Commencement of Journal May 20th 1872

May 20th
Arrived last night with a brickmaker, & this morning took charge of the place. M'Lean and Reeves delivered two wagon loads from the California Colony. One wagon & break also delivered loads. Simmonds commenced work at 20$ per month. Nothing particular occurred in the day.
May 21st
Paul started with his wagon to the Paraná. Agreed with the Italians as to where they were to take concessions. Paid Cap^t Bailey 200 dollars on a/c.
May 22nd
Pugh & another came with a letter about the mill. Paid the bascos brickmakers 76 dollars on a/c. Nolan Fisher and Co. started in the steamer for a pleasure trip. The Italians went up to look at land by Pajaro Blanco. Paul came back from Paraná.
May 23rd
Sent off dray to the springs with 4 men, to make a corral. Nolan Massey & Briggs went off in steamer. Some natives came with horses.
May 24th
Went over to the Paraná with Baridon to examine the road. Found Manuel and a lot of natives there. Picked up one of our horses coming back.
May 25th
Crossed Rodger's dray & two bullocks over to the bañado. Gave Bruce a contract to put up shelves in galpón for 9$.
Sunday, May 26th
Reeves' drays arrived with goods from below, and H. M'Lean with big wagon & bullocks. Left two that I bought of Sam Gibson. They went away in the afternoon. About 4 o'clock Stephenson came up with the engine.
May 27th
Mr Baridon & the Italians commenced working on the Paraná road. W. Moore & Briggs arrived with 34 head of cattle. They lost three head on the road.
May 28th
Stephenson took the engine down to fetch up the wagon they left on the road. A soldier arrived from the Rey going to San Pedro. Stayed about the corral.
May 29th
The official from Rey called & bought some things. Went up as far as Spiller & shot a wolf. Men came back from putting up corral at Springs. W. Moore & Briggs came up with cattle.
May 30th
Stephenson came back with engine & two cars. S. Gibson also came in the evening.
May 31st
Nothing particular.

June 12th
Steamer arrived at Port W. and Colman came over with the officer.
June 13th
Rode down to see Captain Bailey about the road. Thornton & Horsfall drunk at night—Thornton badly so.
June 14th
Changed Faylis' wages to 30$ per month to date from today. Major Jobson & 400 soldiers passed en route for the Rey. I rode to the Paraná to see about timber & to get the mail, which did not arrive. Reeves came.
June 15th
Martin brought over the letters, none of importance. Bailey came in from camp. Smeder & Davis arrived with wheat & mill. Reeves left in the morning.
Sunday, June 16th
Dick rode down to the Capt^n's camp. I stayed in the house all day.
June 17th
Two of the Italians went over to the Paraná. George went also with natives & their canoe. Some boxes he brought over were not weighed so he must be credited with 6$ by guess.
June 18th
Made a contract with an Italian to do doors & window frames in the men's houses at 6$ the windows and 4$ 1 door. Engaged Marning at 20$ per month. No dray from the Paraná.
June 19th
Very misty. Colman came over from the port. Mr Moore came in the evening with a french family.
June 20th
Williams went with a load of firewood to the port. Mr Moore went away & Horsfall with him. Tried to rain at various times of the day. Killed a bullock.
June 21st
Went down to the pontoon in the steamer, & went to Esquina in the evening & saw Mr Hayes.
June 22nd
Left Esquina, & got up to the port again at dark, bringing John Morgan and Mrs Hughes with us.
June 23rd
Rode over here with Floyer & J. Morgan. Henrique arrived with maize. Rained heavily at night.
June 24th
Henrique went away with Morgan & Mrs Hughes. Raining heavily nearly all day. Smeder, Reeves & Thompson arrived with 3 wagons. Took the French boy into the kitchen.
June 25th
Fine day. Started Alfred Wey & Conolly to work at cutting firewood at 2$ per load. Reeves drays left with O'Brien, Williams & M'Donald. A fine day.
June 26th
Cold & gloomy. Received a message that the Captⁿ was very bad. Williams etc. went over to the Paraná for iron. Stephenson came up at night with the engine. Frenchman Honorat started digging potatoes. Sold Shearson a pair of steers for 40$ & Capt Newman 2 bullocks.
June 27th
Nothing particular.
June 28th
Nolan came back about mid-day also Capt^tn Bailey about 12 o'clock and his men in the evening.
June 29th
T. Moore, Horsfall & Davis came with wagons of wheat, having lost their bullocks at the Springs. I rode over to the Paraná.
Sunday, June 30th
Nothing particular.
July 1st
T. Moore & Co. went away.
July 2nd
Nolan & Dick went to the Paraná to go down to La Paz per Steamer. Very misty & cold.
July 3rd
Lay in bed all day with a bad foot. Stephenson got the mill ready for working. Very cold. S. Gibson went to California Colony.
July 4th
Got up & got about a little. The mill commenced working — did about 7 fanegas.
July 5th
Mill still doing well. Martin came from the port with letters & a telegram to say that the Italian families had arrived in Buenos Aires. Letters from Major R. & Heurtley asking about grass, road engine etc. Memo to answer.
July 6th
Two men had a fight in the evening.
Sunday, July 7th
Five wagons came up with wheat, corn & sundries. Colman came over from the Paraná with a telegram. Five wagons arrived from below with wheat & sundries.
July 8th
Wagons went away. Sent George & Cosgrove over to the Paraná. Commenced working the dresser, which did very well. Smeder & S. Gibson came & went.
July 9th
Threatened rain all day. Went up as far as Paul’s. Swift came over from the Paraná with Mills, who had shot a native.
July 10th
Rained overnight. No drays from the Paraná till evening when they arrived with the ¿insuish?.
July 11th
Rained off & on all day.
July 12th
Ditto.
July 13th
Fine. Rode over to the Paraná.
Sunday,July 14th
Rained like blazes in the evening.
July 15th
Rainy & gloomy. Baridon came back from Esquina, reporting that the Italians had not arrived.
July 16th
Very gloomy. Cleared in the evening, when Mr Moore came with wheat. Nolan & Dick came.
July 17th
A fine day. T. Moore with 4 loads of wheat arrived.
July 18th
T. Moore went away & the old man Nolan went to Esquina.
July 19th
Stayed about the place all day with a bad foot.
July 20th
Ditto.
Sunday, July 21st
Cloudy, threatening rain.
July 22nd
Rained & blew in the night.
July 23rd
Went to Esquina in the steamer. Found a telegram to say emigrants had arrived.
July 24th
Mr Coppinger & Macdonald & family came by the Guaraní. Left with Mr C. about 11 & reached the colony at dark.
July 25th
Took a ride in the after[noon] with C. to show him the lay of the country.
July 26th
The Squire went over to the Paraná.