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“Do” = ditto

August

Tuesday 24 [August 1852]

9 PM dispatched Lazard Onearsta, Baptiste Vautrin, Thomas Sagoyawatha and Ignace with three natives in two canoes, with orders to encamp at Cordova Bay. Secured written instructions from Mr C.? F. Douglas to proceed to Nanaimoe and take charge of coal mine there. Also verbal instructions to dispose of coal to any vessel calling there at the rate of $10.00 per ton.  9:30 pm started on foot for CordovaBay. Reached encampment at midnight.1:30

Wednesday 25 [August 1852]

1:30 Vautrin’s canoe arrived. No appearance of 2^nd canoe. 4:30 started low water. 10 AM Breakfasted at Chuan? 8PM encamped one mile beyond Chimanis River.

Thursday 26 [August 1852]

4:30 AM Started. Breakfasted 2 miles beyond Acmenis. No appearances of 2^nd canoe. 11 AM passed the narrows. 1 PM Landed near the principle coal seam. Had a conference with the natives who complained very much of the low price they received from the Cadboro for their coal.  Traded some large mats, some salmon and potatoes. 9 PM Lazard arrived much exhausted from starvation having started without provisions.

Friday 27 [August 1852]

Commenced building hut 20 x 15 feet.  Raised the walls 4 feet. Paid 11/2 lbs[?] tobacco to Indians for carrying in pieces. Visited a seam of coal on Coal Island not before known of.

Saturday 28 [August 1852]

Steady breeze from northward. Cloudy towards evening. Traded a quantity of salmon and potatoes from the Natives.  Also 300 feet cedar plank. Finished a log hut 20 x 15 feet. A vessel reported to have passed northward yesterday evening.  

Sunday 29 [August 1852]

Weather as yesterday. Heavy rain during the afternoon.  A Nanaimo Indian murdered off the Narrows by a Quamichan in revenge (as alleged) for the death of a Quamachin murder by the Ucalatas at the instigation of WunWunShin a Nanaimo chief.  The Nanaimoes deny the latter charge.

Monday 30 [August 1852]

Steady breeze from northward. Fine clear weather. A party of Nanaimoes started today for Cowechin to treat with the Cowechin [sic] concerning yesterday murder and to settle affairs if possible by demanding payment on behalf of the victims family.  This arrangement I proposed to them. This morning Lazard, Vautrin, Ignace and Sagoyawatha removed to the log hut which they roofed on a temporary manner with cedar bark and floored with gravel. Traded 8 deer. Some Indians arrived from Noo-moo-as (a bay about 10 miles from NW from this place on Vancouver Island). They reported to have seam coal in their country. Anxiously expecting the Cadboro.

Tuesday 31 [August 1852]

Light variable airs and fine weather. Smoky during the afternoon. Squared ?.10 inc 25x15-2 wall pieces 15 ft and 4 ? 25 ft. Cadboro reported off Cowechin [sic].

September

Wednesday 1 [September 1852]

Light variable airs from southward fine clear weather. Squared 5 p? 25 ft, 8p 15 ft. WunWunShun the principal Nanaimo chief arrived today from northward. He was very impertinent in his behaviour.  Said the coals were worth 1 Blkt [blanket] pr 5 Bbls [barrels?] and would not listen to any proposals for allowing the whites to work the coal.

Thursday 2 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from northward fine clear weather.  The Cadboro reported off the Cala Descanso.  Squared 6 ties? 25 feet long, 1 do 15 ft. Sent a letter to the Fort.

Friday 3 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from southward fine clear weather. Squared 7 piece 25 ft, 3do 15 ft. Cadboro arrived after a tedious passage of seven days w[ith] miners & blacksmith.

Saturday 4 [September 1852]

Do Do weather. Men employed making pigsty. Landed 4 pigs from the Cadboro with one sheep. 3 PM the Recovery arrived from Victoria.

Sunday 5 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from SE with heavy rain.

Monday 6 [September 1852]

Do wind light rain. Removed trade goods from Cadboro to Recovery.  Camille Raymond landed from Cadboro as blacksmith. Mr. Muir oversman, Robert Muir and Archibald Muir miners. Employed fitting up a small hut. Raymond making a shed for forge.  The others squaring.

Tuesday 7 [September 1852]

DoDo Weather. Indians commenced working coal and loading the Cadboro. Coals twenty barrels pr Blkt 21/2 Bbest. Other goods in proportion. The miners landed.

Wednesday 8 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from southward. Rain at intervals. Finished loading the Cadboro. Shipped about 45 tons.  Miners commenced boring 10 yds beyond the first crop of the 5 foot seam.  Raymond employed with forge. Other men as before.  Honolulu Packet arrived.

Thursday 9 [September 1852]

Do Do weather. Cadboro got under weigh and sailed towards the mouth of the harbour where she anchored it being dead calm.  Dispatched James Newlund in a canoe to the Fort. .  Mr. Pemberton removed to the Nanaimo River. Miners reached coal at 7 feet. Captain Webster of the Honululu Packet came on shore and made announcements for the puchase of 30 tons of coal. Lazard and gang finished raising wood for house. Cleared away and laid the foundation. Hired a gang of 10 Indians to carry in pieces. Evaporated salt from a salt water spring discovered yesterday.  Made 1 quart salt from 7 quarts water.

Friday 10 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Commenced building miners house. Mr. Muir & Gang commenced from section laid opened by the Natives.  Indians digging industriously.  The Recovery taking in coal

Saturday 11 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. Honolulu Packet commenced shipping cargo (coals). Traded a quantity of potatoes, a few salmon and 18 Carcass venison.  People employed as yesterday.

Sunday 12 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. No occurrence of importance. A party of Skuqwumish arrived.

Monday 13 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. Finished loading the Honolulu Packet. Shipped 35 tons in all on board of her for which Captain Webster delivered a receipt and promissory note to be paid at Victoria. Traded a quantity of bark, plank and shingles. Took Mr. Muir with me to examine coal discovered by me on the 28^th Ultimo. Found two seams but could not ascertain their thickness and quality from want of tools. Deferred the examination of them until tomorrow.  The Indians are now lessening their returns of coal as the five feet seam is now worked out to a considerable distance below high water mark.  Shipped a quantity of coal on board the Recovery and paid the Natives for the Honolulu Packets cargo.

Tuesday 14 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. Very few coals raised to-day. Miners making considerable progress. Coals of a good quality. Finished raising miners house up to the wall plates. 

Wednesday 15 [September 1852]

Light baffling airs and cloudy at intervals. Started to examine new coal seams accompanied by Mr. Muir.  Captain Mitchell and one of the miners found four seams between low and high water marks. 1^st seam 4 ins thk? two feet above low water mark. Strike 20° Dip S30 *? 2^nd seam same level 2ft 6 in thick Strike 30°,3^rd 8 feet higher 2-4 in w[ith] 4 in Dangh?, 6^th 1 feet higher 6 ft 2 in including 10 in stone in on or near the center made a section of the strata. The Natives abandoned the five foot seam and are now working on the newly discovered.  The highest seam yields good coal and is worked as it is about the level of high water Neap? Tides.  700 tons might be raised by the natives with very little trouble. This is the lowest computation.  Shipped a quantity of coals on board the Recovery.  Traded 300 salmon [and] a four deer from the SheShalls [Sechelt].

Thursday 16 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear. [written alongside 16^th and 17th entry the following] 16^th Mr. Muir commenced fuel? pit.

Friday 17 [September 1852]

Weather. Tsau si ai the Cowichin Chief arrived with a large party of his tribe: After being hospitably entertained by the Nanaimoes they started to return at 3 P.M. On passing the little narrows the [they] encountered an Old Man returned from the New Coal mine in a canoe laden w[with] coals.  [Siamhlac?] a nephew of Tsau si ai murdered the old man by firing three balls into his heart, took his wife and child prisoner and proceeded on their voyage. 17^th [Inotame?]  dispatched a canoe to the Fort.

Saturday 18 [September 1852]

Do Do weather. Very few coals today. Conne? Arrived from Victoria with letters. Dispatched the canoe [with] Mr. Pemberton’s sketch book.  Traded a few deer and some potatoes. Very few coals.

Sunday 19 [September 1852]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance

September 1852

Monday 20 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Finished working No 1 house. Miners employed at Pit. Very few coals traded today. Natives afraid of fresh attack from Cowechins.

Tuesday 21 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather.  Employed as Yesterday. About 4 tons coal traded today. Sawed 12 planks 1 ½ in 14 feet.  Commenced squaring wood for pit.  Miners raising stones for chimney.

Wednesday 22 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. Employed as yesterday.  Sawed 11 planks.  Canoe arrived from Fort with advices that the Mary Dare and Cadboro had sailed fro this place.  Canoe arrived from Sihlault with accounts of a new discovery of coal at that place.  Also a specimen of the coal.

Thursday 23 [September 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed as yesterday.  Mary Dare landed cargo as per invoice. Mr. Sinclair 1^st officer off duty. John McGregor miner landed.

Friday 24 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. Recovery taking on coal. Mary Dare discharging ballast at Tlelup Bay.  Ignace and two Indians squaring wood for Pit. Miners commenced chimney in new house. Burned a kiln of lime.

Saturday 25 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. Employed as yesterday.

Sunday 26 [September 1852]

Do Do Weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 27 [September 1852]

Mary Dare finished discharging ballast.  Got under weigh and towed to the coal mine.  Took in  214 Bbls coal. Miners and carpenters employed on new house.

Tuesday 28 [September 1852]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. McGregor and Robert Muir assisting Indians in raising coals.  Mary Dare took 171/34 Bbs say 205 Bbls coal.

Wednesday 29 [September 1852]

1 AM heavy rain until 4 AM. 8 AM fine clear weather. Operation as yesterday.  Lazard and Thomas making miners winch. Ignace pit. Archibald Muir at chimney.

Thursday 30 [September 1852]

Light variable airs cloudy and light drizzling rain at intervals. Finished winch. Lazard and Thomas employed straight edging. flooring & house. Others as before.  11 AM Cadboro arrived.  Recovery hove? Shore? Mary Dare coaling as usual.

October

Friday 1 [October 1852]

Strong breeze from NW fine Clear weather.  7 AM Recovery sailed.  Lazard and Thomas flooring house.  Mr. Muir with Ignace finishing lining pit and setting up winch. Others as usual.

Saturday 2 [October 1852]

Do Do weather. Dispatched express for Fort Rupert in charge of a Siklault [Comox] Indians accompanied by Haw-Tsil-uc a Nanaimo chief. Finished chimney and flooring house.  Others operation as usual.

Sunday 3 [October 1852]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance

Monday 4 [October 1852]

Do Do weather. Muir & Mr. McGregor mining for Mary Dare. Carpentry variously about the place and new house. Traded a quantity of potatoes and fresh salmon. Indians coaling as usual.

October 1852

Tuesday 5 [October 1852]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Fitted two [?] and a barrel for the coal pit. Mary Dare nearly loaded.  Canoe arrived from Sihlaut. Thomas and Ignace squaring wood for house No 2 25 x 12 ft. completed 2 piece. 25 feet 3 do 15 feet. Traded a quantity of potatoes.

Wednesday 6 [October 1852]

Do Do weather finished loading the Mary Dare. Cargo 1893 barrels coals.  Miners commenced on the pit.  Raymond on the sick list.

Thursday 7 [October 1852]

Do Do Weather 11 AM The Mary Dare cleared the harbour. Most of the Indians left for their fisheries up the Nanaimo River. Lazard fitting up new house for the miners. Thomas squaring. Ignace with the miners at the Winch. Dispatched a canoe to the Fort. Haw-Tsil-uc returned from Sihlault after seeing the Express fairly started.

Friday 8 [October 1852]

Do Do Weather. Employed as yesterday. No occurrence of importance. Traded 60 salmon.

Saturday 9 [October 1852]

Steady breeze from NW heavy rain at intervals. People employed as yesterday.  Traded a few salmon.  Report received from Sihlault that the Fort Rupert Express was still detained at that place.  I intend to start for that place tomorrow in order to see it dispatched.

Sunday 10 [October 1852]

Light breeze from SE fine clear weather. Started for Sihlault.

Monday 11 [October 1852]

Strong Breeze from SE. heavy rain

Tuesday 12 [October 1852]

Do Do Weather

Wednesday 13 [October 1852]

Steady breeze from SE Cloudy weather.  Returned from Sihlault after a deal of trouble.  Dispatched the Express in charge of WunWunShin the Nanaimo chief.  Visited the Pentlitch River where there are extensive prairies studded with oaks.  Most of the country between Nanaimo and Sihlault is level thickly wooded and intersected by numerous streams supplied by lakes in the interior.  Half way between Nanaimoe and Sihlault is the village of Sahlum from which there is a path through a continuous valley leading to a large lake in the interior of the Island inhabited by the Nitinat and Tchis-a tue who fish on the streams which run from the east side of the lake. This lake is reported to be very extensive extending from Sahlum to the NimkishUcult ah River. The south side is bordered with prairie land.  South of this lake is another of equal extent which supplies the Nanaimoes, Cowichin, Chemanis, Nitiant and several other streams. No authentic accounts can be gained from the Natives of this quarter regarding the country which surround these lakes as they are at various with the inhabitants thereof all the streams along the coast abound with salmon, trout and wild fowl. At the mouth of each stream immediately on the sea coast  are small plains very fertile yielding when cultivated large crops of potatoes.  Along the streams many fertile Battons? Seeor? Covered with maple and cedars.  The Sihlault village is situated on an Island which commences at Valdez Inlet and terminates at Point Holmes.  The shores of the Island are composed principally of claystone and the natives report coal at three places on the Island and several places on the opposite shores of Vancouver Island. Being pressed for time and the weather being very blustery I deferred examining these places for the present. The Channel between this Island and Vancouver averages 1 ¼ miles wide and the narrowest part is little under a mile.  The shore on both sides are shelving and vessels of great draft of water must necessarily keep in the midway between the two shores. During my absence the Cadboro was laid on shore in Cadboro Bight and received some repairs.  Captain Stuart report this Bight as being an excellent place for laying vessels of light draft of water on shore.

Thursday 14 [October 1852]

Light breeze from SE Cloudy Weather rain at intervals.  Lazard and Thomas squaring wood for No 2 house.

Friday 15 [October 1852]

Do Do weather. Commenced clearing away for second house. Raymond on the sick list. Express arrived from Victoria.

Saturday 16 [October 1852]

Strong breeze from SE heavy rain.  Commenced laying the foundation of No 2 house.  Thomas Sagoyawatha intoxicated and very unruly his wife having returned from the fort with some spirits.

Sunday 17 [October 1852]

Do Do Weather. No occurrences of importance

Monday 18 [October 1852]

Do Do Weather. Traded upwards of 700 salmon. Laid foundation of new house. Discharged the Cadboro.

Tuesday 19 [October 1852]

Calm fine weather.  Lazard put sleepers in new house. Thomas squaring Vautrin made application to go down to the Fort as his contract had expired and he intended leaving the service.  Promised to let him go on Friday.

Wednesday 20 [October 1852]

Light airs from SE Cloudy.  Commenced raising walls of new house.  Ignace on the sick list.  One of the Cadboro’s hands employed with the miners in his stead.

Thursday 21 [October 1852]

Do Wind heavy rain throughout the day.  Raised the walls of new house as has as the wall plate.  Ignace on the sick list. Cadboro taking in coal.

Friday 22 [October 1852]

Steady breeze from SE rain at intervals.  Vautrin and Raymond left for the Fort.  Lazard and Thomas filling seams to the new house.  Miners planking up the Centre of the pit.

Saturday 23 [October 1852]

Strong breeze from SE heavy rain.  Lazard and Ignace on the sick list.

Sunday 24 [October 1852]

Do Do Weather.  No occurrence of importance

Monday 25 [October 1852]

Steady breeze from SE rain Weather.  Fitted the beams and wall plate on new house. Lazard turned to though still ailing. Five Indians employed raising wood for forge.

Tuesday 26 [October 1852]

Do Wind Clear in the early part of the day. Afternoon rain. Fitted the rafters on new house.  Ignace turned to.

Wednesday 27 [October 1852]

Strong breeze from SE heavy rain. Finished roofing No 2 house.  Burned a kiln of lime. Commenced building chimney. Ignace convalescent.

Thursday 28 [October 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed as yesterday. Five Indians raising wood for forge. 25 x 15 feet.

Friday 29 [October]

Do Do weather. Employed as yesterday.  Canoe arrived from Fort with Michael LaFleur, blacksmith.

Saturday 30 [October 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed as yesterday. Blacksmith employed on the forge.

Sunday 31 [October 1852]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance

November

Monday 1 [November 1852]

Do Do Weather.  Employed building chimney in No 2 house.  LaFleur employed in the forge. Williams from the Cadboro hammer-man.  Smith Winchman.

Tuesday 2 [November 1852]

Strong breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Employed as yesterday.

Wednesday 3 [November 1852]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Finished chimney in No. 2 house. WunWunShin arrived from Ft. Rupertbut brought no letters having left secretly from fear of the Quakolths.

Thursday 4 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed variously about the new house.  McGregor on the sick list. Williams employed at the winch in his stead.

Friday 5 [November 1852]

Light air from SE rainy weather. Employed as yesterday.

Saturday 6 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Bored on the bottom of the pit which is now 30 feet deep. Struck coal at 6 feet.

Sunday 7 [November 1852]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. McGregor left for the Fort in a well manned canoe with dispatches.

Monday 8 [November 1852]

Light air from SE rain at intervals. Traded 200 bus potatoes from Chimanis, 13 deer from Sheshalls, 300 salmon from Nanaimoes.  Lafleur, Ignace winch.

Tuesday 9 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Smith and Williams Cadboro’s men refused yesterday to work on shore. LaFleur and Ignace sent to the winch in consequence.

Wednesday 10 [November 1852]

Hard frost and fine clear weather thaw during the afternoon.  Lazard cut himself with a foot? adze. Laid up in consequence. Ignace and Thomas winchmen. LaFleur forge.

Thursday 11 [November 1852]

Light air from SE rain and Snow at intervals. Steamer reported as having passed yesterday.  Extraordinary circumstance as she was ordered to call and land passengers.

Friday 12 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed as on Wednesday and Thursday. Lazard and the other men removed to No 2 house. Indians employed building forge.  The five Indians who left with the express canoe last Sunday returned from the Fort.  They had stolen a canoe and left in a clandestine manner.  They report that Sques say (Squeis) a Thm-thm-a-litch Cowichan accompanied by a young Nanaimo (son of Tch-whe-tun) and two others had murdered a shepherd at Christmas Hill sheep station Victoria District that they were treated with suspicion at Victoria as if they were accessory to the murder and left in consequence.  Made muster of army and prepared to meet every emergency.

Saturday 13 [November 1852]

10 inches of snow fell during the night. Snow and rain throughout the day.  The miners refused to work today conceiving it dangerous to thrust themselves in the pit during the present unsettled state of affairs.  Other employed variously about the new house.  Anxiously expecting news from the Fort.

Sunday 14 [November 1852]

Steady breeze from SE with heavy rain throughout the day.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 15 [November 1852]

Light air from SE thick fog 4 frms? Water in the pit.  Miners LaFleur and two Indians employed at the Winch all day.  Thomas & Ignace raising wood for walling in the pit.

Tuesday 16 [November 1852]

Light air from NW Clear weather at intervals.  Lazard on the sick list. LaFleur blacksmith.  Others employed as yesterday.  Five Indians at winch all night.

Wednesday 17 [November 1852]

Do Do weather.  Lazard and Robert Muir on the sick list. Archibald Muir & LaFleur employed in the pit.  Thomas & Ignace winchmen.  Reached the coal which appeared of good quality.  Tsau-si-ai the Cowechin Chief arrived from Victoria with dispatches.  Confirming the reports received on the 12^th Instant of the murder at the Fort.  Orders received to stop the sale of ammunition.  Done accordingly. Traded 15 deer from the Sheshalls.

Thursday 18 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed as yesterday. Tsa-si-ai with intelligence that the coal may at length reached.

Friday 19 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed as yesterday.

Saturday 20 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Dispatched a Canoe to the Fort in charge of Saalum a Nanaimo Indian with a specimen of the coal which proved by boring to be upwards of six feet thick though the precise thickness cannot be actually ascertained until the pit is cleared to the pavement or stratum which underlies the bed.

Sunday 21 [November 1852]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy rain throughout the day.  Served out the last of the flour.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 22 [November 1852]

Light variable airs and cloudy at intervals.  Thomas and Ignace on the sick list.  Smith and Williams winchmen instead.  Robert Muir convalescent.  The pit nearly half full of water notwithstanding the exertions of the night gang.

Tuesday 23 [November 1852]

Steady breeze from Se with rain. Operations as yesterday.  Natives employed felling trees

Wednesday 24 [November 1852]

Hard frost during the night fine clear weather.  Lazard & Thomas convalescent. Ignace employed resalting salmon. Thomas commenced squaring No 4 house.

Thursday 25 [November 1852]

Light airs from SE with heavy rain squally at intervals. An altercation took place between Williams and his Indian assistant.  Williams struck the Indian who was holding on the winch with a full barrel of coals.  The Indian fell letting go the winch and the Miners were only saved from inevitable destruction by Mr. Muir who with great presence of mindinterposed put himself in the way of the winch handle thereby stopping it. The Indian labourers all struck in consequence but turned to again after the affair was fully explained and settled by imposing a fine for the assault. The express canoe returned from the Fort today bring supply of nails.

Friday 26 [November 1852]

Light variable airs and cloudy weather. Dispatched a canoe to the Fort today in charge of Se-win a Nanaimo Chief.  This arrangement was necessary in order to contradict a report circulated at the Fort that five of our men had been shot by Indians. Ignace accompanied the express at his earnest request for the benefit of medical advise.  Lazard employed building a forge.  LaFleur winchman in place of Williams.

