Something about Plagues and Difficulties
The mosquitoes are a terrible scourge, the place at times is black with them, and they raise such bumps. Then during the hot weather it is too far to get…
From: Unknown To: 1908 C.E.
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“Something about Plagues and Difficulties” from Canadian Life as I Found It; Four Years Homesteading in the North-West Territories by Homesteader, 1908.
The mosquitoes are a terrible scourge, the place at times is black with them, and they raise such bumps.
Then during the hot weather it is too far to get fresh meat from town, and we have to eat salt pork, and to depend on the gun for a further supply for our larder. It is wonderful how clever one gets when the delicacy of one's dinner depends on one's cleverness.
The prairie chicken is very good eating; it is somewhat larger than a partridge, but very similar in taste; then the ducks are small and very hard to get, but if you want snipe you have only to fire off your gun, and if any are about they come and look at you, evidently unaccustomed to man's presence as yet.
The rest of the time we have to exist on tinned foods, and although these do not taste of the tin, they do not taste of much else.
Our nearest neighbour is 2½ miles away, too far for much intercourse, but as we can see his shack from our door, it makes a speck of interest on the vast expanse of land around us.
There are some hills about 8 miles away, where there are antelopes and wolves. We have already seen several of these latter animals prowling in the distance, but they do not come within rifle shot as yet.
I have dug a well and got several inches of water at 9 feet below the surface. Very good water it seems, but I shall of course have to go much deeper before, can get a permanent supply.
Water is a very important item here, for tea and coffee are the standard beverages. Beer is out of the question, it is too expensive; I am getting used to doing without it, and I am none the worse for not having it; in fact we are all quite well, only my wife finds the work a fearful pull upon her, although she never complains.
Homesteader. Canadian Life as I Found It; Four Years Homesteading in the North-West Territories. Elliot Stock, 1908.
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