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1859 Across the Plains 99 Jan 30th Sunday.-No change. Went out and cut down some trees to procure moss, took it to the Indians who prepared it. 31st Monday.-Mild and snowing during day and night, the Indians do not come to us regularly now, when we get out, we have to take some ammunition and procure some. Feb 1st Tuesday.-Clear and thawing. Indians brought up some large fish which have just run up. Palmer calls them Tom cod, this liver is exactly like a cod. We found these fish quite a relief from the minnows. We took the roe out and made a sort of soup, seasoning with few garlics which we had procured from the Indians. Stripped the entrails and boiled them with the fish. Feb 2d Wednesday.-Mild and showing. Procured some moss and had it prepared by the Indians. 3d Thursday.- Warm and thawing. Tom cods. We are commencing to recruit. 4th Friday.- Warm and thawing, heavy snow fell during the night, the snow is now four feet on a level. 5th Saturday.-Mild and snowing. Two Indians came into camp this morning from the Kootoonis trading post, we recognized them and they appeared to be glad to see us. They are couriers sent from that post to Colville with the Hudson Bay mail, for which service they get thirty-six skins which is equivalent to about $18.00 of American money. The trip is usually performed in about three weeks, including stoppages. We wrote a letter to Amesbury, begging for tobacco. We would much prefer flour, ? but the couriers could not pack it, as they were traveling