June 24, 1793.
It is interesting to note that today the 24th of June is not marked in MacKenzie’s journal, perhaps when the notes were transcribed for publishing, the title of this day’s entry was overlooked. After describing his retiring for the night on the 23rd, the next paragraph begins without a title...
“We were in our canoe by four this morning, and passed by the Indian hut, which appeared in a state of perfect tranquility…”
Only some of them are in the canoe. The others including Mr. MacKay had gone with the local guide the night before, who was “impatient to get to his family, in order to prepare shoes, and other necessaries, for his journey...he would not stop till ten at night.”
They are supposed to meet up with the canoe and the rest of the men before noon.
The men on shore had spent the night “exhausted with fatigue, and without any kind of covering: they were cold, wet, and hungry, but dared not light a fire…This comfortless spot they left at the dawn of the day…”
But the canoe did not arrive at the rendezvous in time.
“To heighten their misery, as they did not find us at the place appointed, they concluded that we were all destroyed, and had already formed their plan to take to the woods...to the waters of the Peace River, a scheme which could only be suggested by despair. They intended to have waited for us till noon, and if we did not appear by that time, to have entered without further delay on their desperate expedition.”
Again, MacKenzie has detailed and colourful descriptions of the communication and interactions with the local people on this day. To understand what happened I suggest interested readers follow his account for themselves. Basically, the natives are now alarmed, even the ones he has visited, and he is not sure why. “I hoped to find the two men, with their families, whom we had seen there...when I should wait the issue of this mysterious business.”
He has the canoe loaded, and fastened to two strong “piquets”, so they have only to step on board and be ready to leave straight away, if necessary. The canoe they are using is a North-West Company 25 foot, Canot Du Nord. Picture 1 is a detailed HBC schematic showing the typical lading of the much larger 36 foot Canot Du Maitre. The contents of MacKenzie’s would have been similar to this, although probably only about one half of the quantities of items shown in the drawing.
Picture 1. Large Canoe Schematic. (Canadian Canoe Museum)
“Mr. MacKay and myself, with three men kept alternate watch, and allowed the Indians to do as they fancied. I took the first watch, and the others laid down in their clothes by us...The weather was cloudy, with showers of rain.”
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