations as ∞ labor book. Trade, 10 raccoons & 14 rats with some oil & other trifles were traded from the Songes. Some herring spawn was taken in to day, being the first of this season.

Tuesday 2^nd Overcast & rather cold, with light airs from the Eastward. People employed much the same as yesterday. About 10 bus. wheat were sown to day & harrowed & some packages landed from the Cowlitz.

Wednesday 3^rd Had some heavy showers over night, fine pleasant weather during the day with the wind blowing fresh from the South West. Late last night H.M. Ship Driver arrived from Fort Rupert & reported that the Beaver struck on a rock in Beware {this seems to be an error for 'Beaver'} harbour, when proceeding North & remained there 12 days under going repairs. People employed as ∞ labor book at their several occupations. No trade worth noticing.

Thursday 4^th Had some hoar frost over night, fine pleasant weather throughout the day, wind light from the Northward. People employed the same as yesterday. Several packages were landed to day from the Cowlitz & a large number of the C packages transferred to the Mary Dare.

Friday 5^th Fine pleasant weather, with a fresh breeze from the North^d & Westward. Operations in hand as follows: clearing land, sowing wheat, ploughing, harrowing, discharging cargo, the bl{ac}ksmiths making hoes & sundry other ironworks. No trade of any consequence. One of the skows was sent over to day to the Mill with Cap^t Grant's cattle & for the purposes of discharging the Grist Mill [granary] from the Norman Morrison.

Saturday 6^th Fine pleasant weather with light variable airs. People at their usual occupations. The NW cargo is now discharged from the Cowlitz. About 20 bus. wheat sown this week, the frame work of a building put up, sundry other iron works and other operations performed about the Ft. and farm. M^cPhail has now about 30 milch cows. No trade worth noticing in furs. Settled with the Purser of the Driver for the supplies the ship had, who gave a bill for the same price 36 oz gold dust from Hancock for supplies.

Sunday 7^th Fine pleasant weather, with a light breeze from the South West. Attended divine service as usual. Last night Gov^r Blanshard ~~arrived~~ landed from the Driver with his luggage & intends taking up his residence on shore. The Brig Sacramento, Captain Mouat arrived this afternoon from Nisqually & anchored in the offing.

Monday 8^th Fine weather still continues with light variable airs. People variously employed as ∞ labor book. Sundries such as canvas & sails were sold Captain Mouat to day, which amounted to about $600 for which he paid cash.

Tuesday 9^th Fine weather still continues, with light variable airs. People employed at various occupations as ∞ labor book. Had several packages for Vanc^r shipped on board of the Mary Dare. Some seeds were sown to day in the garden. Early this morning the Driver left for Ft. Francisco & about the same time the Sacramento left for the same place.

Wednesday 10^th Fine clear weather with light westerly airs. People variously employed. Part of the Nisqually Outfit was shipped on board the Cadboro & that vessel will proceed thither ~~to day or~~ tomorrow or the next day. No trade of any consequence. Every thing for Columbia River is now on board the Mary Dare.

Thursday 11^th Weather clear as yesterday with the wind from the same quarter. Operations in hand as usual. The stores for the voyage were shipped to day on board the Mary Dare.

Friday 12^th Fine weather with a strong breeze from the South West. The Cadboro sailed this morning for Nisqually. The Mary Dare is also now ready for sea & will sail to morrow morning, weather permitting. People employed the same as usual, but get on rather slowly with farming operations, the cattle being in very poor condition for working.

Saturday 13^th Weather fine and warm with little or no wind. This morning the Mary Dare weighed anchor for Columbia River but is still drifting about in the shoals. Some Indians arrived from p^t Roberts, with letters, which were from the Coast, brought by the Beaver which arrived there a few days ago. The people variously occupied as ∞ labor book.

Sunday 14^th Fine clear weather with a fresh breeze from the South West, which increased to a perfect gale in the evening.

Monday 15^th Blowing strong from the East, South East with heavy rain for the greater part of the day. People employ^d at various occupations about the Estab^t. The Mary Dare was seen this afternoon near Rocky point. Were shipping salt to day on board the M Cowlitz for Langley. Some of the new recruits from England refused to work for a part of this day because it was raining.

Tuesday 16^th Generally clear, with light variable airs. People employed much the same as usual. 6 bus. potatoes were pla{n}ted to day in a section of new land. The Ft. Rupert O^t was to day shipped on board the Cowlitz. No trade worth noticing. The Mary Dare finally disappeared at Rocky point this morning.

