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 HISfOIY OF OEEGON; 
 
 6E06BAPHICA1 AND POLITICAl. 
 
 WITH *» WAMWATIOU OF THE rSOJICT OT A 
 
 l*is 
 
 fe^^ 
 
 NATIONAL RAIL ROAD, 
 
 PROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PAOJWC OOEAN. 
 BY GEORGE WILKES. 
 
 AIAO AN ACtJOtJNT OF THE CHARAOTKEISTICS AND PRESENT 
 CONDmON<» TOE OREGON T^&^ MEMBER OF 
 
 waui^iva ^J* \jx& tOSlCEStLY QBOANIZED 
 
 OREGON LEGISLATURE, 
 ACCOMPANIED BY A MAP. 
 
 '*"**• i 
 
 \ NEW-yORK. 
 
 WtLLUM H. COLYER, No. 5 HAGUE-STREET. 
 
 HOTOUKIfliS 4( Co., Bottw. N. HICKMAN, and SBURTZ « TAX- 
 
 1846. 
 
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 WILLIAM H. COLYER, 
 
 No. 5 Hague- s TREET . 
 
 1845. 
 
 
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 1 
 
THU 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGOI, 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL. 
 
 BY GEORGE WILKES. 
 
 IMBRACTNO AN ANALYSIS OF TIIE OLD SPANISH CLAIMS, THK BRITISH FRETKHk 
 8ION8, THE UNITED STATKS TITLE; AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT CON- 
 DITION AND CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY, AND A THOROUGH EXAMIN- 
 ATION OF THE PROJECT OF A 
 
 NATIONAL RAIL ROAD, 
 
 FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED A JOURNAL OF THI EVENTS OF THE CELEBRATED EMIGRA' 
 TING EXPEDTTION OF 1(^41 ; CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE ROUTE FROM y 
 MISSOURI TO ASTORIA, A TABLE OF DISTANCES, AND THE PHYSICAL AND 
 POLITICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TERRITORY, AND ITS SETTLE- 
 MENTS, BY A MEMBER OF THE RECENTLY ORGANISED 
 
 i.. 
 
 M 
 
 U'C^ 
 
 *^ 
 
 OREGON LEGISLATURE. 
 
 THE WHOLE CONCLUDING WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING THE TREATIESj 
 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE, AND NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN SPAIN, 
 RUSSIA, GREAT BRITAIN, AND THE UNITED STATES, IN RE- 
 LATION TO THE NORTH WIST COAST. 
 
 I 
 
 \.i 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 WILLIAM H. COLYER, 
 
 No. 5 Hague-street. 
 1845. 
 
I I ■ 
 
 
 £a tired according to on Act of Congtctt > 
 
 BY WILLIAM H. COLYER, 
 
 Ik the Clork'i OAea of tho Southern District of New Yoric, ia the year 184% 
 
 I 
 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 
 Th£ deep interest taken in the Oregon question at the present mo* 
 ment ; its paramount importance as a feature of our national policy) 
 and the prevailing inacquaintanco with its particular merits, have) 
 together, induced the author to prepare the following pages, in the 
 absence of the requisite work for the reference oi the public. 
 
 There appears to be a peculiar necessity for a publication of thig 
 kind at present, for recent events have shown it is no extravagance 
 to suppose that a period may arrive '.vhen it will be necessary for us 
 to be assured, whether we are to buckle on our armor, and to draw 
 our swords in a righteous cause or no. 
 
 In a monarchy, where the sovereign has a direct and absorbing 
 personal interest in every war, he pays pamphleteers to make it popular 
 with The People. In a Government like ours, this duty, when just) 
 devolves upon its citizens, and such of them as perform it, are re« 
 warded with consciousness of having acquitted themselves of a natural 
 obligation, and in the additional gratification of lending another impulse 
 to a righteous cause. 
 
 To accomplish his object in the best manner, the following pages 
 have been arranged in two distinct parts; the first embracing the 
 features of title, geography, and natural advantages ; and the second) 
 the descriptions of a traveller of the characteristics and capabilities of 
 the country in dispute. 
 
 In the preparation of the first, care has been taken to furnish a cleaT) 
 concise and straightforward relation of events, and to avoid the 
 technicalities and pedantries which usually confuse the mind in the 
 attempted consideration of such subjects. For the data of this portion 
 of the work, the author has availed himself freely of the best authorix 
 ties on the subject, and he takes this opportunity of acknowledging 
 his indebtedness to the work of Robert Greenhow, published for the 
 use of Congress in 1840, and also to the more recent journal of LieU" 
 tenant Wilkes. 
 
 It will be observed by those already conversant with the Oregon 
 Question, that the author has left what is called " the French Title" 
 from the category of our claims. He did this because he esteemed it 
 of but little weig it ; but those who are curious on the subject, will 
 
 ,3^b-ifU. ' 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 find a careful deduction of it in the Appendix, as prepared by a Com- 
 mittee of Congress, in 1843. 
 
 The project of a National Rail Road across the continent, though 
 generally denounced as visionary and impracticable, has long been the 
 author's favorite idea, and he claims for it that attention which every 
 scheme deserves from its opposers. It was not his intention to 
 advance it as early as the present time, but the rapid progress of events 
 has precipitated his design, and a similar proposal from another source, 
 has induced him to bring it forward now, principally from an appre- 
 hension that the grandest scheme the world ever entertained, may 
 be prostituted to the selfish interests of a private corporation. 
 
 The second part of the work, consists of a journal, prepared from 
 a series of letters, written by a gentleman now in Oregon, who him- 
 self accompanied the celebrated emigrating expedition of 1843. 
 
 They make no pretensions in their style, but are merely simple, 
 conversational epistles, which, in their familiar, off'-hand way, furnish 
 a large amount of useful practical mformation to the emigrant, and 
 much interesting matter to the general "reader. The author has done 
 scarcely more to this portion than to thrpw it into chapters, and to 
 strike from it such historical and geographical statistics as had been 
 drawn from other sources, and arranged in the preceding portions of 
 the work. These letters fell into his hands after the adoption and 
 commencement of his original design ; and adapting them to his pur- 
 pose, by linking them with his own MSS., a deal of research was saved 
 him by the valuable and peculiar information they contributed. 
 
 In conclusion, though much of his labor has been performed in haste, 
 the author thinks it hardly necessary to offer an apology for the manner 
 in which it has been accomplished. Instead of fishing for credit, he 
 has desired only to be useful, and he would much prefer confirming the 
 just determination of a single man, than to pleasing the fancies of a 
 thousand critics. He has therefore been content to be correct, and he 
 will feel over-paid if he have opposed a single obstacle to the manifold 
 deceptions and misstatements of the calculating monarchists who 
 unhappily form a portion of the Citizens of this Republic, or have con- 
 tributed a mite to the great movement that will advance the destiny 
 of his country more rapidly than all other influences combined. 
 
 NoTF..— The map i'acinff the title-page is taken from an English publication on the Oregon 
 Question, and from the extreme haste with which the publisher has been obliged to proceed, is 
 the best he is enabled to furnish, for the present. Though shorn of two degrees of the 
 southern portion of Oregon, it is accurate in the profile of the coast, in the course of the rivers, 
 nnd in all the principal features of the territory. It will bo noticed thut along the line 
 of Frazer's River runs the words—" Route of Makenzio, in 1793 ;" and as no mention is made 
 in the following pages of Mr. Makenzie, it may be proper to state that he was a Scotch Fur 
 Trader, who had been engaged in the years 1789-90 and -91, in exploring the Great Slave River, 
 to the North Sea, and in 1793, descended Frazer's River, to its mouth. This exploit, however, 
 has no bearing on the question of title, as Galiano, and Valdes, and Vancouver had visited it some 
 weeks before. As a further explanation, it may bo necessary to say that Queen Charlotte's 
 Sound, and the Gulf of Georgia, are northern portions of the Strait of Fuca ; and an easterly line 
 from the southern point of the small island immediately, under mark of longitude 133°, to 
 the Rocky Mountains, is the northern boundary we claim. 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Historical Account of the Discovery and Settlement of Oreaon Terri- 
 tory^ Comprising an examination of the old Spanish Claims, the 
 British Pretensions, and a deduction of the United States Title. 
 
 Oreoon is a vast stretch of territory, lying on the north west coast 
 of North America. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean ; 
 on the north by latitude 54° 40' ; on the east by the Rocky 
 mountains, and on the south by the forty-second parallel. This geo- 
 graphical arrangement separates the coast into three grand divisions ; 
 first, that below the forty-second parallel belonging to Mexico ; se- 
 cond, the section lying between 42°, and 54° 40' to the United States ; 
 and third, all above the last named limit, to the Russian crown* — 
 thus* shutting Great Britain out from any inch of seaboard territory. 
 
 The whole of this immense region (Oregon) is nine hundred and 
 sixty miles in length ; its breadth along its northern boundary is about 
 five hundred miles, and widening gradually with the south-easterly 
 course of the Rocky mountains, it stretches to about seven hundred 
 miles along its southern line. Its whole surface may, therefore, be 
 estimated at four hundred thousand square miles. 
 
 Previous to entering into a description of its general characteristics, 
 it is necessary first to analyze with accuracy the nature of our claims, 
 for the purpose of ascertaining the degree of interest we are warranted 
 in bestowing on it. This course will be found the more important, as 
 we shall see that Great Britain, with characteristic modesty, lays claim 
 to it for herself. 
 
 There are four modes by which nations may obtain possession and 
 sovereignty over countries ; and these are by discovery ; by settle- 
 ment ; by conquest, and by purchase — the latter, including all subordi- 
 nate modes of cession arising out of political arrangement. 
 
 These rules, or principles, are laid down and governed by a general 
 system called international law, the nature and qualities of which it 
 will be necessary for us to exactly understand, before we can proceed 
 satisfactorily with our inquiry. 
 
 International Law is simply no law at «//, for the first idea of law 
 implies a superior power prescribing and dictating to an inferior one — 
 a notion that is perfectly incompatible with the equality of nations. 
 International law is, therefore, merely a collection of moral maxims put 
 forth by certain ethical writers named Grotius, PufFendorf, Baron 
 Wolfius and Vattel, which, being founded in the main on accurate 
 bases, have-been generally used by diplomatists as ready elucidations 
 of the principles that should govern the general course and policy of 
 nations. The adoption of this course saves them the special trouble 
 of elaborating an argument on a natural right, by producing one ready 
 
 See Appendix, No. 1. 
 
b HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 made to their hand. The custom of resorting to these writers by 
 diplomatists in the arrangement of their disputes, has given them a 
 sort of authority, which has been confounded with the notion of an 
 imperative rule. As, however, all nations are equal, there can be no 
 international law but the great principle of right. Wherever the 
 maxims of these writers square with this, they are doubtless as obli- 
 gatory as any law can be ; for all powers are subject alike to the rules 
 of everlasting justice, which are the type and essence of the only su- 
 premacy to which the nations of the earth must bow. But, whenever 
 on the contrary, they do not agree with this divine principle, it is 
 equally obligatory on all to reject them. 
 
 There is another view in which a government like ours has a spe- 
 cial and peculiar right to deny the obligatory nature of this collection 
 of essays, and that is embraced in the fact of their being drawn from 
 monarchial theories. We, therefore, who are Avorking upon a new 
 and antagonistic principle, are not bound by any scheme which con- 
 flicts with our own grand design ; for it would be absurd in the ex- 
 treme for a State which achieved its existence through the denounce- 
 ment of an arbitrary and unjust system, to admit the binding force of 
 its inconsistent parts. We want no such system of international law ! 
 The prevailing sentiment of national honour, common to every free 
 people, is the best conservator of the rights of nations ; for while it 
 imperatively exacts immediate redress for every wrong, it rejects every 
 unworthy policy with unqualified disdain. The principles of justice, 
 eternal and invariable, are understood by all without the elaborate 
 filterings of an artificial code, and they have the advantage moreover, 
 of applying equally to Monarchies and to Republics. The just do 
 right without a written rule ; the bad outrage it in opposition to a 
 thousand — the first find their reward in the approbation of the world ; 
 the last their punishment in the alternative of war. No written code 
 can alter these tendencies, nor affect their results. No nation will 
 obey a rule which runs in derogation of its rights. What need then 
 of a system which offers no additional inducements and enforces no 
 additional penalties ? 
 
 We do not introduce these views of international law here, because 
 any of its principles makes against our claims to Oregon, but for the 
 opposite reason that they substantiate them ; for we wish to be under- 
 stood, that while we have a right to accept a proposition waged 
 against us, and turn its premises to our own account, we do not there- 
 by bind ourselves irrevocably to the whole system of which it is a 
 part. 
 
 Great Britain in support of her pretensions to the sovereignty of 
 Oregon, produces two principles from this code which relate to the 
 rights drawn from discovery and occupation. We accept the chal- 
 lenge, because it happens to be founded on correct principles, and 
 because it enables us to beat her on her own ground. The following 
 are the rules alluded to. They are extracted from Vattel, who is 
 considered the standard authority on international law. 
 
 "All mankind have an equal right to things that have not fallen into the hands of 
 any one ; and these things belong to tho person who first takes possession of them. 
 When, therefore, a nation finds a country uninhabited and without an owner, it may 
 lawfully take possession of it ; and after it has sufficiently made known its intention 
 or will in this respect, it cannot be deprived of it by another nation. Thus naviga- 
 
HISTORY OP OREGON. » 
 
 tors going on voyages of discovery, furnished with a commission from, their lovereign, 
 and meeting with islands or other lands in a desert state, have taken possession of 
 them in the name of their nation ; and this title has been usually respected, provided 
 it was soon after followed by a real possession." — Book 1, Chap. 18, Sec. 207. 
 
 " When a nation takes possession of a country that never yet belonged to another, 
 it is considered as possessing th<fre the empire or sovereignty at the same time with 
 the domain."— JSooA: 1, Chap. 18, Sec. 205. 
 
 The correctness of these propositions cannot be denied ; they are 
 consistent with reason and natural rights, and though they derive no 
 additional force from being written down by Monsieur Vattel, they 
 are properly admitted by nations as principles which cannot be assailed 
 to the injury of the party enjoying the rights of the affirmative, without 
 aggression. Indeed, they would have been much better and more 
 correctly understood if Vattel had never said a word about them. It 
 is obvious enough that no claim can exist to a country which has 
 never been discovered, and it is equally Obvious that it must naturally 
 fall into the possession of the first nation who redeems it to the world ; 
 but it is not so apparent why a navigator should be armed with a 
 commission before his nation can derive a title to his discoveries. 
 Here we see at once the pedantry of the lawyer : the main proposition 
 is founded upon reasonable principles, but the latter condition is the 
 offspring of a quirk. It will be hereafter seen that England discards 
 this feature from the rule, in her assertion of the discoveries of 
 Meares ; and it was against such absurdities as this, that our protest 
 against international law was intended to guard. 
 
 There is one other principle of international law which has been 
 introduced into this controversy, that is of equal natural force and 
 validity with the foregoing ones. This is the well known and esta- 
 blished rule, that " he who first discovers the mouth of a river drain- 
 ing a country in a state of nature, and makes known his discovery ; 
 and the nation whom he represents, takes possession in a reasonable 
 lime, becomes the owner of all the territory drained by such river.'* 
 
 This proposition, like the former ones, recommends itself at once 
 to our reason and common sense. It is clear that such river should 
 belong of right to the nation first discovering it, and it is equally clear, 
 that to be of any use or benefit to them, they should have possession 
 of the whole country drained by it, so that its sources and its current 
 may not be at the mercy of inimical hands, who could render it use- 
 less at pleasure, by cutting off the first, or perverting the second in a 
 different channel. 
 
 THE OLD SPANISH CLAIMS.* 
 
 In 1491, the western hemisphere slept unknown in the abyss. 1491. 
 In 1492 Spain redeemed it to the world. Between 1512 and }^J^; 
 1541, she settled Mexico, occupied Florida, traversed the whole imi. 
 northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and explored the interior of the 
 continent as far as the fortieth degree of north latitude. In 1543 j^^g 
 she explored the coast under Cabrillo and Bartoleme Ferrelo, as 
 
 * Though it is hardly necessary to mention to the reader in this stage of our 
 examination, that the United States purchased from Spain in 1819, all the right 
 devolving to her on the North West coast above 42* north latitude by virtue of 
 her discoveries and settlements, it will do no harm to direct him to bear in mind 
 that in making out Ae;- title, we of consequence establish our own. 
 
