CHAPTER XVIII.

Father Picquet—Provision of Forts in Upper Canada just before conquest—Frontenac—Milk—Brandy—Toronto—The several forts— Detroit—British garrisons—Grasping rebels—Efforts to starve out Loyalists in Canada—Worse treated than the Acadians—Efforts to secure Fur Trade—The frontier forts—Americans’ conduct to Indians—Result—Conduct of British Government—Rations for three years—Grinding by hand—“Hominy blocks”—“Plumping mill”—The women—Soldier farmers—The Hessians—Suffering—The “Scarce Year”— Charge against the Commissariat officers—Famine—Cry for bread— Instances of suffering—Starving children—No salt—Fish—Game— Eating young grain—Begging bran—A common sorrow—Providential escapes—Eating buds and leaves—Deaths—Primitive fishing—Catching salmon—Going 125 miles to mill—Disconsolate families—1789— Partial relief—First beef slaughtered in Upper Canada—First log barn—A “Bee,” what they ate and drank—Tea introduced—Statements of Sheriff Sherwood—Roger Bates—John Parrott—Col. Clark—Squirrel swimming Niagara—Maple sugar—How it was made—Women assisting— Made dishes of food—Pumpkin loaf—Extract from Rochefoucault— 1795—Quality of grain raised—Quinté Bay—Cultivation—Corn exported—The grain dealers—Price of flour—Pork—Profits of the merchants 191