Wednesday 17^th Had some keen hoar frost over night, clear weather throughout the day & cold for the season. Had a shower of rain in the afternoon. People employed as usual at their several occupations. About 11 Am the Steamer arrived from p^t Roberts. In the evening the Norman Morrison was taken into harbour but grounded at Shoal point where she now remains.

Thursday 18^th Generally overcast, with some showers of sleet and hail, wind blowing fresh from the South West. People employed pretty much as usual. Late in the evening the H. S. Steamer Massachasets{sic} arrived from Ft. Francisco & was piloted in to Esq^t by Mr. Nevin. The Norman Morrison was taken into the inner harbour in course of last night.

~~Thursday~~ Friday 19^th Generally clear but rather cold for the season. People employed at their several occupations as ∞ labor book. We are now busy supplying ~~the~~ & packing up the Servants' Orders for Ft. Rupert, the Outfits for the interior, Fort Langley & Ft. Rupert are now shipped on board the Cowlitz. No trade worth noticing.

Saturday 20^th Fine clear weather with a fresh breeze from the South West in the afternoon. People employed much as usual. See labor book. Some cargo for Ft. Rupert and the interior was shipped on board of the Cowlitz. Early this morning the Massachates{sic} left for Nisqually. Trade of no consq^u.

Sunday 21^st Fine clear weather with light variable airs. Nothing remarkable.

Monday 22^nd Cold over night, fine weather through the day, wind light from the Southward and Westward. People employed at their usual occupations. Had some sundries for Ft. Rupert Servants' Orders & Out^t shipped to day on board of the Cowlitz & some of the seamen of that vessel & the Steamer supplied with goods from the Sale Shop. Our Steward Maaro & Kehow with two Kanakas from the Cowlitz deserted in course of last night & our interpreter with some Indians sent in search of them.

Tuesday 23^rd Fine pleasant weather with a strong breeze from the Westward. People employed at their usual occupations. Had some sundries shipped to day on board of the Cowlitz for Fort Rupert and the interior. ~~Thomas~~ This afternoon Bazil Battineau with a Kanaka and a crew of Indians arrived with despatches from Ft. Rupert, importing that the miners discontinued work from fear of the Natives &c. An Express arrived from Langley also to day & all well there.

Wednesday 24^th Fine weather still continues with a strong breeze from the South West, which kept the Beaver & Cowlitz in harbour. People employed at their usual occupations. Some trade with the Songes & Skatchets in provisions & cash. Every thing for Forts Rupert & Langley is now on board the Cowlitz. {following sentence is written over and perpendicular to the preceding part of the entry for the 24^th} Dr. Tolmie arrived to day from Nisqually with the news that the Americans had seized the Cadboro and all her goods in store there.

Thursday 25^th Fine weather still continues. Early this morning the Beaver & Cowlitz left Northward, Captain M^cNeil & Dr. Helmcken passengers. The party who arriv^d from Ft. Rupert returned by the Beaver. Began discharging the Norman Morrison this morning.

Friday 26^th Fine warm weather with light variable winds. People employed at their several occupations as ∞ labor book, ploughing, harrow^g, building, planting potatoes &c. Of the latter we have now got about 30 bus. of the latter planted in the new field beyond the Salmon Store. We are now busy discharging the Norman Morrison & packing up the Outfits of Ft. Simpson & the Beaver.

Saturday 27^th Had some rain over night. Cloudy throughout the day with a strong breeze from the South West. The results of the week's work are principally as follows: 600 packages discharged from the Norman Morrison, the Beaver & Cowlitz dispatched to Fts. Rupert and Langley, the frame work of a building erected on the bank outside 20ft x [15ft]- {blank} bus. potatoes planted, 42 bus. pease sown, being all as yet, sundry other jobs performed about the Estab^t.

Sunday 28^th Blowing strong from the South West with fine clear weather. Nothing unusual transpired.

Monday 29^th Fine clear weather, with a light breeze from the Eastward. People employed at their several occupations as ∞ labor book, building, ploughing, discharging cargo &c. This morning Dr. Tolmie made a final start for Nisqually. In the evening the proprietors of the tract of country lying between the headland and point M^cGregor were paid for their land. They are ten in number & got 3 blkt 2 1/2pts each at which they appeared well satisfied.

Tuesday 30^th Generally overcast with a fresh breeze from the South West. People employed much the same as yesterday. Were busy to day in the Sale Shop packing up the Ft. Simpson Servants' Orders. Some furs & provisions were traded from Nanaimaults who arrived this morning. A ship was seen in the offing last night, going down the Straits apparently from Nisqually.

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