Saturday 27 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Miners employed cutting rings round the inside of the pit in order to lead the water down in a regular channel and prevent drippings. Lazard finished the walls of the blacksmith forge today.  All our stock of flour being expended served out biscuit instead.

Sunday 28 [November 1852]

Do Do weather.  No occurrences of importance.  Heavy rain during the night.

Monday 29 [November 1852]

Steady breeze from SE with rain at intervals.  Employed as on Saturday. Lazard finished fitting rafters to new forge. 

Tuesday 30 [November 1852]

Do Do weather. Miners commenced and completed the midway on dividing partitions in the pit. Others as usual.

December

Wednesday 1 [December 1852]

Steady breeze from SE rain at intervals.  Nanaimoes brought in 11 deer. Lazard finished roofing the forge.  Commenced sinking the pit below the coal. A vessel supposed to be the Alice reported as having arrived and filled with potatoes at Cowechin. A Steamer reported as being on her way to this place.

Thursday 2 [December 1852]

Strong breeze from SW with heavy rain.  Express canoe arrived from Victoriawith Ignace and a small invoice of supplies.  Operation as yesterday on account of the steamer Beaver. 

Friday 3 [December 1852]

Light variable airs with fine clear weather. Miners and Indians employed laying the foundation of the coal wharf. Lazard & others building forge.

Saturday 4 [December 1852]

Hard frost during last night ligh variable airs and cloudy at intervals. Traded 25 Deer from the Sheshalls. Employed as yesterday.

Sunday 5 [December 1852]

Light airs from NW fine clear weather. No occurrences of importance.

Monday 6 [December 1852]

Do Do weather.  Despatched a canoe to Victoria.  Lazard and Ignace employed on blacksmith forge.  LaFleur sick list. Miners and Indians employed on coal wharf.  The Nanaimoe murderer waited on me accompanied by a party of Nanaimoe braves for the purpose of exculpating himself from the accusation of being concerned in the murder of Peter Brown.  I told him that I had no right to receive deposition on such subjects and referred him to the legal authorities atVictoria.

Tuesday 7 [December 1852]

Light variable airs cloudy with rain at intervals.  Miners employed a[s] yesterday. LaFleur blacksmith. Lazard & Ignace raising oak for loades? or coal boxes. Thomas squaring.

Wednesday 8 [December 1852]

Do Do weather. Employed as yesterday.  No occurrence of importance.

Thursday 9 [December 1852]

Breeze from SE with snow. 11 AM Mr. H. McNeil arrived from Fort Rupert with two large canoes manned by twelve Quakulths and 10 recruits from that place. Viz. Leon Lebine, Joseph Robillard, Joseph Godin, Adolphy Terran, Louis Parent, Joseph Doushce,James Stove, John Malcolm, James Linklater, William Ritch.  11:30 The steamer Beaver arrived with Mr. C.T. Work on board.  Also Mr. Gilmour and four miners with their families from Ft. Rupert.  Snow throughout the day.

Friday 10 [December 1852]

Strong breeze from the Westward with heavy squalls of snow and rain at intervals.  Landed all the miners implements and passengers from the steamer Beaver.  Lodged them all in the two.

Saturday 11 [December 1852]

Steady breeze from Southward cloudy with light rain at intervals.  Despatched Mr.Kenny McNeil to Victoria for supplies of provisions.

Sunday 12 [December 1852]

Light variable airs from S.E. Cloudy weather with snow at intervals.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 13 [December 1852]

Do Do Weather.  Lazard & Gang employed building No. 4 house. Miners (Gilmour) quarry stones fro chimneys. Mr. Muirs miners employed on wharf.

Tuesday 14 [December 1852]

Strong Breeze from S.E. with occasional snow showers. Employed as on the 13^th.

Wednesday 15 [December 1852]

Do Do Weather.  Steamer Beaver sailed. Louis Parent sent to the fort pr. Benson? he being on the sick list. Malcolm and Ritch employed with the Muir’s.

Thursday 16 [December 1852]

Gale from S.E. with heavy snow throughout .  All hands employed squaring for No. 3 house. Indian labourers all absent from work owing to bad weather.

Friday 17 [December 1852]

Light variable airs with occasional snow showers. People employed as yesterday.  Mr. Gilmours’ miners employed on the wharf with the Muirs.  Traded 6 Deer from the Nanaimoes.

Saturday 18 [December 1852]

Do Do weather employed as yesterday

Sunday 19 [December 1852]

Light variable airs clear weather at intervals.  No occurrences of importance.

Monday 20 [December 1852]

Light airs from S.E. with occasions snow showers. Lazard Darsche, Stove & Le Bine squaring for No. 3 house.  Thomas, Fortine & Dogin squaring for pit work. Robilliard shingle making.  La Fleur & Ignace Blacksmith shop miners Ritch and Malcolm employed on the wharf.

Tuesday 21 [December 1852]

Do Do weather.  Lazard & Gang building No. 4 house.  Others as on yesterday.

Wednesday 22 [December 1852]

Strong breeze from N.E. hard frost and clear weather. Mr. Muir left to day for Victoria accompanied by Robert & Archibald Miner. La Fleur, Le Bine & Saygowatha finished the pit mouth sufficiently for commencing mining operations.

Thursday 23 [December 1852]

Do Do weather. Mr. Gilmour &? Employed on wharf.  Robillard making shingles, Lazard & gang No. 4 house. Godin and Ferran sawing.

Friday 24 [December 1852]

Do Do Weather. Employed as on yesterday.  No occurrences of importance

Saturday 25 [December 1852]

Light variable airs from S.E. with snow and hard frost here Christmas Day. No operations under way.

Sunday 26 [December 1852]

Do Do weather. Mr. McNeil arrived from Victoriahaving left that place on the 16^th inst.

 Monday 27 [December 1852]

Do Do weather very heavy snow throughout the day.  All hands employed on No 4 house. Traded 20 Bus Potatoes from the Nanaimoes

Tuesday 28 [December 1852]

Light variable airs snow at intervals. Employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 29 [December 1852]

Light variables airs from N.W. and fine clear weather. Employed as on yesterday. Mr. McNeil left forFt.Rupert.

Thursday 30 [December 1852]

Light variable airs from the westward and clear weather with frost.  Employed as on yesterday.

Friday 31 [December 1852]

Strong Breeze from S.E. with heavy snow.  Carpentry and axeman employed squaring fro No. 3 house. Miners building chimney for No. 4 house.

1853

January

Saturday 1 [January 1853]

Steady breeze from N.W. clear at intervals.  Being now New Years Day no business or operations under way.  Traded 30 bus potatoes from the Nanaimoes.

Sunday 2 [January 1853]

Light airs from S.E. with snow storms at intervals.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 3 [January 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. with heavy rain throughout the day.  People employed on No. 4 house.  Despatched a canoe to Chemainus for potatoes. Gave the lad in charge of the canoe one blanket on trust to purchase potatoes with. Anxiously expecting the Steamer Beaver. Linklater on the sick list.  Snow fast disappearing.  The greatest depth at the time that the thaw commenced was 30 inches.  The Natives say that there has not been so great a quantity of snow nor so long a continuance of cold weather within the memory of the present generation. The cold weather and snow commenced on the 9^th Ultimo.

Tuesday 4 [January 1853]

Steady Breeze from S.E.with heavy rain. Lazard on the sick list.  The rest employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 5 [January 1853]

Do Do weather. Snow fast disappearing. Employed as yesterday.

Thursday 6 [January 1853]

Light variable airs from S.E. with light drizzling rain at intervals. Traded a quantity of potatoes from the Nanaimoes, Also 300 dried salmon, 40 mats, and a few small furs.  Canoe returned from Chemainus with ten bushels of potatoes.

Friday 7 [January 1853]

Light airs from N.W. with clear weather at intervals.  Dunsmuir & Adam French removed to No. 4 house.

Saturday 8 [January 1853]

Light rain in the morning. Afternoon fine clear weather.  Employed variously squaring wood fro No. 3 house.  Archibald French and Walker refused to work until the[y] were provided with separate accommodation.

Sunday 9 [January 1853]

Light variable airs from S.E. cloudy weather.  Steamer Beaver arrived with the Recovery in tow having an armed force on board with Governor & Suite.

Monday 10 [January 1853]

Strong Breeze from S.E. with heavy rain.  Adam French and Dunsmuir refused to empty the water out of the Coal Pit. His Excellency the governor opened negotiations with the Nanaimoes for the delivering into the hands of justice ofSiam-a-tuna son of Tche-hetum. Said Siamaton being accused of having participated in the murder of Peter Brown atVictoria.

 Tuesday 11 [January 1853]

Strong breeze from Southward and Eastward with very heavy rain. Indian captured to day by a reconnoiting [sic] party under command of Lieut. Moresby.

Wednesday 12 [January 1853]

Light variable airs and fine clear weather. The Nanaimo tribe who promised to deliver up the murderer SeamaTum assembled round the Beaver armed but not having the murderer with them Tche-wihe-tum was seized and detained as a pledge, for the delivery of his son into custody.

Thursday 13 [January 1853]

Strong Breeze from S.E. with heavy snow.  Traded 10 deer.  WuwWunShin promised to deliver into the hands of justice the Nanaimo murderer.

Friday 14 [January 1853]

Light variable airs with rain at intervals.  The Nanaimo murderer was brought to the Bay astern of the Cadboro but succeeded in making his escape. An armed party of men of [?] men under Lieut. Sansome sent up the Nanaimo River to attack and take possession of the villages there.

Saturday 15 [January 1853]

Light variable airs from Southward and Westward Clear at intervals.  The Nanaimoe murderer was to day captured near the mouth of the Nanaimo River and put into safe custody on board of the Beaver.  The party of men of [?] were recalled from the Nanaimo River.

Sunday 16 [January 1853]

Light airs from S.E. with cloudy weather. The miners had an audience with his Excellency the Governor on the subject of a certain amount of their wage which was stopped at Fort Rupert on a/c of disobedience of lawful orders. The same sum of money was promised to be returned to them. Robillard engaged for Five years.

Monday 17 [January 1853]

Breeze from Westward with fine clear.  Squeis and Siam-a-sit were tried for the murder of Peter Brown. They were found Guilty, condemned and executed at Tide-staff point.

Tuesday 18 [January 1853]

Light variable airs from Southward cloudy mild weather. 8 PM. Steamer Beaver sailed with the governor & Suite.  The Recovery left in tow of the Beaver. The miners are to receive one shilling sterling per diem in lieu of rations from to commence on the 17^th January 1853.

Wednesday 19 [January 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed squaring.  Miners employed emptying the pit.  La Fleur & [Vautrin?] Blacksmith shop.

Thursday 20 [January 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday. Traded a large quantity of venison from the Sheshall

Friday 21 [January 1853]

Steady Breeze from the S.E. Cloudy weather.  The Brig William arrived from Victoria with Mr. Muir & three miners. Captain Cooper supercargo she came for a cargo of coals having only 45 tons on hand Captain Cooper decided on sailing without them having some notion of loading the vessel with ice.

Saturday 22 [January 1853]

Light airs from S.E. Cloudy Weather. The brig William sailed.

 Sunday 23 [January 1853]

Light breeze from N.W. with fine clear weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 24 [January 1853]

Do Do Weather. Ignace, Versailles and Robillard on the sick list.  Commenced building No.3 house. Hired twenty Indians. Mr. Muir & Miners at work on the pit.

Tuesday 25 [January 1853]

Light variable airs with thick fog throughout the day.  Hired a number of Indians principally Nanaimoes.  Traded a quantity of deer from the Sheshalls and potatoes from the Chemainis. Commenced working coals in the pit.

Wednesday 26 [January 1853]

Light variable airs cloudy weather. Employed building No. 3 house.  Indian labourers carry in timber for building. Miners working coal.

Thursday 27 [January 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E.with heavy rain. Operations as yesterday.

 Friday 28 [January 1853]

Light airs from S.E. cloudy weather.  Indians labourers employed on Coal Wharf

Saturday 29 [January 1853]

Steady Breeze from S.E. with rain.  Finished the walls of No. 3 house and put on the rafters and sheathing. Indian labourers as yesterday.  The brig Williams reported up Burrard Canal.

Sunday 30 [January 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. with heavy rain.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 31 [January 1853]

Light variable airs from N.W. with fine clear weather. Darsche, Stove, Malcolm, & Ritch with 15 Indians employed at the Coal pit.  The rest of the Indian labourers employed on the Coal wharf. Le Bine & Ferran sawing, LaFleur & Godin Blksmiths. Lazard, Sagoyawatha, Robilliard, Versailles & Timothy building. Robert Muir, Archibald Muir, Dunsmuir, McGregor & Adam French mining. Archibald French & Walker with two Indians building chimney in No 3 house.  10 Indians raising wood for shingles.

February

Tuesday 1 [February 1853]

Do Do Weather with slight frost.  People employed as yesterday.

Wednesday 2 [February 1853]

Light variable airs from N.W. with fine clear weather. People employed as yesterday.  Traded 10 Deer from the Sheshalls.

Thursday 3 [February 1853]

Steady breeze fron N.E. with fine clear weather. Versailles and Robillards squaring wood for a bastion.  Others employed as before. The Brig William arrived and anchored in Departure Bay where she is to discharge ballast prior to receiving coal from the establishment. She had made an unsuccessful voyage up Howes Sound for ice.

Friday 4 [February 1853]

Light variable airs from the northward with fine clear weather, very hard frost the last night ½ inch ice all over Commercial Inlet having inquired of Captain Cooper whether or not he had the means or cash to purchase a cargo of coals for his vessel he informed me that he had no cash with him but that he an order from Mr. Finlayson for coals and that he was to pay for the same at Victoria on his return to that place. People employed as on yesterday.

 Saturday 5 [February 1853]

Light Breeze from S.E. a little snow continual frost.  Robillard & Versailles roofing No. 3 house others employed as on yesterday. Traded 53 deer from the Sheshalls and four deer from the Tatakas.

Sunday 6 [February 1853]

Light variable airs and cloudy weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday7 [February 1853]

Steady breeze from [?].E. cloudy at intervals. The Brig William hauled up from Departure Bay to Commercial Inlet. Walker and Archibald French joined Mr. Muirs gang of miners.

Tuesday 8 [February 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed. Variously building No. 3 house and squaring wood for a Bastion.

Wednesday 9 [February 1853]

Light airs from N.W. fine clear weather. Traded a quantity of cod fish from the Chimanis people. Employed as yesterday a gang of six Indians making shingles.

Thursday 10 [February 1853]

Light breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.  Dispatched a canoe to the Fort with advice of the arrival of the “William” and state of general progress at this place. Captain Cooper took a package in the canoe to Victoria.

Friday 11 [February 1853]

Do Do weather.  The Cadboro hauled alongside of the “William” and commenced discharging coal into her. 10 Indians were employed on board the Cadboro. Finished house No.3 Commenced building on the S.E. side of the Establishment.

Saturday 12 [February 1853]

Do Do weather. Employed as on yesterday.  No occurrence of importance.

Sunday 13 [February 1853]

Light air from S.E. Cloudy weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 14 [February 1853]

Do Do weather.  All hands employed building No. 5 house 20 x 30 ft with sound wood.  Express canoe returned from the Fort.

Tuesday 15 [February 1853]

Steady breeze from NSE fine clear weather.  Commenced loading the William with coal from the pit. Mr. Dixon taking account. Employed a number of Indian canoes coaling. Lazard and Ignace clearing away for No. 6 house.  Others employed on No. 5 house.

Wednesday 16 [February 1853]

Do Do weather. Employed as on yesterday. Traded a quantity of fresh salmon. Went down into the coal pit and in the presence of Mr. Muir and the miners I named the coal we are now working the “Douglas” coal, a fracas occurred between the Nanaimoes and a Cowichan crew who came here for the purpose of making a noise.

Thursday 17 [February 1853]

Steady breeze from N.W. fine clear weather. Gave the people a holiday in consequence of naming the coal.  Exercised small army in the forenoon. Indians employed loading the William throughout the day.

Friday 18 [February 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. with heavy rain.  Laid the foundation of No.6 house. Finished the walls of No. 5 house. Shipping coals as on yesterday.

Saturday 19 [February 1853]

Do Do weather. No coal shipped to day on a/c of the weather. Fitted the wall plates on No. 5 house.

Sunday 20 [February 1853]

Light airs from NW fine clear weather. Joseph [Darsche?] refused to assist at the winch heaving water from the pit.  I hired a canoe and sent him down to the fort in consequence of his insubordinate conduct.

Monday 21 [February 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. with heavy rain throughout the day.  Fitted the beams and rafters on No. 5 house.  Robillard Winchman in lieu of [Darsche?]. Shipped a quantity of coals on board the William.

Tuesday 22 [February 1853]

Do Do weather. Shipped coals on board the William.  Hands employed sheathing No. 5 house.  Lazard making doors for Coal Mine.

Wednesday 23 [February 1853]

Light variable airs from S.E. clear at intervals. Shipped the last of the coals on board William amounting to nearly 122 tons.  Robert & Archibald Muir having finished their contracts of service leave tomorrow for Victoria.

Thursday 24 [February 1853]

Light breeze from S.E. with drizzling rain. 11AM.The miners left accompanied by John McGregor who got leave of absence and Aldophus [Ferran?] who having been on the sick list for the last fortnight now proceeds to Victoriaf or the benefit of medical advice. The William hauled out of Commercial Inlet and anchored off the [Rock?] Buoy.  Finished sheathing and filling at No. 5 house.

Friday 25 [February 1853]

Do Do weather.   A Skowhomish canoe was this morning attacked by the Nonooas in leaving Commercial which ended in three of the former getting shot.  All the Indian labourers were absent to day in consequence. LeBine & Godin employed on wharf.  Versailles & Timothy raising wood for No. 6 house . Lazard & Ignace No. 5 house. Sagoyawathata sick list.

Saturday 26 [February 1853]

Light variable airs and fine clear weather. Express canoe returned from Fort with a small supply of flour. People employed as yesterday.

Sunday 27 [February 1853]

Strong breeze from S.E. with heavy rain throughout the day. No occurrences of importance.

Monday 28 [February 1853]

Light variable airs with rain at intervals. Lazard and gang squaring beams and rafters for No. 6 house. Indian labourers carrying in lumber for said house. LeBine and Godin employed on the wharf.

March

Tuesday 1 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard and Gang squaring wood for the bastion. Indians and others as yesterday.

Wednesday 2 [March 1853]

Light variable airs and clear weather.  Lazard and gang commenced  No. 6 house and finished to the wall plates.  Others employed as on yesterday. Versailleson the sick list.

Thursday 3 [March  1853]

Do Do weather. Traded a number of deer from the Sheshalls. Lazard and gang fitted beams on No. 6 house.  Indians employed variously. Canoe arrived from Cowechin reported the “Beaver.”

Friday 4 [March 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed variously.

Saturday 5 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Fitted rafters on No. 6 house. Mr. Pemberton arrived from Cowechin accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Fitzwilliam.

Sunday 6 [March 1853]

Strong breeze from N.W. fine clear weather. Accompanied by Mr. Pemberton discovered a seam of coal on River back from Flea Point ½ mile. The “William” sailed.

Monday 7 [March 1853]

Strong breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.Mr. Moffatt arrived from Ft. Rupert on his way to Victoria.  Despatched a canoe to the Mary Dare at Cowechin for a supply of flour. Examined coal seam last discovered.  Found it to be 4 feet 6 inches in thickness.

Tuesday 8 [March 1853]

Light airs from the eastward hard frost during the night.  Mr. Pemberton started for Point. Holmes accompanied by Versailles and Timothy.  Mr. Moffatt left for Victoria accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Fitzwilliam [J.P?].

Wednesday 9 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard making wheelbarrows.  Thomas Ignace Le Bine [sic] & Godin squaring wood for Bastion. Malcolm on sick list.

Thursday 10 [March 1853]

Light variable airs and fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday. Canoe arrived from Fort Rupert.  Canoe arrived from Cowechin reported the Steamer Beaver at Chimanis. Malcolm on the sick list.

Friday 11 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Employees as on yesterday.  Steamer Beaver arrived with the Mary Dare in tow. Mary Dare hauled alongside the Cadboro and commenced discharging cargo.

[written alongside of this entry the following]

John McGregor with 6 labourers arrived per Steamer Beaver.

Saturday 12 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. 5 AM Steamer “Beaver” sailed. 6:30 AM Mr. Pemberton arrived.  Mary Dare finished discharging.  Godin and Malcolm on the sick list.

Sunday 13 [March 1853]

Strong breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 14 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Mr. Gilmour with two labourers commence operating on Newcastle Island near Departure Bay. Mary Dare discharging ballast. Ovid Allard arrived from Chimanis. Lazard making wheel barrows.Versailles on the sick list. Others commenced shingling No. 5 house.

Tuesday 15 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Mary Dare finished discharging ballast. Thomas, Ignace Robillard, LeBine and Timothy making jetty at coal wharf.

Wednesday 16 [March 1853]

Light variable airs from N.W. fine clear weather . !0AM Commenced loading the Mary Dare. Indians carrying in stores for Chimneys. 3 labourers raising the same. McGregor and LaFleur excavating for horse road at the crop of the Douglas Coal. Commercial Point. 5 PM finished loading the Mary Dare having shipped 50 tons of coal on board. Squared and raised wood for bastion.

Thursday 17 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Continued shingling no. 5 house. Mr. Pemberton started for Victoria. Mr. McKay left for Chimanis with the intention of examining coal seams reported in that country.  Mary Dare hauled off the jetty.