HISTORY OF OREQOIT. 
 
 1580. '^'S^ "^^ *'^6 forty-fourth parallel, and from that year till 1580 we 
 hear of no other adventure in a northern latitude. In the last 
 mentioned year, however, Sir Francis Drake appeared in the North 
 Pacific, and as the British government have seen fit to lay great stress 
 upon his discoveries, it is necessary that we should give them parti- 
 cular attention. 
 
 Drake was one of the most distinguished of the buccaneers who 
 cursed the face of the ocean during the latter part of the sixteenth 
 century. He had heard of the enormous profits derived from the 
 pillage of the South American Spanish settlements, and appealing to 
 Queen Elizabeth, (who secretly encouraged this system of warfare, 
 while she dared not openly deny to Spain the rights of her Pacific dis- 
 coveries,) received her aid to his nefarious schemes. With, therefor^, 
 no object beyond piracy and plunder, he entered the Pacfic in 1578, 
 and during the course of that and the following year, ravaged every 
 town of note on the coast of South America ; committing the most 
 barbarous outrages on their unoffending inhabitants. Being at last 
 gorged with spoil and satiated with ravage, his next object was to 
 secure a safe retreat ; but fearing to take the risk of a return through 
 the straits of Magellan, lest the exasperated Spaniards should con- 
 centrate their forces there to cut him off, he resolved to return home 
 by the way of the Indies and the Cape of Good Hope. He accordingly 
 ranged along the coast as high as the 42d or 43d degrees of north 
 latitude, when being pinched by the cold, he turned back and ran 
 into the bay of San Francisco, in lat. 38. Here he stopped five weeks 
 to refit, and for the purpose of awing the natives into submission, made 
 a pompous display of colors and music, which he afterwards very 
 modestly called taking possession for the British Crown. Though 
 Drake knew from the accounts of the natives, and the articles of 
 European manufacture he found among them, that the country had 
 been discovered and visited long before, he could not overlook so 
 favorable an opportunity of covering the dishonest nature of his enter- 
 prize ; so he assumed the character of a discoverer, and performed the 
 double service of saving both himself and his mistress from impertinent 
 inquiry b}' the evasion. He was rewarded on his return home for the 
 murders he had committed and the plunder which he shared, by a 
 baronetcy instead of the rope, and descended to posterity as Sir Francis 
 Drake, the celebrated navigator, instead of Drake, the bold pirate. On 
 this infamous basis do the British Government found their claims to 
 Oregon, and it may be regarded as significant of the ramifications of 
 the design. They insist that Drake explored the coast as high as 48°, 
 and rely upon the statements of a work called the " World Encom- 
 passed," published by an unknown compiler, froni " notes of the Rev. 
 Francis Fletcher, Preacher in this (Drake's) employment." But as 
 this journal was not made until sixty-three years after the voyage was 
 made, and as its incongruous statements are directly contradicted by a 
 work published immediately after the return of the expedition, when 
 this Mr. Fletcher and all the parties were alive, and able to refute 
 it, we are not bound to bestow a grave consideration on its statements. 
 The following extract will serve to show the consistency and veracity 
 of the Preacher's statement : 
 
 
KISTOnV CF OREtlON. 
 
 
 " On the 3d June, (1580) wo came in latitude 42* N., but in the night -we found 
 '3uch an alteration of heat to extreme fold, as caused our men to grievously complain. 
 The land bearing farther out in to the west than we had imagined, we were nearer 
 on it than we were aware. The 5th of June wo were forced by contrary winds 
 io run in with the shore and cast an anchor in a bad bay, where we were not 
 without some danger by the extreme gusts and fiaws that beat upon us. In this 
 place there was uo abiding, on account of the extreme cold, and the wind still 
 directly bent upon us, commanded us south whether we would or no. From the 
 height of 48", in which we now were, to 38°, wefi/Und the land low and reasonably 
 plain, and in S8" 20' fell in with a tit and convenient harbor, where we anchored. 
 During all this time, we were visited with like nipping colds, neither was the air 
 during the whole fourteen days eo clear as to enable us to take the height of sun or 
 star. Though wo searched the coast diligently, even unto the 48ih degree, yet found 
 we not the land to trend so much as one point in any place toward the east, hut 
 lather running in continually north-west, as if it wc > directly to meet with Asia. "^ 
 
 .Really this preacher expects a great deal from our symplicity, for 
 he coolly tells us that he accomplished a sailing distance of nearly, 
 if not quite, four hundred miles under the most adverse circumstances, 
 in two days. Moreover, vv^e find upon an examination of the maps, 
 that the coast between these latitudes, so far from ruwning continually 
 " north-west, as if it went directly to meet with Asia,'''' does not in any 
 part trend one point toward the west. By comparing the two 
 accounts, we find that the first historian, (Mr. Francis Pretty,) whose 
 relation being published immediately upon its conclusion, may be 
 regarded as the official journal of the voyage, sets the latitude of 5th 
 June at 43*^, while the other, whose work was not ventured before all 
 the actors had departed from the stage, marks it 48"^. It may be that 
 Fletcher's manuscript has it.-- degrees of latitude indicated by figures, 
 and that a peculiarity of fsrmation has confounded 43 with 48 ; but 
 if the inconsistency is not explained in this way, we must of necessity 
 conclude, that the Preacher, whose hard task it was, to make robbery 
 and ravage square with the ordinances of religion, has been gradually 
 brought to consider romance as his peculiar province, and to estimate 
 a serviceable fiction over a common-place fact. The character of this 
 production of .Af r. Fletuher's appears to have been pretty well under- 
 stood by the historians of the last century, for while but three writers 
 previous to 1750, (and those of but little reputation,*) adopt his state- 
 ments, tiiey are rejected by the great mass of authorities, comprising 
 Ogilby, in his History of America, De Laet, in his History of the 
 New World, Heylin, in his Cosmography, Locke, m his History of 
 Navigation, Dr. Samuel Johnson, in his biography of Drake, and Dr. 
 Robertson, in his Standard History of America, none of them allowing 
 Drake the credit of an advance above 43^, while the latter positively 
 states that he turned back at the 42d parallel. When in addition to the 
 indisputable veracity of these writers, we take into consideration that 
 they are all, with one exception, Britons, who cannot be accused of 
 an indifference to the glory of their country, we must reject the claim 
 "which is based upon the counter-statement, as without foundation. 
 Even admitting the latitude thej' ask, the very principles of inter- 
 national law they have advanced, plunges them into an inextricable 
 difficulty. By the rule which we have extracted from Vattel, « dis- 
 covery, to confer a title, is clogged with a proviso in the concluding 
 •clause, that a real possession must follow soou after. Now we shall see 
 
 * John Davis, Admiral Monson, and Captain Burney. 
 
10 
 
 mSTORT OFOREGOIT. 
 
 in the progress of our inquiry, that one hundred and ninety-eight yearn 
 elapsed, before another English navigator entered the northern latitudes^ 
 of the North-west coast. As the most romantic imagination ca» 
 hardly construe this into being soon enough after, we shall not hesitate 
 to strike the pretensions, on the score of Drake, from off' the record. 
 jjgj From the date of the expedition of Cabrillo and Ferrelo ( 1543,) 
 " we hear of no further discovery to the north, except what is- 
 contained in the account of a voyage made by Francisco Gali or 
 Guelli, a merchantman, who in his course from China to Mexico i» 
 said to have reached the vicinity of the American continent, in 57i- 
 degrees, and to have sailed along in sight of its coast, till he arrived 
 at the bay of San Francisco, in latitude 37 J. But little reliance i» 
 to be placed upon this account, however, as by Guelli's own statement, 
 the land first seen by him " was very high and fair, and wholly without 
 snow," which could not have been the case with the land in that 
 latitude. It makes but little difference whether he is entitled to all he 
 claimed or not, for subsequent discoveries cover all the ground which 
 this could have occupied, if it were ever so substantial, 
 jgg. The next discovery by the Spaniards on the North-west coast, 
 "took place in 15S7, by Jean de Fuca,a Greek pilot, who received 
 the direction of a squadron fitted out by the Viceroy of Mexico for the 
 discovery of a strait which was supposed to lead into the Atlantic 
 ocean. Arriving between latitudes 48 and 49, he fell upon the great 
 arm of the sea which separates " Quadra and Vancouver's Island" 
 from the continent, and which now bears his name. This he 
 thorougly explwed along its eastern course, and having remained in it 
 for twenty days, returned to Mexico. From the policy pursued by 
 the Spanish Government of concealing everything that related to their 
 American possessions, the' existence of this strait was unknown to the 
 rest of the world for a Ions; time, and when its discoverer disclosed it 
 to an English merchant some years afterward, it was derided as a- 
 fable. 
 j^^ In 1787 an Austrian vessel fell upon it and entered it to 
 
 the distance of sixty miles, and as it corresponded in all its 
 remarkable peculiarities with the one described by De Fuca nearly 
 two hundred years before, justice was at once rendered to his memory 
 by the bestowal on it of his name. From 1592 up to 1774, the Span- 
 iards occupied themselves principally in forming .settlements upon the 
 j„^^ coast and in the interior of their northern possessions ; but in the 
 
 latter year, another expedition was despatched under the charge 
 of Juan Perez, which traversed the coast up to the 54th degree, 
 down to forty minutes of which point the Russians had already ex- 
 tended their trading settlements. Proceeding south, Perez anchored 
 in a spacious bay under 49°, which he named Port San Lorenzo, but 
 which, on a subsequent visit by Captain Cook, received from that 
 navigator, its present name of Nootka Sound. After leaving Port 
 San Lorenzo, Pen^z saw the Strait of Fuca in his southern course, 
 J... but did not stop to examine it. In the following year another 
 
 expedition under Heceta, Bodega and Maurelle examined the 
 whole shore fiom 40° up to 58°, and the former, on his return voyage, 
 while between 46° and 47°, noticed an opening in the land at 46"" 16', 
 which appeared to be a harbor or the mouth of some river. He re~ 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 11 
 
 1778. 
 
 ported the fact, giving his opinion to that effect, and subsequent Span- 
 ish maps accordingly laid down a river there, which they called the 
 San Roque. 
 
 We have now brought the Spanish discoveries down to 1775, to 
 which time no other European nation had set foot upon the coasts 
 between 38° and 54° 40', neither had any ever reached a higher lati- 
 tude than 43°. 
 
 In 1778, three years after this latter expedition, Captain Cook 
 arrived in the North Pacific, and under 49iV' fell in with the port 
 San Lorenzo of the Spaniards. This, he named Nootka Sound, and 
 ascribed the merit of its discovery to himself in the face of numerous 
 evidences that Europeans had been there before him, for he teliis us 
 in his own account, that not only did the natives appear familiar with 
 his ships, but he found among them articles of Spanish manufacture. 
 Thus vanishes Cook from the shadow^' list of English discoverers of 
 the coast of Oregon ; for until the word discovery is born again and 
 receives a new definition, it will hardly possess sufficient elasticity of 
 application to stretch its qualities to two distinct visitations of the 
 same spot, separated by a distance of three years ; and unless its mean- 
 ing is considerably enlarged, it will scarcely extend from the outside 
 of an island twenty miles at sea, to the body of the continent behind it. 
 
 Having disposed of the two main pillars of the English title, we 
 next come to the examination of the filling in, the flimsy material of 
 which we shall find in keeping and correspondence with the unsub- 
 stantial quality of the first. 
 
 In doing this, we shall be obliged to extend the scope of our nar- 
 rative somewhat, as well to correct certain gross misrepresentations 
 which have been made to the injury of the Spanish title, as to afford 
 a proper idea of the unworthy subterfuges which the desperate di- 
 plomacy of Britain h.is employed to effect the establishment of their 
 own, in opposition to it. This course is necessary, moreover, to a 
 correct understanding of the whole subject, as the circumstances to 
 be related nearly kindled a general European war, and as they led to 
 a treaty, whose c/a/merf concessions on the part of the English, admits 
 virtually the integrity^ of the title of Spain. 
 
 j..g In the month of January, 17S8, two Portuguese vessels named 
 the " Felice," and " Iphigenia," arrived on the north-west coast 
 of North America. The former was under the command of John 
 Meares, a half-pay lieutenant in the British navy, and the latter was 
 under the direction of William Douglas, also a British subject. They 
 were engaged in the fur trade, and were owned by John Cavallo, a 
 Portuguese merchant of Macao. As it is important to establish their 
 nationality, it is necessary to state that they sailed under the Portu- 
 guese flag, and contained instructions to their commanders written in 
 the Portuguese language. These directed theui, in express termi?; 
 " to oppose with force any attempt on the part of any Russian, 
 EniiUsh or Spanish vessels to interfere with them, and if possible to 
 capture them, to bring them to China, that tUey might be condemned 
 as legal prizes by the Portuguese authorities of Macao, and their 
 crews punished as pirates." This, of course, conclusively refutes the 
 assumption that they were Eiicjllsh. The first of these Poituguese 
 vessels, the Felice, under the command of Meares, arrived at Nootka 
 on the 13th May, when that officer finding he would need a small 
 
12 
 
 HISTORY OF OREOON. 
 
 ( 
 
 :n 
 
 vessel for the shallow inlets and rivers of the coast, immeiliately com- 
 menced building one. Leaving a portion of his crew to complete her 
 construction, Meares sailed towards the south to examine his trading 
 ground. He endeavored unsuccessfully to explore the Strait of Fuca, 
 and on arriving at the portion of the coast between 46" and 47^ — the 
 locality of the mouth of the Columbia — he sought for the great river 
 which Heceta three years before had asserted emptied into the ocean 
 in 46° 16'. Here he was unsuccessful again, and chagrined at the 
 result, named the inward curve of the shore " Deception Bay^" 
 and the northern promontory of the harbor " Cape Dmtppo'mtmeut^^^ 
 chronicling the circumstance in his own journal in the following 
 Words : — " Wc can novo with safely assert that there is no such river 
 as that of Saint Roc exists, as laid down in the Spanish charts^ 
 After his unsatisfactory search, Meares returned in the latter part of 
 July to Nootka. In September following, the American sloop Wash- 
 ington, Captain Gray, anchored in the same harbor. The little ves- 
 sel commenced by Meares h'ld been completed, and received the 
 name of the " North West America ;" and the Iphigenia, the other 
 Portuguese vessel commanded by Douglas, arrived on the 24th of the 
 same month. Elated with the success of his enterprise, Meaues 
 transferred the cargo of the latter vessel to his own with the utmost 
 despatch, and filled with new designs inspired by the result, set out 
 four days afterward for Macao. 
 
 In the following month, the ship Columbia of Boston, commanded 
 by captain Kendrick, arrived at Nootka, and a few days afterwards, 
 the two remaining Portuguese vessels, (the Iphigenia and the North 
 West America) departed for the Sandwich Islands, leaving the Ame- 
 rican vessels to winter on the coast. 
 
 j^g., Meares arrived at Macao in December, and finding that Caval- 
 " lo, his owner, had become a bankrupt, determined to turn his in- 
 formation and position to the best account for himself. An opportunity 
 was not long in offerins: itself to his designs. Two vessels belongins; 
 to a rival association, called the " King George's Sound Company," 
 arrived at Macao under the command of James Colnett, another British 
 ofiicer under half pay. Meares immediately made overtures to an 
 agent of that association, who came in one of the vessels (perhaps 
 through some previous direction communicated by Meares, while all 
 parties were on the N. W. coast together in the previous summer) 
 to unite the interests of both concerns. The suggestion was adopted, 
 the interests conjoined, and two vessels, the Princess Royal and the 
 Argonaut, (the latter bearing Colnett, who had chief direction) were 
 despatched to Nootka, with the intention of esliiblishing a permanent 
 post there for the transaction of their trading operations. Meares re- 
 mained at Macao as resident agent, with all the affairs of the associa- 
 tion entirely at his control.- 
 
 In the mean time, Spain, who had heard with uneasiness of the 
 movements of the fur traders in the North Pacific, began to be alarmed 
 lor the safety of her possessions in that quarter, and remonstrances 
 were made by he;- to the' courts of England and of Russia, against the 
 encroachments of the subjects of those two nations, in particular. To 
 more effectually guard against these transgressions, as well as to resist 
 a projected seizure of Nootka by the Russians, the viceroy of Mexi- 
 co directed a squadron then lying at San Bias, under the command of 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 13 
 
 Don Esteran Jose Martinez, to proceed at once to the scene of the 
 intended aggression. 
 
