BACK REFLECTION

the night the wind went round S.E. & it stormed & rained furiously. As I listened to the howling storm I felt thankful that we were not undergoing a repetition of the 12th instant. 4 mile run.

NOV. 16TH.

Sunday. Wind S.W. with a tremendous sea running. We had Divine service to-day in a neat little church which is a credit to the place. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather there was quite a good attendance. I spent the day with Mr. & Mrs. Appleby & accompanied Mr. Clemont home in the evening. La Poile is a very thriving looking place. The fine establishment over which Mr. Clemont presided being in splendid order. Not even a rotten stage or unpainted outhouse (the universal eye sore in Newfoundland villages) marred the general good taste of the “Room”.

NOV. 17TH.

Wind E.N.E. prepared to start. Mr. Clemont very kindly giving me some wine and other creature comforts. Just as we were getting under weigh the wind died off & poor Mr. Boland who had started an hour previously remained in sight, just outside of the harbour in a rolling sea all day. I returned to the kind hearth of Mr. Appleby’s parlour & slept at Mr. Clemont’s house again. A gusty wind from the E at sundown accompanied with rain. We have had 14 wet days this month already! But even the old- est inhabitants agree that the fall of 1851 was almost unprecedented in the annals of wet-tempestuous weather.

NOV. 18TH.

Calm in the morning. At 11a.m. however a light breeze sprang up from the N.E. & we put to sea. At 3 p.m. it fell calm again and we had to put our sweeps & row until dark. We groped our way to the entrance of Bay de Couteau & there anchored in 10 fathoms of water. By this time it was blowing hard from the N.E. with snow. 14 mile run.

NOV. 19TH.

Wind N.E. Started before day light. At noon it fell calm & we had to pull again until 7 p.m. before we anchored in Burgeo after a run of 20 miles. I was very kindly welcomed by Mr. Dawe & enjoyed the opportunity of thanking him for his present when our boat called on her westward voyage. Burgeo consists of a multitude of small Islands the settlement however being in the numerous small coves on the main shore.

NOV. 20TH.

Calm until 10 a.m. when a light breeze springing up N by W we put to sea. We made but very little progress however until 1 p.m. when we were favoured by a nice breeze from the N.W. at sun down we were off La Hune & Hanrahan wished to anchor there for the night. The weather promising to hold fine however I over ruled his suggestion & we ran on for New Harbour & at 11pm landed Joe Paul (Benjamin having left us at La Poile) from the punt. Joe was very much affected when bidding me adieu & I left my rifle, double barreled gun, & blanket in his charge until we should meet again when he promised to give me a deer skin canoe & some furs for them. The wind being right aft & plenty of it we steered out to sea for St. Pierre’s & had a heavy rolling night of it.

NOV. 21ST.

At daybreak we were off Miquelon Head & entered St. Peter’s harbour at 2½ p.m. after a splendid run of 100 miles. At sun down the wind went into the east and commenced blowing hard so that we made a fortunate hit by running all night.

NOV. 22ND.

Blowing a whole gale from the eastward. I made the acquaintance of Mrs. Fitzgerald & was very kindly entertained by her 3 sons. St. Peter’s is a desolate looking spot as even the stunted bush wood of Newfoundland is here wanting. The streets are exceedingly narrow & the houses small & wretched looking. The resident population is about 1500 but in summer it 3 or 4 times that & there is very considerable business in fish carried on.

NOV. 23RD.

Sunday, wind S.E. fresh, & a tremendous sea outside. A small brig which put to sea in the morning returned to the roads until the swell had time to abate a little. The people were somewhat anxious about their packet schooner from Sydney (Cape Breton) already over due “she was never afterwards heard of”.

NOV. 24TH.

Wind W.S.W. & blowing hard. We started at 8 a.m. & after a fine run of 55 miles withing 6½ hours reached Burin. Here I met an old friend Peter McPhee & spent a pleasant evening at the house of Mr. Poor. After 3.p.m. it rained hard all night. Wind S.

NOV. 25TH.

Wind today S & equally with snow. We got away at 9½ a.m. & the breeze dying away we made for Oderin at which place we arrived at 4 p.m. Here I met another Halifax acquaintance Mr. Furlong by whom I was entertained in the most friendly manner. Mr. Furlong presented me with a valuable chart on leaving him & informed me the reports concerning Mr. Bennett’s copper mine were wonderful. 25 mile run.

NOV. 26TH.

Wind N.E. & little of it but we started at 8 a.m. & bated about all day in the reach. At 4 p.m. it blew a heavy snow storm from the SE. Fortunately another boat which was in the same predicament as ourselves piloted us into Petit Forte an hour after sun down. During the night it blew a whole gale so that most fortunate that we made a harbour as our position was one of great danger. I passed the night on shore before a smokey fire & without even a blanket covering. 5 mile run.

NOV. 27TH.

Still blowing hard from E! ward. At 1 p.m. it cleared up with a northerly winds & sharp frost. It was too late in the day however to run for Placentia so we remained on board all day.

NOV. 28TH.

Wind N.N.W. & plenty of it. We had a good rolling run of 32 miles & reached Placentia at 1p.m. Here I met an old Halifax acquaintance with whom I dined & afterwards put up at the house of a fine old lady Mrs. Morris’s where I was exceedingly comfortable. La Muche seemed thoroughly to appreciate his quarters.

NOV. 29TH.

A terrific storm of snow from the eastward, could not move. By a fortunate chance I met Mr. Wiffen of Little Southern Harbour in Placentia & for a small consideration induced him to take the United Brothers off our hands in this port. This was really pleasing for all my crew could now return with me in one party to St. John’s.

NOV. 30TH.

Still storming from the eastward, could not start.

DEC. 1ST.

Stormy yet, but at 8 a.m. we started & walked 17 miles by sundown thro heavy snow drifts as yet unbroken. We stopt all night in St. East mountain tilt & passed a very unpleasant night. The country over which we passed is level but extremely barren.

DEC. 2ND.

Wind W & overcast. We had a