Friday 18 [March 1853]

Light variable airs from S.W. Cloudy at intervals. Mr. McKay returned from Chimanis having seen no coal.  Some seams of carboniferous shale were however discovered and the natives reported  a seam of coal near the mouth of Chimanis River as having been visited by the “Beaver” crew.

Saturday 20 [March 1853]

Strong Breeze from S.E. with rain. Indian labourers superintended by Allard carrying in wood for Bastion. Robillard on the sick list.  Mary Dare sailed yesterday. Hands squaring for bastion.  Lazard flooring No. 5 house.

Sunday 21 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. The 6 lads who were employed as night gang for winch deserted

Monday 22 [March 1853]

Do Do weather.  Robillard convalescent.  Squaring wood for bastion.  Henham Weston Cole employed at horse road into the mine. 5 squares for bastion. Lazard & Thomas putting up studs for clapboarding No. 5 house.

Tuesday 23 [March 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. with rain which towards evening ended in snow.  Henham winchman in lieu of Stove who commenced building chimney of No. 5 house.  Ignace & Versailles completed shingling no.5 house. Lazard & Thomas finished studs. Others squaring for Bastion.

Wednesday 24 [March 1853]

Light breeze from Westward fine clear weather.  Thomas clapboarding No.5 house.  Lazard making a wheelbarrow.  Others as on yesterday.

Thursday 25 [March 1853]

Do Do Weather.  Thomas raising wood for window sashes.  Lazard & LaFleur on the sick list. Others as before.

Friday 26 [March 1853]

Do Do Weather. LaFleur convalesces.  Employed in the forge with Gadon. LeBine. Weather wooding no.5 house. Robillard building chimney pit? Two Indians added to Mr. Gilmour party. Others as yesterday. Steamer Beaver with the Recovery in tow. Arrived from Victoria.  Shipped 100 bushels potatoes on board the Recovery for Fort Rupert

Saturday 27 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard convalesces. Making window sashes.  Started for Chemainis in search of coal.

Sunday 28 [March 1853]

Strong squalls from S.E. with rain. 5 AM Steamer Beaver started for Fort Rupert with the “Recovery“ in tow. Robillard got leave of absence to proceed to Fort Rupert for his wife. Returned from Chimanis. No coal. A canoe of Quakyolth arrived from Fort Rupert.

Monday 29 [March 1853]

Light variable airs from NW and fine clear weather.  Lazard and Versailles on the Sick List. Stove building chimney on No. 5 house. Le Bine finished weather boarding No. 5 house. Timothy & Ignace McGregor’s house.  Thomas making window sashes.  Weston Wiles Henham Malcolm and Ritch winchmen. Elliott and Cluett Newcastle Island. Traded a number of deer from the Sheshalls and Thahoos.

Tuesday 30 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 31 [March 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard and Versailles  convalescent. The latter assisting at McGregors. LeBine making addition to No. 5.  Cluett and Weston commenced working on the mine. Ritch boring in lieu of Cluett. Wiles at winch in place of Ritch. Lazard making window sashes.

April

Thursday 1 [April 1853]

Light Breeze from S.E. with a few drops of rain.  Dispatched an express canoe to the Fort. People employed as on yesterday.  Ignace took a passage to the Fort on a/c of sore eyes.  Timothy on the sick list.

Friday 2 [April 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. with rain.  People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 3 [April 1853]

Steady breeze from N.W. fine clear weather. Louis Oteokono arrived from Victoria with a crew of Quakolths bound to Fort Rupert. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 4 [April 1853]

Do Do weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 5 [April 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard fitting windows in No. 5 house. Stove chimney for Do. Versailles raising wood for Mr. Muirs house.  Borers and miners as before. LeBine sharpening saws. LaFleur and Godin Blksmiths shop. Louis Oteokorie coal wharf.

Tuesday 6 [April 1853]

Do Do weather.  Traded a quantity of salmon from the Nanaimoes. People employed as on yesterday.  Stove finished chimney No. 5 house. Commenced chimney No.6 . Thomas making pick handles.

Wednesday 7 [April 1853]

Do Do weather. Wiles on the sick list. Stove winchman instead. Le Bine building chimney in addition behind No. 2 house. Wunwunshim returned from Victoria.

Thursday 8 [April 1853]

Steady Breeze from N.W. fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday. Ignace & Versailles squaring sills for Mr. Muir house.

Friday 9 [April 1853]

Do Do weather. Two canoes arrived from Fort Rupert on their way from Fort Simpson to Victoria. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 10 [April 1853]

Light air from S.E. with heavy rain.  Mr. Gilmour having altered his opinion regarding the coal measures on Newcastle Island and being at a loss how to proceed left this morning for Victoria. Timothy and Vesailles were also despatched to Victoria as per instructions.

Sunday 11 [April 1853]

Steady breeze from N.W. fine clear weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 12 [April 1853]

Do Do weather.  LeBine, Godin, Ignace and Louis Oteokorie shingling No. 6 house. Lazard making wheelbarrow. LaFleur mining. Sagaoyawatha flooring No.6 house. Wiles on the sick. Winchmen as before. Elliott & Ritch building chimney No.6 house.

Tuesday 13 [April 1853]

Steady breeze from N.W. fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday.  Thomas on the sick list.

Wednesday 14 [April 1853]

Do Do weather. All the Indian labourers absent to a feast. Elliott and Ritch additional to the winch.

Thursday 15 [April 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Mr. Gilmour returned from Victoria with three additional hands namely Cook, Thomas and Magnus Edgar & Versailles.

 

Friday 16 [April 1853]

Light breeze from S.E. with rain. Started for Chase River and showed Mr.Gilmour the coal there.Versailles shingling No. 6 house.  Other recruits making wharf.  

Saturday 17 [April 1853]

Do Do weather.  Stove & Ritch employed at Chase River under Mr. Gilmour. Others as before.

Sunday 18 [April 1853]

Light breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.  Steamer Beaver arrived from Fort Rupert with the Recovery in tow.  The following men arrived from Fort Rupert. Fortier, Robillard, Dell, Horne, Isbister, Hunter, Engineer Also George Johnstone Esq. Surgeon and Mr. Henry McNeil.

Monday 19 [April 1853]

Do Do weather.  Now hands loading steamer.   Lazard & Thomas fitting windows in houses.  LeBine weather boarding.  Ignace & Versailles sick list.  Godin squaring. Cook & Isbister wharf.  Oteokorie ditto. Hunter landing Bailey Horne sick list.  Malcolm, Stove & Thomas.  Mr. Gilmour Chase River.  Others miners & Mr. Muir. Steamer finished wooding. 

Tuesday 20 [April 1853]

Light variable airs and fine clear weather.  Steamer Beaver sailed for the [Misqmians?] With Mr. Allard as interpreter. People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 21 [April 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. with rain.  People employed as on yesterday. Fortin & Robillard squaring

Thursday 21 [April 1853]

Strong breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Steamer Beaver returned from Burrards Canal. People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 23 [April 1853]

Do Do weather all hands ran out a wharf from 2nd pit to deep water 100 feet. Cadboro hauled alongside and took in 40 tons coals.

(23 to 30^th of April entries made by unidentified person, not McKay)

Saturday 23 [April 1853]

The Steamer left at 12 PM for Victoriawith the Cadboro in tow, loaded with coals and planks. Mr. McKay also left by the steamer for Ft. Victoria and expects to return in a few days.

Sunday 24 [April 1853]

Gloomy weather with the wind from S.E. accompanied with showers of rain.

Monday 25 [April 1853]

Fine moderate weather with the wind from S.E. Traded a few salmon with a quantity of flounder. Four or five hands employed in erecting a Bastion.  The rest employed as last week. Fire broke out from one of the Indian lodges, with great difficulty it was extinguished.

Tuesday 26 [April 1853]

Men employed as yesterday. Yankee at work today suddenly fell ill complaining of his head. Traded 12 deer today from the Coomox Indians.

Wednesday 27 [April 1853]

This day sets in with rain and little rain towards evening.  Labourers employed as yesterday. Traded 270 cedar planks paid according to former price.

Thursday 28 [April 1853]

Men as employed as yesterday. Indians all friendly, who brings us fresh provision every other day. Yankee returned to duty today.

Friday 29 [April 1853]

Light airs from SE and a fine clear day.  Men employed as on yesterday kept on bastion and, sundry other jobs.

Saturday 30 [April 1853]

Fine clear weather. Wind from N.W.  A canoe arrived here to day directly from Comox who reported that an [?] field of coals was discovered by them lately ... (Whether the report is true or false we cannot ascertain)  At the above named place.

May

Sunday 1 [May 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Mr. McKay arrived from Victoria in HMSS Virago which vessel anchored off Commercial Inlet at 5 AM.

Monday 2 [May 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with rain at intervals. Hands laid the foundation of Mr. Muir’s house 25 x 30 ft. Mr. Muir, miners & assistants [?] miners as usual.  Lazard Onearota [?] on the sick list. 

Tuesday 3 [May 1853]

Do Do weather.  Commenced coaling the Virago w all hands. No Indian labourers. Steamer Beaver arrived from Fort Victoria.  George Mitchell Blksmith and James Frances labourer landed.  James Stove transferred to Steamer Beaver.

Wednesday 4 [May 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Employed as on yesterday.  Despatched a canoe to Fort Victoria.  Engaged a number of Indians who struck shortly afterwards.

Thursday 5 [May 1853]

Do Do Weather.  Beaver finished wooding. The Virago finished coaling having taken in 200 tons. Indian labourers returned to their duty. Finished laying the sills of the miners house. Lazard and Oteokorie [?] on the sick list.

Friday 6 [May 1953]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  3 AM. Steamer Beaver sailed for the NW coast. Bell, Fortier, Robillard, Versailles on Mr. Muir house. Indian labourers carrying in wood for Do [?]. LeBine felling trees. Sagoyawatha and Ignace finishing No. 6 house.

Saturday 7 [May 1853]

Do Do Weather.  The Virago sailed at 5.30 A.M. People employed as on yesterday.  Traded a number of deer from the Tlahoose.

Sunday 8 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 9 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard, Thomas, Ignace and Louis.building bastion.  LeBine, Fortier, Robillard and Versailles.  Clearing site for Mr. Gilmour’s house. Cluett on the sick list. Francesdo [?].

Tuesday 10[May 1853]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals in examining the beach at Mr. Pemberton’s encampment I discovered a seam of coal.  Underlying the conglomerate and sandstone which forms the pavement & under [?] of the Douglas Coal.  People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 11 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. McGregor, Hunter and Isbister examining the new discovery of coal which proves to be 6 feet thick exclusive to a seam of fireclay [?] 6 inchs.thick which divides it into two [?] seams.  The coal as it appears bears every resemblesance to the Newcastlec oal and may justly be considered the same coal.  People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 12 [May 1853]

Do Do weather.  Went to Newcastle Island accompanied by Captain Mitchell. Examined a slip 300 yds beyond Mr. Gilmours bore.  Discovered loose coal among the debris make no doubt but that the coal of which Mr. Gilmour was in search occurs here. A Cowechin Indian was fired on by two young Nanaimoes sons of the old man who was murdered on the 29^th August 52.  The Cowechin escaped with two flesh wounds.  This occurred so near the premises that I was under the necessity of reprimanding the Nanaimoes very severely for carrying their murderous practices so near our peaceful homes.

Friday 13 [May 1853]

Do Do weather.   Bastion going as before. Bell, Fortier, LeBine, Robillard & Versailles commenced building Mr. Muir house and finished to the wall plates.  Recovery discharging pump pipes.  5 Canoes of Bil-ba-bas [?] touched here on their way to Victoria reported the “Beaver” and “Virago”

Saturday 14 [May 1853]

Do Do weather heavy rain last night.  People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 15 [May 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. The Bil-Balas [?] with Mahoy SI [?] left for Victoria.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 16 [May 1853]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals.Bell, Versailles and Fortier roofing Mr.Muirs house.  LeBine raising wood for pump gear. Robillard raising wood for Mr. Gilmour house. Lazard, Thomas, Ignace and Louis building Bastion.  McGregor and Isbister at New Coal. Mr. Pemberton encampment. Elliott & Wiles coal wharf. Weston, Cook and Henham Mr. Muir pit.  Cluett, Ritch and Thomas on the sick list. Blksmiths and miners as usual.

Tuesday 17 [May 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday. Frances added to Mr. Gilmour’s gang.

Wednesday 18 [May 1853]

Do Do weather.  LeBine and Robillard raising wood for Mr. Gilmour’s house.  Others as usual.  Dispatched a canoe to Victoria in [charge of Lul-haulum ?]. La Fleur left for Victoria in the express canoe his contract of service having expired.

Thursday 19 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday. Traded a large quantity of bark from the Nanaimoes and few deer from the Sheshalls

Friday 20 [May 1853]

Do Dop weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Mr. Hunter fitting a pump in the pit. Thomas convalescent.

Saturday 21 [May 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Traded a few rock fish. Finished pump for pit.

Sunday 22 [May 1853]

Do Do weather.  No occurrence of importance. Mr[s]? French departed this life.

Monday 23 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. Express canoe returned from Victoria.  Mr[s?] French interred.   Cluett convalescent employed with 6 Indians at the pump.  Isbister clearing away and examining salt spring atSalt River.  Francis on the sick list.  Lazard, Thomas, Ignace and James building bastion. Belland Versailles Mr. Muir house.  LeBine Fortier and Robillard squaring for Mr. McGregor house. Mitchell & Godin Blksmiths.  Others coal mine.

Tuesday 24 [May 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  McGregor got his hand hurt by the falling in of a piece of coal.  None of the miners at work today.

Wednesday 25 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. Salt Spring yields 2 gallons salt water pr minute. Isbister commenced evaporating in two shallow sheet iron pans measuring together 41/2 superficial feet water yielded 1 lb salt p gallon 9 lbs evaporating in 8 hours. Others employed as before. 

Thursday 26 [May 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Allard and Indians burning and clearing around about the establishment.

Friday 27 [May 1853]

Light airs from the Southward with light rain. Finished squaring wood for McGregor house.  Finished roofing and flooring Mr. Muirs house.  Cluett, Elliott and Wiles at the pump.  Canoe arrived from Ft. Rupert having Samuel Rickets on board he having come down for medical advice.

Saturday 28 [May 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Bill fitting door to Mr. Muirs house.  Other employed as before.

Sunday 29 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 30 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard and gang as before.  Robillard  squaring for Blksmiths house. Allard and Indians employed in three shifts on the pump.

Tuesday 31 [May 1853]

Do Do weather. Dispatched an express canoe to Victoriawith Fortier, Belland, LeBine whose contracts have expired.  Mr. Muir also proceeds to Victoria in quest of his wife.  Isbister raising stones for bastion foundation.

June

Wednesday 1 [June 1853]

Do Do weather.  Lazard & gang building a hut for McGregor at Pt. Pemberton.  They employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 2 [June 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Mr. Gilmour got charge of Mr. Muirs pit.  A canoe arrived from Victoria bringing a letter from headquarters reported with accounts of the return of H.M.S. Virago from Queen Charlotte Islands. Mr. Gilmour took charge of the mine.

Friday 3 [June 1853]

Steady Breeze from N.W. with fine clear weather. Canoe returned to Victoria. A number of Ucultas arrived. Traded a few small furs. Thomas Sagoyawatha who was intoxicated and refused duty yesterday returned to duty today.

Saturday 4 [June 1853]

Do Do weather.  Lazard & Gang employed at the Bastion. Robillard on the sick list. Others as before.

Sunday 5 [June 1853]

Do Do Weather. Ucultas left.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 6 [June 1853]

Do Do Weather.  Canoe returned from Victoria.  Called all the Assistant miners who have refused to work in the pit for some time past.  Told them they must either work as assistant miners on the terms proposed or work as labourers on labourers pay.  They said that they preferred the latter.   Lazard & Gang commenced building a house for John McGregor. Versailles employed in the surgery.  Others as before.

Tuesday 7 [June 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  A number of Sheshalls arrived with Venison

Wednesday 8 [June 1853]

Strong breeze from N.E. Cloudy at intervals. Natives commenced digging coals. People employed as before.

Thursday 9 [June 1853]

Do Do weather sometimes S.E. with light rain . Lazard & Gang as before.  Robillard on Mr. Muirs house. Allard and Indians on the wharf.

 Friday 10 [June 1853]

Steady breeze from N/W. fine clear weather.  5 AM Started for Victoria in a well manned canoe leaving Captain Mitchell in charge.

[Note: June 12-13 pages missing]

Tuesday 14 [June 1853]

Strong Breeze from S.E. Returned from Victoria during my absence McGregor house had been roofed in and the Chimney nearly finished.  Four of the assistant miners had been at work on the coals since Monday.  Wood had been squared and hauled in for the Blksmiths house.

Wednesday 15 [June 1853]

Light air from N.W. fine clear weather.  A number of Sheshalls arrived with venison. Put up the frame and wall plates of Mitchells house and commenced filling in the walls.  One hand weather boarding Mr. Muirs house.

Thursday 16 [June 1853]

Light variable airs rain at intervals.  Mr. Gilmour has some difficulties with the miners during the early part of the day after two hours grumbling they returned to their duty.  Lazard making window sashes for Mitchells house.  Thomas weatherboarding Muirs house.  Ignace, Louis and Versailles roofing Mitchells house, Robillard Mr. Muirs house, Isbister building chimney, Malcolm on the sick list. 

Friday 17 [June 1853]

Steady breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  A number of Chimsian canoes touched at this place on their way fromFt.Simpson to Victoria with William Garrick laborer who was left here for request of Captain McNeil.

 Saturday 18 [June 1853]

Do Do weather.  The Chimsian canoes left for Victoria. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 19 [June 1853]

Steady breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.  A number of Sheshalls arrived with venison.

Monday 20 [June 1853]

Variable winds from Southward and eastern with rain at intervals. Lazard Ignace Louis Versailles and Robillard employed on the Bastion.  Thomas fitting window sashes.  Isbister building chimneys.  Robert Dunsmuir refused duty.

Tuesday 21 [June 1853]

Light breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Mr. Gilmour reached coal on the 17^th inst at his working at the head of Commercial Inlet. Robert Dunsmuir miner still refuses duty.

Wednesday 22 [June 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  James Francis and John Malcolm on the sick list.  Robert Dunsmuir returned to his duty. Traded 17 deer from the Sheshalls

Thursday 23 [June 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Traded some deer from the Sliamins.

Friday 24 [June 1853]

Strong Breeze from N.W. fine clear weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  No occurrence of importance.

Saturday 25 [June 1853]

Light variable airs from the Westward with alternate sunshine and heavy showers of rain and hail.  People employed as on yesterday.  Archibald French on the sick list.

Sunday 26 [June 1853]

Steady breeze from the N.W. fine clear weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 27 [June 1853]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals.  Lazard, Thomas, Louis Ignace, Versailles and Robillard employed on the Bastion.  Isbister and Thomas employed on the Blksmiths house.  Francis, Malcolm, Garrick, Archibald French and Rickets on the sick list.  Cluett, Wiles and Ritch windlass [?] men Henham, hillsman, Elliott, Weston and Cook with Hunter and the rest of the miners employed in the mines.  Edgar at Mr. Gilmours pit.

Tuesday 28 [June 1853]

Steady breeze from southward.  People employed as on yesterday.  Traded some venison from the Sheshalls.

Wednesday 29 [June 1853]

Light variables airs cloudy at intervals.  People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 30 [June 1853]

Light airs from NW fine clear weather.  People employed as on yesterday. Mitchell and Godin commenced squaring for the Blksmith shop.

July

Friday 1 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday. Traded some venison from the Sheshalls. Mr. McGregor on the sick list.  John Malcolm recovering?. Employed at light jobs. White washing houses, etc.

Saturday 2 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday. Traded some vension from the Sheshalls. McGregor [?]

Sunday 3 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance. A few Sheshalls arrived with Venison.

Monday 4 [July 1853]

Do Do weather Strong breeze from MW fine clear weather. Lazard, Ignace, Louis, Robillard and Versailles employed roofing the Bastion.  Thomas fitting windows to Mr. Muirs house. Isbister plastering and repairing chimney.  Mitchell and Godin squaring for Blksmith shop. Malcolm whitewashing. Garrick, Rickets, Frances and Archibald French on the sick list.  Cluett, Cook, Elliott and Weston in the pit. Ritch, Edgar and Wiles [?] men. Henham Hillsman.  Horne being an invalid is employed variously at such light jobs as one calculated to do him no injury. Dispatched a canoe to Victoriawith letter.

Tuesday 5 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on.  Yesterday traded a few deer from the Sheshalls and Cowechins.

Wednesday 6 [July 1853]

Light breeze from NW fine clear weather.  The water in the pit increases so fast that it requires two gangs to keep it clear of the mines decided on preparing for the erection of the steam engines stopped the pit and employed all the miners in the surface mine. 

Thursday 7 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. Commenced carrying in the wood for the blacksmiths shop.  Finished roofing the Bastion and floored the second storey.

Friday 8 [July 1853]

Do Do weather.  Lazard Gang squaring timber for Extension behind McGregor’s house.  Thomas employed on Mr. Muir’s house.

Saturday 9 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from Southward fine clear weather.  Schooner Cadboro arrived from Victoria.  Hauled alongside the Recovery and discharged into that vessel.  A number of Quakyolhs around from Fort Rupert.  Brought with them a man named Finlay who is suffering from some venereal disorder and requires medical advice.

Sunday 10 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  The Express canoe returned from Victoria.

 Monday 11 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from SE with heavy rain. Cadboro commenced taking coal from the Indians. Louis Ignace Lazard and Versaille’s building new blksmith shop.  Thomas Mr. Muir’s house, Isbister and Malcolm raising stone for building.  Robillard squaring Blksmith & Miners as usual. Garrioch Convalescent employed variously. Wiles on the sick list. Frances convalescent employed in his stead. Archibald French convalescent commenced enlarging miners pit for the steam engine.

