RK-385

1857 Selkirk Settlement Red River Hudson Bay [illegible] [circled] 51

Dear Charlie

I am pretty well north - 60 miles north of U.S. line andI'm going 20 miles further tomorrow - I am getting to have a "kind "er" "va" sorter va" desire to be at home and as cavaliers train of carts cannot start for crow wing for 8 days yet I will go with them.

This gives me a week in this Settlement I will be at crow wing about oct 10^th at St Pauls at least as early as oct 20^th

I am quite well - Mr Cavalier is kind enough to let me have some money so Ill not run short - Ill provide ^a good buffalo skin and slub warm going back, and have a good time probably - It is getting rather cold here about like 6 weeks later with you at home - and as insects will soon hole up I feel less anxious to stay longer

I dont feel in good trim this morning and the mail starts from here to day so must even let this scrap go - Ill have lots of queer stories to tell you, Ive tried to keep y my eyes open to customs etc. Shall see much more in going back by Crow wing which takes me through the head waters at the Mississ[page torn]

I shall hope a little to find a letter at crow wing

In fathers letter which I got long after leaving St Pauls he says you were invited to deliver the address to the Bureau co ag'l soc'y - Hope you accepted because you certainly ought to have done so. Somehow these things do one good aside from any credit gained.

I am getting to be a great smoker my stock of segars getting low, You will be horrified to hear that I smoke plug tobacco the only kind used here - I find it when mixed with kinikinick not very bad -

I bought two boxes of segars and I assure you they have been as a kind friend to me the whole route - I never appreciated a good smoke till this trip. After eating a couple of pounds of buffalo meat with maybe a duck or grouse and fish it goes prime to sit by the camp fire and puff away with a gusto unknown under other circumstances.

Last night I selp slept in a bed for the first time in over a month - most of the time I slept with the stars winking at me tho' on rainy or dewey nights I got under a cart, and could only see the stars sideways.

However pleasant this trip may be I assure you there will be one happy

[circled] 53 3

happy fellow when I reach home again - I half dislike the notion of going to washington so soon but 'tis too good a chance to loose and after a few days of pleasure at home I must be off.

Maybe you think this is a wild uncivilized place - not so - you can here find as high livers as any where else This is a head depot of the Hudsons Bay Co.

Remember me kindly to all the folk - love to ours

Affectionately Bob

Ill perhaps send this letter to Pembina for mailing