July 13—­Took a tramp to see rear of my lot, Gordon guiding with a compass.  All of a sudden the bush ceased, and on finding I stood on the edge of a swamp, I got angry at my being fooled into paying for a cattail marsh.  There is quite a stretch not very wide, angling across the width of my lot.  On thinking it over, am satisfied Bambray knew no more about its existence than I did.  Returning home I followed the creek, which starts from it.  There was a little water flowing.  Noticed, where the creek leaves the marsh, a stretch of tall wild grass.

July 14—­Could not sleep thinking about the swamp.  Got Gordon to make a dozen cross-staffs and started for it to take levels.  Found the marsh sloped towards the creek, and between where it entered and a hundred yards down the creek there is a fall of three feet, so the marsh can be drained.  Dug down in several places and found the marsh to be a deposit of black soil on top of clay.

July 17—­The Simmins family spent the afternoon with us.  He knew about the swamp, and called it a, beaver-meadow.  The grass that grew at the head of the creek would make hay good enough for cattle.  Said I would find the dam the beavers had made if I searched a while, and if I got out the logs that formed it, the water would have a free course into the creek.

July 18—­Spent all Saturday cutting grass at the head of the creek.  It is fine but long.  Turned it today and, if rain keeps off, will be ready to cock tomorrow afternoon, the sun is so hot and the grass so ripe.

July 19—­Had Sal, Gordon, and Archie come and help to find the dam the beavers had built.  On a crowbar showing us where the logs were buried, shovelled off the dirt and pried them out.  It was wet, dirty work but we managed it.  Cleared the bed of the creek of the rubbish that choked it at its head.  Sal found a turtle, which he carried home.

July 20—­Brodie and Auld came early and we set to work to get logs ready for the ox-stable.  Very dry and hot.

July 21—­Piled the hay in two stacks and thatched them as well as we could.  We had just finished when a thunderstorm burst.

July 23—­Gordon, who has made furniture for all the houses, set up a cupboard for Ailie, of which she is quite proud.  The lad has a wonderful knack, and can copy anything he has a chance to examine.  A deluge of rain; never saw such a downfall in Scotland.  Lasted six hours and then came out sultry.

July 24—­Sal stepped in while we were at breakfast with the hind quarter of a deer, his father had come on during the heavy rain and shot.  First fresh meat we have had.  Found it dry eating.  Sunday though it was, walked with Sal to head of creek and found water was running freely into it from the marsh.  Coming back Sal spied bees round a tree and said he would get the honey next month.  Told me the names of the different squirrels and birds we saw and he had fun with a ground hog.