 Dufore the arrival of Martinez at Nootka, the Iphigcnia and North 
 West America, returned there from the Sandwich Islands, but in a 
 most forlorn condition, the former being a mere wreck, and almost 
 incapable of repair. 
 
 On the Gth of May, 1780, nine days afterwards, Martinez arrived, 
 proclaimed that he had come to take possession of the country for the 
 crown 6f Spain, landed artillery, and commenced the erection of a fort. 
 This was the first actual occupation ever n\ade of Nootka. The most 
 kindly feeling prevailed among all parties for a time, and the Spanish 
 commander afibrded the Iphigenia whatever materials she stood in 
 need of, in order that she might go to sea immediately ; accepting in 
 payment, bills drawn upon Cavallo, of Macao, as her owner. This 
 amicable state of feeling lasted but a week, for upon Martinez being 
 informed that the written instructions of the Portuguese vessels, di- 
 rected them to seize and carry to Macao any English, Russian, or 
 Spanish vessels, they could manage to overcome, he took possession 
 of the Iphigenia, and put her officers and crew under arrest. They 
 were liberated, however, in a few days, through the intercession of 
 captain Kendrick of the Columbia, and the omcers of the Iphigenia 
 signed a declaration to the effect that she had not been interrupted in 
 her operations, and that they had been kindly treated by Martinez 
 during their stay at Nootka. Viana and Douglas as captain and su- 
 percargo, respectively, engaged to pay for themselves, and for Juan 
 Cavallo, the owner of said vessel, to the order of the Viceroy of Mexico, 
 her full value, in case her capture should be pronounced legal. Mar- 
 tinez then fully equipped her for sea, and enabled her to make ^ vastly 
 profitable voyage ; a circumstance which could not have happened 
 without his special aid. Pretty lenient treatment for men whom he 
 might have sent to Mexico to be tried for piracy, and a pretty hazar- 
 dous policy moreover, when an additional force belonging '.o the same 
 company was daily expected to arrive, which might ha .re overpow- 
 ered him, and reversed the case by sending him, according to their 
 instructions, to Macao, to he tried on the same charge. 
 
 One of the vessels of the associated companies, the Princess Royal, 
 arrived at Nootka on the 16th of June, and brought with her the news 
 of the failure of Juan Cavallo ; upon which, Martinez determined to 
 hold the North West America (then there) as security for the bills 
 which he held on the bankrupt. The Princess Royal was well treat- 
 ed by the Spaniards, and sailed on the second of July from Nootka on 
 a cruise. As she was leaving the harbor, the Argonaut came in. 
 Upon being boarded by the Spaniards, Captain Colnett arrogantly de- 
 clared he had come to take possession of Nootka for Great Britain, 
 and to erect a fort there under the British flag. This declaration, in 
 connexion with some insolent conduct on the part of Colnett on the 
 following day, who even went to the extent of drawing his sword 
 upon the Spanish commander, in the latter's own cabin, determined 
 Martinez to trifle no longer with such intemperate offenders, so he 
 seized the Argonaut, and subsequently the Princess Royal, and de- 
 spatched the former, with the crews of b')ih, to San Bias, Mexico, as 
 prisoners under the charge of a Spanish officer. Those who were cap- 
 tured in the North West America, which vessel was merely held as 
 
u 
 
 HISTORV OF OREOOrr. 
 
 r; I 
 
 •j 
 
 collateral security for the obligations of its owners, were sent in the 
 Columbia as passengers to Macao, their passages not only being paid 
 by Martinez, but an allowance being also made them for their wage*. 
 Having thus disposed of his mission, Martinez sailed from Nootka for 
 Mexico in November, leaving Captain Kendrick of the sloop Washing- 
 ton alone upon the coast. 
 
 The Columbia, with the news of these circumstances, arrived at 
 .j^gj Macao in 1789, and Meares full of his wrongs immediately took 
 ' depositions from some of the seamen, and posted off to London to 
 see what capital he could make out of the circumstance. On his arri- 
 val there, he got up a memorial filled with the grossest misrepre- 
 sentations and downright falsehoods, and adopting a new idea which 
 probably had been suggested to him after his arrival, he asserted that 
 in 1788 he had purchased a vast district of country from King Maqui- 
 na, the monarch of Nootka, and that he had erected a fort there, with 
 other buildings, by way of taking formal possession of the place for 
 the British crown. ' 
 
 This remarkable document then concludes by praying for an indem- 
 nification of the losses sustained by the memorialist and his associates^ 
 through the seizure and detention of their vessels, in the very mode- 
 rate sum of six hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars ! This story 
 of the purchase of a territory for the crown of Great Britain, by a 
 Portuguese agent, in a Portuguese expedition, is peculiarly English 
 in its extravagant pretensions. That it was the scheme of an after- 
 thought is evident from a number of circumstances. In the first place, 
 Meares in his journal of these voyages, written and published before 
 the design of the memorial was conceived, makes no mention Avhat- 
 ever of any such purchase of territory from the respectable monarch 
 aforesaid ; neither does he speak of the erection of the fort or the 
 hoisting of the British flag. In the second place, he entirely overlooks 
 these all important circumstances in the depositions which he took from 
 the crew of the North West America previous to his departure from 
 Canton ; (none of whom say one word about them,) and in the third, to 
 render the assertions of the memorial on this point more than questional 
 ble, he was able to trump up only one pretended witness in the person of 
 a common seaman to sustain them, and that too on the very day of its 
 presentation to parliament. It is a significant fact, moreover, that 
 the king's speech which laid the grievances set forth in this memorial 
 before the nation, makes no allusion to the seizure of any lands or 
 buildings belonging to the British crown at Nootka, though ' that 
 assumption found its way into the treaty framed shortly after ; and it 
 is a positive fact, too, from evidence that will hereafter appear, that 
 there were no such lands or buildings there to seize. The British 
 government, however, demanded atonement from Spain for these 
 outrages on its flag, but though it prudently avoided representing the 
 Felice and Iphigenia as British vessels, it was guilty of the monstrous 
 inconsistency of claiming for itself the discoveries and territorial acqui- 
 sitions of an agent and employee of a Portuguese association. By way 
 of giving weight to its demands, the armament of two large fleets was 
 ordered, and similar warlike preparations resounded through all the 
 naval arsenals of indignant Spain. The latter, however, being disap- 
 pointed in expected aid from France, and being embarrassed, more- 
 over, in her finances, and in her foreign and domestic relations, was 
 
nilTORT or OREGOK. 
 
 n 
 
 obliged to submit to the haughty terms imposed upon her. These 
 •are embraced in a treaty between the two high contracting powers 
 noo ^'g"^^ <^° ^^^ '^^^^ October, 1790, the first and second articles of 
 which, provide for the restoration of all buildings and tracts </ 
 land on the continent of North America, or the islands adjacent, of 
 which the subjects of his Britannic majesty were dispossessed in April, 
 1789, by Spain, and for compensation for all losses by violence, hos- 
 tility, detention of vessels, &c. The third guarantees the right in 
 common, of navigation, of carrying on the fisheries of the Pacific 
 Ocean, and of landing on the unoccupied portions of the coasts for the 
 purpose of trade with the natives, or of making settlements ; subject, 
 nowever, to the restriction of the fourth article, that British subjects 
 should not navigate or carry on their fishery within the space of ten sea 
 leagues from any part of the coasts already occupied by Spain. By 
 the fifth, these common rights of fishing, trade and settlement are 
 «xtended to all colonies formed, or to be formed, subsequent to April, 
 1789. By the sixth, both are prohibited from forming settlements Im 
 ^outh America to the south of those already formed by Spain, though 
 the liberty of a temporary landing is allowed for fishing purposes. 
 The seventh provides for the form of convention to settle subsequent 
 ■disputes ; the eighth, and last, states that the instrument shall be 
 ratified in six weeks, and the treaty thus concludes without making 
 •any limit for the duration of its stipulations.* It will be remarked that 
 this treaty, though humiliating to Spain in the sense of forcing com- 
 pensation for the exercise of a national right, mak«s no concession of 
 « single claim of sovereignty, but rather secures to her, additional 
 advantages and protects her from further encroachments. The fol- 
 lowing language used by Mr. Fox, in the house, in opposition to " a 
 motion for an address to his majesty, congratulating him on the highly 
 -satisfactory issue to the late negotiation," &c., will serve to show the 
 estimation in which the whole affair was held by the leading minds 
 in parliament. ' * " ^ "^ 
 
 " What, then, was the extent of our rights before the convention, and to what 
 extent were they now secured to us ? We possessed and exercised the free navi- 
 gation of the Pacific ocean, without restraint or limitation. We possessed and 
 exercised the right of carrying on fisheries in the South seas, equally unlimited. 
 This estate we had, and were daily improving : it was not to be disgraced by the 
 ■name of an acquisition. The admission of part of these rights by Spain was all w« 
 had obtained. It remained to inquire what it had cost. Our right before was te 
 settle in any part of South or North-west America not fortified against us by previ- 
 ous occupancy, and we are now restricted to settle in certain places only, and under 
 certain restrictions. This was an important concession on our part. Our right of 
 fishing extended to the whole ocean ; and now it, too, was iimited, and to bo carriei 
 ■on within certain distances of the Spanish settlements. Our right of making scttle- 
 mentn was not, as now, a right to build hots, but te plant colonies, if we thought 
 ■proper. Surely these were not acquisitions. 
 
 " We have renounced the right of permanent settlement on the whole extent of 
 South America, and where the admitted right of settlement on the north-west coast 
 ■commenced was completely undefined. 
 
 " By the third article, we are authorized to navigate the Pacific ocean and South 
 seas, unmolested, for the purpose of carrying on our fisheries, and to land on the 
 unsettled coasts for the purpose of trading with the natives ; but, after this pompous 
 Tecognition of right to navigation, fishing, and commerce, comes aaother article, 
 ■which takes away all right of landing and erecting even temporary huts for any 
 gpurpose but that «f carrying on the fishing, and amounts to a comjalete derelictioa 
 
 ' ""^Seo Appendix, No. 4j 
 
w 
 
 insTORY or onsooir- 
 
 of all rights to lottl* in any way fur the purpoia of comtntrce with tho nntirni?! 
 fn ranouncing all right to makn •ettlomfiita in 8oulh America, we had giv«n to- 
 Spain what aho conaiderod inottitnablo, and had in return been contented with droaa.*' 
 
 In these opinions he waa sustained bv Grey, Lansdowne, and tho 
 other eminent whigs of tho house. This treaty, however, is made 
 the subject of another llourish of title by the English, who insist that 
 it concedes to them an equal right with Spain to any unsettled portion 
 of the coasts. We have Been tl>e opinions of the leaders of the British 
 parliament opposed to this assumption however, and we shall shortly 
 see its dtinial by Spain. But even admitting it to be so, they gain 
 nothing by it, for in four years afterward a war broke out between 
 the two contracting parties, which, by the rules of international 
 law, annulled all existing inter-arrangements that had no nrescribed 
 limits and that depended for their continuance i\pon a state of per- 
 fect amity, and Spain resumed at once, whatever she had resigned 
 by the Nootka treaty, if she had in reality resigned anything at all. 
 On the conclusion of peace, the treaty was not revived ; consequently 
 it is a nullity, and all that Britain accomplishes by advancing her 
 pretensions on it now, is the virtual acknowledgment of the integrity 
 of the Spanish claims which have fallen to us, and which she had so 
 perseveringly endeavored to acquire. 
 
 This convention being concluded, the next thing was to take pos- 
 session of the tracts of landj buildings^ forts , Sic. wrested from Mr. 
 Meares at Nootka in 1789, and the English Government in 1791 
 despatched two ships under Captain George Vancouver, to effect 
 ,the purpose. This officer arrived at Nootka on the 28th August, 
 ' 1792, where he found the Spanish Commissioner in possession and 
 ready to perform his share of the transfer. Negotiations between the 
 two parties were then opened, and it became necessary '' to ascertain 
 what lands on the North West coast of America were in the possession 
 of British subjects, and what buildings were standing in those lands in 
 1789, when the Spanish first occupied Nootka." For this purpose 
 Quadra applied to Maquina and his principal chiefs, who upon being 
 questioned, positively denied that any lands had been bought, or any 
 nouses built by the English at Nootka in 1789, or at any other time. 
 The Commissioner then applied to Captains Gray and Ingraham as 
 well as to the Portuguese captain of the Iphigenia, all of whom hap- 
 pened to be there at the time. The two ffrst replied at length in a 
 circumstantial account* (now on file in the office of the Secretary of 
 State, at Washington) which, after explaining with manly fairness 
 all the events that provoked the seizure of Colnett's vessels, contains 
 the following paragraph : — 
 
 "We observe your wish to be acquainted what house or establishment Mr. 
 Meares had at the time the Spaniards arrived here ? We answer in a word-^none /' 
 On the arrival of the Columbia in 1788, there was a house, or rather a hut, con- 
 aistint; of rough posts covered with boards made by the Indiana ; but this. Captain 
 Douglas pulled to pieces prior to his sailing to the Sandwich Islands in the same 
 year. Tne boards he tooii on board the Iphigenia, and the roof he gave to Captain 
 Kendrick, which was cut up and used as firewood on board the Columbia ; so that 
 on the arrival of Don Estevan Jos6 Marlines, there was no vestige of any house 
 remaining. As to the land Mr. Meares said he purchased from Maquina, or any 
 other chief, we cannot say further than we never heard of any, although we remained 
 among theae people nine months, and could converse with them perfectly well. 
 
 * See Appendix, No. 4* 
 
HISTORY OK OREOON. 
 
 17 
 
 noiiilm tliJH, wo liavn •akfd M«qii!itA niiil nthor cliiofn liiicc our lito arrivnl, if 
 <;n|)l:»iii Mi'arfii Jivnr i)urcliii--"'d iiny Uml iii Nooiku »oui.<l ! Tli«:y aiinwi-rfMl — iin ! 
 thitt Captain Ki iiJrick wui iliu only iiimi to whom tlicy had ever wuld nriy luiid.'* 
 
 The stnlciKPiUs ol lliis letter wm' confirnicd in all points by Cup- 
 tain Vinna, uiid thus tlic ^ ndaloiis ialsiiios of Mcan-s' iinsuiitainud 
 inomorinl were > riflusivtdy rtd'utfd. VancouvtT, wlio must hav(^ . 
 keenly lelt the morlifu'iiHou of the dileniitiB into which the nu'ndacity 
 of Meart'8 had placed him — " tin; Irnct of land " dwindling to u 
 hundred yards square, and the " erections " to the remains of one 
 miserabli' hut — had no resource hut to break ofl" the nea;otiution, and 
 wend to Hngland for new instructions. Quadra offered him the small 
 spot temjMH'arily occupied by Meares, restricted however, with the 
 express understanding that sitch cession should not interfere -with Ihc 
 riphts of his catholic Mnjcsly to Nootka^ or any other portions of tlje 
 adjoining coasts; but tlijs was refused by the Urilish comniissioner, 
 who having sent one of his lieutenants off with despatches, Kailcd 
 from Nontkii on thu 13th October, and left the Spaniards in pos- 
 session of the jjort. In 1794 Vancouver left the coast without 
 eli'ecting his object, and shortly afterwords, the Spaniards think- 
 ing it unnecessary to kc^ep up a military force at so inconsiderable a 
 place, withdrew to Mexico. Jn 1796, \vc have the authority of Lieu- 
 tenant Broughton (whose conduct towards Captain Gray we shall 
 have occasion shortly to analyse) for the statement that in the pre- 
 vious year, (1775,) the Spaniards had delivered up th« port to 
 Lieutenant Pearce, who had been despatched by the way of 
 Mexico to hasten the termination of the business. This account, 
 however, is denied by IJelKbam in his history of Great Britain, who, 
 though a Briton himself, and tenacious of the interests of his country, 
 says : " It is nevertheless certain from the most authentic subsequent 
 information, that the Spanish fag, flying at the fort and settlement of ' 
 Nootka, was ivrer struck ; and that the v}hole territory has been vir- 
 tually rdiiujiiished by Great Britain.'''' This is by far the most re- 
 liable story of the two, as Broughton says he derived his information 
 from Maqninn only, who handed him a letter (he does not say from 
 whom) to that effect, in 1796; while Belsham asserts the contrary 
 on strength of his own inquiries and the pledge of his reputation as a 
 historian. The latter's account is also the most probable, as Great 
 liritain was at this time engrossed in a war with Republican France, 
 during which she would hardly consider such an obscure and insig- 
 nificant spot as Nootko, as worthy of so grave a notice. In 
 1796 Spain declared war against Great Britain, and all previously 
 existing arrangements were rendered null and void. 
 
