John Long's journal, 1768-1782Long, J. (John), Indian trader
History
John Long's journal, 1768-1782
Long, J. (John), Indian trader
Fur trade -- Canada; Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Languages; Ojibwa language
{90} Being short of provisions, and having only one faithful Canadian in
the house, except the Indian and his wife, I desired him to make a
number of marten traps, and set them in two different roads, called a
fork. Having finished about two hundred, and set them in the woods,
baited with fish heads, which these animals are very fond of, he
returned, and I gave him some rum for his trouble. Every day, for a
considerable time, he went regularly to examine them, and when
successful, was always rewarded to his satisfaction. Having been
unfortunate several days, I charged him with doing other business,
instead of examining the traps, to which he made no reply. I
communicated my suspicions to my man, and desired him to watch the
Savage. The next day the Canadian discovered him in the woods dressing
some partridges:[67] when he returned home in the evening he asked for
rum, which I refused, telling him he did not deserve any. This answer
displeased him; and looking earnestly at me, he replied, that I did not
use him well; for though he had been unsuccessful with his traps, his
trouble was the same; and that he generally found them out of order,
which obliged him to set them right, and employed him the whole day.
This excuse did not make any alteration in my conduct, and I told him
the weather was too bad to get at any rum. He then began to imagine that
I suspected him, and knew of his laziness, and immediately opened his
mind, telling me very frankly that he was jealous of me; and that his
reason for not going to examine the marten traps, was to prevent any
communication between me and his wife, which, had he been far distant
from home, might have been easily effected; and for this reason he kept
near the house to watch her, knowing that she was fond of me; but that
if I would give him some rum, to drive away the bad spirit from his
heart, he would endeavour to forget the injury I had done him.
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