Tuesday 12 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. People employed as on Yesterday finishing taking on coals from the Indians amounting in all to 34 tons.

Wednesday 13 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. Shipped 16 tons of coal on board the Cadboro from McGregors working.  Afternoon calm, Cadboro waiting an opportunity to sail. People employed as before. Robillard squaring wood for lining the pit.

Thursday 14 [July 1853]

Light variable airs from the Southward. 5:30 AM the Cadboro sailed.  Robillard squared the wood for the pit so very badly that I was induced to reprimand him for his carelessness.  He thought to prefer to refuse duty and asked to be sent down to Victoria.  I accordingly placed him under temporary for an hour after which he begged to return to his duty and promised to behave himself for the future.

Friday 15 [July 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Robillard squaring wood for engine frame. A number of Sheshall canoes arrived this afternoon with venison. James Linklater behaved himself in a very disorderly manner for which I was obliged to punish him. He gave up the keys of the store.

Saturday 16 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Lazard laying the floor in Linklaters house.  Ignace and Versailles roofing the Blksmith shop.  Louis squaring for Engine frame. Others as before.  Linklater employed at the Salt Spring.

Sunday 17 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. Despatched the express canoe to Victoria.

Monday 18 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Lazard making window frames.  Thomas on Mr.Muir house.  Louis squaring for steam engine. Ignace and Versailles new blksmiths shop. Linklater Salt Spring . Isbister and Malcolm building stone cottage. Robillard on the sick list.

Tuesday 19 [July 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  A number of Ucultas arrived. Robillard returned to his duty squaring [sleepers?] for stone building.

Wednesday 20 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.  Robillard and Louis squaring wood for Steam Engine.

Thursday 21 [July 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.Frances returned to duty. Wiles on the sick list.  Isbister and Malcolm quarrying.  Ignace and Versailles do.

Friday 22 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW very warm and smoky.  Express canoe returned from Victoria.

Saturday 23 [July 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  No occurrence of importance. 9 AM H.M.S. Virago arrived from the N.W.Coast and anchored inside of Tide-staff point. Dr. Kennedy & Mr. John Work passengers.  Captain Stuart pilot.

Sunday 24 [July 1853]

Strong breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Captain Provost. H.M.S. Virago left for Victoriaat 2 PM in company with Dr. Kennedy and Captain Stuart. 3 h Messrs  Hill and Gordon left in a canoe. 7:30 Mr. McNeil arrived on his way from Ft Simpson to Victoria and left immediately accompanied by Mr. Work [?] and Dr. Johnstone.

Monday 25 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather very warm.  Shipped 16 tons of coal on board the Virago.  Lazard and Thomas making window sashes. Louis laying foundation for Hunter house. Robillard squaring for Steam engine.  Ignace and V ersailles quarrying stones. Miners and assistants as usual.

Tuesday 26 [July 1853]

Do Do weather.  Shipping coals on board the Virago. People employed as usual.

Wednesday 27 [July 1853]

Do Do weather.  Employed as on yesterday.  A Tshimsian canoe was attacked this night off the harbour by crew of Sheshalls who shot two of the former.  The poor wretches escaped and came alongside the Virago.

Thursday 28 [July 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday. Messrs Hill and Gordon returned from Victoria last night.

Friday 29 [July 1853]

Strong breeze from NW fine clear weather. Fires raging in all directions around the establishment.  11PM Captain Provost returned from Victoria accompanied by Captain Hanston of H.M.S. [Trimmalee?] now anchored in Esquimalt and Captain Stuart.  Operations as usual.

Saturday 30[July 1853]

Do Do weather.  Finished coaling the Virago that vessel having now 368 tons 11 [cws?] of coals on board.

Sunday 31 [July 1853]

Steady breeze from NW smoky weather. No occurrence of importance.

August

Monday 1 [August 1853]

Steady breeze from NW. Smoky weather.  4:30 AM H..M.S.Virago sailed for Victoria. Louis, Ignace, Robillard and Versailles squaring wood for engine frame. Lazard repairing gable ends of the houses which had shrunk in seasoning.  Thomas making pick handles.  Henham, Wiles , Finlay and Rickets on the sick list. Francis watchman.

Tuesday 2 [August 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. The Noonooas brought in a report of a seam of coal having been found in their country.  Also a saltspring. People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 3 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. Thomas Sagoyawatha left for Victoria on leave. Isbister and Malcolm building a stone house.   Others employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 4 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. Finlay convalescent employed as pig-herd.  Henham, Weston, Wiles and Rickets on the sick list.  Lazard employed on the new blksmith shop.  Louis sick list. Robillard Ignace and Versailles squaring for engine frame.

Friday 5 [August 1853]

Do Do weather.  Godin on the sick list. Ignace employed in his stead with the blksmith . Others employed as before.  The Recovery hauled alongside of the coal wharf.

Saturday 6 [August 1853]

Light breeze from SE with rain at intervals.  Commenced discharging the Recovery.  Linklater finished weatherboarding . The Blksmith others employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 7 [August 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 8 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. Discharging the Recovery. Weston, Wiles, Rickets, Godin and Versailles on the sick list.  Ignace, Robillard and Louis squaring timber for engine frame.  Isbister on the sick list.  Malcolm, Ritch, Frances, Linklater building chimney in new forge.  Miners and assistant miners as usual.

Tuesday 9 [August 1853]

Do Do weather.  Lazard and Garrick morticing the steam engine frame. Isbister convalescent building stone cottages.  Malcolm assisting other operations as on yesterday.

Wednesday 10 [August 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Started for Noonooas found coal seam 2 inches in a bed of conglomerate.  The salt was merely seawater thrown into cavities in the sand stone by the winds at spring tides and evaporated by the heat of the sun.  

Thursday 11 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. Versailles convalescent.  Squaring timber for engine frame.  Other operations as usual.

Friday 12 [August 1853]

Steady breeze from NW. smoky weather.  Finished discharging the Recovery. Hands squaring for engine frame.  Other operations as usual.

Saturday 13 [August 1853]

Do Do weather.  Thomas Sagoyawatha returned from Victoria. Brought no dispatches.  Reported the arrival of the “Otter” Operations as usual.  Finished squaring wood for engine seat.

Sunday 14 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance. A canoe of Skuwhumish arrived who brought favourable reports from the Salmon fisheries in Fraser River. 

Monday 15 [August 1853]

Light variable airs smoky weather. Ritch & Francis building forge chimney.  Ignace, [Louis?], Versailles and Robillard  building. Lazard and Garrick with Hunter fitting engine frame.

Tuesday 16 [August 1853]

Light variables airs cloudy at intervals.  People employed as on yesterday.  Francis and Ritch finished forge chimney. Others employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 17 [August 1853]

Do Do weather a light shower of rain in the evening.  Francis and Ritch raising stones for chimney in Hunters house.  Others employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 18 [August 1853]

Light variable airs from southward and eastward with rain at intervals.  9PM. The Otter arrived from Victoria with the Mary Dare in tow.  His Excellency James Douglas, Mr. Cameron and Mr. [Galledge?] passengers [pr?]  the Otter.

Friday 19 [August 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Mary Dare hauled alongside the Recovery and commenced discharging into that vessel.  The Otter taking in coals.

Saturday 20 [August 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as heretofore.  The Mary Dare taking in coals and repairing. 

Sunday 21 [August 1853]

Do Do weather.  People attended Divine Service on board the Otter.

Monday 22 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. The Otter sailed for Point Holmes.  Mr. McKay on board, His Excellency intending to examine the country in those parts.

NOTE:  Tuesday 23 August page missing

Wednesday 24 [August 1853]

Steady breeze from NW.  People employed as usual.  Robert Dunsmuir with 4 Indians commenced boring for the purpose of proving the actual existence of a large seam of coal cropping out at Mr. Pemberton’s encampment and supposed to underlie the Douglas Coal.

Friday 26 [August 1853]

Do Do Weather.  Mary Dare having finished repairs all hands employed coaling the Otter also coaling

Saturday 27 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. The Mary Dare and Otter finished coaling

Sunday 28 [August 1853]

Do Do weather. People attended Divine Service on board the Otter.

Monday 29 [August 1853]

Do Do Weather.  The Otter sailed with the Mary Dare in tow.  Governor & Suite passengers for Otter.  Mr. McKay left in the Otter for Victoria with twenty Indians in quest of a cargo of bricks.

September

NOTE: August 30-Sept 3 1983 pages missing

Sunday 4 [September 1853]

Otter returned from Victoria.  Mr. McKay on board. Found the U.S. SS  Active and The Beaver in harbour.  The Beaver brought accounts of the total wreck of the Brigantine Vancouver on Point Rose. Captain Reid and crew were passengers in the Beaver. Boli, Mahoy, Borabora , Crittle and Robert Smith passengers pr Cadboro for Nanaimo which vessel arrived in tow of the Otter. A Papley landed from the Beaver sick.

Monday 5 [September 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. The Active commenced coaling took in 80 tons.  The steamer Beaver wooding.  The Otter discharged bricks and coals. The Recovery discharged into the Cadboro. Lazard, Garrick, Ignace, & Oteokorie on the engine frame. Thomas on Hunters house.  Others employed variously about the coal mine.

Tuesday 6 [September 1853]

Do Do weather morning foggy steamer.  Beaver sailed for Victoria. Otter sailed fo rFraser River with the Recovery on tow. Mr Sinclair joined the Otter as Pilot.  The Active finished coaling. The Archimedes arrived from Victoria for coals anchored astern of the Cadboro and commenced discharging ballast on the wharf site. Mr. Baillie [Bayley] who arrived pr letter as schoolmaster removed to his lodging in Mr. Muirs house.  Crittle commenced raising stones for Boiler Seat .  Hunter laying sole plate for steam engine.  Godin weather boarding house for Kanakas.  Francis and Ritch building chimney for Do. Versailles and Robillard squaring wood for new house.

Wednesday 7 [September 1853]

Steady breeze from NW hazy weather. 2 PM Commenced loading the Archimedes The Active sailed.  People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 8 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. Loading Archimedes.  Isbister on the sick list. Malcolm quarrying stones for building. Oterkorie on the sick list.  Lazard, Ignace and Garrick on the engine frame.  Laid sole plate for Steam engine.

Friday 9 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday. Archimedes loading.  Robert Smith commenced work.

Saturday 10 [September 1853]

Do Do weather.  The Archimedes finished loading. Discovered a deficiency of 80 tons of coals in the quantity turned out since last February. Probably arising from short weight by miners, evaporation and pilfering by natives.  Mr. Niven pilot of Archimedes broke his leg.  Left on shore in consequence.

Sunday 11 [September 1853]

Do Do weather.  Dispatched a canoe to Victoria. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 12 [September 1853]

Light variable airs and smoky weather. The Archimedes hauled out and anchored off the south buoy.  Too smoky to proceed on her voyage.  Robillard, Godin and Versailles squaring . Ritch and Francis building chimney in Kanaka house. Hunter shifted to his house in Cottage row assisted by Lazard, Thomas Ignace and Oteokorie throughout the day.  Dr. Johnstone removed to his No. 2 house.  Garrick employed on Engine frame. Isbister, Wiles, Rickets and Papley on the sick list. Crittle commenced laying foundation for Engine boiler.

Tuesday 13 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. Lazard, Ignace and Oteokori employed on Engine frame.  Thomas employed making pick handles and otherwise variously in the  mines.  Others employed as on yesterday. Bali assisting Crittle. Findlay tending pigs.Bora Bora on Coal wharf. Steamer Beaver arrived from Victoria.  S. Maurice passenger for this place.

 Wednesday 14 [September 1853]

Steamer Beaver wooding.  Francis and Ritch finished. Chimney Kanakas house employed on wharf. Express canoe returned from Victoria.  The Archimedes sailed.  Steamer Beaver finished wooding.

Thursday 15 [September 1853]

Light breeze from SE cloudy at intervals with light rain.  Steamer Beaver sailed. Versailles left for Fort Simpson [p?] steamer.

Friday 16 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. Commenced building No. 4 back saw. Garrick making flooring and decks for school.  Thomas commenced flooring. Kanakas house.  Maurice commenced building next house to Lazard.  Others employed as before.

Saturday 17 [September 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Coles and three men arrived from Victoria under contract to build house for HBCo at this place.

Sunday 18 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. [I. B?] Fortier arrived from Victoria. He is employed by Cott?

Monday 19 [September 1853]

Light variable airs Cloudy at intervals.  Lazard, Ignace and Oteokorei employed on engine frame. Hunter and Gang with Allard & Indians raising heavy parts of steam engine. Francis and Ritch building Lazards chimney.  Maurice building house next. Lazards, Thomas making window frames for Kanakas house. Garrick employed in school room.  Malcolm and Bora Boraemployed on wharf. Cuttle and Bali employed on boiler seat.  Isbister, Papley, Wiles, Rickets and John McGregor on the sick list. Blksmith and Linklater forge. Findlay tends Pigs.  Other miners as usual. Godin & Robillard building [?] cottage row.

Tuesday 20 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 21 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 22 [September 1853]

Light breeze from SE with light rain.  People employed as on yesterday.

 Friday 23 [September 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with rain. Maurice employed on Kanakas house. Blksmith sick list.  Linklater assisting Hunter.  Others employed as before.

Saturday 24 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 25 [September 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Despatched mail to Victoria.  Robillard on leave pr. Mail? Mitchell’s infant daughter departed this life.

Monday 26 [September 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Lazard & Ignace on engine frame.  Maurice Godin & Louis No. 4 back row.  Others employed as before.

Tuesday 27 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. 11 AM The Otter arrived from Victoria.  Mr. Sinclair removed to the Cadboro.  Dr. Kennedy and family passengers for Otter.  3 PM the Otter sailed for Fort Simpson with Dr. Kennedy as before.

Wednesday 28 [September 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.  Blocked up the #1 Engine [bailes?]

Thursday 29 [September 1853]

Steady Breeze from MW fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday.  Express canoe returned with Robillard.

Friday 30 [September 1853]

Do Do weather.  Robillard roofing Dunsmuir house. Maurice fitting door on Kanakas house.  Godin on McGregor house. Louis Lazard & Ignace on Engine frame. Thomas making window frames.  Others as before.

October

Saturday 1 [October 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  People employed as yesterday.

Sunday 2 [October 1853]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 3 [October 1853]

Do Do weather.  Lazard and Ignace on Engine frame. Thomas making window frames.  Godin and Robillard squaring for house 40 x 25 feet.  Maurice house 30 x 20 ft. Ritch, Rickets, Pappley and Bora-Bora on the sick list. Francis and Findlay raising stones for building boiler seat.  Isbister, Cuttle, Malcolm, Bali with 2 Indians on the boiler seats.  Hunter Sen & Hunter Junior & Smith on the Engine. Mitchell & Linklater Forge.  Cole commenced chimney.  Wiles, Cook in his stead.

Tuesday 4 [October 1853]

Strong breeze from SE cloudy weather. People employed as yesterday.

Wednesday 5 [October 1853]

Do Do weather with rain.  People employed as yesterday.

Thursday 6 [October 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as yesterday.

 Friday 7 [October 1853]

Light variable airs. Cloudy at intervals. Lazard, Ignace & Oteokorie squaring wood for pithead frame.  Others employed as before.

Saturday 8 [October 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with rain; People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 9 [October 1853]

Light breeze from SE rain at intervals. Despatched a mail to Victoriawith Garrioch on leave.

Monday 10[October 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with rain. Lazard  Ignace and Oteokorie squaring wood for pit head frame. Thomas making hinges. Bora-Bora and Pappley convalescent making wharf. Bali on the sick list. Isbister, Cuttle, Finlay and Malcolm on the boiler seat. Frances raising stone for Do. Ritch on the sick list. Maurice roofing his house. Robillard and Godin squaring as before. Cole, Hillman at McGregors working.Weston Coal Mine. Mr. Pemberton and party arrived from Victoria. 

Tuesday 11 [October 1853]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 12 [October 1853]

Steady breeze from SE with rain at intervals.  Lazard, Ignace and Oteokorie fitting up school room. Papley on the sick list. Bali convalescent employed in his stead.  Others as before.

Thursday 13 [October 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 14 [October 1853]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 15 [October 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  People employed as yesterday. Mr. McKay left for Chimanis to examine coal reported by the Natives. 

Sunday 16 [October 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy rain throughout the day. Mr. McKay returned from Chimanis. Coal reported by Natives discovered to be only modules of regular bed appearing.

Monday 17 [October 1853]

Steady breeze from SE with rain at intervals. Lazard and Ignace employed on School. Oteokorie stopping leaks in Muirs houses.  Isbister, Cuttle, Findlay and Malcolm boiler seat and chimney. Finished the flues. Ritch convaselscent raising stones for chimney.  Francis sick list. Pappley excavating for cistern for feeding boiler.  Thomas making window frames. Others employed as before.

Tuesday 18 [October 1853]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 19 [October 1853]

Lazard, Thomas, Ignace and Oteokorie pithead frame. Malcolm on sick list. Ritch employed in his stead.  Maurice fell off the beam at his house. Hurt himself on the sick list in consequence.

Thursday 20 [October 1853]

Light variable airs from southward & eastward. Cloudy weather. People employed as yesterday.

Friday 21 [October 1853]

Steady breeze from SW with rain. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 22 [October 1853]

Light breeze from SE rain at intervals. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 23 [October 1853]

Do Do weather.  Despatched a canoe to Victoria with mail.  Otter arrived from Ft. Rupert.

Monday 24 [October 1853]

Do Do weather. Landed horses, say 2 horses.  1 colt, 1 mare from Otter and drowned 1 mare in landing.  Landed also a quantity of lumber and 200 Bdles shingles Noon  Garrioch returned from Victoria with Mail containing instructions from head quarters for Mr. McKay to join the Otter if convenient and trade that vessels’ cargo of potatoes at Cowechin. Mr. McKay proceeded on board the Otter and that vessel sailed at 3:00 PM. Mr. Pemberton also took a passage to Victoria.  Thomas,Cole B. and Hubly arrived from Victoria on contract as labourers.

NOTE: Oct 25-Nov 1 1853 pages missing

November

Wednesday 2 [November 1853]

Light breeze from SE Clear weather.  The Otter returned from Victoria and Cowechin with a cargo of potatoes. Mr. McKay & Mr. Pemberton on board. On the 29^th [?] the engine had been started on trial. The chimney not yet finished. Godin & Robillard had finished squaring frame wood for store 40 x 25 ft.  Lazard had raised the pit head frame.  The Crowns of which prove to be too short . Water increasing fast in the mines.

Thursday 3 [November 1853]

Do Do weather.  The Otter discharging potatoes into the Cadboro.  Lazard, Ignace and Oteokorie fitting longer Crowns on the pit head. Thomas, Godin and Robillard building house No. 4. Cottage Row. Maurice making door for his house.  McMillan and Tolmie carpenters (pr Otter], for this place employed on board the Cadboro.

Friday 4 [November 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy snow.  Discontinued discharged the Otter in consequence.  John [Culltes?] services being no longer required his regular pay ceases this day.  Isbister, Pappley and Finlay raising stones for building  2^nd boiler seat. Thomas making pick handles. Hubles boring.  Cole B Winchman. Lazard, Ignace & Oteokorie pit head frame. Maurice Godin and Robillard roofing No. 4 back row.

Saturday 5 [November 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Nicholson, Palmer and Jones miners applied for their discharge alleging that arising to Mr. Gilmours inattention they could not keep their mine at Pemberton Encampment in working order. On due inquiry being made it appears that Mr. Gilmours only fault rests in his not being sufficiently strict in tasking them to a due performance of their duty on a second application they secured their discharge after requiring of them a certificate exculpating the company agents at Nanaimo from any blame in the due fulfillment of their part of the contract.

Sunday 6 [November 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  The miners who received their discharge yesterday left this day for Bellingham Bay.  Bernard [Pendre?] One of the Cadboro crew deserted this day supposed to have joined the miners who left this mining.

Monday 7 [November 1853]

Light breeze from SE with rain at intervals. 4 AM started steam engine.  Otter discharging potatoes.  Lazard fitting pulley wheel for winding apparatus of steam engine.  Thomas, Maurice, Godin, Robillard, Oteokories and Ignace building frames and Ritch, squaring. Cole B, assisting Lazard, Cole (a) hillsman.  Pemberton Encampment, coal operation at McGregors stopped by the great increase of water.  Miners and assistants employed enlarging the pit.  11AM the Otter sailed with Mr. Pemberton’s whole party surveying operations suspended for the season.  The feeding arrangements for the steam boiler being incomplete stopped the Engine and commenced laying down pipes for feeding the boiler from the water discharged by the Pit Pump.

Tuesday 8 [November 1853]

Do Do weather, heavy rain .  People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 9 [November 1853]

Strong breeze from SE heavy rain. Finished feed pump for boiler.  Started the engine and kept it going all night.  Maurice & Gang finished roofing No.4 house back row and commenced clearing for No. 6. Thomas is Gang building no. 5. Isbister & Gang  2^nd boiler seat.  Others as before. Water is heavy at Pemberton Encampment. Obliged to suspend coal operations there.

Thursday 10 [November 1853]

Light variable airs clear weather.  McGregor Cole and Findlay commenced excavating on a level with high water mark at the head of Commercial Inlet in the direction of Mr. Gilmours working of last Spring with the view of striking the coal further to the Dip and thereby establishing a good working.  Others employed as before.

Friday 11 [November 1853]

Do Do weather. Miners employed on the pit. Others employed as before.

Saturday 12 [November 1853]

Do Do weather.  Pit pumped out dry. Examined the mine. Found everything as it had been left.