 Having completed the abstract of the Spanish title up to 1790, our 
 attention is next claimed for an examination of the American disco- 
 veries, settlements, and purchases, which, in themselves, will be 
 found sufficient to establish our rights to Oregon against the world. 
 For the purpose of conducting the inquiry in a regular manner we 
 shall have to turn a few years back. 
 
 2 
 
!» 
 
 KISTOttT OF OltEGOW 
 
 THE UNITED STATES' TITLE. 
 
 After the conclusion of the revolutionary war, the enterprise cA' 
 our People turned immediately to commercial pursuits, and before 
 three years had rolled over the Republic, her infant marine had plumed 
 its wings on the billows of every ocean. As early as 1787, an asso- 
 ciation of Bostqn merchants despatched the ship Columbia, Captain 
 Kendrick, and the sloop Washington, Captaire Gray, to the Nortiv 
 Pacific, t(y be engaged in the fur trade. They arrived at San Lorenzo,, 
 or Noolka, in the latter part of September, HS^B, where, as we have 
 seen, they spent the winter. In the following year, Captain Gray,, 
 in the sloop, explored the Strait of Fuea for fifty miles in an east- 
 wardly direction, and collected information from the natives on the 
 shore, which brought him to the conclusion that the passage commu- 
 nicated northward with the Pacitic, at an opening in latitude 61^^' 
 which he had previously discovered, and to which he had given the- 
 name of " Pintard's SouniJ." This opinion was the first intimation' 
 the world ever had that Nootka was situated on an island. An erro- 
 neous account of this expedition' was uent to England by Meares, 
 representing that Gray had sailed through and through the strait, and 
 had come again into the Pacific in the 56th degree of north latitude. 
 This, while it proves Meares to be incapable of a stra^htforward 
 story, also proves that he could not at that time have entertaifled an}' 
 notion of claiming the island for the British crown, for such a report, 
 by admitting the superior claim of another, is levelled directly against 
 that assumption. Sailing north, Gray next circumnavigated, for tho 
 first time, " Queen Charlotte's Island," lying between latitude ^l'' 
 and 54° and believing himself to be the original discoverer, named it 
 Washington's Isle. He was not altogether correct in this opinion, 
 for its northern point had been reached by Juan Perez in 1774, 
 and in 1787, it was visited by Dixon^ an English captain, who, con- 
 ceiving it to be an island, named it after his vessel, the Queen 
 Charlotte. In the latter part of the summer, Gray, having completed 
 his trading operations, (ratlier unsuccessfully,) sailed on his return tO' 
 Nootka. The Columbia left Nootka in August, 1789, for Macao, 
 with the officers antl crew of the North-west America. On her way 
 out she met the Washington, when it was agreed that Gray should 
 take command of the ship, proceed to China, and from thence to the 
 United States by the Cape of Good Hope, while Kendrick remained 
 upon the coast. During the yeais '89 and '91; Kendrick ranged up- 
 and down the coasts discovering nany ne^v islands, sounds, and in- 
 lets ; and in August of tlie latter jo>r, he purchased by formal and 
 public arrangement, and by regular deed, several large tracts of land 
 near Nootka from Maquina, ^Vicannish, and other chiefs of the sur^ 
 rounding country. This purchase is spoken of by tjeveral English 
 writers, one of whom describes it, as being in " a most fertile clime, 
 embraciiKj four degrees of latitude.'''' After making this parchase,. 
 Kendrick sailed for the Sandwich Islands, where he was killed by 
 the natives, at Owhyee. In September of this year, Gray returned 
 to the Pacific in the Columbia, followed by the brig Hope, under the- 
 tommand of Joseph Ingraham, the former mate of the Columbia. 
 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 19 
 
 51^ 
 
 
 
 Four other American vessels, also bound on the fur trade, arrived 
 shortly after, and with the Washington, made seven vessels in all, 
 bearing the stars and stripes on the billows of the north Pacific. 
 
 Gray in his return reached the coast near Cape Mendocino, 
 and sailing northward, observed an opening in the land in latitude 
 46° 16', from which issued a current so strong as to prevent his 
 near approach. Being convinced that it was the outlet of a great 
 river, he endeavored to enter it by repeated efforts, but being defeated 
 through a period of nine days, he abandoned the attempt and continued 
 his course to the north. In August we find him at 54° 30' north, 
 where he discovered the broad inlet in the continent, now called the 
 " Portland Canal," which he navigated in a north-easterly direction to 
 the distance of eighty miles. In the meantime the brig Hope and the 
 other American vessels were prying in every nook and inlet of the 
 coast, in indefatigable pursuance of their trading operations. 
 
 The Columbia, after wintering at Clyoquot, a port near Nootka, , 
 set out with her enterprising commander in the spring of 1792, 
 to renew her explorations. It was about this time, that Vancouver 
 arrived upon the coast to meet the Spanish Commissioner, Quadra, 
 who was already awaiting him at Nootka. He reached the coast at 
 about 43°, and commenced a careful search for the river, laid down on 
 the Spanish maps at 46° 16'. Like Meares, he was unsuccessful, and 
 declares in his journal " though he had sought for it under the 7nost 
 favorable circumstances of wind and weather^ it was his deliberate 
 opinion no such river existed in that latitude.'''' He sailed onward, and 
 on the second day afterward, met Gray at the entrance of the Strait 
 of Fuca, who in his good old ship had just left his winter quarters. 
 
 Gray informed Vancouver of his northern discoveries, as well as 
 his discovery of a great river in 46° 16' ; upon which Vancouver 
 abruptly told him he was mistaken, and in noticing this circumstance 
 in his journal, very complacently remarks — ^" this was probably 
 the opening passed by us on the 27th," adding — "we have now 
 explored a great part of the American continent, extending nearly two 
 hundred and fifteen leagues, under the most favorable circumstances 
 of wind and weather, and have seen no appearance of any opening in 
 its shores, the whole coast forming one compact, solid, and nearly 
 straight barrier against the sea." A little piqued at the Englishman's 
 stolidity, Gray pushed on southward, determined to demonstrate the 
 correctness of his assertions. In his course, he discovered Bulfinch's 
 harbor, the name of which, in common with the appellations bestowed 
 by him on his other discoveries, the British geographers have altered 
 to suit their own purpo.ses: On the 11th May, Gray arrived opposite 
 the entrance of the river, and heedless of the risk, in his ardent spirit 
 of enterprise dashed boldly through the breakers on its bar, and in a 
 few moments slid out upon the tranquil bosom of a broad and majestic 
 river.* Gray spent nine days in it, trading meanwhile with the natives, 
 repairing and painting his vessel, and in filling the casks of the ship 
 with fresh water from the stream. On the 20th, after having navigated 
 it as far as the draught of his vessel would allow, (between 25 and 30 
 miles) he named it after his own good ship, spread his sails to the 
 wind, and beat out over the bar, against a head wind, into the ocean. 
 
 * See Appendix, No. 5. 
 
20 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON". 
 
 This would appear to bo pretty conclusive evidence of the discovery of 
 sovuilhhuj. But we shall shortly see that the diplomatic keenness which 
 could perceive a most wonderful discovery in the mere sailing past 
 a scollop in the shore, by Meares, crowned with the assertion that no 
 river existed in that quarter, cannot find in the actual entrance of a 
 river, in that very place, and in its navigation to the distance of nearly 
 thirty miles inland, any discovery at all. As xoe intend, however, to- 
 claim it as a discovery, and to have all the rights and privileges flowing 
 therefrom, we may as well here refer again to the rule that the nation 
 which discovers the mouth of a river, by implication discovers the 
 ■whole country watered by it. Applying this principle to our discovery 
 of the mouth of the Columbia, we extend our own title with the limits 
 of its mighty branches, from the 53d parallel on the north, to the 42d 
 on the south ; and from their gurgling sources at the bases of the Rocky 
 .Mountains, to the resistless volume that swells the tide of the Pacific. 
 Having taken this principle as the rule of our rights, we will now 
 briefly advert to the disgraceful attempt which has been made by two 
 British officers to cheat Gray of his reward. As we allude to Van- 
 couver and one of bia lieutenants — Uroughton, we shall have to fol- 
 lowtheir cour.se for a while. We left them on the 7th May parting 
 with Captain Gray at the Strait of Fuca, from which point they sailed 
 in an easterly direction along its southern shore, landing once or twice 
 to beat drums, blow trumpets, and display flags and gaudy uniforms 
 to naked savages, by way of taking formal possession of the country, 
 in violation of the solemn convention whose stipulations it was their 
 special duty to conserve.* While they were thus engaged in amusing 
 the innocent and unconscious natives, two Spanish schooners, named 
 the Sutil and the Mexicana, which, under the command of Galiano 
 and Valdes, had been engaged in a minute survey of the northern 
 coasts, arrived in the .Strait for the purpose of thoroughly exploring 
 that also ; and getting the start of the Britons, they led the way along 
 its northern course. A meeting took place between the parties how- 
 ever, and to settle all disputes and jealousies, it was agreed to make 
 the search in company. This arrangement wsvs; faithfully carried out ; 
 the parties entered the Pacific at Pintard's Sound, discovered by 
 Captain Gray, and the territory on which Nootka was situated was 
 found, according to his predictions, to be an island. The combined 
 fleet shortly afterwards arrived at Nootka, when from the circum- 
 stances of the joint circumnavigation, it was called Quadra and Van- 
 converts island, the first branch of the appellation being the name of 
 the Spanish commissioner then at that place. We have seen that no 
 arrangement was efiected by the two commissioners, and Vancouver, 
 in view of the hopelessness of forcing any advantage from the resolute 
 Spaniard, prepared to take his departure. His preparations were 
 accelerated into haste by being informed by Quadra, that the indefati- 
 gable Yankee whom he had met in the spring, off the strait of Fuca, 
 had succeeded in entering the river, the existence of which he (Van- 
 couver) had denied, and, moreover, that he had explored it to a con- 
 siderable distance from the ocean. In proof of this, Gray's charts 
 
 * An omission has l>f!en niadn under the date of 1790, of a Spanish pxpedi'lion 
 under the comiinnd of liieiiteriHiit Qitiinppr, which siirvryed the Strait of Fuca for 
 100 miles, disciivorini; the harbors which Vaiicotiver in tiio above espedi'ioii named 
 " .Adrnirahy fiilct, Port Uisuovcry, Deception ratsHge," &c. 
 
H13T0UY 0*" OREGON. 
 
 21 
 
 ivere laid before him. No man likes to be defeated in his prognosti- 
 cations and opinions, and least of ail, an Enc;lisbtnan. In this case it 
 v/iil be readily imagined the rule was not softened with Vancouver 
 by his rival's being iVoni Ijoston bay. Und(ir these bitter i'eelings of 
 disappointment and chagrin, Vancouver hastily set out for the river 
 on tlie 13th of October — five months after the discovery — vith Gray's 
 charts and descriptions for his guides, actuated by the resolute intention 
 of recovering his reputation by discovering it over again. On the 18th, 
 he arrived at Bullfinch''s J^ay, the name of which, maugre Gray's 
 charts, he changed to VVhildley's harbor, after one of his lieutenants. 
 Finding on his arrival at the mouth of tiu.- Columbia, that the draught 
 of his own vessel would not admit of her entrance, he sailed on to the 
 port of San Francisco, in Calilorniu, detaching liieiitenant Broughton 
 to the service. This worthy representative and coadjutor entered the 
 river in the Chatham, on the 2()th of October, (five tnonths to a day 
 from the time of Gray's departure,) and there, to his surprise, Ibund 
 anchored the brig Jenny, of Bristol, which vessel had also got its infor- 
 mation relative to tiieriver, fiom Psootkaa l<nvdays before. The stream 
 was found as Gray had described it to be, .seven miles wide at its 
 niouth, and decreasing to the extraordinary narrowness of a thousand 
 yai'ds, at a dista,nce of twenty-five miles from tbe sea. This remark- 
 able circumstance su^jresteil an idea to iJroujditon and Vancouver 
 when they laid their heads together afterward at San Francisco, 
 which, if it do not give them credit for an e.\lraoiH.linary stretch of 
 ingenuity, at least bestows upon them the most unquestionable title 
 for meanness and dishonesty that could jiossibly be contrived. These 
 gentlemen asserted that the river commenced at the distance of twenty- 
 five miles from the sea ; that Gray had not reached this point, but tl\e 
 part surveyed and explored by him was only an inlel or sound; 
 consequently, the discovery of the river itself, belonged of right to 
 Lieutenant Broughton ! Unfortunately, however, for the.^e maritime 
 lexicographers, the geographical definitions of these terms will not 
 consent to turn themselves wrong side out, either fur their purpo.ses, 
 or for the service of her most christian majesty, and " sounds," and 
 " inlets " of the sea, despite the ungracious straining of Captains 
 Vancouver and Broughton, will still, as before, stand for independent 
 arms, or friths, whose waters flowing up into the land, are necessa- 
 rily salt. The waters of the Columbia, on the contrary, ;ire fresh in 
 their whole volume to within ten mil<>s of the ocean, at wl.ich ])oint, 
 by the way. Captain Gray filled the casks of his ship. The conduct 
 of the British government in adopting such an absurd pretence as this, 
 is sulficiently discreditable ; but when contrasted with tlH> assumption 
 in favour of Meares, it receives an additional tinct of dishonor, and 
 betrays & desperation of molivt? approaching to insanity. in a 
 tSlatemenl* presented by the British plenipotentiaries in 1S2G, to the 
 xVmerican minister, embracing a number of pro{K),si lions of about equal 
 weight, it is alleged that Mearcs (!) is really entilletl to the merit of 
 the discovery of the Columbia, because, " he actually ealeiod its bay 
 in 1788, to the northern headland of which be gave the name of 
 Cape Disappointment, a name which it bears to this day." Thii-. 
 reasoning on both sides of the question, may be considered as the 
 climax of argument, and the world may now rationally hope to see 
 
 * Sec Appendix, No. 6. 
 
|l *'! 
 
 .'hi 
 
 22 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 the long standing proposition, that black is white and "white is black, 
 satisfactorily estubiished by the transcendent genius of British diplo- 
 macy. What signifies it if the doctrine in favor of Mcares lets in the 
 superior claim of Heceta, or if the rule of Vancouver wages destruction 
 against Meares, the proposition is fortified at both ends, and those who 
 like ntiay fire away at either. Glorious, wise, powerful, magnanimous 
 England ! happy art thou in the possession of diplomatists, whose 
 sagacity has discovered that a false position backed with power, is 
 better than a true one supported only by the illusory strength of right, 
 and who have the moral boldness to adopt a principle, maugre the 
 whinlngs of all the theoretical ideoligists who dream of honor, and 
 who waste their lives in speculative lules of ethics ! 
 
