I divided the day between reading and writing.  In the evening I went by invitation to a party at Lieutenant B.’s in the cantonment.

14th.  The Chippewa names of the numerals, from one to ten, are—­pazhik, neezh, niswee, newin, nanun, neen-goodwaswa, neezh-waswa, swaswa, shonguswa, metonna.

Dined at Mr. Ermatinger’s, a gentleman living on the Canada shore, who, from small beginnings, has accumulated a considerable property by the Indian trade, and has a numerous Anglo-Odjibwa family.

15th.  Completed the perusal of Harmon’s Travels, and extracted the notes contained in memorandum book N. Mr. Harmon was nineteen years in the service of the North West Company, and became a partner after the expiration of the first seven years.  The volume contains interesting data respecting the topography, natural history (incidental), and Indian tribes of a remote and extensive region.  The whole scope of the journal is devoted to the area lying north of the territory of the United States.  It will be found a valuable book of reference to those who are particularly directing their attention to northern scenes.  The journal was revised and published by a Mr. Haskell, who, it is said here, by persons acquainted with Mr. Harmon, has introduced into the text religious reflections, not believed to have been made by the author at the time.  No exceptions can be taken to the reflections; but his companions and co-partners feel that they should have led the individual to exemplify them in his life and conversation while inland.

Mr. Harmon says, of the Canadians—­“All their chat is about horses, dogs, canoes, women, and strong men, who can fight a good battle.”  Traders and Indians are placed in a loose juxtaposition.  “Their friendship,” he states, “is little more than their fondness for our property, and our eagerness to obtain their furs.”  European manufactures are essential to the natives.  “The Indians in this quarter have been so long accustomed to European goods, that it would be with difficulty that they could now obtain a livelihood without them.  Especially do they need firearms, axes, kettles, knives, &c.  They have almost lost the use of bows and arrows, and they would find it nearly impossible to cut their fire wood with implements made of stone or bone.”

16th.  Examined Mackenzie’s Travels, to compare his vocabulary of Knisteneaux and Algonquin, with the Odjibwa, or Chippewa.  There is so close an agreement, in sense and sound, between the two latter, as to make it manifest that the tribes could not have been separated at a remote period.  This agreement is more close and striking than it appears to be by comparing the two written vocabularies.  Mackenzie has adopted the French orthography, giving the vowels, and some of the consonants and diphthongs, sounds very different from their English powers.  Were the words arranged on a common plan of alphabetical