Sunday 13 [November 1853]

Steady breeze from SE rain at intervals.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 14 [November 1853]

Do Do weather.  Lazard & Cole(B) fitting shingles for the pulley wheel of winding apparatus at pit head. Thomas, Robillard & Godin roofing No. 5 back row.  Maurice, Louis & Ignace fittling frame of  No. 6 back row.  Benjamin Rene who entered the HBCo Service on the 12^th squaring wood for McGregors mine. Cole(a) and Hubly assisting McGregor.  Bora bora, Ritch and Frances on wharf. Miners & assistants miners pit. McMillan wedging Cadboro’s main mast and roofing over quarter deck assisted by Tolmie.  Isbister, Pappley and Finlay building boiler seat.

Tuesday 15 [November 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with rain.  People employed as in yesterday.

Wednesday 16 [November 1853]

Light variable airs clear weather. Thomas & Gang finished roofing No. 5 B. Row. Commenced laying sills of another house 20 x 30 ft in row behind the Blksmiths premises. Isbister & Gang raising stones. Others employed as heretofore.

Thursday 17 [November 1853]

Steady breeze from SE light rain at intervals. Lazard laying down sills for planking pit head.  Isbister building in [?] Others employed as heretofore.  Broke [eccentric?] of steam engine and repaired it again.

Friday 18 [November 1853]

Steady breeze from S.E. fine weather.  6PM the Archimedes anchored off point.  Stuart bound from Victoria to this place for a cargo of coal.  Captain Stuart pilot.  People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 19 [November 1853]

Do wind Rain at intervals. The Archimedes hauled up at Commercial Inlet and commenced discharging.  People employed as heretofore.

Sunday 20 [November 1853]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 21 [November 1853]

Light variable airs. Cloudy weather. Captain Stuart left for Victoria.  Archimedes discharging ballast.  People employed building. Garrioch on the sick list.  Rene squaring wood for McGregors mine Commercial Inlet.

Tuesday 22 [November 1853]

Do wind w light rain. Commenced loading the Archimedes. Garrioch on board taking a/c (with Allard) of coals shipped. Thomas & Gang laid the foundation of house behind the blksmith. Others employed as heretofore.

Wednesday 23 [November 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy rain. Lazard employed planking pit head.  Ignace, Louis, Robillard, Godin & Thomas squaring.  Others employed as heretofore.  [written on top sideways]A NooNooas woman murdered by Seamilhluc while assisting to coal the Archimedes.

Thursday 24 [November 1853]

Do Do weather.  Archimedes loading. People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 25 [November 1853]

Do Do weather. Operations as on yesterday.  8 PM theAlicearrived from Victoriawith a cargo of lumber.

Saturday 26 [November 1853]

Do Do weather. 4P.M. finished loading the Archimedes.  The weather having been too rainy of late to proceed with the building of the boiler seat.  I ordered William Isbister to commence building a chimney in one of the new houses.  This he positively refused to do and being otherwise very insolent I sent him on board the Archimedes to work his passage on that vessel down to Victoria.

Sunday 27 [November 1853]

Do Do weather. The Archimedes hauled out. Mr. Sinclair shipped on board as pilot to Victoria.  The canoe which left with Captain Stuart returned from Victoria.

Monday 28 [November 1853]

Do Do weather. The Archimedes put to sea but was obliged to stand in again.   Discharge the “Alice”.  Made a regulation that all hands should breakfast before turning to and go to work at 7 AM.  All hands struck and did not turn to until 8 o’clock.  Lazard, Igance & Cluette  on the sick list.

Tuesday 29 [November 1853]

Do Do weather. Commenced loading theAlice. The Canadians came to work this morning at the proper hours. Orkney men very [unruly?] and obstinate.

Wednesday 30 [November 1853]

Do Do weather.  Finsihed loading the “Alice’.  Axemen employed flooring new house.  Orkney labourers employed on wharf.   Frances , Cole B entered as colliers.  Edgar, Garrioch, Lazard, Ignace, Rickets, Cluett, &Walkeron the sick list.

December

Thursday 1 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  The Alicehauled out.  Thomas & gang raised the frame of the 1^st house behind the forge.  Maurice & Gang laying the foundation of the second. Tolmie making [trucks?]  McMillan making pile driver.

Friday 2 [December 1853]

Light variable airs clear weather.  TheAlicesailed. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 3 [December 1853]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals. Noon the Otter arrived from Victoria with a cargo of lumber & fresh beef. Discharged the beef this afternoon. Quoton the Cadboro cook deserted the day before yesterday taking with him four blankets belonging to Kalach one of the Cadboro crew.  He was met at the [Nanooas?] by MaMatewas aNanaimowho cruelly murdered him for the property he had at the same time taking his brother’s sister & her child prisoners.  I sent Allard to MaMatewas with an injunction that if he did not return the prisoners I would take them from him by force.  The prisoners were given up and placed under the care of Mr. Allard.

Sunday 4 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 5 [December 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  Otter discharged lumber & iron and commenced coaling. Lazard, Ignace Weston, Rickets, Edgar, Francis, Cluett & Garrick on the sick list. Thomas, Louis, Godin, Robillard, Maurice, St Arnaud, Rene building. Findlay, Ritch, Pappley building chimneys.

Tuesday 6 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  Finished coaling the Otter. People employed as on yesterday.

 Wednesday 7 [December 1853]

Do Do weather. 9AM the Otter sailed.  2PM the Beaver arrived.  People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 8 [December 1853]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy rain throughout the day.  Louis, Robillard, Rene , St. Arnaud, & Godin wooding the  Steamer Beaver.  Others employed as on yesterday.

Friday 9 [December 1853]

Light variable airs cloudy morning clear afternoon. 11:30 Am the Beaver sailed for Victoria.  George Mitchell Blksmith leave to Victoria pr. Beaver. [Axe men?] building.

Saturday 10 [December 1853]

Steady breeze from NW clear weather.  People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 11 [December 1853]

Strong Breeze from SE with snow. The Honolulu Packet arrived fromBellinghamBay. Captain Grant on board as supercargo with cargo of lumber which that gentleman wished to exchange for a cargo of coals.

Monday 12 [December 1853]

Light variable airs, cloudy morning, clear afternoon. Commenced discharging the Honolulu Packet. Thomas, Maurice, Louis, Rene, St. Arnaud, Godin, &  Robillard building.  Ritch, Stove, Findlay & BoraBora, Pappley, building chimney. Lazard, Ignace, Rickets & Magnus on the sick list.  Weston raising clay for mining purposes.

Tuesday 13 [December 1853]

Steady breeze from NW hard frost in the morning, fine clear weather throughout.  Finished connecting the 2^nd boiler to the Engine.  Other operations as heretofore.

Wednesday 14 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  Finished discharging the Honolulu Packet and commenced shipping coals.  People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 15 [December 1853]

Calm and foggy. LoadingHonoluluPacket. Thomas, Louis flooring lower storey Bastion.  Robillard & Rene raising wood for wharf.  Others as yesterday.

Friday 16 [December 1853]

Calm and foggy throughout the day. The borers struck coal 20 inches and ended this evening in a bed of fire clay. Others operating as on yesterday.  Cote & Mitchell returned from Victoria.

Saturday 17 [December 1853]

Light variable airs and fine clear weather.  Finished loading the Honolulu Packet.  Operations as on yesterday. Coteand Mitchell much intoxicated and unfit for duty.

Sunday 18 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  Last night a disgraceful drunken brawl occurred in whichCote, Mitchell and Francois Satakaratas took the principal parts. Cote struck Maurice knocked him down and kicked him several times in the abdomen.  The man is now dangerously ill.

Monday 19 [December 1853]

Light variable airs and fine weather. Lazard & Ignace convalescent.  Commenced building engine house.  Stove, Bora bora, Findlay, & Pappley building chimneys. Frances [loading?] in place of Wiles raising stone for chimney building. Ritch & Weston also raising stones. Thomas, Louis, Robillard, Rene, Godin & St.Arnaud building. Tolmie fitting windows to houses.  McMillen pile driver.  Garrick filling inside of Blksmith house.  Rickets and Cluett on the sick list. Hubly at work on the coal.  Magnus Edgar and Cole (A) assisting McGregor.  Others miners etc. as usual. Maurice dangerously ill.  Took his deposition in presence of Adam Horne as to the ocurrences of Saturday [?] night.

Tuesday 20 [December 1853]

People employed as on yesterday. Fine weather throughout the day.

Wednesday 21 [December 1853]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 22 [December 1853]

Light air from SE with heavy snow throughout the day.  Yesterday William Weston refused to perform some duty underground which Mr. Gilmour required him to do.  He is in the mean time struck off the list of assistant miners and works as labourer.  Maurice very ill.

Friday 23 [December 1853]

Hard frost light breeze from southward cloudy at intervals. Midnight Joseph Maurice departed this life. Appointed Mr. Baillie [Bayley] coroner to inquire into the cause of Maurice’s death.  Dr. Johnstone held a post mortem examination on the body.  Lazard and Ignace making coffin.  Others employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 24 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  The inquest on Maurice having been postponed yesterday. [?] night was this morning continued.  The evidence deduced from the examination of the witnesses yesterday appeared to confirm the generally received opinion that he had died from the effects of ill treatment received at the hands of Cote on the night of the 17^th.  Allard on the part of Cote objected to there being no Canadian [French Canadien?] on the jury of yesterday. A fresh jury was accordingly empanelled today consisting of six Canadian and six Europeans who having examined the several witnesses and medical officer brought the following verdict that Joseph Maurice died from inflammation of the bowels but that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that this was

Saturday 24 [December 1853]

[Continued] caused by any ill treatment he may have received from Cote or others. The mortal remains of Maurice were this day interred.  His funeral was attended by nearly the whole establishment. The burial service of the Church of England was read over his remains.

Sunday 25 [December 1853]

Christmas Day. & Sunday. Mr. Baillie [Bayley] left for Victoriain a canoe on leave. George Cook also left for Victoria on leave.  Express Canoe returned.

Monday 26 [December 1853]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals. Gave the people a holiday.

Tuesday 27 [December 1853]

Do Do weather. McMillan finished the pile driver.  Lazard & Ignace building engine house.  Thomas & Oteokorie finishing gable ends of new house.  Tolmie fitting doors and windows to new house.  Robillard, Godin, Rene St. Arnaud flooring and ceiling.  Ritch, Stove, Finlay, Papaley, Wiley, Weston & Borabora building chimneys.Francescooking.  Edgar, & Cote (A) assisting McGregor.  Others as before.

Wednesday 28 [December 1853]

Hard frost, cloudy at intervals. People employed as on yesterday afternoon snow.

Thursday 29 [December 1853]

Light variable airs clear weather people employed as on yesterday.

Friday 30 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as yesterday.

Saturday 31 [December 1853]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Mr. Baillie’s [Bayley] canoe returned from Victoria.

1854

January

Sunday I [January 1854 ]

New Years Day.Light breeze from SE. Cloudy weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 2 [January 1854]

Do Wind with heavy rain. Gave a holiday to all hands today. No occurrence of importance. According to instructions received pr Saturday’s canoe.  Francois K. Cote was this day bound over in two [?] vis Allard & McMillan of L50 each that he would appear to answer any charge that may be brought against him regarding the cause of Joseph Maurice’s death.

Tuesday 3 [January 1854]

Light breeze from SE fine clear weather Lazard and Ignace engine house.  Thomas & Oteokorie partitions new houses. Wiles, Weston, Edgar & Cole (A) McGregors mine in two shifts. Ritch, Stove, Papley & Findlay chimneys. Tolmie fitting doors & windows to new houses. McMillan raising timbers for [beams?]. Others employed as heretofore.

Wednesday 4 [January, 1854]

Do do weather hard frost. Robillard, Godin & St. Arnaud commenced dividing the new house purchased from McGregor into four rooms.  Others employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 5 [January, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE with hard frost. Nanaimo harbour covered with ice all over the mine at the head of Commercial Inlet Struck a quick sand which becomes so troublesome as to make it necessary to keep the work going day and night by three shifts.  Miners.  Chimney builders employed quarrying stones.

Friday 6 [January, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy snow. Operations as on yesterday.

Saturday 7 [January, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE with rain.  2 PM the Otter arrived; anchored inside of Tide-staff point. Commercial Inlet and the greater part of the harbour being frozen she could not come any nearer. Mr. Baillie, George Cook and John Humphrey arrived pr. Otter.

Sunday 8 [January, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with very heavy rain throughout the day. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 9 [January, 1854]

Light breeze from WE fine clear weather.  The “Otter” steamer in hauled alongside the Cadboro and discharged into the vessel.  Afternoon commenced coaling.  Lazard, Igance, Thomas, Tolmie, Oteokorie, Godin, Robilliard employed finishing new houses.  McMillan, St. Arnaud & Rene raising lumber for [sc--?] Blksmith, Linklater, Forge, McGregor, Weston, Wiles, Edgar, Cole (A) Cole (B) Hubly, Dunsmuir & Adam French employed in three shifts on mine at head of Commercial Inlet. Preparatory to leaving it for the present as owing to the great increase of water, the progress of the mine is much impeded.  Ritch, Stove, Pappley and Finlay building chimneys. Frances [Coulting?] Jonathan Elliott, Samuel Rickets [sic lit?]. Others employed in the mines. Boro bora caulking new houses with moss.

Tuesday 10 [January, 1854]

Light variable airs with rain.  Otter coaling.  Landed sugar from “Cadboro”.  People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 11 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather.  John McGregor, Edgar, Cole IA) opening out Mr. Gilmour’s mine of last summer at the head of Commercial Inlet.  Said mine having caved in at the entrance.  Weston & Wiles commenced searching for the crop of the coal half way between Mr. Gilmour’s mine and the beach.  Other miners & assistant miners employed on the coal. Stove & Ritch coaling the “Otter.” James Francis refused duty on the plea that he was promised assistant miners wages at Victoria last spring, from my not having received any official notification of the same I could not guarantee that amount of wages to him at present, on my promising to refer the matter to head quarters he returned to his duty.  Others employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 12 [January, 1854]

Strong breeze from southward and eastward, afternoon hail and snow.  “Otter” finished coaling, “Rose “ brig arrived from Victoria.  Chartered by the HB Co to take a cargo of coals toSan Francisco. People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 13 [January, 1854]

Light variable airs clear weather with frost. The “Otter” sailed. [Mrs. Marion Bale ?], and Bora bora passengers per the Otter. Godon, Robilliard, St. Arnaud, and Rene squaring beams [steeping?] and wall plates for new houses.  Wiles entered as coal miner.  Others employed as before.

Saturday 14 [January, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE fine clear weather.  The “Rose” discharging ballast. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 15 [January, 1854]

Strong breeze from NE clear weather and hard frost.  No occurrences of importance.

Monday 16 [January, 1854]

Light variable airs hard frost. Finished discharging the “Rose” and commenced shipping coals onboard that vessel. McMillan building scow.  Tolmie, Lazard, Thomas, Ignace, Garrick & Oteokorie fitting windows, bedsteads & Co to new houses.  Rene, Godin, St. Arnaud, & Robilliard squaring timber for building.  Ritch, Pappley & Finlay shipping coals. Stove, Stewards, miners & assistants as usual.

Tuesday 17 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather. Oteokorie & Ignace cutting firewood.  Others as on yesterday.

Wednesday 18 [January, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE severe frost.  Indians crossing Commercial Inlet on the ice. Finlay, Pappley & Ritch quarrying stones. Cote and Weston shipping coals.  Others as on yesterday.

Thursday 19 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as yesterday. No occurrences of importance excepting the arrival of the Express Canoe from Victoria.

Friday 20 [January, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy snow throughout the day.  Weather too blustery to continue coaling the Rose.  People employed cutting firewood and fitting new houses in-doors.

Saturday 21[January, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE hard frost. Light snow at intervals. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 22 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 23 [January, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. Lazard & Garrick fitting bedsteads to new houses. Thomas making door-steps for Do. Tolmie doors and windows for Do. Ignace Sick list.  Louis Oleokorie cutting firewood.  Robilliard, St. Arnaud, Rene, Godin, Cole [A) Weston, Ritch, Pappley & Finlay & Magnus Edgar shipping coals on board the Rose.  McMillan building scow.

Tuesday 24 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday carrying coals to the Rose on the ice which in now four inches thick.

Wednesday 25 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather.  Slight indications of a thaw. People employed.  George Henham who has along filled the situation of Hillsman. Refused to obey some [lifting?] order given him by Mr. Gilmour on the plea that it was after hours.  This occurred at 2.30 PM as he had not been on duty longer than 7 hours.  I considered this breach of duty unwarrantable on his part and appointed Magnus Edgar Hillsman in his stead having previously informed George Henham that he should no longer be employed in that capacity.

Thursday 26 [January, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with snow and slight thaw. George Henham employed in coaling. Gang Others as before.  The Archimedes arrived from Victoria.

Friday 27 [January, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE with heavy rain throughout the day. Coal gang clearing away a passage through the ice from the coal wharf to the Rose. Commenced shipping coals with canoes. Archimedes discharging ballast.

Saturday 28 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather heavy rain throughout the day. Coal gang at work until Sunset.

Sunday 29 [January, 1854]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals. No occurrences of importance.

Monday 30 [January, 1854]

Do Do weather finished loading the Brig Rose. Her cargo of coals now amounting to 300 tons, 19 8/112 cwt  [100 weight is in fact 112 lbs] The Archimedes finished discharging ballast and commenced coaling.  Godin, St. Arnaud, Ritch, Weston & Cole, Coal gang.  Finlay, Pappley, Rene, & Robilliard building chimneys. Thomas, Garrick, & Tolmie new houses.  McMillan building scow. Lazard finishing the Bastion roof. Oteokorie & Ignace cutting firewood. Cote (B) & Hubly on the sick list.

Tuesday 31 [January, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  8AM Mr. Sinclair joined the Rose as pilot when that vessel got underweigh for Victoria.  The Archimedes shipped 60 tons of coals today.  St. Arnaud on the sick list. People employed as on yesterday.

February

Wednesday 1 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs from the southward rain at intervals. People employed as on yesterday. Finlay & Garrick on the sick list.

Thursday 2 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather.  Noon finished loading the Archimedes. Captain Robertson of the Archimedes was very turbulent and quarrelsome during the weighing of the Bbls of coals for an average and subsequently gave much trouble in giving in the receipt.  Dispatched a canoe to Victoriawith the receipt for the Archimedes cargo. People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 3 [February, 1854]

Strong Breeze from the southward and westward. 3PM athe Archimedes sailed.  The Express dispatched on Tuesday returned today from Victoria. Findlayconvalescent building chimneys.  St. Arnaud employed with Lazard matting the inside of the new houses.  

Saturday 4 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather frosty nights.  Despatched an Indian to the large lake at the back or inland ofDepartureBayto report on the thickness of the ice on thatLakehe returned in the afternoon with a measure of 15 inches which he maintains is the true thickness of the ice there. Sent Lazard and Thomas to ascertain the truth of the Indians report.

Sunday 5 [February, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 6 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs clear weather. Lazard and Thomas did not return from their Excursion to the lake this morning having fallen in with a herd of Elk of which they succeeded in shooting two. People employed building chimneys and finishing new houses.  PM rain.

Tuesday 7 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals.  The Barque Matilda Captain [Semprell?] arrived from Victoria. Chartered to carry a full cargo of coals toSan Franciscoon a/c the HBCo. Mr. Sinclair arrived in her as pilot. Rene & Robilliard finished the last of the three chimneys new houses back row.  The Matilda discharging Ballast. Express canoes returned from Victoria.

Wednesday 8 [February, 1854]

Do Do weather,  Rene, Robillard, & St. Arnaud squaring wood for foundation of store. Thomas sick list.  Lazard matting insides new houses. Louis & Ignace cutting wood.  Others building chimneys. PM The Matilda commenced coaling.

Thursday 9 [February, 1854]

Light breeze from SE with light rain,Cote& Francis & St. Arnaud coaling the Matilda. Thomas making pick handles. Garrock & Lazard matting. Others on chimneys.

Friday 10 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs clear at intervals.  Tolmie partitioning new houses. Thomas making handles. Others as on yesterday.

Saturday 11 [February, 1854]

Strong breeze from SW snow at intervals. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 12 [February, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy rain.

Monday 13 [February, 1854]

Strong Breeze from NW clear weather frost in the shade. Lazard commenced laying the foundation of the new store with Ignace.  Thomas making pick handles Janis. Rene & Robilliard squaring. St. Arnaud, Pappley Cole(A) & Francis coaling the Matilida. McMillan & Godin building scow.  Tolmie making doors & windows for new houses. Finlay & Ritch raising stones for chimney building Garnock matting new houses.

Tuesday14 [February, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE heavy snow throughout the day. Thomas, Louis & Robilliard building a house 30 x 20 feet. Others employed as on yesterday. Coaling Matilda etc.

Wednesday 15 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs clear at intervals Shipped the last of our coal on board the Matilda. Her cargo not completed. People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 16 [February, 1854]

Do Do weather. Cole (a) & Francis assisting at store.  Pappley on the sick list.  Others as on yesterday.

Friday 17 [February, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Shipped yesterday’s and today’s coals on board the Matilda. St. Arnaud assisting at store. Others as on yesterday.

Saturday 18 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs clear weather.  Completed the Matilda’s cargo. Despatched a canoe to Victoria with receipts and invoices.  The Matilda headed out toward Tidestaff Point.

Sunday 19 [February, 1854]

Light breeze from SE with rain. 11 AM the Matilda sailed.  Mr. Sinclair joined her as Pilot to Victoria.