 From the time of the breaking out of the war between Spain and 
 Great Britain in 1795, up to the year 1816, the monarchies of Europe 
 were too much engaged in wrestling with the energies of revolutionary 
 France, and in resisting the stupendous power of the Empire, to pay 
 any attention to a region so distant and insignificant as the North 
 West coast of the Pacific ; but the citizens of the United States, 
 whose happy geographical position preserved them from being em- 
 broiled in the inhuman strife, availed themselves of the peculiar fa- 
 cilities thus otiered to them, and carried on the trade exclusively 
 between the North West coasts and the China seas. 
 ISO;)" Up to the year 1803, the western boundary of the United 
 States was the river Mississippi, which shut from our possession 
 the vast region known by the name of Louisiana, now comprising 
 Iowa, Missouri, Missouri Territory, Indian Territory, Arkansas, and 
 the small portion at its southern extremity which still retains the 
 former name of all. This immense country, stretching from Canada 
 on the north, to the Gulf of Mexico on the south, and spreading 
 breadthwise from the Mississippi to the Rocky mountains, was origi- 
 nally owned by France, who obtained her title to it through the dis- 
 covery of the mouth of the great stream which drains it, by two of 
 her missionaries, in IfifiS, and by subsequent settlements under La 
 Sale and others. In 1763, France ceded Louisiana to Spain. In 
 1803. ^*^'"^ Spain ceded it back again to France, and in 1803 it was 
 
 ' purchased from France by the United States for the sum of 
 $1.5,000,000. As soon as this purchase was made, the importance 
 of Oregon as a Pacific gate to our possessions, became at once appa- 
 rent, and Jefferson, under the direction of Congress, commissioned 
 Captains Lewis and Clarke " to explore the river Missouri and its 
 principal branches to their sources, to cross the Rocky mountains 
 and trace to its termination in the Pacific some stream, whether the 
 Columbia, the Oregon, the Colorado, or any other, which might offer 
 the mo.s't direct and practlcnbfe water commimication across the cunti- 
 jj^jj,^ neut for the piirpnites of commerce.'''' In 1805, these officers and 
 their men crossed the mountains, and descending into Oregon^ 
 discovered a number of streams flowing westward, which, upon ex- 
 atnination, were found to disembogue into the Columbia or some of 
 its huge branches, whose comprehensive arms embrace within their 
 .s[)an the 42d and o8d parallels, and roll their silver bands from the 
 mountains to the sea. On the l.nth of November, they reached its 
 im. '"""*•'!) an<l building a fort hich they called " BW Catslop," 
 
 'they spent the winter there- In the spring of 1806, (March 
 
 I 
 I 
 
HISTORTf OT OREGON. 
 
 28 
 
 ■ 
 
 "j 3tTi,) having minutely explored the surrounding country, tlie party set 
 out on their return, and after proceeding sonie distance up the stream, 
 parted company ; the one to explore the region north, and the other 
 the country south. They met in the month of August following, at 
 the junction of the Yellowstone and the Missouri rivers, on the eas- 
 tern side of the mountalRS. Thus we find, that after having discov- 
 ■ered the mouth of the Columbia in 1792, we explore the whole ter- 
 ritory drained by it in 1805, build a fort at its mouth in November of 
 that year, and thus take the actual possession " soon after," which is 
 the positive condition of the principles of international law previously 
 ■quoted, 
 
 This^eing a difficult circumstance to overcome, the British govern- 
 ment were puzzled for a time how to rebut or to offset it ; but their 
 'natural fertility of resource did not leave them long at a loss, and re- 
 sorting to their old principle that bold assertion is as good as timid 
 proof, they affirmed — that " at least in the same, or subsequent years 
 (1805-6) Mr. Thompson, an agent of the North West company, had 
 established posts among the Flathead or Kootanie tribes (near the 
 .36th° of latitude) and that it was from this point he hastened down 
 in 1811 to ascertain the nature of the American establishment at the 
 mouth of the Columbia viver." 
 
 This is a part of the celebrated diplomatic Slatement of 1826, and 
 from its definite and satisfactory character, is worthy of taking place 
 beside the claims of Vancouver and Meares. 
 
 The accounts given by Lewis and Clarke on the return of their ex- 
 pedition, attracted the attention of commercial men, and John Jacob 
 a\stor, an opulent merchant of New York, who was then engaged in 
 the fur trade on the Upper Missouri, -conceived the foundation of a 
 'Company, whose efforts should be specially confined to the coast of 
 this region. Before his plans were consummated, however, the Misr- 
 -souri Company, another American association, established a post be- 
 yond the Rocky mountains on the head waters of the southern branck 
 of the Columbia in 1808, but it was abandoned in 1810 from a 
 difficulty, through the enmity of the neighboring savages, of ob- 
 taining regular supply of food. 
 
 In 1809, Mr. Astor had completed his arrangements, and the ^^^ 
 Pacific Fur company by his exertions assumed a definite exis- 
 tence. In that year the ship Enterprise was sent into the north Paci- 
 fic "t© make preparatory researches and inquiries in the scenes (rf the 
 new company's operations," and in 1810 two parties were formed, 
 one to cross the continent under the conduct of VV. P. Hunt, the 
 «hief agent, and the other to proceed on the ship Tonquin by sea. In 
 March, 1811, the ship arrived at the mouth of the Columbia, and the 
 colonists immediately selecting a spot, erected a factory and a fort, and 
 in honor of the patron of the enterprise, called the establishment 
 Astoria. ]iy some means, the Mr. Thompson who is spoken of in the 
 '^Statement alluded to, heard at his station on Fraser's lake (between lati- 
 tudes r)4:^ 55') of this new settlement, and gathering together a party, 
 posted in hot haste down the northern branch of the Columbia, build- 
 ing huts, hoisting flags and bestowing names by way of taking posses- 
 sion as they passed along. They reached Astoria a little too late, for 
 on arriving there in July, they found the banner of the States waving 
 -over a fort — they found factories erected, farms laid out, and the 
 
^'h' 
 
 124 
 
 HiSTORV OF OREr.O\. 
 
 isia. 
 
 !-^i 
 
 contented colonists eating of the produce of their already llourislunL' 
 j.';ardens. They were, therefore, obliiz;ed most reluctantly to retrace 
 their steps northward, after receivin<j; the unwelcome information that 
 the posts of which they had pretended to take possession on their way 
 down, had all been visited five years before by ofTicers of the United 
 States. 
 
 In the sprinf); of 1S12, the other party of emigrants under Mr. 
 Hunt, completed their journey across the continent, and arrived 
 safely at the settlement among their hrnlher traders. A few days 
 after this event, the ship Beaver arrived from New York, with still 
 further reinforcements and supplies, and it was decided that Mr. Hunt, 
 the chief agent, should sail in her in charge of an expedition to the 
 northern coasts, the aflliirsof the factory being entrusted (unfortunate- 
 ly as will be seen) to the charge of McDougal, one of the Scotchmen' 
 who had formerly been in the service of the North West company. 
 During the absence of Mr. Hunt, the news of the declaration of war 
 by the United States against Great Britain reached Astoria, and crea- 
 ted no small degree of uneasiness in the minds of the American mem- 
 hers of the companj', for they at once saw the diilicullies this would 
 lead to between themselves and their British associates. This infor- 
 mation w^as received in January from New York, and in June follow- 
 ing, an agent of the North West company arrived from Canada, bring- 
 ing news of the approach of a British naval force to take possession 
 of the American settlement. The Scotchmen and Englismen connect- 
 ed with the association received the report with ill concealed satisfac- 
 tion, and several of them withdrew from the service at once for that 
 of the rival company. Those who remained could scarcely be con- 
 sidered faithful, beyond the considerations of the pecuniary interest 
 that were involved in the affair. Anxious consultations were held, 
 in which the foreigners held a superior and controlling influence. 
 This was the natural consequence of their position, for having been 
 selected with a view to their superior knowledge of trading operations 
 gained in a previous service with the North West company, they held 
 all^he most responsible situations. 
 
 The latter proposed, in view of the approaching danger, to abandon 
 the enterprise altogether, unless additional reinforcements and sup- 
 plies should speedily arrive from New York to their assistance. This 
 the Americans strenuously opposed, choosing rather to trust to the 
 chances of their enemies not appearing, or in case they did, to risk 
 the hazard of a struggle; but the resolution prevailed, and the mi- 
 nority of interests was bound to submit. At length Hunt arrived, but 
 AVith all his efforts, was unable to change the determination of the 
 Scottish partners, and knowing the impossibility of conducting the 
 operations of the concern in case of their defection, h^ was obliged 
 to submit to the arrangement. He, therefore, in ;'ir.-uance of the 
 decision set sail for the Sandwich Islands, for the purpose of charter- 
 ing some vessels to convey the furs then stored in the factory, and 
 other properties of the company, to Canton. In the month following 
 his departure, a deputation from the North West Company descended 
 the river to Astoria, bringing the additional information that a British 
 fiiijaia having under her convoy a large armed ship belonging to the 
 N. W. Company, was on her way to the Columbia with the intention 
 of destroying every thing American in that quarter. The commuui- 
 
 
HISTORV OF OREGON. 
 
 ab 
 
 cation of this news was accompanied by an ofler on the part of the 
 leader of the deputation, to purchase out the whole stock in trade, 
 and other properties of the Pacific company ; adding as an additional 
 inducement, that thoy would engage, at a liberal rate of wages, all 
 who might choose to enter their service, and agreed to send liack to 
 the United Slates all who wished to return. This whole measure 
 had doubtless been secretly concocted by the Scotch partners of the 
 Pacific Company, who, to effect it, had got Hunt out of the way, and 
 the agents of the other party were proceeding exactly accorchng to 
 previously imparted directions. The proposal to employ, while it 
 looked like an emanation of generosity, was a most insidious piece of 
 treachery to entice away the employees on whom the Pacific Coni- 
 ]jany depended for existence, and in such a state of society as existed 
 there, was deserving of the punishment of death. It, however, af- 
 forded the Scotchmen an opportunity to secede without an appear- 
 ance of absolute defection, and softened the opposition of those who 
 were not unwilling to return to a more congenial society in their own 
 country. The transfer was accordingly made, and the Pacific Com- 
 pany lost its identity in the North West Association. 
 
 From the time of their first arrival in the territory to the date of 
 this relinquishment, the Pacific Company had established fojr forts or 
 trading posts, besides the main one at Astoria. These were Fort 
 Okanegan, situated at the confluence of that river and the north 
 branch of the Columbia — Spokan House, on the river of the same 
 name, and a branch of the latter establishment pushed further west, 
 among the Flathead and Kootanic tribes — a post on the Kooskooske, 
 and one on the Wallamette river. All of these establishments were 
 included in the transfer of Astoria. 
 
 This inglorious termination of the enterprise took place on the jg.g 
 16th October, 1813. It was principally brought about by a 
 Scotchman, named Duncan McDougal, whom Hunt had unwisely 
 left in command of the fort, and wHo was strongly suspected of hav- 
 ing been bribed to his course by the rival company. At any rate, the 
 arrangement squared with his feelings, and he made it subserve his 
 interest. 
 
 On the 1st December, before the transfer was completed, the Brit- 
 ish sloop of loar Raccoon arrived at Astoria, expecting a rich plunder 
 by the capture of the magazines and treasures of the Pacific Com- 
 pany ; but all she found for prize was the American flag still waving 
 its glorious folds above the fort. This remained there, notwithstand- 
 ing the existence of the Pacific Company had ceased more than two 
 months before ; for the citizens of the United States who had be- 
 longed to it, insisted that this emblem of the Republic's sovereignty 
 over the soil, formed no portion of the transfer to the English com- 
 pany. The following account of the capture of Astoria, and the 
 taking possession of the fort, by Ross Cox, who gathered his in- 
 formation on the spot, shortly after the events took place, will not 
 inly serve to throw some light upon the motive of McDougal's 
 ueachery, but will also corroborate our claims to the first settlement 
 of that region. 
 
 " C'lptain Black," (the commander of the T?accoon,) " took possession of Astoria 
 in tho name of his Britannic Majesty, and re-baptised it by the name of Fort 
 Georjjn He also insisted on having an inventory taken of the valuable stock of 
 
ae 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 {ati and other property purchaied from the American company, with a view to the 
 adoption of ulterior proct^cdinija ifi England for the recovery of the viilue from the 
 North West Company ; but he Bnbseqiicnlly relinquished this idea, and we heard 
 no more of his claims. The TndianA at the mouth of the Columbia knew well th.u 
 Great Britain and America were distinct nations, and that they were then at war, 
 but were iirnorant of the arrangement made between Messrs. McDougaland Tavish, 
 (the agent of iho North Wesi Company,) the former of whom still continued as 
 nominal chief at the fort. On the arrival of the Raccoon, which they quickly dis- 
 covered to be one of King George's fiirliting ships, they repaired armed to the fort, 
 and requested an audience of Mr. McDonj;aT. He was somewhat surprised at their 
 numliers and warlike appearance, and demanded the object of such an unusual visit. 
 Concomly, the principal chief of the Chenooks, (whose daughter McUougal had 
 married,) thereupon addressed him in a long speech, in the course of which ho said 
 that King George had sent a ship full of warriors, and loaded with nothing but big 
 guns, to take the Americans and make them all slaves ; and that as theij (the 
 Americans) tccrc the first v>hile men that settled in their country, and treated the 
 Indians like good relations, they resolved to defend them from King George's war- 
 riors, and were now ready to conceal themselves in the woods, close to the wharf, 
 from whence they would be able with their guns and arrows to shoot all tho men 
 that should attempt to land from the English boats, while tho people in the fort 
 could 6re at them with their big guns and rifles. This proposition was oflfered with 
 an earnestness of manner that admitted no doubt of its sincerity ; two armed boats 
 from the Raccoon were approaching, and, had the people in the fort felt disposed to 
 accede to the wishes of the Indians, every man of them would have been destroyed 
 by an invisible enemy. Mr. McDougal thanked them for their friendly offer ; but 
 added, that notwithstanding the nations were at war, the people in the boats would 
 not injure him nor any of his people, and therefore requested them to throw by their 
 war shirts and arms, and receive the strangers as their friends. They at first 
 seemed astonished at this answer ; but, on assuring them in the most positive man- 
 ner that he was under no apprehensions, they consented to give up their weapons 
 for a few days. They afterwards declared they were sorry for having complied with 
 Mr. Dougal's wishes ; for when they observed Captain Black, surrounded by his 
 ofRcers and marines, break the bottle of port on the flag-staff, and hoist the British 
 ensign, after changing the name of the fort, they remarked, that however much 
 one might wish to conceal tho fact, the Americans were undoubtedly made slaves ; 
 and they were not convinced of their mistake until the sloop of war had departed 
 without taking any prisoners." 
 
 ' It is not our intention to assert that McDougal should have accepted 
 of this offer of the Indians against his own nation, but it proves that with 
 such friends as the aborigines of the country, the settlement could 
 never have been seriously distressed for supplies ; and, therefore, that 
 his representations, on which the resolution to abandon the place was 
 based, were false. Had Mr. Hunt possessed those means of resistance, 
 and been in McDougal's situation, the property of the company would 
 not have been sold, and the flag upon the fort would never have been 
 struck. 
 
 The war ended in 1814, and by the treaty of Ghent, signed on 
 
 the 24th December, of that year, it was declared " that all 
 territory^ places^ and possessions whatever, taken by either party from 
 the other during, or after the war, should be restored without delay. ^^ 
 In accordance with the provisions of this article, the President of the 
 United States, in October, 1817, despatched the sloop of war Ontario, 
 with Captain Biddle and J. B. Prevost as Commissioners to Astoria, 
 and they duly received the surrender of that place by the British 
 authorities, on the 6th day of October, 1818. 
 
 In this same year a negotiation was carried on in London, 
 
 between the plenipotentiaries of the two Governments, for the 
 settlement of a northern boundary line,* which resulted in the establish- 
 
 * See Appendix, No. 7. 
 
 1814. 
 
 1616. , 
 
 *« 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 27 
 
 )t>ent of the 49th parallel, from the north-western point of the Lake 
 of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, as the divitl line between 
 the British Possessions and the territory of the Staws, leaving the 
 portion beyond the Rocky Mountains, bordering on the Pacific, subject 
 to the restrictions of the following article : 
 
 '* Art. 3. It ia agreed that any country that may bo claimed by cither party on 
 the northwftst coast of America, westward of the Stony Mountaini, shall, together 
 with its harbors, bays, and creeks, and the naviuation of all rivers within iho same, 
 bo free and open for the term of ten years from the date of the signature of the 
 present Convention, to the vessels, citizens and subjects of the two Powers ; it being 
 well understood that this agreement ia not to be construed to the prejudice of any 
 r.laim winch either of the two high contracting parties may have to any part of the 
 said country, nor shall if be taken to affect the claims of another Power or State to 
 any part of the said country ; the only object of the high contracting parlies, in that 
 respect, being to prevent disputes and difficulties among themselves." 
 
