head-quarters being finished in the
beginning of March, I was ordered to convey them to Fort Alexandria,
to the charge of which post I was now appointed. This post is
agreeably situated on the banks of Frazer's River, on the outskirts of
the great prairies. The surrounding country is beautifully diversified
by hill and dale, grove and plain; the soil is rich, yielding abundant
successive crops of grain and vegetable, unmanured; but the crops are
sometimes destroyed by frost. The charming locality, the friendly
disposition of the Indians, and better fare, rendered this post one of
the most agreeable situations in the Indian country. In spring,
moreover, the country swarms with game--pheasants and a small species
of curlieu in the immediate vicinity, and ducks and geese within a
short distance. The sport was excellent, and, with the amusement the
cultivation of my garden afforded me, enabled me to vegetate in great
comfort--a comfort I was not destined long to enjoy.

Mr. Ogden, chief factor, arrived from Fort Vancouver about the end of
May, and Mr. Fisher from Stuart's Lake a few days afterwards; and
having consulted together, determined that I should retrace my steps
to Stuart's Lake without delay. When I arrived at Fort St. James its
dreadful solitude almost drove me to despair. I found myself sitting
alone in the hall where my late excellent bourgeois and friends had
passed the time so happily, and I felt a depression of spirits such as
I never experienced before. Fortunately for me, my old friend Mr.
Fraser, a gentleman of a gay and lively disposition, arrived soon
after, and continued with me for the remainder of the season, and his
company soon drove melancholy away.

The particulars of an affair which had occurred here some years
before, and threatened the most serious consequences to the post, were
about this time related to me by Waccan, the interpreter.

A native of Frazer's Lake had murdered one of the Company's servants,
and, strange to say, no steps were taken to punish him; he concealed
himself some time, and finding he had nothing to apprehend, returned
to his village. At length he was led by his evil genius to visit
Stuart's Lake, then under the command of a Douglas. Douglas heard of
his being in the village, and though he had but a weak garrison,
determined that the blood of the white man should not be unavenged.
The opportunity was favourable, the Indians of the village were out on
a hunting excursi