Embarked at a little past 6 oclock and arrived at the Fort[202] at 11. The houses are all standing but without doors or windows & all the floors torn up by the Indians scouting for anything that might be under them. Some of the pieces were burned & marks of where a fire had been made in the dwelling house that had the wood been dry would have destroyed all the buildings.--Some of the doors could not be found & several empty kegs which had been left here were brok to pieces. The men were employed the afterpart of the day fixing doors to the store and laying the floors. The store was got temporarily closed and the goods stowed in it. Two Indians who were here went off to the Pendant Oreille camp with whom a piece of Tobacco was sent to the three principal men.--And notice sent them that we would be ready to trade tomorrow or next day when they chose to come.-- Friday 25 Snow in the night & morning the most of which had thawed & disappeared on the low grounds towards evening. The men employed arranging their axes and afterwards squaring planks for doors &--. An Indian one of the Pendant Oreille chiefs arrived to enquire when we would be ready to trade, though word had been sent to them yesterday that we were ready when they chose to come. Gave him a little tobacco when he set off & a few balls and Powder to send some of his young men to get some fresh meat. A young man also came with a present of 4 fresh buffalo tongues. Saturday 26 Disagreeable weather with snow and sleet the forepart of the day but fair in the afternoon. Had the men employed making doors and putting the houses in order. The Indians began to arrive about noon and a brisk trade was immediately commenced and continued on till it was getting dark. I am unable to ascertain exactly the amount of the days trade, but there are upwards of 340 beaver skins and nearly 40 bales of meat. There was a great demand for guns and Tobacco.--The Indians as is the case still when a stranger arrives among them, complain about being harder dealt with than heretofore, however they seemed well pleased notwithstanding that (not?) a single item of their (prices) demanded would be abated. Sunday 27 Sharp frost in the night. Mild pleasant weather during the day. The Indians arrived in the morning & trade was resumed and continued on nearly all day, but not so brisk as yesterday. The Indians say their trade is nearly finished.--Some parchment skins were traded to make windows for the houses and some mats to cover them of which they are in want as the wet drips through the roofs. A present of 16 inches of Tobacco to each of the 3 F. H. chiefs was given to an Indian to carry to them and to apprise them of our arrival. The Indians with whom we have been trading these two days are principally Pendent Oreilles or Collespellums, with a few Flat Heads, or Asschesh,[203], and some Spokans.-- Monday 28 Thin frost in the night, fine mild weather during the day.