 It is plain from the wording of this article that England relied very 
 lightly upon the strength of her own claims to the territory in dispute ; 
 the concluding clause being a virtual acknowledgment of the superior 
 rights of Spain, whose anger is carefully deprecated, by the assurance 
 that neither party aspired to her title, but that " their only object " in 
 making this arrangement in regard to the common privileges of naviga- 
 tion, fishing, &c., was to " avoid differences among themselves." 
 It is not necessary to explain that while this arrangement goes to 
 conclude the pretensions of its proposer it does not now in the slight- 
 est degree affect us. The whole aim of the manoeuvre is sufficiently 
 transparent to those acquainted with the political relations existing 
 between the courts of Madrid and St. James at the periods of its per- 
 formance. Impoverished and feeble Spain was looked upon by Great 
 Britain as a much less formidable opponent than the Bepublic 
 which had just emerged triumphantly from a war with her upon her 
 own element. Her object, therefore, was to preclude us at all risks. 
 She would be satisfied if she could make her own invalid title balance 
 ours, for then she would magnanimously propose a joint relinquishment 
 in favor of the third claimant whose cause she had so insidiously 
 fortified.* After, this it would not have been long, of course, before 
 exhausted Spain would have been forced to redeem one of the deep 
 involvements incurred in the peninsular war, by turning the north 
 west coast over to her subtle and grasping creditor. It would 
 appear that our ministers at London divined this motive in the course 
 of the negotiation, for an immediate offer was made on our part to 
 Spain, and that power, wisely concluding to sell rather than to give 
 away, closed with our overtures at once ; and thus England's over- 
 reaching diplomacy was skilfully turned against herself. 
 
 The negotiation with Spairi on this subject terminated on the 22d 
 of February, 1819, (four months after the treaty of 1818 of which j^jg 
 the above article is a part,) in what is now known as the " Flori- 
 da treaty." By this treaty the United States purchased all Florida, 
 and likewise all the territory belonging to the crown of Spain north 
 of the 42d d?gree of latitude for the sum of five millions of dollars, in 
 the shape of a release of that amount of claims held against her by our 
 
 * This opinion ia strengthened by one of England's present offers of compromise 
 which is, that both of us relinquish Oregon, for the common settlement of it for an 
 independent nation, and also by her recently developed intrigues in relation to Cali- 
 fornia and Texas. 
 
SB 
 
 lUSTonV OV OIIEHON. 
 
 1818. 
 
 inorclinuts, and of which tlio Unittnl States nssmnccl the payment- 
 Tliis arran<;i!iiiont of course rner!5(;d tlie Spani.sh title in our own," 
 and by llius reinovin!!; the only possibh; coni.licling claim, phiced tiie 
 latter upon a basis oi'indir<pi)tahle validity. 
 
 The chief value however that w(? attach to this cession on the ))art 
 of Spain, is for its comph'te subversion of the pretensions of lOnijlani!, 
 on the principle of original discovery of points of the coast. Our own 
 uidividual title to Oregon is in itself made complete to O.T by the 
 .single principle of international law, which confers the whole country 
 drained by a river and its tributaries, to the discoverer of its mouth. 
 ^Ve recognized this principle in the purchase of the immense territory 
 formc^rly comprehended under ihe name of Loui'^iana, and whih* we 
 have paid a penalty of ///"/te/i m'lUion of dollars in vindication of its 
 integrity, wo have a peculiar right to the benefit of it when it runs in 
 our favor. I 
 
 The treaty of 1818 expiring in IS'iS, the convention was re- 
 newed in 1.S20, but as before, no definite conclusion was arrived 
 at, and the negotiation resulted in the following year, ju ;; where it had 
 begun, the provisions of the former treaty being indefinitely extended, 
 subject only to the additional stipulation, that either party desiring to 
 abrogate it, might do so on giving twelve months notice to the other. ;j; 
 
 From the period after the sale of the Pacific Fur Company to the 
 North West Association, (now merged in the Hudson's Bay Company,) 
 and the consequent departure of most of the Americans, British 
 subjects, consisting entirely of attaches of this latter body, acquired n 
 preponderance in the territory, and by ingenious management of their 
 wealth and power, continued for a time pugresslvely to increase it. 
 This circumstance has been very seriout-iy brought forward by the 
 supporters of the English title, as a new right to the territory they 
 usurp ; as if the tyranny their monstrous wealth had enabled them to 
 exercise over every American citizen within the reach of their inllu- 
 ence, gave them an additional right to outrage the Government by a 
 usurpation of its title. 
 
 There is nothing overstrained in these remarks ; indeed, they but 
 very inadequately express the outrageous means resorted to by these 
 affiliated tyrants to crush every interest oppcsed to them. The fol- 
 lowing extract taken from the work of Thomas P. Farnham,a traveller 
 of ability and character, will afford some notion of their operations and 
 policy : 
 
 " Fort Hall was built by Captain Wyeth, of Boston, in 18.32, for the purposes 
 of trniio with the Indians in its vicinity. He had laiten goods into iho lower part 
 of the Territory to exchange for sahnon. But competition soon drove him from his 
 
 ♦ Sec Appendix, No. 8. 
 
 t It may be captiously objected to this argument, that France derived hnr tiilf 
 from the cession of Spain In 1800, but it v^ill be rRcoliocted that France oriiiiiiaily 
 acquired a title to the vast region watered by the Mississippi by the discovery of the 
 mouth of tliat river by two French missionaries m 16G3. and sustained it by subse- 
 quent t'xplor.uion and 'settlement, which is our case exactly in regard to the Colum- 
 bia. On this claim she held it for a hundred years, till by a treaty of policy in 1763, 
 involvintr no question of validity of title, it was ceded to Spain, and by a similar 
 arrangement, on similar considerations, it was in 1800 ceded back to France. Its 
 so\ereignty passed from band to hand on the strength of the principle involved in 
 the original title, and by virtue of that principle, it ccine to us. 
 
 t See .\ppcndix, No. 9. 
 
HISTORY OF ORKGOIf. 
 
 fisheries to tli'u romoto i<pot, where he hnped to be prrmillcd to purchmo fnra of tho 
 Indians wiflioiii. being molctitcd Ity tho Hudson'n Buy Company, whoso nenre»l|insi 
 was fit'vcn hiindrrd miles avviiy. 
 
 In tliiH hn wan disnppointcd. In piirsHanco of tho avowed doctrine of tlint company, 
 that no others havo a ri;j;ht to trade in tho furs west of the U(icl<y Moiinluins, while 
 tiieiisoof cnpiial and their incomparable hIuII and perscvernnceciiri prevent it, they 
 establinhed it fort near iiim, preceded him, followed him every where, «rid cut tho 
 throat of his proafierity with such kindness and politeness, that VN'yeih was induced 
 to sell his wliulu interest, existent and prospective, in Oregon, tu his generous but 
 too indefatigable, skilful, and powerful antagonixts. 
 
 Mr. Farnhnm has written \.\w. word " gtincrous" in good I'aith and 
 honest Roman characters, as if h« really thought it were generous in 
 the II. H. Company, to give Mr. Wyeth a price Tor his property, alter 
 forcing him to its sale by the basest means ! But Mr. Farnhain ate a 
 most superlative dinner afterward at Fort Vancouver, and this may 
 somewhat account for the tenderness of his construction. 
 
 \Vhile we are U|)on this subject we will furnish the reader with a 
 further insight into the corporate economy and operations of this 
 association, from the same author. 
 
 " A ehartor was granled bv Charles II., in 1070, to certain British subjectt 
 associated under tho name of "The Hudson's Bay Company, in virtue of which 
 they were allowed the cxctufivo privilege of establiahin;^ trading factories on the 
 Hudson's Bay and its tributary rivers. Soon after the grant, the company took 
 ]io88PB3ion of the territory, and enji)yed its trade without opposition till 1787 ; when 
 was organized a powerful rival under tho title of the " North American Fur Com- 
 pany ol Canada." This company was chiefly composed of Canadian-born subjects 
 — men whose native energy and thorough acquaintance with the Indian character, 
 peculiarly <iualified thpm for the dangers ai,d hardships of a fur trader's life in the 
 frozen regions of British America. Accordingly we soon find the Northwest out- 
 reaching in et;terprize and commercial importance their less active neighliors of 
 Hudson's Day ; and the jealousins naturally arising between parties so situated, 
 leading to the; most barbarous battles, and the sacking and burning each other's posts. 
 This state of things in 1819 arrested the ulitnlion of parliaincnt, and an act was 
 passed in 1821 consolidating the two companies into one, under the title of "Tho 
 Hudson's Bay Company." 
 
 " This association is now, under the operation of their charter, in solo possession 
 of all that tract of country bounded north by the northern Arctic Ocean ; east by the 
 Davis' Straits and the Allaiitie Ocean; south anil southwestwardly t y the northern 
 boundary of the Canadas and a line drawn through the centre of Lako Superior : 
 thence northwestwardly to tho Ijake of the Wood ; thence west on the 49tii parallel 
 •f north latitude to the Rocky Mountains, and along those monntains to tlio 61th 
 parallel ; tlience westwardly on that line to a point nine marine leagues from the 
 Pacific Ocean ; and on tho west by a line commencing at the last mentioned point, 
 and running northwardly parallel to tho Pacific coast till it intersects the 141st 
 parallel of longitude west from Greenwich, Eng., and thence duo north to the 
 Arctic Sea. 
 
 "They have also leased for twenty years, commencing in March, 1840, all of 
 Russian America except the post of Sitka ; the lease renewable at the pleasure of 
 the H. B. C. They are also in possession of Oregon under treaty stipulation between 
 Britain and the United States. Its stockholders are British capitalists, resident in 
 Great Britain. From these are elected a board of managers, who hold their meet- 
 ings and transact their business at " The Hudson's Bay House," in London. This 
 board buys goods and ship them to their territory, sell the furs for which they are 
 exchanged, and do all other business connected with the company's tiansactions, 
 except the execution of their own orders, the actual business of collecting furs, in 
 their territory. This duty is entrusted to a class of men who are called partners, 
 but who, in fact, receive certain portions of tho annual net profits of the company's 
 business, as a compensation for their services.. 
 
 " These gentlemen are divided by their employers into diflfercnt grades. The first 
 of these is the Governor- general of all the company's posts in North America. He 
 resides at York Factory, on the west shore of Hudson's Bay. The second class are 
 chief factors ; the third, chief traders ; the fourth, traders. Below these is another 
 
30 
 
 itiiiTOiiY or ORCaON. 
 
 ■%•■ 
 
 citii, called elerki. Thois are usually youngor mnmbori of rmpcctable Scotliali 
 familiea. They are not dirnctly interfatcd in tlin comimny'* pruf'it*. Iiui receive an 
 anmi'il anlary of X 100, fooil, suitHUo clothing, and ii body it-rvnnt.duriiiK an npprcn- 
 tict'ihip of sdven yrnri. At the expirHliun of this term they orn eligible tu the 
 tradecnhipi, fHcter*hip8, i^rc., that m'ly bo vacated by donth or retirement from the 
 aervict.'. VVhiln WHilint; for iidvnncnment thny are allowed from X'80 tu £\iO per 
 annum. Tlio lorvanta omplovcd about their pottii and in their journeyinga are half* 
 breed IroqnoiH and (!!ana<lian Fronchrncn. Theto they enlist fur fivu year*, at wages 
 varying from 608 to 880 p^r nnnuni. 
 
 "An annnnl Conned componod of the Governor General, chief factors and chief 
 traders, \» liuld at York Knctory. Before this body iire bron^rlit tlio ropurtx of the 
 trade of each dintrict ; iiropusitions fur new enterprises, and modifications of old 
 ones; and all these and other matters deemed important, being acted upon, the pro- 
 ceedings had thereon and the reports from the several districts are forwardtnl to the 
 Uoard of Uirrctors in London, and subjected to its fiiinl order. 
 
 "This shrewd company never allow their territory to be overtrapped. If the 
 annual return from any well tra()ped district be less in any year than formerly, they 
 order a less number still to be taken, until the benver and other fur bearing animals 
 have time to increase. Tiie income of the company is thus rendered uniform, and 
 their business perpetual. 
 
 " Some ideo may be formed of the net profit of their business, from the facts that 
 the shares of the company'rt stock, which originally cost JiiOO, are at lUO per cent, 
 premium, and that the dividends range from ten per cent, upward, and tliis too 
 while they are creating out uf the net proceeds an immense reserve fund, lo be 
 txpendct! in keeping; other persons out of the trade. 
 
 " They also have two migratory trading and trapping establishments of fifty or 
 sixty men each. — The one traps and trades in Upper California ; the other in the 
 country lying west, south, and east of Fort Hall. They also have a steam vessel 
 heavily armed, which runs alont; the coast, and among its bays and inlets, for the 
 twofold purpose of trading with the natives in places where they have no post, and 
 of outbiddir.gand outselling any American vessel that attempts to trade in those seas. 
 They likewise have five sailing vessels, measuring from 100 to 500 tons burthen 
 and armed with cannon, muskets, cutlasses, &.c. These are employed a part of the 
 year in various kinds of trade about the coast and the islands of the North Pacific, 
 and the remainder of the time in bringing goods from London, and bearing back the 
 furs for which they are exchanged. 
 
 One of these ships arrives at Fort Vancouver in the spring of each year, laden 
 with coarse woolens, cloths, baizes, and blankets ; hardware and cutlery ; cotton 
 cloths, calicoes, and cotton handkerchiefs ; tea, sugar, colTee, and cocoa ; rice, tobac- 
 co, soap, beads, guns, powder, lead, rurn, wine, brandy, gin, and playing cards ; boots, 
 shoes, and ready-made clothing, &c. ; also, every description of sea stores, canvas, 
 cordage, paints, oils, chains and chain cables, anchors, &c. Having discharged these 
 " supplies," it takes a cargo of lumber to the Sandwich Islands, or of flour and good* 
 to the Russians at Sitka or Kamskatka ; returns in August ; receives the furs col- 
 lected at Fort Vancouver, and sails again for England. 
 
 "The value of peltries annually collected in Oregon, by the Hudson Bay Com- 
 pany, is about 8140,000 in the London or New-Yoik market. The prime cost of 
 the goods exchanged for them is about $20,000. To this must be added the per 
 contage of the officers as governors, factors, &c. the wages and food of about 400 
 men, the expense of shipping to bring supplies of goods and take back the returns 
 of futs, and two years' interest on the investments. The company made arrange- 
 ments in 1939 with the Russians at Sitka and at other ports, about the sea of Kams- 
 katka, to supply them with flour and goods at fixed prices. And as they are opening 
 large farms on the Cowclitz, the Umpqua, and in other parts of the Territory, for 
 the production of wheat for that market ; and as they can afTord lo sell goods pur- 
 chased in England under a contract of 50 years' standing, 20 or 30 per cent, cheaper 
 than American merchants can, there seems a certainty that the Hudson's Bay Com- 
 pany will engross the entire trade of the North PaciKc, as it has that of Oregon. 
 
 " Soon after the union of the Northwest and Hudson's Bay Companies, the Brit 
 ish Parliament passed an act extending the jurisdiction of the Canadian courts over 
 the territories occupied by these fur traders, whether it were " owned " or " claimed 
 by Great Britain." Under this act, certain gentlemen of the fur company were ap- 
 pointed justices of the peare, and empowered to entertain prosecutions fur minor 
 ofTences, arrest and send to Canada criminals of a higher order, and try, render judg- 
 ment, and grant execution in civil suits where the amount in issue should not ex- 
 
HISTORY or ORinOIf 
 
 St 
 
 r<>ctl X300 ; and in ciia or non-payment, to imprison the debtor Rt their own forti, 
 or III ilifl jail* of Canada. 
 
 " And ihiiH in Hhown thnt the trade, and the civil and rriminnl juriadiciion in 
 Oregon arn ht-ld by DritiHli aulijecia ; that American citizena are deprived of their 
 own coinnH-rcial rnjlits ; that Ihny are hahle to be nrrei»trd on thf'ir own territory by 
 (iniccrn iif Urili-th ciiiirtK, tried iti tlis Ainoricun doiiiniii by Uritiah jud^jea, and im- 
 prisoned or hunj; iiccnrding to thn lawa ot the Uritiah empire, for acta don« within 
 the lerritorini limits of the U«pubhc.*' 
 
 We have hore an example of the very llbernl construction the 
 British govornmont have put upon th« common right to " navi- 
 gate the bays, creeks and harbors of the coast. In defianoe of 8 
 treaty expressly denying the arrogation of any riu;ht of sovereignty on 
 the part of either of the high contracting parties over the other, 
 it has seized upon the chief prerogatives, nay, the very essence 
 of sovereignty itself, by the establishment of courts of judicature 
 throughout the territory, and by the positive enforcement of its laws 
 on all within it. 
 
