The daybook that forms this collection dates from 1828 to 1829 and consists of 39 pages written by Hugh Faries while he was a chief trader for the Hudson's Bay Company.

Although the daybook is unsigned, it is known that Hugh Faries was a chief trader assigned to the Kenogamissi district, 1827- 1837. The Kenogamissi district was located north of Georgian Bay in what is now the province of Ontario in the region of Lake Huron. It is likely that the events recorded in the daybook took place at Matawagamingue, a Hudson's Bay Company trading post, within the Kenogamissi district. Entries in the daybook refer to other trading posts, Moose, Flying Post, and Whitefish Lake, which were located in close proximity to Matawagamingue. References to "my son Walter" later identified as Walter Faries, further substantiate the writer as Hugh Faries. The daybook begins on August 20, 1828 and describes one season of the daily activities of the trading post. The entries detail weather conditions, maintenance work of the trading post, and the business of trade with the Indians. The men employed at the trading post were engaged in cutting wood, bringing in hay, netting snowshoes, making sleds, overhauling traps, and building canoes and rafts. Accounts are given of the daily hunts for game and fish. Faries lists the names of Indians who came to trade furs at the Metawagamingue post and the size of their hunt. In exchange for the furs, the Indians were given game (mostly martins) corn, or potatoes. Entries of August 23, 1828 and May 11, 1829 describe Indians from a band called Horses, most likely part of the Chippewa tribe. The Chippewa Indians in the territory around Georgian Bay had been involved in the fur trade since the late 17th century. Some individual Indian names are given as Nitawigaw, Nitawash, Niokan, Nitawaconen. Faries describes the wretched condition of the Indians due to starvation and his own distress at not being able to offer greater assistance. Entries of March 29 and May 31, 1829 relate incidences of Indians driven to cannibalism by their desperate circumstances during the winter of 1828-1829 The daily activities and work of a "Mr. McKay" are noted. It is likely that the man is Donald McKay, part Temiscamingue Indian, who was stationed in the Kenogamissi district and was of some importance to the team. McKay was born and educated in Canada, related to Indians in the district, and was regarded as very useful at the Matawagamingue post. In 1832, he became chief trader at Kuckatoosh (Flying Post) in the Kenogamissi district. On February 10, 1829, McKay was sent towards Lake Huron in search of missing Indians. Faries expresses concern over his delayed return and writes on March 29th that he (Faries) was "much relieved from considerable anxiety by the appearance of Mr. McKay." The daybook concludes at the end of the season in May, 1829; Faries's last entries note taking an inventory of property, packing canoes, and preparations for shipping the furs and business papers from the post.