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St Joseph. Pembina. Red River. M.T.
822
[circled] 43
Sept 4^th
1857

Dear folk.

Here I am safe and sound
after the jolliest time I ever had
in my life. Talk about the hardship
of a voyageurs life! Why its all fun!
On occasion all ducking, upsetting of
a cart, going without any thing to
eat or drink for twenty hours, having
to walk five or ten miles etc only
add zest to the thing. Really I
have enjoyed it. Cavalier says I'm
the best green voyageur he ever
travelled with, but growls that
I eat more than one of his big
bellied Halfbreed men. I have been
in perfect health and good spirits
Have been very successful in collecting.
Shot one old buffalo bull, and some
smaller game, missed a chance for
nobler(?) game in the persons of some
rascally Sioux who tried to steal our
horses - But had the fun of preparing