 That this course justifies any extremity of counter action on our 
 part, in the shape of immediate occupation, or otherwise, is plain to 
 the judgment of any unbiassed mind. Indeed, when we consider 
 the inimical influences that have been unfairly brought to bear upon 
 the interests of our citizens — withering their enterprise and para- 
 lyzing their energies — we can hardly restrain from advocating retalia- 
 tory proceedings to fulfil the measure of redress.* 
 
 Having traced, in regular detail, the progress of every important 
 event connected with the discovery and settlennent of the North West 
 coast and the territory of Oregon, we may now take a brief and com- 
 prehensive view of the whole subject, for the purpose of measuring 
 at a glance the aspect and merits of the entiie question. 
 
 We find, then, that a piece of territory, comprising four hundred 
 thousand square miles, and lying on the North West coast between 
 parallels 42"^ and 54° 40' north, is claimed by Great Britain and the 
 United states respectively. 
 
 We find that the English Government advance international law 
 in support of their claims, and base their pretensions upon the prin- 
 ciples which confer title by discovery, and which bestow the posses- 
 sion and sovereignty of the whole region drained by a river and its 
 tributaries, upon the discoverer of its mouth ; and we find that they 
 have nothing better to oflTer than the voyages of Drake and Cook to 
 entitle them to the benefits of the first, and that they seek to secure 
 the latter by the exploits of Meares and Vancouver ! 
 
 The United States accept these propositions, rebutting all the 
 flimsy pretensions by which they are sought to be sustained on the 
 other side, by the Spanish title ; and confirming its own, independent 
 of both, on the exclusive merits of having first discovered, first ex- 
 plored, and first settled the territory in question. The conclusions 
 are established in the oiuer following. 
 
 First — We find that Spain, whose claims are ours by purchase, 
 
 * We have learned by recent information from Oregon, that the American aet- 
 tlcrs beyond the Koci<y mountains have resisted the exercise of British ciuthority, 
 and formed a local legislature of their own. If our citizens should be able to 
 sustain their new position, il does not alter the nature of the above aggression. The 
 oppressor is nor e the less deserving of condemnation because he is obliged to re- 
 tinquiah the victinis of his wrong. 
 
% 
 
 32 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 had explored the coast as high as latitude 43° north, nearly forty 
 years previous to the arrival of Drake at the same point, and we 
 find in a series oF national expeditions she stretched that exploration 
 to tlie 5Slh degree in 177"), three years previous to the arrival of 
 Captain Cook, on whose assumed discovery of Nootka, the English 
 place their heaviest degree of reliance. 
 
 Second— \Ye find that the impudent claim for Meares (!) of the 
 discovery of the Columbia, because he looked for and could not find 
 it, is subverted by the superior claim of Heceta, (if either exploit 
 furnishes a claim,) who sailed through its bay three years before, as- 
 serted its existence, assigned its precise latitude, and laid it down 
 upon the Spanish charts. 
 
 Third — We find that Captain Robert Gray, of Boston, in the 
 course of the years 1790 and 1791, discovered sounds, inlets, and 
 channels ; entered rivers and circumnavigated islands along the whole 
 line of the coast ; that in 1792, he next discovered the mouth of the 
 Columbia, and navigated it to the distance of over twenty miles in- 
 land, before any other white man had ever seen it ; and sorrv are we 
 to say, we alsJO find that a mean and dishonorable attempt was made 
 to rob him of the honor due to the daring exploit, by two British 
 officers, who, though they sailed thither, months afterwards, with his 
 charts for their guides, sought by a disgraceful quibble to appropriate 
 his credit to themselves. 
 
 Fourth — VVe find that during the years 1796 and 1814, the trade 
 and commerce of the jiorth Pacific was carried on exclusivel}' by our 
 citizens, and that they rendered the geography of that region almost 
 perfect by the numerous discoveries tliey made in ranging up and 
 down its north west shores. 
 
 Fifth — VVe find that the British reliance on the pretended conces- 
 sions of the Spanish treaty of 1790, is forced and fallacious, for the 
 war of 1796 annulled its imperfect stipulations, and their clinging to 
 it has no other eflirict than to substantiate the value of our purchase. 
 
 Sixth — We find that having triumphantly rebutted the English 
 claims on the score of discovery, we beat them likewise on the points 
 of exploration and settlement, for in 1S05-6, a scientific commission 
 appointed by our government, thoroughly explored the Oregon terri- 
 tory from the sources of the Columbia to the sea, and were in full 
 possession of it by settlement six months, or a year, before a British 
 establishment was made, even as low as 55° north. 
 
 And thus, to conclude, we find that every condition imposed by 
 justice, every formality required by international law, has been per- 
 formed by us to consummate our right to Oregon ; and while all our 
 dealings in reference to the subject have been straightforward, and in 
 gooil faith, we have been met with nothing on the part of England, 
 but arrogant assumption, low finesse, and vulgar cheatery. No MTong 
 has b{!en too bold for their attempt, no resource too mean for their 
 adoption, and the contempt that is in one moment excited by the 
 unworthy fetch of a pretended discoverer, or the miserable subterfuge 
 of a conspiracy of geographers, gives place in the next to the indigna- 
 tion aroused at the unparalleled arrogation of a foreign corporation, of 
 sovereignty over the free citizens of our Republic. 
 
 If we have submitted to this long enough, it is surely time for us 
 io say so. " ' 
 
 ,l-i 
 « 
 
 Right 
 
 knows of no degrees , 
 
 Justice acknowledges no 
 
HnXORT OF OREGON. 93 
 
 relatloni^hip with policy ; and we should reject the proffer of a com- 
 promise as unworthy of the dignity of our claims. The acceptance 
 of a composition, is at best but a submission to a portion of wrong, 
 and the nation which takes but a share of its due, when it is strong 
 enough to enforce the whole, is dishonored both in the eyes of its own 
 People and of the world. Let us therefore settle this question as 
 becomes us, and no longer stand in the humiliating position of negotia- 
 ting with Great Britain, whether we shall have our own or no ! We 
 should be baffled no longer with the absurd pretensions of the Drakes, 
 the Cooks, the Vancouvers, and the Meares, those diplomatic John 
 Does and Richard Roes, who are only introduced to confuse the 
 question, and to mislead its issues. We should disdain all comprom- 
 ises, and refuse all proposals of arbitrament. Monarchs are no judges 
 for Republics. We should, in brief, reject the entertainment of 
 any consideration short of the full, and unconditional resumption 
 OF ALL Oregon, whenever such a policy shall be deemed by us to be 
 Necessary. 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL AND GENERAL VIEW OF OREGON. 
 
 ITS ISLANDS. 
 
 ,!.■:. 
 
 Hatiirs satisfactorily established out title to Oregon, our next inquiry becomes, 
 ^hat it is, and h«w we may most readily and completely avail ourselves of its ad- 
 vantages. We have already shown in the foregoing pages, that Oregon is a vast 
 «ountry lying on the Pacific ocean, stretching along the coast through twelve de- 
 grees and forty minutes of latitude, extending its eastern limits into the body of 
 the Rocky mountains, and embracing within those boundaries an area of four hun- 
 dred thousand square miles. Attached to this immense territory, and extending 
 along the whole line of its coast from the Strait of Fuca to its northern limit, and 
 even beyond that to the Arctic sea, is a continuous chain of islands, known by the 
 general name of the North Wcst Aicchipela<?o, which in themseves can scarcely 
 be regarded as less than a feature |of secondary importance. The largest are all 
 traversed by mountain ridges, in the direction of their greatest length, and the whole 
 archipelago may be considered as a portion of the westermost chain of mountains, 
 broken off from the main land at the Strait of Fuca, and running through the sea, 
 connecting those of Oregon on the south, with the range on the north, of which 
 Mounts Fairweather and St. Elias are the most prominent peaks. 
 
 The first and chief of these islands is Qdadra and Vancouvbr's. This extends 
 along the coast from 48^ 30', in a northerly direction, for the space of one hundred 
 and sixty miles, and forms, by its parallel course with the coast, (from which it is 
 distant about twenty miles,) the celebrated arm of the sea called the Strait of Fuca. 
 Its average width is about forty-five miles, and it contains a surface of about 16,000 
 square miles. The dimate of this island is mild and salubrious, and large portions 
 of its soil are arable and capable of advantageous cultivation. It has an abundance of 
 fine harbors, which afford accommodations for vessels of any size. The chief of 
 these, is Nootka Sound, the Port Lorenzo of the Spaniards, a spacious and secure 
 bay, running deep into the land, under parallels 49*^ 34', and containing within itself 
 many other harbors, affording most excellent anchorage. 
 
 A few mites south of Nootka, we come to another large bay, called Clyoquot, in 
 wbkh we have seen (bat Captain Kcadrick preferred to remain daring the winter of 
 
 3 
 
'T* 
 
 34 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 1789, to any other harbor on the coast. There is another, still further sou tit 
 named Nittinat, which lies at the entrance of the Strait of Fuca, and is filled with 
 an archipelago of little islands. The coasts of this island, and indeed, the coasts 
 of those above, abound with fine fish of various descriptions, among which the 
 ■almon predominate. In consequence of their fisheries, the islands are more nu- 
 merously populated by the natives than the territory of the main land. 
 
 The next island of significance, is Washington, or Queen Chailotte's. It re- 
 ceived the former title from Captain Gray, who circumnavigated it for the first time 
 in the summer of 1789. It is triangular in its form, is one hundlred and fifty miles 
 in length, and contains four thousand square miles. A^fter Gray's visit, it became 
 the favorite resort of the American traders of the north Pacific. Its climate and 
 •oil are represented by Captain Ingraham as being extremely well adapted' for agri- 
 cultural purposes, particularly those portions in the vicinity of a" fine harbor in lati- 
 tude 5'3° 3' on its eastern coast, and at Fort Estrada, or Hancock's river, on the 
 north side. 
 
 The islands of the next importance below the southern cape of Prince-of-Walea' 
 Island, (which is the point of oar northern boundary line,) are Pitt's, Burke's, 
 Dundas' and the Princess Royal groups. Most of these lie between Washington 
 Island and the shore, and form a numerous archipelago, which renders the interven- 
 ing navigation extremely tortuous and difiicult. Between Washington and Van- 
 couver's Island, are a continuous line of others, of considerable size, lying closer to 
 the land, and following with their eastern outlines almost every sinuosity of the 
 continental shore. These latter groups are for the moat part uninhabited, and are 
 composed of granite and pudding stone, which appear to be the prevailing rock 
 north of latitude forty-nine. They are generally destitute of fresh water, and 
 having but few anchorages, the strong, intervening currents render navigation 
 perplexed and dangerous. They are only resorted to by the natives in the Dpring 
 and in the fall on account of their fisheries. 
 
 ■1 
 
 ■$ 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 i:,i 
 
 THE COAST AMD ITS HABBORS^ 
 
 The coast of Oregon from the forty-second parallel to the mouth of the Colum- 
 bia, pursues a northwardly course, and from that point, trends with a slight and 
 gradual westerly inclination to the Strait of Fuca. Its profile consists of a bold, 
 high, wall-like shore of rock, only occasionally broken into gaps or depressions, 
 where the rivers of the territory find their way into the sea. The first of these 
 openings above the southern boundary line, is the mouth of the Klamet. This is a 
 stream of considerable size,, issuing from the land in 42° 40', and exteixiiiig into it 
 to a distance of 150 miles. It has two large tributaries, called by the unromantic 
 titles of Shasty and Nasty rivers, an error of taste, which it is to be hoped the fu- 
 ture " Alleghanians" who inhabit their fertile valleys, will correct and reform. The 
 bay of the Klamet is admissible only for vessels of very light draught ; its whole 
 valley is extremely fertile, and the country adjacent to the stream abounds with a 
 myrtaceous tree, which, at the slightest agitation of the air, dififuses a fragrance that 
 lends to it another feature of an earthly paradise. Between this and the Umpqua, 
 river, disemboguing in 33° 30',. are two other small streams, neither of which, 
 however, afford a harbor available for commercial purposes. 
 
 The Umpqua liver is a considerable stream, entering the land to the distance of a 
 hundred miles. It has a tolerable harbor, navigable, however, only for vessels 
 drawing eight feet of water, and its stream, thirty miles from the sea, is broken by 
 rapids and falls. Its valley is blessed with its portion of the general fertility of the 
 lower region of Oregon, and consists of alternate groves of stupendous timber aixl 
 rich arable plains. The Hudson's Bay Company have a fort at the mouth of the 
 river, the site of which is the scene of a flourishing settlement. Five lesser streams 
 find their way into the sea, at intervals, from this point to the mouth of the Colum- 
 
 1 
 
HISTORY OF ORECON. 
 
 3S 
 
 bia, and contribute their aid in fertilizing the extensive region lying between the 
 <:oB8t and the parallel barrier running at the distance of a hundred or a hundred and 
 fifty miles, known as the President's range of mountains. 
 
 The mouth of the Oobmbia is found at 46° 16', but is only distinguishable from 
 the sea, by a slight and gradual inner curve in the shore. Like all the harbors 
 formed by the rivers on the sea coast, it is obstructed with extensive sand bars, 
 formed by the deposits of the river on its meeting with the ocean, and, according to 
 Lieutenant Wilkes, " its entrance, which has trom four and a half to eight fathoms of 
 water, is impracticable for two-thirds of the year, and the difficulty of leaving it is 
 equally great." It is thought by some, that these obstacles may be removed in time 
 t)y artificial means, but it is an extremely doubtful question whether it can ever be 
 made an available harbor for vessels of any draught. 
 
 Passing Cape Disappointment, the northern headland of the river's mouth, we sail 
 forty miles further north, where we find a secure anchorage in Gray's bay, for vessels 
 drawing ten feet of water ; but this harbor is considered of little importance on 
 account of the extensive sand flats, which usurp the greatest portion of its entire 
 surface. From Gray's bay, to Cape Flattery, the southern point of the strait of 
 Fuca, but two streams, and those of but trifling significance, break the overhanging- 
 barrier of the coast. 
 
 We have now traversed the whole coast of Oregon lying immediately on the 
 Pacific, and in its course of five hundred miles, find but two places of refuge for 
 vessels, (Gray's bay, and the mouth of the Columbia) and even these are of but 
 trifling importance in a commercial point of view. Indeed, all geographical autho- 
 rities agree, that none of the harbors on this portion of the coast, can be deemed 
 safe ports to enter. 
 
 The next branch of the coast demanding our attention, is that which lies along 
 the strait of Fuca. This immense arm of the sea cuts off the northward line of the 
 coast at Cape Flattery, in latitude 48° 23', and runs apparently into the land in a 
 south-easterly direction for about a hundred and twenty miles. It then turns north- 
 west by west, and following that direction for three hundred miles more, joins the 
 sea again at Pintard's sound. The southern portion of this strait varies from fifteen 
 to thirty miles in width, and the coast of Oregon along its course, is an exception 
 in its maritime advantages, to the portion immediately on the sea. It abounds with 
 fine inland sounds, offering a secure anchorage to vessels of the heaviest draught, 
 and there are no portions of the interior navigation, which conceals a hidden danger. 
 The straits can be entered in any wind, and the great rise and fall of the tides offer 
 facilities for building maritime establishments unsurpassed in any portion of the 
 world. Here, whatever direction emigration may for the present take, the commer- 
 Cfial operations of the territory will eventually centre, and the din of our naval 
 arsenals will proclaim to the world the fulfilment of the prediction that 
 
 " The course of empire has westward found its way." 
 