Monday 20 [February, 1854]

Do Do wind Light rain at intervals. Lazard, Ignace,St.Arnaud, Cole (a) Francis & Pappley.  Laying foundation for store 40 x 25 feet. Thomas, Louis,  Rene & Robilliard building a dwelling house 30 x 20 ft. Tolmie & Garrick finishing new houses. McMillan w[ith] Godin building scow. Others as usual.

Tuesday 21 [February, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE afternoon light rain. People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 22 [February, 1854]

Light breeze from SE with light rain throughout the day. People employed as on yesterday.  This afternoon Cole(A) and Francis thought proper to leave their work before the usual time and upon being tasked for that improper proceeding. Cole was very insolent and as I understand said that I might charge the days pay to him and be [d---d?].

Thursday 23 [February, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE. Foggy morning afternoon rain. This morning called Cole to a/c for the improper expression I understood he had made us of yesterday which he denied having said.  After a short parley I informed him and Francis that as they could not stand a little wet their services were no longer useful at Nanaimo as assistant miners and instructed them to be ready to leave this place for Victoria by tomorrow morning.  Others employed as on yesterday.  Express canoe returned from Victoria.  Private express returned from Ft.Rupert.

Friday 24 [February, 1854]

Light air from SE cloudy weather Cole (A) and Francis sent to Victoria pr. canoe. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 25 [February, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE with heavy rain.  People employed as yesterday.

Sunday 26 [February, 1854]

Light breeze from SE rain at intervals.  No occurrences of importance.

Monday 27 [February, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. People employed as heretofore.

Tuesday 28 [February, 1854]

Light breeze from SE light rain during the afternoon. Lazard & Gang on store. Thomas & Gang building houses.  Others as usual.

March

Wednesday 1 [March, 1854]

Steady breeze from northward fine clear weather afternoon wind east Light rain. 20 Canoes of Bilbalas called alongside on their way to Victoria. People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 2 [March, 1854]

Steady breeze from NWS fine clear weather. Canoe returned from Victoria with advice that the Honolulu Packet was on her way to this place for coals. People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 3 [March, 1854]

Light breeze from Southward and eastward. Cloudy at intervals. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 4 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather. Afternoon light rain.  People employed as heretofore. Set the second pulley wheel on the pithead in its proper place.

Sunday 5 [March, 1854]

Light variable airs. Clear weather. The Honolulu Packet arrived.

Monday 6 [March, 1854]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals.  The Honolulu Packet hauled alongside the Coal Wharf and commenced discharging ballast. Lazard and Ignace [Grooming ?] posts for No. 1. Stove. Pappley and Oteakorie with four Indians excavating for foundation of  Do. Thomas, St. Arnaud, Rene & Robilliard building houses. McMillan with Godin building scow. Thomas, Tolmie & Garrick fitting new houses. Finlay & Ritch quarrying stones. Mitchell & Linklater Blksmith shop. Miners & assistants as usual.

Tuesday 7 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather finished discharging the Honolulu Packet and commenced loading her with coal.  People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 8[March, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE the crew of the Honolulu Packet having neglected to haul her off at high water last night.  She lay aground all the day. The day tide being low.

Thursday 9 [March, 1854]

Last night hauled off the Honolulu Packet with the assistance of Allard and some Indians. Continued loading her today. This evening her cargo amounted to 96 tons. Gave instructions to Mr. Gilmour to ship 4 tons more.  The next morning took a receipt from Capt. Grant for 100 tons and made arrangements for leaving for Victoria tomorrow on important business connected with this place.

Friday 10 [March, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. Started for Victoria.

Friday 17 [March, 1854]

Returned from Victoria during my absence. A good deal of drunkenness had occurred at this place in consequence of Captain Parker of the Honolulu Packet having sold a quantity of brandy here immediately after my departure. Thomas & Gang had finished one house.  Lazard & gang had laid the foundation of the new store. McMillan had nearly finished the scow.  St. Arnaud who accompanied me to Victoriawas there transferred to the “Steamer Beaver”. Mr. Pemberton with the rest of the surveying Department accompanied me back to Nanaimo.

Saturday 18 [March, 1854]

Strong Breeze from NW fine clear weather. People employed at their usual occupations.

Sunday 19 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 20 [March, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. Lazard & gang building store. Rene squaring wood for mine at [Ommitted?] Creek. Godin with seven Indians raising piles etc. for wharf.  Robillard squaring for dwelling houses.  Thomas & Cluett on the Sick List.  McGregor, Elliott & Cook commenced on mine at [Ommitted?] Creek.

Tuesday 21[March, 1854]

Strong breeze from NW fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday. Garrich & Tolmie fitting doors windows etc. to new houses. Others as on yesterday.

Wednesday 22 [March., 1854]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday. Thomas convalescent. Commenced building a new dwelling house 30 x 20 ft. A Quakyold Canoe arrived. No news.

Thursday 23 [March, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE fine clear weather. People employed as on yesterday. FourTongascanoes arrived from Victoria on their way home. Walker, Cole B and Henham off duty, intoxicated.

Friday 24 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  The  Quakyolth Canoe which arrived on Wednesday left fo rVictoria. Despatched an express canoe to Victoria.  Mr. Pearse left by her on the Sick List.  Dunsmuir & the two Frenchies off duty.

Saturday 25 [March, 1854]

Light breeze from SE fine clear weather. Miners all at work excepting Cluett on the sick list.

Sunday 26 [March, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE cloudy at intervals.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 27 [March, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Lazard, Oteokorie, Ignace building new store. Thomas, Robilliard & Rene building dwelling houses.  Tolmie raising wood for coal wagons.  McMillan caulking scow.  Ritch, Pappley, & Finlay making drain to lead fresh water from the Salt Spring. McGregor & two men mine at [Omitted Creek?]. Rickets painting doors and windows of new houses.  Garrick flooring new houses. Miners & others as usual.

Tuesday 28 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Hired Pierre Salakorata as steward of the Cadboro at the rate of 1 £ Sterling per month in lieu of Stove who was set to work plastering chimneys.

Wednesday 29 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday. Express Canoe returned from Victoria with Mr. Newton in place of Mr. Pearse. Archibald French hurt in his right eye by the explosion of a blast before he was well clear.

Thursday 30 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather.  Ritch, Papley and Finlay quarrying stones. Others employed as yesterday.

Friday 31 [March, 1854]

Do Do weather.  Despatched a canoe to Victoria.  People employed as on yesterday. A number of Tongas Indians arrived.

April

Saturday 1 [April, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy rain.  Ritch, Papley & Finlay plastering new houses.  Others employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 2 [April, 1854]

Light breeze from SE Cloudy at intervals.  10 PM Canoe returned from Victoria with a/c of the Otters arrival at that place.

Monday 3 [April, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with heavy rain.  People employed variously indoors flooring plastering etc. A great deal of intoxication apparent among all hands owing to the illicit sale of spirituous liquors by Dr. Johnstone.

Tuesday 4 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs light rain at intervals. Lazard, Rene, Finlay, Dunsmuir on the sick list in consequence of over indulgence in spirituous liquors. Walkergot his hand hurt by the falling in of a mass of coal.  Ritch & Pappley quarrying.  Oteukorie, Thomas, Ignace & Robiliard building.  Stove & Rickets coal wharf. ,

Wednesday 5 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear W. Last night John Palmer and C. Bachelor arrived from Bellingham Bay in quest of employment.  John Palmer accepted situation of miner at 4/6 pr ton.  C. Bachelor took a contract for 20 M shingles at $3.00 p. M.  Robilliard & Rene on the sick list. Others employed as on yesterday.

 Thursday 6 [April, 1854]

Strong breeze from NW fine clear W. 3 P.M. the Otter arrived from Victoria with an invoice of goods for this place.  People employed as on yesterday.  4 Miners pr. Otter from California. 

Friday 7 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear W.  Otter hauled alongside the Cadboro.  Discharged into that vessel and took in 27 tons coals. People employed as on yesterday.  Launched the scow.

Saturday 8 [April, 1854]

Light breeze from S.E.  Morning fair.  Afternoon overcast. 11h30 AM the Otter sailed for Fort Rupert.  People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 9 [April, 1854]

Do Do weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 10 [April, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE rain at intervals.  Lazard, Louis & Ignace, Stove.  Ritch, Pappley, Thomas, Robilliard, Finlay and Rickets building store.  Others as usual.  New miners on the coal.

Tuesday 11 [April, 1854]

Light Variable airs Cloudy at intervals.  Porton one of the new miners may at his own request employed today at the Omitted Creek mine at the rate of pay and on the terms of assistant miner.  He states that he has never worked in a Coal mine. . 3:30 p.m. The Steamer Beaver arrived from Cowechin with a cargo of potatoes for this place.

Wednesday 12 [April, 1854]

Light breeze from SE with heavy rain.  Landed 100 bushels of potatoes. [.30?] PM the Rose arrived from Victoria.  Chartered for coal & with a cargo of flour for this place.  Hauled alongside the Cadboro and commenced discharging into her.  Stove employed in the scow landing potatoes from the Beaver.  Pappley stowing flour in the Cad’s hold. Others employed as previously.

Thursday 13 [April, 1854]

Do Do weather. Landed 200 bushels of potatoes from the Beaver.  Finished discharging flour from the Rose into the Cad’s. People employed as yesterday.

Friday 14 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather.5AM the Beaver sailed for Victoria.  The Rose hauled off and discharged the remainder of her cargo and ballast. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 15 [April, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE fine clear weather. 7:30 AM the Otter arrived from Fort Rupert with a cargo of shingles.  Lumber & window sashes.  Discharged her cargo. Shipped 30 tons of coals on board of the Rose.

Sunday 16 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs from Eastward fine clear.  Complaint was made to me this morning that Francais Satakoroto was drunk and disorderly and had outrageously assaulted Ignace Korchuana. I immediately took measures to get Satakoroto and put in confinement on Board of the Otter to be sent to Victoria for trial

Monday 17 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs from the Southward and eastward.  Cloudy at intervals. Finished coaling the Otter. Stove, Pappley, Ritch & Porton coaling the Rose. McMillan & Robillard [railroad?]. Tolmie coal wagons. Oneorto, Oteokoire, Kauchuana, Sagoyawatha, Rene, Dunsmuir,Easton, Archibald French intoxicated and unfit for duty. Finlay on the Sick list. Garick & Rickets building houses. Blksmith, and others as heretofore. Released Francais Satakarata after binding in three securities of $50.00 each to keep the peace for the next two months.

Tuesday 18 [April, 1954]

Steady breeze from SE cloudy at intervals. 7AM the Otter sailed.  Garrick left pr. Otter for Victoria. Rickets also left on leave.  John McGregor and Humphries Do. Express canoe returned from Victoria bringing intelligence of the arrival of the Calinda at that place.  Onearta, Kaneuana and Easton returned to duty. Others as on yesterday.

Wednesday 19 [April, 1854]

Do Do weather with rain. Loading Rose.  Robilliard intoxicated off duty. Oeokorie, Rene, French and Dunsmuir returned to occupation.  Sagoyawata and Finlay on the sick list.  Ritch do.  Lazard and gang building store.

Thursday 20 [April, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Finlay & Robilliard convalescent.  Finlay coaling the Rose.  Robilliard building store.  Others as yesterday.

Friday 21 [April, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE rain at intervals.  Oteokiore and Finlay on the sick list. Sagoyawatha Do. Karchuana fell with an axe on his shoulders cutting the leaders [the word tendons is written above this word in a different hand] of his right arm. Bad case. People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 22 [April, 1854]

Light breeze from SE Clear weather.  Humphries & Rickets returned from Victoria by canoe. Sagaoyawawatha convalescent. Sharpening saws and making pick handles.  Others employed as yesterday.

Sunday 23 [April, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE Cloudy at intervals.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 24 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs from SE with rain at intervals.  Noon finished coaling the Rose.  Lazard, Thomas, Louis, Robilliard building stove.  Rickets, Stove, Porton, Finlay & Pappley coal wharf.  McMillan, Rene, railroad. Tolmie coal wagons.  Others as usual.  Godin squaring wood for saw mill frame. Karehuana, Ritch sick list.  Despatched a canoe to Victoria.

Tuesday 25 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs all round.  The compass fine clear weather. 5:30 AM the Rose sailed.  Rickets & Stove plastering houses.  Finlay & Pappley quarrying stones. Cooke & Porton repairing boiler seat.  Others as heretofore.

Wednesday 26 [April, 1854]

Light breeze from NE clear weather.  Throughout the day people employed as on yesterday.  Louis Oteokorie on the sick list.

Thursday 27 [April, 1854]

Do Do weather.  Steamer Beaver arrived from Victoria.  Lazard, Robilliard and Rickets shingling new store.  Godin squaring wood for saw mill. Others as on yesterday.  George McKenzie with two [S.T.’s] arrived from the Beaver.  Tolmie and [S.T.’s] raising oak fro Saw Mill.

Friday 28 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs Light rain at intervals.  Steamer landed iron and other cargo.  People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 29 [April, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE with rain 1 PM the Steamer Beaver sailed for the northward.  Benjamin Rene finished his contract of service at this place.

Sunday 30 [April, 1854]

Light variable airs from the northward and eastward cloudy at intervals.

May  

Monday 1 [May, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE with rain. Tolmie and two Sandwich Islanders raising Oak for saw mill machinery. Lazard and Rickets finishing roof of store. Sagoyawatha sick list. Oteokoni do Godin squaring wood for saw mill frame. Ritch, Pappley & Finley clearing away for foundation of Saw Mill. .McMillan & Robilliard Railroad Store plastering houses. Miners and assistant miners as usual. John McGregor had an altercation with Mr. Gilmour at [Omitted Creek?].  The former refused to work under the orders of the latter.

Tuesday 2 [May, 1854]

Light variable airs rain at intervals. Oteokorie filling the walls of the store. Others as on yesterday.  Tolmie & Gang under Mr. McKenzie brought in the oak for the mill machinery and commenced making the water wheel.  Others as on Yesterday.

Wednesday 3 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather. Sagoyawatha employed on store.  Others as on yesterday.

Thursday 4 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather.  Finlay employed on store. Others as on yesterday.  The Barque Matilda Captain Lamprelle arrived from San Francisco [sic]. Chartered to take a full cargo of coals for the HBCo.

Friday 5 [May, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather.  The master of the Matilda reported his vessel ready to receive cargo. The Otter arrived from Victoria with His Excellency Gov Douglas and Messrs Cameron and Golledge passengers also Mr. Work. Assistant miner and Leon Lebine axe man on Contract. Ritch and Pappley employed on store. Others as on Yesterday.

Saturday 6 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather. People employed as on Yesterday. His Excellency employed throughout the day examining the various work about the Establishment.

Sunday 7 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 8 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather. Afternoon cloudy.  Lazard employed on store.  Linklater refused to work in the forge.  Replaced by Stove, Ritch & Pappley & Finlay coaling the Matilda.  Rickets plastering houses.  Sagoyawatha, Oteokorie & Robilliard saw mill.  Others as heretofore. Cote was to-day tried for the man slaughter of Joseph Maurice and acquitted.

Tuesday 9 [May, 1854]

5:30 AM. The Otter sailed with the Gov & Suite. Messrs. Pemberton & Newton with rest of the surveying department. Thomas Cote (B) transferred the first day of this month to the steamer Beaver & Benjamin Rene, William Isbister received on this Establishment this date. [?] McMillan on the sick list.  Others employed as on yesterday.  A Boat arrived from Pt. Roberts.

Wednesday 10 [May, 1854]

Isbister & Finlay building store–house.  Others employed as on yesterday.  Canoe arrived from Victoria with Onessime [?] Varrieur.

Thursday 11 [May, 1854]

Steady breeze from northward fine clear weather.  A boat arrived from Bellingham Bay.  Charles Humphries left for Victoria.   Received information that the boat which arrived here on the 9^th had landed some contraband spirits at Tide-staff point. Sent Lazard, Onearsta and Louis Oteokorie to reconnoiter.  People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 12 [May, 1854]

Light variable airs with rain at intervals.  Lazard & Louis returned after a fruitless for the contra-band spirits of yesterday.  People employed as yesterday.

Saturday 13 [May, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather throughout the day.  People employed as on yesterday.  George Cook deserted.

Sunday 14 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

 Monday 15 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather.  Tolmie, Sagoyawatha, Robilliard, Oteokorie & Two S.I.[Sandwich Islanders?] building saw mill under Mr. McKenzie.  Lazard & Linklater finishing new store.  Pappley shipping coals. Isbister & Finlay building stone house. Cluett, Porton, Ignace & Ritch on the sick list.  McGregor & Elliott mill lead. Work on the sick list.  Others miners etc. as usual.

Tuesday 16 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday.

Wednesday 17 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  The Honolulu Packet arrived from Victoria yesterday afternoon.  The Otter arrived here this morning at 8AM. Discharged some cargo for this place.  Took in [?] tons of coals and sailed again at 3:30 PM for the NW Coast.

Thursday 18 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 19 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 20 [May, 1854]

Steady breeze from NE fine clear weather.  The Matilda completed her cargo of coals to-day amounting to 354 tons.  Dispatched a canoe to Victoria with Invoice and Receipt for the same.

Sunday 21 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather. 9:30 am the Matilda sailed.

Monday 22 [May, 1854]

Light variable airs clear weather.  Lazard & Igance fitting windows to new store.  Thomas, Louis, Robilliard, Tolmie and Two SI’s building saw mill. McMillan on the sick list. Godin building houses. Linklater [stockades?] round the store. Ritch sick list.  Rickets plastering dwelling houses.  Isbister and Finlay building stone houses. Malcolm hauling out squared timber. Dunsmuir, Henham & Work returned to mine on [Omitted Creek?].  McGregor and Elliiott mill lead. Others as usual.

Tuesday 23[May, 1854]

Light airs from SE cloudy at intervals.  People employed as usual. 

 Wednesday 24 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather. People employed as on yesterday. The Honolulu Packet hauled alongside the coal wharf and discharged. McMillan returned to work assisted by Godin on wharf.  Others as yesterday.

Thursday 25 [May, 1854]

Do Do weather with light rain at intervals.  People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 26 [May, 1854]

Do Do Weather. At 2:30 A.M. Devine, Porton,Easton& Palmer attempted to desert but were prevented. At 1:30 P.M. 10 Billabla Canoes came alongside on their way north from Victoria. 6 Tongas canoes passed the Harbour. A number of Tatakas who arrived here yesterday with Thomas Ouamtamy hearing a report that their village had been sacked by the Bilballas on their way up.  Opened fire on the Bilballas which the latter promptly returned.  In less than five minutes Commercial Inlet was covered with war canoes .  The firing continued until the Bilballas were well clear of the harbour. Two of them were shot by the first volley from the Cowechins.  They were afterwards chased by the latter without any important results. 6:30 P.M. A fracas occurred between the miners and the Quakyohs assistants. Devine assaulted an Indian for which he as fined five shillings. People employed as on Yesterday.

Saturday 27 [May, 1854]

Steady breeze from NW fine clear weather. Express canoe returned from Victoria. People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 28 [May, 1854]

Do Do Weather.  Last night Devine, Porton & Palmer deserted 2:30. Mr. Sinclair arrived from Victoria.

Monday 29 [May, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. The Honolulu Packet taking in Coals.  A number of Tongas canoes landed on Tide-staff Point last night but decamped about midnight they having become alarmed at our own discharging our cannon and small army which we were induced to do in consequence of advices from His Excellency the Gov. that the Tongas or Cape Fox Indians had committed some depredations in the Victoria District and had likewise declared their intention of revenging some injuries done to their tribe by the Americans on all straggling white men and Indians that should happen to be in their route home. Lazard flooring store. Godin & Linklater pickelling in. Do Isbister.  Finlay building stone house. Rickets plastering new houses. Pappley coaling the H. Packet. Oteokorie, Sagoyawatha, Robilliard, Kanome & Tahua sawmill.  McGregor & Elliott mill lead.  Miners and assistants as usual. A Tongas canoe put in this morning and left immediately.

 Tuesday 30 [May, 1854]

Do Do Weather.  Two Tongas Canoes touched here this morning but left without landing. People employed as yesterday.  Tolmie on Mill machinery. McMillan, Ritch & Cluett on the Sick List.

Wednesday 31 [May, 1854 ]

Do Do weather cloudy at intervals. H. Packet finished coaling have taken in 87 tons.

June

Thursday 1 [June, 1854]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals.  People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 2 [June, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.

Saturday 3 [June, 1854]

Light breeze from S.E. Clear weather.  Mr. McKay left for Victoria. Isbister, Linklater, Lazard & Kanome also left on leave of absence. Mr. Sinclair left in charge of Nanaimo.

[No record until the 15 June]

Thursday 15 [June, 1854]

Light variable airs rain at intervals. Mr. McKay returned from Victoria, Isbister and Linklater  returned last week.  Lazard, Kimo & Balua arrived today from Victoria. Wiles,Hamilton, Hubly,Easton, Henham, & McMillan on the sick list.  Great complaints of foul air in the mine. Only one man at work on the coals. 

Friday 16 [June, 1854 ]

Do Do weather. Lazard finishing store. Linklater & Godin pickets [round?] do. Isbister & Finlay stone house .  Others employed on saw mill. Allard left for Victoria on leave of absence.

Saturday 17 [June, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE with rain.  People employed as on yesterday. Sewit, Tche-whe-tum’s son shot a Comox on a/c of some trivial dispute about a cap.

Sunday 18 [June, 1854]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 19 [June, 1854]

Light variable from SE light rain at intervals.  Lazard employed on store.  Tolmie, Oteokories, Robillard, Sagoyawathera, Balau, Kahua?, Linklater, Papley & Godin saw mill. Isbister & Finlay building stone house.  Adam French, Elliott and Cluett commenced No. 2 pit on the S.E. side of Commercial Inlet opposite No. 1 pit.  Dunsmuir, Archibald French, Work, Henham and four Indians on two shifts on the mine at Omitted Creek .Hamilton, Easton, Hubly, Wiles and McMillan on the sick list.  Commenced discharging the Cadboro. McGregor with natives raising coals on Newcastle Island. Ignace squaring.

