On the 10th, we got through this lakelet, and entered another small stream, which it was necessary to navigate in the same manner as the preceding, and which conducted us to Bridge lake.  The latter received its name from a sort of bridge or causeway, formed at its southern extremity, and which is nothing more than a huge beaver dam.  We found here a lodge, where were a young man and two women, who had charge of some horses appertaining to one of the Hudson’s Bay trading houses.  We borrowed of them half a dozen pack horses, and crossed the bridge with them.  After surmounting a considerable hill, we reached an open, level, and dry prairie, which conducted us in about two hours to an ancient trading-post on the banks of the Saskatchawine.  Knowing that we were near a factory, we made our toilets as well as we could, before arriving.  Toward sundown, we reached Fort Vermilion, which is situated on the bank of a river, at the foot of a superb hill.

We found at this post some ninety persons, men, women, and children; these people depend for subsistence on the chase, and fishing with hooks and lines, which is very precarious.  Mr. Hallet, the clerk in charge was absent, and we were dismayed to hear that there were no provisions on the place:  a very disagreeable piece of news for people famished as we were.  We had been led to suppose that if we could only reach the plains of the Saskatchawine, we should be in the land of plenty.  Mr. Hallet, however, was not long in arriving:  he had two quarters of buffalo meat brought out, which had been laid in ice, and prepared us supper.  Mr. Hallet was a polite sociable man, loving his ease passably well, and desirous of living in these wild countries, as people do in civilized lands.  Having testified to him our surprise at seeing in one of the buildings a large cariole, like those of Canada, he informed us that having horses, he had had this carriage made in order to enjoy a sleigh-ride; but that the workmen having forgot to take the measure of the doors of the building before constructing it, it was found when finished, much too large for them, and could never be got out of the room where it was; and it was like to remain there a long time, as he was not disposed to demolish the house for the pleasure of using the cariole.

By the side of the factory of the Northwest Company, is another belonging to the Company of Hudson’s Bay.  In general these trading-houses are constructed thus, one close to the other, and surrounded with a common palisade, with a door of communication in the interior for mutual succor, in case of attack on the part of the Indians.  The latter, in this region, particularly the Black-feet, Gros-ventres, and those of the Yellow river, are very ferocious:  they live by the chase, but bring few furs to the traders; and the latter maintain these posts principally to procure themselves provisions.

On the. 11th, after breakfasting at Fort Vermilion, we resumed our journey, with six or seven pounds of tallow for our whole stock of food.  This slender supply brought us through to the evening of the third day, when we had for supper two ounces of tallow each.