The woodmen finished arranging the wood for the coals, they are now ready to set fire to. Those who went off on tuesday returned with the wood for boat timber sufficient for 4 boats they would have been back sooner had it not been for the bad weather. The sawyers got on pretty well, but unfortunately one of the logs which we had so much trouble getting, turns out to be rotten in the heart, it was sound at both ends. It will not answer the purpose & finding trees of a proper size & getting them home is attended with a good deal of difficulty. Satd.y. 15 Cloudy fair weather. Four men employed squaring a piece of timber 40 feet long, 12 inches wide and 6 thick to make up for the boards that are deficient in the one that was rotten. Two others of the men brought home some white earth to whitewash the houses. The sawyers made about 120 feet today. Sunday 16 Wather as yesterday. Monday 17 Cloudy fair weather. The men brought home the log which was squared on Saturday.--Afterwards 6 were employed cutting firewood, 2 cutting wheels for a truck, to cart home wood & 2 sawing. It requires all hands to be employed at firewood as none was cut in summer it being supposed that the fort was going to be removed. Tuesday 18 Cloudy pleasant weather, frost in the night & foggy in the morning.-- Men employed as yesterday. The sawyers made about 110 feet. The Indians had taken away the canoe so that the men could not get home the wheels after they were cut. Old Philip occasionally catches a few little fish with the scoop net which with a choice trout got from the Indians serves on our table but the people are fed entirely on dry provisions. Wed.y. 19 Cloudy weather. Men employed as yesterday. Mr Kittson and his party arrived from WallaWalla[176] in 5 days. All the property &c reached that place safe. He has letters from Dr McLaughlin and Mr Dease, the former had just arrived at WallaWalla and intimates that he will probably visit[177] this place to meet the Express.--Mr Kittson brought five horses & four men back with him, two of the men which were sent (Cender) and (Laduoite), were exchanged for Wagner and Pierre, the former is sent here by way of punishment for disobedience of orders.--Mr. Kittson had six horses with him but he had to leave one of them by the way, which the Indians promised to take back. So that 5 will have to be deducted from the number sent. Thursday 20 Fine weather. The four men who arrived yesterday employed packing up saddles. appichimans, cords &c for N. Caledonia & Thompson's River, which are to be sent to the Forks to be forwarded to Okanogan by the Express boat. Our men employed white washing the Fort, the others employed sawing & cutting wood as yesterday. Friday 21 Weather as yesterday. Men employed as yesterday. Finished packing the saddles appichimans &c--and sent a man & an Indian off to the Plains[178] for the horses to send off to the Forks tomorrow.