Tuesday 20 [June, 1854] 

Do Do weather. Lazard employed on saw mill.  Others as on yesterday.  Blksmith on the sick list. Stove saw mill. Finished discharging provisions from Cadboro.

Wednesday 21 [June, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE rain at intervals. People employed as on yesterday.  Blskmith convalescent employed with Stove on the forege. Kimo coaling on board the Cadboro.

Thursday 22 [June, 1854]

Light variable airs cloudy at intervals.  People employed as on yesterday.

Friday 23 [June, 1854]

Do Do weather. Discharged the trade goods from the Cadboro.  Wiles convalescent.

Saturday 24 [June, 1854]

Steady breeze from SE with rain.  People employed as on yesterday.

Sunday 25 [June, 1854]

Do Do weather. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 26 [June, 1854]

Light variable airs rain at intervals. Lazard employed on the store. Sagoyawatha, Oteokorie, Robillard, Tolmie, Balua, Kahua, saw mill. Godin squaring for No 2 pit. Others employed as heretofore.

Tuesday 27 [June, 1854]

Do Do weather.  People employed as on yesterday.  Cadboro hauled up Commercial Inlet and laid aground for repairs. 3.P.M. The Otter arrived from Victoria with His Excellency Gov. Douglas & Family. Messrs. Cameron, Stuart & Golledge passengers. Hamilton & Easton deserted. 

Wednesday 28 [June, 1854]

Light variable airs fine clear weather. Otter discharging and taking in coal. People employed as on yesterday.

Thursday 29 [June, 1854]

Strong breeze from SE with rain. Messrs. Cameron and Stuart landed from the Otter. 10:30 A.M. The Otter sailed for Fort Langley. The mill gang employed fitting up a house for the accommodation of Messrs. Cameron and Stuart. The Cadboro undergoing repairs.

Friday 30 [June, 1854]

Do Do weather. Mill gang employed on the mill.  Cole(b) & assistant miners. Others as heretofore.

July

Saturday 1 [July, 1854 ]

Light variable airs from SW with heavy showers at intervals.  People employed as on yesterday.

[Page  Blank]

Note: Different author in this section of Journal

Thursday 6 [July, 1854]

Lt. Variable airs from the SW and fine weather. This day Captain Stuart took charge of the Nanaimo Establishment per order of his Excellency Governor Douglas.

Friday 7 [July, 1854]

Lt. Breeze from the westward and fine weather.  People employed as yesterday at the mill under McKenzie. D.D. W.

Saturday 8 [July, 1854]

Lt. Breeze from the SE 1^st part Middle fresh winds from NW. Carpenters Canadians etc?? under W. McKenzie.  Isbister laying a stone foundation under the Mill.  Commenced the Mill race. D.D.W.

Sunday 9 [July, 1854]

Moderate breeze from the westward and fine weather.  Nothing of importance occurred this day.

Monday 10 [July, 1854]

Lt. Variable breezes from the west. 2/30 AM   Messrs. Cameron & McKay left for Victoria. Sagoywatha Thomas accompanied them on leave. Lt airs and fine weather. Batchelor and Francis again made their appearance this morning. It appears they had been to Bellingham Bay having in their absence disposed of two trading guns belonging to the HBco. And related an improbable story that the Cowechins had stolen one of them.  Batchelor promises to be answerable for the two guns.  All hands concentrated to expedite the work at the mill. Lt airs and fine pleasant weather.  Cadboro leftNewcastleIslandanchorage and anchored off the Establishment.

Tuesday 11 [July, 1854]

Lt airs from SE and fine. 10 AM strong winds from NW.  Employed as yesterday. Most of the Indians away gathering shell fish being much in want of provisions and the remarkable low tides of this full moon affords them an opportunity of getting a supply although it much retards the loading of the Cadboro.  Employed as yesterday at the mill. Afternoon Lt. Airs from the southward.  Rickets plastering chimnies [sic], Isbister building an oven.  Malcolm gathering fodder for the horses. Cadboro took in about 2 tons of coal. Allard with a party of Indians carrying planks for the mill with four Indians cutting saw logs. D. D. Weather.

Wednesday 12 [July, 1854]

First part light winds from the SE.  People as usual employed under W. McKenzie at the mill at least all these capable of affording assistance there.  Isbister, Ricketts, Malcolm as yesterday.  Blacksmith making an iron wheelbarrow for engine department. The Indians only supplied the Cadboro with one ton of coals,10 Strong winds from SW. Cote arrived from Fort Victoria bringing news that a number of Queen Charlotte Island Indians had arrived at Victoria having proceeded to that place by sea. Allards Indians employed carrying planks to the mill. Cutting saw logs.  Lt. Breeze from from west.

Thursday 13 [July, 1854]

First part Lt winds from westward. People employed as yesterday.  9 AM The Cadboro left wind strong from the N.W. This morning Leon Lebine commenced work under W. McKenzie at the mill being engaged for that purpose.  Wind still strong from NW.  Indians employed variously for the mill and mine others cutting saw logs and hauling out Batchellors wood on Newcastle Island. Towards evening light airs from West.

Friday 14 [July, 1854]

1^st part light airs from the Southward. People employed as yesterday under W. McKenzie. Finishing the mill lead. Indians taking the machinery to the mill and otherwise at the mine. Fresh winds from the West and fine. The day closes with light airs from north.

Saturday 15 [July, 1854]

Ist part fresh wind from SW and rain and gloomy weather. Employed under W.McKenzie at the mill nailing battens [?] on the mill lead.  This day finished cisterns except caulking.  Noon Fine weather.  Made an excursion to Chase River to examine the seams of coal found by __ Pemberton Esq and Capt. Stuart at 5 P.M. Eight canoes of Skidegate Indians each canoe containing about 15 Indians passed along the Cala Descanso keeping well clear of the Establishment. Lt airs from the North. Do Do W-. The above Indians were bound to Queen Charlotte Island.

Sunday 16 [July, 1854]

Lt breeze from the North. 5/30 AM 4 Canoes of Indians past supposed to be Chimsians bound towards Fort Simpson.  At 8 A.M. a canoe of Cowichins arrived relating a melancholy event attended with loss of life.  The circumstances recited is as follows.  A canoe had been hired [108] by the Hudson’s Bay Company to carry provisions and other necessaries to Bellvue St. Juan Island but when about the middle of the traverse the breeze which was moderate on starting increased to a gale then the cross pieces which bound the canoe together owing to the vibrations of the mast gave way and the canoe split by which nine Indians, two ship men and one Kanaka met an untimely end. One Indian only escaped he managed to retain his hold to the broken canoe and either paddled or drifted on shore-a most distressing accident and although related by the Indians we have reason to believe that their account is in some measure credible. Lt airs and fine weather-another Indian relates the canoe was upset off Clover Point.

Monday 17 [July, 1854]

Moderate breezes from the Westward and fine clear weather. McMullan caulking cistern. 6/25 PM McMoffat arrived from Fort Rupert bringing a dispatch to be forwarded to the Board of Management when an opportunity offers.  Lt airs from the NW and fine pleasant weather.  Do Do Weather

Tuesday 18 [July, 1854]

Lt airs and fine weather.  Employed about the mill as yesterday. Westen and Rich employed plastering houses. Indians bringing Batchelors and Cote wood from Newcastle Island.  Malcolm cutting fodder for horses.  McGregor and 6 engaged Indians clearing and putting the coals on Newcastle Island in working order. Do Do Weather.

Wednesday 19 [July, 1854]

Lt airs and fine weather.  Finished the mill race and commenced upon the machinery.  Indians and another hands employed as yesterday.  Noon Lt airs and fine weater[sic].  [Ther.?] 72’ in the shade.  Lt breeze from the westward examined the seam of coal on the south side of Douglas Island. [Midt?] Lt airs and fine weather.

Thursday 20 [July, 1854]

Lt airs and fine clear weather.  Employed bolting and fitting the machines about the mill.  Noon [Ther. ?] 72 ½ in the shade. Employed putting up pickets round the store and otherwise yesterday.  4 PM Mr Moffat left for Fort Rupert. Lt. Breeze and fine from the westward.   The mine this day at [Omitted?] Creek fell in which will cause a delay in that operation for several days.

Friday 21 [July, 1854]

Lt. Variable airs and fine weather.  Daylight fresh winds from the westward. Miners employed as yesterday.  People employed at the mile under.  W. McKenzie as usual.  Isbister repairing chimneys.  Malcolm catching the horses to draw saw logs.  Rich and Finlay preparing to white wash houses.  McGregor and Papley at mill lead.  Fresh winds and fine weather.

Saturday 22 [July, 1854]

Variable breezes and fine weather.  Employed as yesterday.  In the afternoon employed with the assistance of Indians in extinguishing a fire near the mill. Fresh winds and fine weather.

Sunday 23 [July, 1854]

Fresh winds and fine weather.  No occurrence of importance transpired today. Do Do Weather.

Monday 24 [July, 1854]

Moderate winds from West and fine W-. Miners as usually employed. Leon Lebine sick. Likewise employed at the mill as heretofore with the exception of Lazard Oneareta who is employed making a case for paper books vc [etc]. Others as heretofore the day before yesterday. This afternoon five Mamallilakulla [111] canoes entered the Harbour but were fired on by the Nanaimoes who declared them to be Eucultos; one or two balls passed through the canoes but otherwise doing no injury in the course of an hour or so it was amicably settled.  The Mamallilakulla’s were bound to Victoriaand left almost immediately the unfortunate propensity of the young Indians the. at Nanaimo for firing on all canoes, passing very much retards our work.  Fresh winds from west and fine.

Tuesday 25 [July, 1854]

Light airs and fine weather. Miners employed under Mr. Gilmour as heretofore and likewise the people employed about the mill as formerly under W. McKenzie. Larzard Onearsto putting up temporary doors at the store. Indian labourer employed getting out saw logs and otherwise at mine and saw mill. Despatched a canoe to Fort Victoriaat 10AM. Captain Brochie arrived at 3 P.M. in a Quackhold canoe.  The Mamallilakullas upon meeting them returned to this place. Lt breeze and fine we at midnight.

Wednesday 26 [July, 1854]

Lt airs and fine pleasant weather.  Employed throughout as yesterday.  Isbister repairing chimneys.  Rich and Finlay white washing houses.  Fresh winds from the west and fine clear weather. Godin and gang of Indians putting up pickets round the store. Midnight. Do Do W-.

Thursday 27 [July, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant weather. Employed at the mill as usual.  Lazard finishing bookcase.  The rest employed as yesterday.  Indians carrying planks for Cote and getting timber out of the woods. Malcolm hauling saw logs with the horses.  Isbister repairing chimneys. At 8 P.M. a serious disturbance arose between the Nanaimos and Mamillilakullas which happened so suddenly that we received no intimation of the event and consequently had no opportunity of using our influence to endeavour to prevent until the affray had commenced.  It appears from the interpreters that the above mentioned Indians had been bartering together and not being satisfied a quarrel was grounds thereon.  The Nanaimoes immediately seized their guns, the others not being armed ran along the neck of land forming the eastern entrance of Commercial Inlet followed by five young men of the former and when an opportunity offered dashed into the water and endeavoured to escape by swimming across the Inlet to their camp by the coal mine. The Nanaimoes fired and killed one and wounded one who would have been killed together with another Indian had not one of theNanaimochiefs saved them. In fact had it not been for theNanaimochiefs Ctchelot and Wunwunchiam several of the Mamillilakullas would have lost their lives as the whole body amounting to about 100 immediately jumped into their canoes.

Canoes and paddled out of the Inlet.  Wunwunshiam being among them to prevent the Nanaimoes firing upon them. The Nanaimoes seized two Qauskhold women and still have them in their possession on the following morning all the Quaskholds said  and as the night advanced the Nanaimoes with savage ferocity searched for the body cut it open and sunk it in the channel-but although so hostile towards their neighbouring kind they evidently still wish to continue their friendly relations toward us and lost no time in expressing their regret at the circumstance. 

Midnight Lt airs and fine the Quaskholds much excited and talk of leaving on the following morning.

Friday 28 [July, 1854]

Lt winds from south and fine weather. Daylight moderate winds from west. Quackholds in an excited state getting ready to leave for their home at 10 A.M…Quackhold all left together with Captain Brochie.  People employed throughout nearly as yesterday.  At 2 PM the Cadboro arrived with a dispatch from Governor Douglas and a dispatch and letters from Mr. Blinkinsop. Wind fresh from SE. Owing to the disturbance yesterday all Indian communication between this and Fort Rupert has ceased for a time. Midnight Lt airs from south and fine.

Saturday 29 [July, 1854]

Lt airs and fine pleasant weather. Employed at the mill as usual. Isbister repairing mill race. Lazard making a desk for the store. Indians employed getting up platform to roll the logs on the mill. Godin finished pickets round the store. Malcolm hauling up Batchelors wood with horses. Rich and Finley white washing houses. At 4 P.M. received Dispatch from Governor Douglas.  Midnight Lt winds and fine.

Sunday 30 [July, 1854]

Lt airs and fine pleasant Wr.  The sky much overcast with smoke apparently caused by a large fire on the Mainland byFraserRiver.  Lt winds from the west and pleasant weather.

Monday 31 [July, 1854]

Lt breeze and fine weather.  Miners employed as follows under Mr. Gilmour, Robert Dunsmuir at the Mine.  Adam French No. 2 pit. Edward Walker No. 4 Pit Archibald French at the mine. Joseph Cluet No 2 pit.  Jonathan Elliot No. 2 pit. E. Wiles at 1 Pit. Geo Hannan Mine. In work Mine Thomas Cole Mine James [Poeth?] No 1 Pit.  A quantity of loose coal found in the mine.  Employed at the mill under W. McKenzie as following Neil McMillan Tolmie Joseph Robilliard Louis Oteokorie Tahud and Ballau. [Lardard?] Onearsta making desk for store. Isbister at mill lead.  Samuel Rickets cook for miners.  Malcolm hauling Batchellors wood with horses. McGregor at mill lead.  Indians under Ovid Allard getting wood, squared on Newcastle Island to this place.  Tomma and Indians getting log platform on the mill.  Rich and Finlay white liming houses. At 2PM sent dispatches to Fort Victoria by Cote.  Lt variable breeze from the westward.  Godin putting pickets round the store. Midnight Lt winds and fine .Nanaimo Indians in an excited state expecting an attack from the Quackolds.

[written on the side]  Entered into a contract with Leon Lebine to build a house 40 x 25.

August

Tuesday 1 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant weather. Employed throughout nearly as yesterday.  Discharged the Cadboro with Indians. Found the cargo correct with the exception of one coil of 2 ¼ in rope which we did not receive and the officers of the Cadboro stated it did not come on board. With regard to the deals they have not yet been measured. Lt. Breezes and fine pleasant weather.

Wednesday 2 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine weather.  Employed throughout nearly as heretofore.  Started the mill but found the cistern leaky and was obliged to let the water run off to recaulk it in places and otherwise support it the planks being too slight for the weight of of water.  Lt winds and fine pleasant weather. Indians employed getting Batchellors wood from Newcastle Island. Midnight Lt winds and fine Wr.

 Thursday 3 [August, 1854]

Lt airs and fine wind mostly from the southward.  A large fire apparently on the Main land by Fraysers River. Employed repairing cistern and making a mill dam.  Otherwise as yesterday.  Lt airs from west and warm weather.

Friday 4 [August, 1854]

Lt breeze from west and fine. Started the mill and cut off two slabs.  McGregor cutting the mill lead deeper.  Mason collecting stones for chimneys. Indians carrying plank received from Cadboro.  The Express canoe that took Cote to Victoria arrived bringing no dispatches. Lt winds from west and fine. Neil McMillan sick.

Saturday 5 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and pleasant weather.  Lt airs from south.  Employed repairing mill dam cut two plank but found the water insufficient to drive the mill without stopping. M. Gilmour reported that he had connected No.1 pit with McGregors working but unintentionally so as he expected to

Saturday 5 [August, 1854]

[Continued]. run clear. 4:30 P.M. The Governor arrived accompanied with Misters Cameron, Benson and Golledge. Lt winds and fine throughout.  The governor had a conversation with the miners engaged under Mr. Gilmour as their term of service had expired but no result was obtained further than they were required to call and settle on Monday.  Midnight Lt winds and fine pleasant Wr.

Sunday 6 [August, 1854]

Lt airs and fine pleasant weather. Attended Divine service onboard the Otter prayers read by His Excellency the Governor. Lt. Winds and fine pleasant weather.  Confined Thomas Cuamtany for being drunk and disorderly.

Monday 7 [August, 1854]

Lt airs and fine pleasant weather.  Employed about the mill as heretofore.  Lazard employed making a cupboard for establishment. 6 P.M. The Governor came to an arrangement with the miners [vis Nch?] French, Adam French, Robert Dunsmuir that they should work upon the same terms as before (excepting that they should get [4/6?] For their extra tons of coal instead of [4/.1?]. Until a vessel was on hand to convey them toEnglandto which terms they consented.  Edward Walker received his discharge. Mr. Gilmour from this date gets £12 per month by his Excellency’s orders.  Sent the Governors Dispatches to Fort Rupert together with the other letters.  Mid. Lt airs and fine pleasant Wr.

Tuesday 8 [August, 1854]

Lt airs and fine pleasant weather.  7Am The Otter left with his Excellency Messrs. Cameron and Golledge. Dr. Johnston likewise left on leave leaving Dr. Benson to supply his place atNanaimo. The following men likewise left in The Otter for a few day[s] by permission of his Excellency vis Joseph Cluett & Magnus Edgar. James Poith left without permission.  Employed about the mill as usual.  Lazard making door for store.  Ignace making ax handles. Godin squaring rafters for mill.  Malcolm hauling squared timber with the horses.  Rich and Finley white washing house.  Miners as usual. William Isbister likewise left by The Otter for Fort Victoria by the Governors orders.

Wednesday 9 [August, 1854]

Lt breezes and cloudy weather.  Daylight cloudy with rain at times.  People employed as yesterday. Indians carrying filling up pieces for large house burning lime and otherwise.  Do Do Weather. Squally with rain.  Midnight Do Do Wr.

Thursday 10 [August, 1854]

Fresh winds from South and rain.  Employed as yesterday throughout. Do Do Wr. Heavy rain. The mill cutting about 70 feet per day.  Midnight squally wr. With rain.  This day Stove refused to work at the blacksmith shop as hammerman.

 

Friday 11 [August, 1854]

Lt airs from south and cloudy.  Daylight rain at times.  Employed tunneling the mill frame together and cutting and placing knees and otherwise securing it. Others variously empl. Do Do Wr. 7PM The Otter arrived with Edward Walker as passenger who has again agreed to dig coals for the Company as mentioned in his contract.  Peter Hunter likewise arrived as Miner. Joseph Cluet and Magnus Edgar returned by her.  Received Dispatches from the Govermor.  James Porth likewise returned. [written on the side] Received an Act (from Governor Douglas) prohibiting the gift or sale of intoxicating liquor to Indians likewise a letter that the said act must be published. 

Saturday 12 [August, 1854]

Moderate breeze and fine pleasant Wr. Employed coaling the Otter getting the pile driver along side and other things required atVictoria.  Fresh winds and fine weather.  Employed at mill and miners as yesterday.

Sunday 13 [August, 1854]

Fresh winds and fine Wr. Do Do Wr. Lt winds and fine.

Monday 14 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant weather.  Employed at the mine and mill as usual. 7 AM The Otter left with Mr. McKenzie on board as passenger on leave of absence for a few days. Shipped on board The Otter the Pile Driver and 40 feet of boring rod and one of the crab winches.

Tuesday 15 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and rain at times. Employed fitting a mill gate at the beginning of the race and repairing mill dam and otherwise miners employed as usual. McGregor assisted by Indians digging out coal for The Cadboro. Cloudy weather and rain.  Lazard finishing doors for store and performing other jobs. Ignace making ax handles. Robilliard clap boarding one of the houses.  Papley painting doors and windows.  Louis and Godin squaring rafters for mill.  Thomas and Indians examining mill cliff others getting stones read for chimney assisted by Finley and Stove.  Lt winds and fine.

Wednesday 16 [August, 1854]

Lt wind and fine weather. Fresh winds and fine.  Employed principally as yesterday. Do Do Weather. Lewis squaring wood for a house of convenience. Midnight Do Do Wr.

Thursday 17 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine from the southward.  Fresh winds from SW and cloudy. 11 AM the Honolulu arrived for a cargo of coal per order W. Cameron.  People as heretofore.  Lt  breeze and fine weather.  By the Honolulu arrived.  Peter [McGloskey?] as miner.  

Friday 18 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine.  People employed as heretofore. Honolulu discharging ballast.  Mr. Gilmour reported the mine to be in a very precarious state and that he would be obliged to sink a pit and work from the pit towards the mine.  A circumstance that will considerably retard that operation but from the constant run of loose earth and water which undermines the upper surface.  No other means appears to be available.   Some hands up the Nanaimo River cutting fodder for the cattle in winter.

Saturday 19 [August, 1854]

Lt breeze from south and fine pleasant weather.  People employed as heretofore.  The Honolulu discharging ballast.  Moderate breeze and fine weather.  Do Do Weather.

Sunday 20 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine weather. Fresh winds from west and fine.  Do Do Wr. Lt. Breeze and fine Wr. 

