ARRIVAL AT THE CHATS—­INSTALLED AS BOURGEOIS—­FIRST TRADING EXCURSION—­BIVOUAC IN THE WOODS—­INDIAN BARBARITY.

I ARRIVED at the Chats on the 26th of August, 1822.  As we approached the establishment, the crew struck up a song which soon attracted the notice of its only inmate; a tall gaunt figure, who was observed moving toward the landing-place, where it remained stationary.  With the exception of this solitary being, no sign of animation was perceptible.  We landed, and found the recluse to be the gentleman whom I was to succeed.  The men belonging to the post were at the time employed elsewhere; fire-arms were therefore discharged, to summon them to return.  An old interpreter and two men, constituting the force at this station, soon made their appearance.  Such an uncommon event as an arrival seemed to produce an exhilarating effect upon them.  Immediately after my landing the charge was made over to me; and on the following day my predecessor, Mr. Macdonald, took his departure, leaving me to the fellowship of my own musings, which for a time assumed but sombre hues; but I was then young, and the hopes and aspirations of an ardent mind threw a halo around the gloomy path that lay before me, and resting upon the bright spots that glimmered in the distant background, concealed from my view the toils and miseries I had to experience in the intermediate passage.

On assuming the responsibility of this post, I found myself in a position which gratified my vanity.  I was Bourgeois of the Chats; had an interpreter and two men subject to my orders; and could make such arrangements as my own inclinations dictated, without the surveillance of a superior.  I was, in fact, master of my own time and of my own actions; could fiddle when I pleased, and dance when I had a mind with my own shadow; no person here dared to question my actions.

About the beginning of September the natives began to pass for the interior, and to my great surprise appeared to be in want of further supplies, although they had left the Lake amply provided with everything necessary.  Some of them took advances here again to a considerable amount.  I learned from them that a petty trader who had just then sprung into existence, intended to establish a couple of posts in the interior of the district—­(this post being subject to the Lake of Two Mountains.) This was rather an unpleasant piece of intelligence, and quite unexpected by my superiors or myself.  I despatched a messenger to head-quarters to give the alarm, and was soon joined by a reinforcement of men conducted by a junior clerk and an interpreter.  Preparations were then made to follow up this new competitor the moment he appeared.  He did not allow us to remain long in suspense.  A few days afterwards his party was observed passing in two canoes; our people were immediately in their wake, and I remained with but one man and the old interpreter during the winter.  I had only two Indian hunters to attend