Madame Dorion by Lenora Rain-Lee Good

Author:Lenora Rain-Lee Good
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: native american, american history, history 1800s, northwest territory, women in history, pioneer america, pioneer and frontier, american exploration
Publisher: Lenora Rain-Lee Good

No. 91 - 18 October 1811

The men have chopped down, shaped, and hollowed 15 cottonwood trees. It will be good to be back on the water and begin this last part of our journey. The voyageurs are eager to hold paddles in their hands instead of reins. Everything is cached, and what we are taking is down by the shore. The voyageurs are loading the canoes to be ready when we arise in the morning.

No. 92 - 19 October 1811

It was dark when we arose, dark and cold and snowing. The boys liked the snow. Some of the men enlisted the help of Jean-Jean to carry small loads to the canoes. Paul wanted to help, so he shook his gourd over all the canoes as he danced around them, blessing them for this journey. No one made him stop.

By the time we had all our supplies loaded and were in the water and underway, the voyageurs were singing the Alouette song. One of the voyageurs had made each boy a paddle. They joined in the singing and helped to paddle the canoe. They felt very important. And I appreciated the thoughtfulness of the man who made the paddles for the boys.

I, too, paddled. It felt good to move and stretch, and must have been enough to keep the baby happy, for she did not kick so much. Perhaps the rocking of the canoe on the water and the motion of my paddling was enough movement to soothe her. But she will wake tonight!

M. Hunt says we went about 30 miles before we stopped for the day. He is concerned the Snake River is going in the wrong direction, but I heard our Snake guides assure him the river will make a big bend farther on and take us where we want to go. Our guides assured him we have yet to reach the Snake, we are still on Henry’s Fork. We will meet the Snake tomorrow.

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