Monday 21 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and cloudy with rain.  Do Do Wr. 9AM fine Wr. The Cadboro left with 54 ½ tons of Indian coal.  Mines employed as usual. Tolmie sick.  Lazard sick. Lewis Oteocorie sick.  Mill cutting 120 feet per day. Magnus Edgar sick. Rich pit handman in his place.  Finlay whitewashing houses.  Stove building chimney at the mill house. Robilliard building a house of convenience.  1 P.M. The Sloop Sarah Stone arrived with Dr. Evans Geologist for the United States Government. …Dr. Evans examined the mile cliff.

Tuesday 22 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant weather.  Fresh winds and fineweather. Dr. Evans Geologist accompanied by Dr. Benson and Mr. Gilmour examined the coal and fossil beds ofNewcastleIsland.Honolulutaking in coal. People employed as yesterday principally.  Lazard employed at the engine. McGregor at the coal seam on  Newcastle Island. Tolmie well and on duty at the mill.

Wednesday 23 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine clear weather. Fresh winds and fine from the westward. 8 AM. TheHonolululeft with 82 tons of coal. People employed principally as heretofore. Dr. Evans, Dr. Benson and myself proceeded to the Nanaimo River to examine the fossil beds reported there by the Indians. [123] After proceeding about 3 miles up the River we came to a fossil bed on its N Eastern shore from which we extracted some very fine and interesting specimens among which was part of a very fine and well marked ammonite. Lt breeze and fine pleasant weather.  Midnight Light winds from West.  This day received a private communication from Fort which states the Governor dispatches had arrived safely.

Thursday 24 [August, 1854]

Lt winds from south and fine pleasant weather. Miners employed as usual and at the mill as usual. Lazard planing planks for fitting up store.  Lewis Oteocorie and Godin squaring wood for a house of convenience.  Malcolm and Weston A cutting fodder for cattle up theNanaimoRiver. Ritch pit hand man as usual.  Finlay and Stove building chimney at the house at the mill.  Papley painting doors and window frames.  Robilliard as heretofore. Magnus Edgar and McMillan still sick.

 Friday 25 [August, 1854]

Fresh winds from SW and fine.  At 6 AM Sara Stone left with Dr. Evans.  Dr. Evans yesterday returned his thanks on the part of the United States Government for the kind manner in which he had been treated at Nanaimoand the efficient way he had been assisted in pursuing his geological research. People employed as yesterday for the most part. Fresh winds and fine weather.

Saturday 26 [August, 1854]

Fresh wind and fine pleasant Wr. 8/30 AM The Rose arrived for a cargo of coal. Likewise an invoice for this place bearing date 21^st August. People employed as yesterday.  Lt. Winds and fine Wr winds mostly from West.  Do Do Wr. Received an order to put all the miners at the coal & Mr. Gilmour was immediately informed of the Governors instruction.

Sunday 27 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and fine weather.  Archibald French in a state ofintoxication and vey [rioxous?] running about with a loaded pistol and otherwise disturbing the peace atNanaimoand creating a disturbance with the Indians.  Means were on the point of being taken to confine and secure him when a stone thrown at him by an Indian whom he had beaten which took effect behind the ear that succeeded in silencing him he afterwards went quietly to his home. Complaints were made about his riotous conduct by several parties. 

Monday 28 [August, 1854]

Lt winds from the Southward and cloudy weather.  The Rose discharging ballast.  Magnus Edgar and McMillan still sick.  People employed as on Monday and heretofore.  Do Do Weather. Lazard fitting up the store.

Tuesday 29 [August, 1854]

AM Lt winds and cloudy with rain at times. The Rose repairing copper and otherwise.  People employed as heretofore.  Lt winds and fine.  The Rose afloat and at the anchorage. Mid. Do Do Wr. Mitchel blacksmith sick and off duty.

Wednesday 30 [August, 1854]

Lt winds and rain at times. The Rose commenced to take in coals. Papley, Finley and Weston [riddling?] coals. Others employed as yesterday.  Do Do Weather.

Thursday 31 [August, 1854]

Lt winds from west and fine.  The Rose taking in coals. Employed as yesterday and heretofore.  Moderate breeze from west and fine. Put on board the Rose today 79 tons.

McMillan, Magnus, Edgar, Rickets and Hymes sick. In McGregor has been employed as follows this month:

4 shifts boring holes for Mill Gate

7 shifts on New-coal onNewcastleIsland

3 shifts at Mile cliff searching for coal

12 shifts at Indian coal.

9AM The Otter arrived with 1400 dollars cash and 1 anvil.  The Cadboro in tow with lumber.  Dr. Johnston and Mr. McKenzy arrived per Otter. Received 7 Oxen from Victoria per Otter.

September

Friday 1 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine weather.  Lazard fitting up the store.  Tolmie at the mill. Lewis Oteocorie squaring filling up pieces for Bastion.  Robilliard at the house of convenience . Below and Tahua at the mill. Indians employed variously loading the Rose and otherwise. Malcolm hauling lumber with horses. Finley and Rich at the coals and likewise Papley. 6AM the Otter left.  Dr. Benson passenger.

Saturday 2 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant Wr.  Employed loading the Rose as yesterday.  Do Do Wr. Midnight Do Do Wr.

Sunday 3 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine. No occurrence of importance.

Monday 4 [September, 1854]

Lt winds from west and fine.  Employed loading the Rose.  Lazard planing planks for flooring for new house.  Tolmie putting in knees to support the framework of the engine.  Mr. McKenzie, Lewis Oteorcorie, Robilliard, Godin shingling mill roof.  Rich, Finley and Papley riddling coals. Malcolm and Weston cutting fodder.  Tahua and Below at the mill. [written in the margin] Magnus Edgar on duty.

Finished loading the Rose 320 tons coal. Lt winds from West and fine. Engaged with Leo Lebine to put up a kitchen and shingle stone house for £38.

Tuesday 5 [September, 1854]

Lt airs and fine from west. The Rose towed out at 6/30 but had to anchor and as the tide ebbed she grounded although she may be considered in the channel at the usual tides had not the tide fallen unusually low this would not have happened. There is however in the proper channel nothing less than 4 ½ fathoms at low springs. Dispatched a canoe to Victoria with letters at 1/30PM the Rose floated and apparently little damage done. Lazard about the floor for new house.  Tolmie about the engine. Lewis Otecorie, Robilliard and Godin, Thomas Cuamitiny and Indians making a park for the cattle. Finley Stove and Indians building chimneys. Ritch riddling coals. Pappley, Hyms and Mitchell sick.  Mr. McKenzie, Kahua an Below at the Mill making shingles for roof. Moderate winds from west and fine.

Wednesday 6 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant weather. Lazard employed rigging gear for cattle.  Tolmie as yesterday and the people generally with the exception of Thomas Couamtony Lewis Oteocorie Godin and some Indians searching for strayed cattle. Lt winds and fine wr. Engaged with Lebine to shingle Mr. Baylies house and otherwise rise and repair the roof for fifty dollars.  Lt breeze and fine throughout.

Thursday 7 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine Wr. People employed as yesterday and heretofore.  Indians discharging the Cadboro.  Fresh breeze with rain at times.  Do Do Weather.

Friday 8 [September, 1854]

Lt breeze and rain.  Managed to get 5 of the cattle in the park. Otherwise employed as yesterday and heretofore with the exception of Tolmie who is employed at the large house.

Saturday 9 [September, 1854]

Lt breezes and cloudy weather. The Cadboro taking in coal.  Otherwise employed as yesterday and heretofore.  Lt winds and fine weather. Mitchell on duty at light jobs.

Sunday 10 [September, 1854]

Moderate breeze and fine weather.  No occurrence of importance.

Monday 11 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant weather.  Miners employed as usual.  Lazard about the floor of the mining engines house.  Tolmie at the inside work. Mr. McKenzie, Kahua, Below, Lewis Oteocorie, Robilliard and Godin making shingles to finish the mill roof.  Thomas Ouamtony breaking in the cattle and making them perform light work.  Rich riddling coals. Finley, Stove and Papley building a chimney for the mill house. Malcolm and Weston cutting fodder for cattle up theNanaimoRiver. Indians employed with carrying Lebine’s wood and otherwise getting timber for the mill. Engaged with Lebine to build a house 40 feet by 25 inside on the hill behind the school for £65. Moderate winds and fine.

Tuesday 12 [September, 1854]

Lt winds from west and fine Wr. People employed for the most part as yesterday. Indians getting the hay from the Nanaimo River. Finished Roofing the mill.  Moderate winds from west and fine.

Wednesday 13 [September, 1854]

Lt Winds and rain. People and Indians employed as yesterday and heretofore.  Moderate winds from south and cloudy.

Thursday 14 [September, 1854]

Moderate winds from west and fine. Lewis Oteocorie and four Indians looking after cattle. Mr. McKenzie and Robilliard making machinery for the mill.  Others employed as heretofore. Do Do Wr.

Friday 15 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine weather.  People employed as yesterday and heretofore.  Do Do Wr. Mitchell employed getting tools ready for a second shift of miners at the pit.  Sent Stove on board the Cadboro as seaman.  Do Do Weather.

Saturday 16 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine weather. Employed as heretofore and as yesterday.  Do Do Weather. Some Indians away looking for the stray cattle as we have hitherto been unsuccessful in finding two of them. Lt winds and fine pleasant Wr.

Sunday 17 [September, 1854]

Lt winds from west and fine weather. 4/30 PM About 30 Quackhold canoes arrived from Fort Rupert bringing a private communication from Mr. Blinkensop together with a supply of vegetables that gentleman speaks favourably with regard to health and tranquility reigning in that quarter but from the Northward he had received no news.  The letter carrier informs me he has a dispatch for the Governor from that Establishment.  The Quackholds have just arrived in time to give us a supply of working colliers and we have temporarily managed to get the refractory Nanaimoes to look generally with a more favourable eye towards their neighbouring kind.

Monday 18 [September, 1854]

Lt winds and fine pleasant weather.  Miners employed as usual. Lazard planing boards for flooring.  Tolmie about the mining engineers house.  Louis Oteokorie at the mill.  Robilliard making shed for hay.  Finlay and Papley collecting and quarrying stones. Weston and Malcolm cutting hay.  Oxen hauling Lebine’s wood.  Thomas Quamtony sick. Employed a number of Quackholds to get and carry hay from the River. Likewise burning lime and performing various work.

Tuesday 19 [September, 1854]

Lt airs and fine weather. Do Do Do. Employed as yesterday.  Thomas Quamtony sick.  Rickets sick. Elliot sick.  Cluet, Kymo sick.  Lt airs and thick fog.

 Wednesday 20 [September, 1854]

Moderate breeze from NE. Lazard employed for the mining department. Tolmie at the new house.  Robillard, Kahua and Below employed at the mill under Mr. McKenzie.  Lewis Oteocorie looking for oxen. 6 AM the Cadboro left. [written in the margin] McMillan much improved and on duty doing lt work.  Indians away with Allard bringing the hay from the river. McGregor fitting pump at Olchelots [???] mine to pump the water off in order to work the coal.  Godin watchman. Indian carpenters planing boards for flooring. At 6 PM the Cadboro was observed off the harbour becalmed.  The same men on sick list.  

Thursday 21 [September, 1854]

Lt breezes and cloudy wr. Fresh winds from west and fine. Allard and Indians at the mill assisting Mr. McKenzie.  Others employed as yesterday.  Lt winds and rain.  Do Do Wr. Several of the Nanaimo Indians left for Fort Langley.

Friday 22 [September, 1854]

Lt breezes and cloudy weather. Indians carrying planks discharged from Cadboro and otherwise variously.  Malcolm and Weston cutting hay. Others as yesterday and heretofore. Likewise a party of Indians employed for the engine department. Moderate breezes from the southward and rain.

Saturday 23 [September, 1854]

Fresh winds from south and rain. Employed for the most part as yesterday.  Mr. McKenzie making a platform to haul the logs up the mill. Indians cutting pole for erecting a pigsty and making a shed for the cattle. Fresh winds from south and rain.  Midnight Do Do Weather.

Sunday 24 [September, 1854]

Fresh winds from SE and rain at times.  Strong winds from SE and heavy rain. Received a letter from His Excellency. The following men arrived in the canoe, Michail McDonald, [Jno?] H. Van Rokkelin, Henry Maine, the two former miners, the latter an axe man.  Likewise [la pendrix?] Blanche arrived. Do Do Weather.

Monday 25 [September, 1854]

Fresh winds and rain. Blacksmith busily employed making picks for miners.  Tolmie about the big house. Lt wind from south and rain.  Lazard making pick handles for miners.  Below and Kahua under W. McKenzie at the mill. Robilliard and Lewis Oteocorie erecting a cattle shed.  Engaged a number of Quackold Indians.  Finlay and Ritch building chimney in kitchen for new house.  Pappley quarrying stones. The Blacksmith ready with the miners tools. Wind SW and rain at times.  Midnight Do Do Wr. Rickets well and on duty as cook.  Thomas Ouamtony sick, Kyms sick. Godin watchman.

Tuesday 26 [September, 1854]

Lt breezes and rain at times. Do Do Weather. Tolmie, la [padrix?] Blanche and McMullan about the new house.  Indian carpenters planing boards. Others employed as yesterday.  Engaged Michael McDonald as mason.  Likewise Henry Maine as axeman to assist Mr. McKenzie.  Finished building the chimney for the mill house and commenced laying the flooring. Lt winds from SW and fine.  The miners all in the pit but this day merely clearing their rooms out.

Wednesday 27 [September, 1854]

Lt winds from west and fine. A report having reached Nanaimo that some of the party who left for Fort Langley on the 18^th had been killed by the Squammish Indians the rest immediately started towards that place leaving us without Indians as we this day supplied all the Quackholds to the miners.  All the miners at work in the pit.  Henry Maine being dissatisfied with his agreement of yesterday informed me he was going to work for Labine upon which I told him he had better do so as when a man made an agreement although a verbal one and altered his mind so rapidly. I thought little dependence could be placed upon his services.  The output of coal this day is about 27 tons. At 6 the Nanaimoes returned and it appears there was some grounds for the report as one woman had been shot through the arm by the Squamish.  Lt winds and fine Wr. Ouamtony and Kimo sick.  Likewise Ignace off duty temporarily deranged. Rokkelin is not satisfied with the place.  Mr. Gilmour appointed for him and has not yet commenced work.

END

Index - People

 

A

Allard, Ovid

Archibald

 

B

Bale, Mrs. Marion

Bali, Ballau, Below, Balau

Baillie, Bailie, Baylies  Bayley Mr. (Schoolmaster)

Baptiste

Batchelor, Batchellor, C

Bell

Benson

Billabla

Blinkinsop, Mr.

Bora Bora

Brown, Peter

 

C

Cameron, Mr.

Chuan

Cluett, Joseph

Cole,FrancesK., Cole (B) Cole (A)

Cook, John/George

Coulting

Crittle/Cuttle

Cuamtony, Cuamtamy, Cuamitiny (Thomas) (see Q)

 

D

Darshe, Joseph

Dell

Devine

Dixon, Mr.

Dogin

Douglas, C.F.

Douglas, James (His Excellency/Gov.)

Doushee, Joseph

Dunsmuir, Robert

 

E

Easton

Edgar, Thomas/Magnus

Elliott, Jona

Evans, Dr.    (Geologist –U.S.Government)

 

F

Ferran, Adolphus

Findlay, Finlay

Fitzwilliam, M. P.

Fortier, B.

Fortine, Fortion (Thomas ?)

Francis, James

French, Adam/Archibald

 

G

Galledge, Golledge, Gulledge (Mr.)

Gang

Garick, Garrock, Garrick, Garrioch, Garrich, Wm.

Gillman, Mr.

Gilmour, Gilmours, Mr.

Godin, Gadon, Gudin, Joseph

 

H

Hamilton

Henham, Hensham, George

Hillman

Hubly

Humphries, Humphrey, John

Hunter, Peter

Hyms, Hymes

 

I

Ignace, Korchuana

Isbister

 

J

Janis (?)

Jones

Johnstone,George Dr.

 

K

Karehuana, Kaneuana, Kauchuana, Karchuana

Kennedy, Dr.

Kymo, Kyms, Kimo

 

L

La Fleur, Michael

Lazard, Lardard

Lebine, Vic/Leon

Lepatrix, Blanche

Linklater, James

Louis

 

M

Mahoy

Main, Henry

Malcolm, John

Maurice, Joseph

Maurice, S

McDonald, Michail

McGloskey, Peter

McGregor, John

McKay, Mr.

McKenzie, McKenzy, W.

McMillan, McMullan

McNeil, Kenny

McNeil, Henry (Captain)

Mitclel, Mitchell, George (Blksmith)

Moffatt, Mr.

Muir, Robert/Archibald (?)

Miner, Robert/Archibald (?)

 

N

Newlund, James

Newton, Mr.

Nicholson

 

O

Oneareta, Onearstov, Onearta, Oeokone, Oteocorie, Onearsta, Oteokorie, Oneorto, Onearola, Oteokone, Oteokonols, (Louis)

 

P

Palmer, John

Papley, Pappley, A.

Parent, Louis

Pearse, Mr.

Pemberton, Mr.

Porton

Porth, Poith, Poeth, James

 

Q

Quamtony, Thomas (See C)

 

R

Raymond, Raymon, Camille

Rene, Benjamin (HBO Service)

Ritch, Rich, William

Ricketts, Rickets, Samuel

Robillard, Joseph

Rokkelin, H. Van

 

S

Sagoyawathat, Sagayawatha, Sagaoyawatha, Sagayawathat, Sagaoyawawatha, Sagoywatha, Thomas

Satakoro, Satakarata, Francais/Francois

Smith, Robert

St.Arnaud

Stove, James

Stuart (Capt.?)

 

T

Tahud

Terran, Adolphy

Thomas

Tolmie

Tomma

 

V

Varrieur

Vautrin, Vantrin

Versaille

 

W

Walker, Edward

Weston

Wiles

Work

Captains, Officers & Pilots

 

Captains

 

Brochie

Cooper

Grant (HonoluluPacket)

Mitchell

McNeil

Parker (HonoluluPacket)

Robertson (Arcimedes)

Semprell, Lemprelle

Stuart (Archimedes)

Webster

 

Officers                                                 Pilots

 

Mr. Sinclair (Mary Dare)                         Mr. Sinclair (Otter)

Moresby (Lieut)                                     Mr. Stuart

Sansome (Lieut)

 

Crew

 

Kalach (Crew)

Quoton (Cook)

Pendre, Bernard (Carpenter)

McMillan (Carpenter)

Tolmie (Carpenter)

 

Ships

 

Active (US)                                                       Matilda (Barque)

Alice (Steamer)                                                Otter    

Archimedes                                                      Sarah Stone (Sloop)

Beaver                                                             Recovery

Cadboro (Schooner)                                        Rose (Brig)

Cala Descanso                                                Vautrine, Vautrin

Fort Rupert Express                                        Virago (HMS)   

HonoluluPacket                                               William (Brig)

Mary Dare

 

Rivers, Lakes, Forts, Points of Interest

 

BurrardsCanal

Baltons (?)

Bastion

Bellingham Bay

Christmas Hill Sheep Station –VictoriaDistrict

Cadboro Bight

Chimanis River

Cowechin

Commercial Inlet/Point

Chace (Chase) River

 

Departure Bay

 

Flea Point

Fort Simpson

Fort Rupert

Frayser River

 

Honolulu

 

Noo-moo-as

 

NewcastleIsland

NanaimoRiver

 

Omitted/Ommitted Creek

 

Point Holmes

Point Rose

Pentlitch River

Point Roberts

 

Sahlum (Village)

Seeor (?)

Sihlaut/Sihlault

 

Tide-staff Point/Tidestaff Point

Tielup Bay

 

Ucultah River

 

Valdez Inlet

Victoria

 

Weston Coal Mines

 

First Nations, Individuals – Bands

 

A

 

Acmenis

 

B

 

Below/Balau/Balua (S. Island?)

Bil-ba-bas/Bil Balas/Bilballas/Bilbalas

 

C

 

Chimsian/ Chimsians

Chuan

Chemanis/Chemainis/Chimanis

Coomox Indians

Cowichin/Cowechin

Ctchelot

 

E

 

Eucultos

 

H

 

Haw-Tsil us

 

 

K

 

Kamakas/Kanaka

Kanome, Kimo, Kahua  (S.Island?)

 

L

 

Lul-haulum

 

M

 

Mahoy

MaMatewis (Nanaimo)

Mamallilakulla, Mamillilakullas

Misqmians (?)

 

N

 

Nitiant/Nitinat

Nanaimoe/Nanaimoes/Nanaimos

Noo-moo-as/Nonooas/NooNooas

 

Q

 

Quakolths/Quakulths/Quakyolths/Quakolths/Quakyolth/Quakyold/Quaskholds/Quackhold/

Quaskhold

Quamichan

 

S

 

Saalum

Sagoyawatha/Sagoyawathat/Sagaoyawatha, Thomas (previously listed - People)

Skidegate [?]

Se-win

Seamilhluc

Sewil

SeamaTum/Siam-a-tun (Son of Tche-hetum) 

SiamWac

Skowhomich/Skowhomish/Skuwhumish/Skuqwumish

Sheshalls/Sechelt/Sheshalls

Siklault/Sibault (Comox Indians)

Sliamins

Sques/Squeis & Siam-a-cit (executed/murdered Peter Brown)

 

T

 

Tatakas (TahuaS.Islands?)

Tchis-a-tue

Tlahoose/Thahoos

Tongas(S. Islands?)

Thm-thm-a-litch (Cowichan)

Thm-whe-tums/Tche-wihe-tum

Tsau si ai (Cowichan Chief)

 

U

 

Ucultas/Ucalatas/Ucultas

 

W

 

Wun Wun Shun/Wunwimshim/Wunwunchiam