RK-797

Copy

Big Island, Great Slave Lake, April 4th 1860.

Dear Prof Baird;

I arrived here on the night of the first, after a hard trip of some days - as a party of men and boys were sent with us to relieve the provision store at Fort Simpson where starvation was feared, Mr Ross wished my sled to carry their provisions and this with frequent "lifts" given to the small boy that accompanied us loaded the dogs so heavily that I couldn't ride till the two last days when I rode in all only three or four miles - so I may say I made the trip pretty well - I got pretty well knocked up though and my feet blistered as if I'd had a taste of the Turkish bastinado - I would after my experience prefer a mid winter voyage to one in the spring where the thaws and warm weather make walking very hard to one whose feet are not as tough as the hoofs of the voyagers. However I'm all right now, though I didn't move about much for two days after my arrival here.

Mr Hardisty has sent his cariole to take me to Fort Resolution; and Mr Clarke of Fort Rae, as I've before said, made arrangements with Ried the Fort Master here to send the train of dogs to Fort Simpson for me while his train was to wait here to take me to Fort Rae - So you see they are all very kind to me - Indeed it must have been very inconvenient for Mr Hardisty to send for me as he is short of dogs. I shall send on my collecting apparatus to For Resolution by Mr Hardisty's men (who will, now that I am not going, take the packet also,) while I will go to Fort Rae as soon as the packet from Fort Simpson, which has not yet come, arrives - I'll stay ten or fifteen days at Fort Rae according to the state of the weather and then cross to Resolution. Twill take five days to Fort Rae and about the same from there to Resolution - As I shall ride when I like on these trips I'll arrive at each post fresh and ready for work - The ptarmigans have not all left here yet and they say they will stop at Fort Rae till they get their summer plumage. There too I may get barren ground deer. I shall teach Indians to skin specimens and try to get Mr Clarke interested in oology so that my Fort Rae trip will certinly be good. I'll still arrive at Fort Resolution about the time the first birds come - that is the last of April. Of course I'll get every ptarmigan I can lay my hands on, I've secured seven here (Lagopus albus I suppose,) but they are all females, from this I think the males may have gone off already. I'm in hopes John Ried Fort Master at this place will collect a good lot of things, he has given me a third specimen of the little Shrew I send by this packet. I have also just got another large ermine and I got one on the road up. No mice here - this post is built on a low point

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of the main land opposite a large Island, whence the name. Nearly all the surrounding country is an immense swamp without trees and but little higher than the lake, a more desolate place I never saw. It is a fishing station, and fish are taken all winter but mostly in October when the white fish spawn. I observe here now pike; two suckers, white fish, incummus, locke, the "Lake pike of Michigan" (Leucioperca.) and trout. I will try to skin some of them before I leave and if not, will get some from Rae and Resolution. I now have about 4 gals of resin[?] and alcohol, I send one copper can (2 1/2 gals.) full to Resolution beside some pure alcohol for insects (1 quart,) I have also left a small cache of pure alcohol at Fort Simpson with a little arsenic ether etc for Yukon in case I dont get from home - I have also the other copper can nearly half full of rum and alcohol, this I will take to Fort Rae and perhaps leave with Clarke to be sent across in the boat to Resolution. On the whole I think the prospect ahead very good and I'll break something before I'll fail to make up for my former poor success. By the way you observe these winter expeditions cost me nothing beyond the trifling presents I must give to the men. I feel much more wide and quite feel the good old sensation when I'm skinning the white ptarmigans. McFarlane and I parted at Fort Simpson with loud "hurrahs for the Anderson" - I consider myself (supposing I get Sir Georges permission,) certinly booked for the year on the Yukon and at least a winter on the Anderson, and I have no idea that I will feel willing to leave the anderson till I've spent a summer on the barren grounds. Beside it takes a long time to do any thing here. From Fort Simpson I wrote you and sent a small lot of speciments. I will send two ermines from here. I mentioned that I got my bill from Norway House and they promised to send you a copy. It was [pounds]42. - only [pounds]18. for my passage in with seven pieces. It is too bad that the ( --- ) voyageurs plundered me of my provisions for I had enough to have furnished a decent allowance after using what was required for my voyage - confounded thieves liars and rascals, generally, these French Red River half breeds.

I think I have allready told you that so long as I know it is coming, I can use the money you send, in antic= =ipation, as Mr Ross will give me credit at the store. I'm off for Fort Rae in the morning early - we sleep on the ice part of the time - good fun - Expect to open your eyes wide at the next list of specimens you get. Regards to Mrs Baird & Lucy.

Yours Allways R. Kennicott.

Please ask the Miss Henrys if they remember their promise respecting the music on the 10th of each month. I shall listen hard on the evening of the 10th of this month when I'll be on the lake near Fort Rae.

[page turned] (The letter of which this is a copy, fills four pages, letter size, Prof Baird received it Aug. 15th 1860. I have copied it in full John. M. W.