“If New Year’s Eve the wind blow south,
It betokeneth warmth and growth;
If west, much milk, and fish in the sea;
If north, much storms and cold will be;
If east, the trees will bear much fruit;
If northeast, flee it man and beast.”

“1831, January 1.  The thermometer this morning was 29 below cypher.”

1831, May 22.  They bring intelligence that Mousi-toosese-capo is at their tent, having lately joined them, without his family of two women and two children, who perished during the winter.  From his frequent prevarication when questioned by the other Crees, they suspect he has murdered and eaten them.”

“1831, May 30th. The fellow has got too large a family for a Fort Hunter, he cannot feed them with unlimited Indulgence and supply us at the same time.” [Would Mr. Roosevelt second this?]

“1831, June 19th.  Two Chipewyans came from the Long Point informing us that Big Head’s son is dead, that Big Head has thrown away his property in consequence of the loss of his boy, and that he told them to beg a shirt and tobacco.  The shirt, of course, I did not send, the scoundrel is not worthy of it.  I merely sent him six inches of tobacco with reluctance.  That cursed family is a perfect pest to the place, and it is my humble opinion that the hand of Providence sends them the present calamity for their ill deeds."[!]

“1834, November 27th. A party of the Isle a la Crosse Indians with old Nulooh and Gauche cast up.  They have not come in this direction for the sake of running about, some of their relations is dead, and in their own words they are travelling on strange lands to kill grief, not an unusual custom among the Northern Indians.”

“1865, October 23rd.  We were surprised yesterday at the arrival of a Protestant missionary, a Mr. Bompas from England; he came in a canoe from the Portage with Sylvestre and Vadnoit.”

“1866, January 1st.  The whole Establishment breakfasted in the Hall and in the evening a Ball came off with great eclat.  Two marriages also to-day, Francis Villebrun to Marie Cyre, and Baptiste St. Cyre, Jr., to Justine McKay—­so that all things considered the New Year was ushered in with a tremendous row!  Verily, times are improving in the North.”

“1866, January 2nd.  The men are rather seedy to-day after their tremendous kick-up of yesterday.”

“1840, January 25th. The object of sending Lafleur to the Little Island is that he may procure a kind of willow that the Canadians call ‘Courmier,’ the bark of which scraped and boiled in water has healing qualities which they think will be of great service for Hassel’s complaint.  Confidence in anything is half the cure."[!]

“1840, February 1st.  Hassel is still without much appearance for the better, and at his earnest request was bled.”