 The most important branch of this strait is a spacious arm descending from its 
 eastern extremity in a southerly direction, into the land to the distance of one hun- 
 dred miles. It is called Admiralty Inlet, and the lowermost portion of it is known as 
 Poget's sound. This inlet, like the other southern portions of the strait, is filled 
 with splendid harbors, the southernmost of which, has the peculiar advantage of being 
 within but little more than three hundred miles of the navigable waters of the Mis- 
 souri. Great quantities of bituminous coal have been found in its vicinity, and there 
 are other peculiar advantages attached to the station, which must eventually make 
 it a point of tho first importance. These circumstances have not escaped the 
 watchful eyes of the Hudson's Bay Company, and they have already established a 
 fort and a settlement there by way of securing possession of the point.* At the south- 
 
 *Theooiuiderationof the maritime advantages of the southern coast of the Strait of Fuos and 
 Fuget's Sound, suggests a pretty forcible view of the remarkable liberality of Oreat Britain^ 
 
^ 
 
 HisTOKY OT ovtvaatr^ 
 
 1 ■; 
 
 east end of Vancouver's island, there is a small archipelago of islands/which, tiiongb 
 well wooded, are generally destitute of fresh water. They are, consequently, for the 
 most part uninhabited. The coast of the main land along the north western course of 
 the strait, is cut up and penetrated hy numerous inlets, called from their perpendicular 
 sides and deep water, canals, liiey afford no good harbors, and offer but few 
 inducements to frequent them. One large river empties into the strait about latitude 
 49°, which pursues a northerly direction for several kundred miles. It is called 
 the Tacoutche, or Fraser's river, and has a trading post named Fort Langley, 
 situated near its mouth. The other portion of the coaet to the north is much of 
 the same character as that south of this river, on the stiait. It is cut up by inlete 
 and the numerous islands v«hich line it, and the heavy fogs that are frequent in th* 
 region, render it at all times- difficult to approach or to navigate. 
 
 THE NATURAL DIVISIONS OF OREGON. • 
 
 THK THKBE REGIONS. I 
 
 Oregon ia divided inta tlu-ee distinct regions, by three separate mountain ranges,, 
 with an additional inferior chain, binding the extreme outline of the Pacific coast. 
 
 Overlooking the rim upon the ocean edge, the first chain we come to, is the 
 Cascade Mointains, or as they are sometimes called, the President's Range. They 
 start below the forty-second parallel, and run, on a line with the coast at a distance 
 varying from 100 to 150 miles throughout the whole length of the territory ; rising 
 in many places to a height from 12,000 to 15,000 feet above the level of the sea in 
 separate cones. Their succession is so continuous, as to almost interrupt the com- 
 munication between the sections, except where the two great rivers, the Columbia 
 and Fraser's, force a passage through ; an achievement which they only accomplish 
 by being torn into foam, plunged down precipices, or compressed into deep, and 
 dismal gorges. This chain of mountains have obtained the title of the President'e 
 range, in consequence of their most elevated peaks having been named after the 
 chief magistrates of the United States, by a patriotic American traveller. 
 
 The stupendous line runs from Mount Jackson to Mount Tyler, and there is yet 
 room among their gigantic cousins, for several succeeding dignitaries. The idea 
 which suggested their adaptation to our natural history was a happy one. Perpetual 
 mementoes in the archives of our nation, they form no perishable notes of heraldry 
 for the contempt of a succeeding age, but basing their stupendous data upon the 
 eternal earth, pierce with their awful grandeur the region of the clouds, to tran< 
 scribe their records on the face of heaven. The first of them. Mount Jackfion, 
 commences the list, in 41° 10' ; Jefferson stands in 41* 30' ; John Quincy Adama 
 in 42® 10'; Madison in 43"» ; Monroe in 43° 10'; Adams in 4»<»; Washington 
 (the Mount St. Helens of the English) in 46° ; Van Buren, north-west of Puget'e 
 ■ound, in 48° ; Harrison, east of the same, in 47 J, and Tyler in 49°. Of these, 
 Mount Jackson is the largest, and is said to rise above the level of the sea near twenty 
 thousand feet. Washington, which is next in size, is estimated at 17,000 to 18,000. 
 This is the most beautiful of ail. It ascends in a [wrfect cone, and two-thirds of its 
 height is covered with perpetual snow.* 
 
 The region of country lying between this range of mountains and the sea, i» 
 known as the fir it or lower region of Oregon. 
 
 The Blue moontains form the next division. They commence nearly in the centre 
 of Oregon, on parallel of longitude 43° west from Washington, and in 46° of latitude. 
 
 offer of the Columbia as the line of compromiie. This, while it secures to ber every navigable 
 harbor, does not leave us one. 
 
 ♦ The limit of perpetual snow for these mountains is^ acoerdipc to Lieutenaat Willtes , 6,600 
 feetframthelevelofthesea. ^ 
 
 m 
 
 Jf^ 
 
HISTORY OF OR^OOff^ 
 
 37 
 
 h, thongfe 
 ly, for the 
 
 course of 
 )endicular 
 
 but few 
 It latitude 
 
 is called 
 
 Langley, 
 8 much of 
 ) by inlets 
 lent in th« 
 
 kin ranges^ 
 fie coast. 
 ! to, is the 
 »ge. They 
 
 a distance 
 ory; rising 
 ' the sea in 
 >t the com- 
 t Columbia 
 accomplish 
 
 deep, and 
 President'^ 
 B after the 
 
 lere is yet 
 
 The idea 
 
 Perpetual 
 >f heraldry 
 
 upon the 
 Is, to trau' 
 
 JackRon, 
 icy Adams 
 (''ashingtOR 
 of Puget's 
 
 Of these, 
 lear twenty 
 
 to 18,000. 
 
 lirds of its 
 
 the sea, i» 
 
 the centre 
 of latitude. 
 
 y navigable 
 i^ilke8,d,eOO 
 
 
 They run southwesterly from this point for 200 miles in an irregular manner, occa- 
 sionally interrupted, and shooting off in spurs to the south and west. 
 
 The region between this ridge and the President's range, is called the second or 
 middle region. 
 
 Beyond the Blue mountains and lying between them and the Rocky mountains, 
 is the high country, or third region of Oregon. 
 
 The general course of the Rocky mountains is from south to south east. They 
 Tun South from 54<> 46', parallel to the coast (at a distance of 500 miles) for three hun- 
 dred miles, and, gradually extend their distance from the sea by a continuous south 
 easterly course to over seven hundred at the 40th degree. In these mountains, and 
 their ofTsete, rise the principal rivers which find their way into the Pacific to the west, 
 and the Gulf of Mexico on the east. Near the forty-second parallel is a remarkable 
 depression in the chain, called " the Southern Bass'" which experience has proved, 
 affords a short and easy reute for carriages from our states, into the territory of 
 Oregon. Above the 48th parallel, again, other passes are formed by the course of 
 the rivers, from either side, which find their way in some places between the moun- 
 tains. There are other ridges intersecting the face of this vast country, but they 
 are principally offsets or spurs of the three main chains already described. The 
 principal of these, is the wind river clustw, on the east of the Rocky mountains, 
 from which flow many of the head waters of the Missouri and the Yellow Stone 
 rivers. 
 
 CLIMATE AND CflABACTEKieTICS OS THE TtlBER REOIONS. 
 
 The third region or high country, is a rocky, barren, broken country, traversed in 
 all directions by stupendous mountain spurs, on the peaks of which, snow lies nearly 
 all the year. It is from two to three thousand feet abova the leve4 of the sea, and 
 in consequence, the rivers flowing through it, westward to the Columbia, are broken 
 at frequent intervals by the rugged descent, and rendered unnavigable almost 
 throughout the whole of their course. There are but few arable spots in this whole 
 section of territory, its level plains, except narrow strips in the intmediate vicinity 
 of the rivers, being covered with sand or gravel, and being also generally volcanic in 
 their character. The distinguishing features of the territory are its extreme dry- 
 ness, and the difference ef its temperature between the day and the night. It sel- 
 <({om rains except during a few days in the spring, and no moisture is deposited in 
 dews. In addition to these discouraging features, the climate, from its enclosure 
 between these snowy barriers, is extremely variable, a difference of fifty and sixty 
 degrees taking place between sunrise and mid-day. The soil is moreover much 
 impregnated with salts, springs of which abound in rcoRy places. It will be seen 
 by reference to the journal which forms the latter portion of this work, that some of 
 these possess highly medicinal qualities, and from the beauty of their situation, will 
 doubtless become, before time is done, the resort of the fashionable population of 
 Western America. 
 
 Notwithstanding all these unfavorable qualities, there are many small prairies 
 within its mountains, which, from their production of a nutritious bunch grass, are 
 well adapted for grazing purposes, and in despite of its changeable climate, stock is 
 founa to thrive well, and to endars the severity of the winter without protection. 
 
 The second or Middle Region of Oregon, between the Blue and the President Ran- 
 ges, is less elevated than the third, and consequently all the stern extremities of the 
 latter's climate and soil, are proportionately modified. Its mean height is about a 
 thousand feet above the level of the sea, and much of its surface is a rolling prairie 
 country, with the exception of the portion above latitude 48^, which is very much 
 broken by rivers and traverse mountain chains. It is consequently adapted only in 
 sections to farming purposes. Plenty of game, however, is found in the forests of 
 (he country, to compensate for its unfitness for agriculture. Below this parallel, and 
 
 f 
 

 ss 
 
 HISTORT or ORKOOir. 
 
 in the middle of the section, are extensive plains, admirably adapted to stock raising, 
 from the perpetual verdure always overspreading them, and from the salubrious cli- 
 mate that prevails throughout their neighborhood. Cattle thrive even better here 
 than in the low country, and there is no necessity for housing them at any time ; 
 neither need provender be laid in, the natural hay found always in abundance on the 
 prairies, being preferred by them to the fresh grass upon the bottoms. It is in this 
 region the Indians raise their immense herds of horses, and here, whenever the 
 territory shall be numerously settled, may be bred clouds of horsemen, who woold 
 not be exceeded by any light cavalry in the world. 
 
 The southern portion of this region as it advances to the boundary line, becomes 
 less favorable to the purposes of man, and loses its fertility by rolling into swelling 
 sand hills, producing nothing but the wild wormwood, ntixcd with prickly pear^ 
 and a sparse sprinkling of short bunch grass. 
 
 The first or lower Region of Oregon is that which lies along the coast and extend* 
 westward to the line of the President's range of mountains. The portion of this 
 lying north of the Columbia and between it and the Straits of Fuca, is a heavily tim- 
 bered country covered with forests of trees, of extraordinary sixe. It has, however^ 
 its spaces of prairie on which good pasturage is found, and it has also some fine 
 arable land. This section is watered by four rivers, of which, the Chickelis, disem- 
 bogueing into the Columbia, and the Cowolitz, emptying into the sea at Gray's 
 harbor, are the most important. The forests of this portion of the lower region are 
 its great feature. They consist of pines, firs, spruce, red and white oak, ash, arbu- 
 tus, arbor vitas, cedar, poplar, maple, willow, cherry and yew, with so close and 
 matted an undergrowth of hazel, and other brambles, a j to render them almost im- 
 penetrable to the foot of roan. Most of the trees are of an enormous bulk, and thej 
 are studded so thick, that they rise before the beholder like a stupendous and im- 
 pregnable solidity, which decla es falile all ordinary attempts to penetrate it. This 
 astonishing exuberance is not confined alone to the timber of the section north of 
 the Columbia, for we have an account of a fir growing at Astoria, eight miles from 
 the ocean, on the southern bank of the Columbia, which measured forty-six feet in 
 circumference at ten feet from the ground, ascended one hundred and fifty-three 
 feet before giving off a branch, and vras three hundred feet in its whole height. 
 Another tree of the same species, is said to be standing on the Umpqua, the trunK 
 of which is fifty-seven feet in circumference, and two hundred and sixteen feet in 
 length below its branches. Prime sound pines, from two hundred, to two hundred 
 and eighty feet in height, and from twenty to forty in circumference, are by no means 
 uncommon. The value of this spontaneous wealth has already been appreciated by 
 the acute company who reign commercially predominant in this region, for already 
 their untiring saw mills, plied by gangs of Sandwich Ishinders and servile Iroquois, 
 cut daily at Fort Vancouver alone, thousands of feet of plank, which are transported 
 regularly to the markets of the Pacific Islands. 
 
 But to return to that section of the lower region lying between the Columbia and 
 the Straits of Fuca. The banks of the Cowelitz are generally bare of timber, but 
 the soil in their immediate vicinity is for the most part poor. The Hudson's Bay 
 Company, however, have a fine farm of 600 acres in its western valley, which ia 
 1841 produced 7000 bushels of wheat. The average produce is twenty bushels to 
 the acre. They have also a saw and grist mill now in operation there, both 
 of which find a market for their products in the Sandwich and other islands of 
 Polynesia. Live stock do not succeed well on these farms, and this is owing to 
 the absence of low prairie grounds near the river, and also to the extensive 
 depredations of the wolves. The hilly portion of the country immediately around, 
 though its soil is very good, is too heavily timbered to be available for agricultural 
 purposes, and this is also the case with many portions of the level land. There are, 
 however, large tracts of fine prairie at intervals between, suitable for cultivation, 
 and ready for the plough. 
 
'^ 
 
 HISTORY or OREGOIT. 
 
 39 
 
 Proceeding northward, we came to Fort Naaqually, a fine harbor at the southern 
 point of Puget'a Sound. Here the Hudson's Bay Compnny have another fine 
 settlement, and raise wheat, (15 bushels to the acre,) oats, peaa, potatoes, and make 
 butter for the Russian settlements. On the islands of the sound and on the upper 
 sections of Admiralty Inlet, the Indians cultivate potatoes in great abundance. 
 These vegetables are extremely fine, and constitute a large portion of their food. 
 
 Having disposed of this section, we come now to that portion of the lower region 
 lying south of the Columbia, between the President's range and the coast. This 
 by universal agreement is admitted to be the finest portion of all Oregon. It 
 is entered by the Wallamette river, about five miles below Vancouver, which stream 
 extends into its bosom over two hundred miles. This river is navigable for 
 steamboats and vessels of light draught for nearly forty miles, when you come to a 
 falls — the invariable feature of the rivers of this territory. Above the falls are 
 the principal settlements of Oregon. Here the American adventurers have princi- 
 pally established themselves, and by the contributions of the emigrations from the 
 States their number is rapidly increasing. As these settlements are described with 
 some particularity in the journal which concludes this work, we will omit a particular 
 account of them in this place. 
 
 The fertile portion of the valley of the Willamette is about two hundred apd fifty 
 miles long, and averages about seventy in width, making hi all a surface of more than 
 17,000 square miles of rich arable land. The soil is an unctuous, heavy, black loam, 
 which yields to the producer a ready and profuse return for the slightest outlay of his 
 labor. The climate is mild throughout the year, but the summer is warm and very 
 dry. From April to October, while (he sea breezes prevail, rain seldom falls in any 
 part of Oregon. During the other months, and while the south winds blow, the 
 the rains are frequent, and at times abundant. 
 
 In the valleys of the low country, snow is seldom seen, and the ground is so rarely 
 frozen, that ploughing may generally be carried on the whole winter. In 1634, the 
 Oolumbia was frozen over for thirteen days, but this was principally attributable to the 
 accumulation of ice from above. " This country," says Wyeth, " is well calculated 
 for wheat, barley, oats, rye, peas, apples, potatoes and dl the vegetables cultivated 
 in the northern part of the Union. Indian corn does not succeed well, and is an 
 unprofitable crop." 
 
 The following letter, recently received from Oregon, and giving an account of last 
 year's crop, will serve to show the wonderful productiveness of this delightfufi 
 region : * 
 
 " The harvest is just at hand, and such crops of wheat, barley, oats, peas and 
 potatoes, are seldom, if ever to be seen in the States, that of wheat in particular — the 
 stalks being in many instances as high as my head, lite grains generally much larger 
 — 1 would not much exaggerate to say they are as large again as tliose grown east 
 of the mountains. The soil is good, and the climate most superior, being mild the 
 year round, and very healthy, more so than any country I have lived in the same 
 length of time. Produce bears an excellent price — pork, 10 cents; beef, 6 cents; 
 potatoes, 50 cents; wheat, $1 per bushel. These articles are purchased at the 
 above prices with great avidity by the merchants for shipment generally to the Sand- 
 wich Islands and Russian settlements on this continent, and are paid for mostly in 
 stores and groceries, the latter of which is the product of these islands, particularly 
 sugar and cotTee, of which abundant supplies are furnished. Wages for laborers 
 arc high— common hands are getting from one to two dollars per day, and mechanics 
 from two to four dollars pe<- day. It is with difficulty men can be procured at these 
 pees, so easily can they do better on their farms. The plains are a perpetual 
 meadow, furnishing two complete new crops in a year, spring and fall, the latter 
 remaining green through the winter. Beef is killed from the grass at any season 
 of the year. If you have any enterprize left, or if your neighbors have any, here is 
 the place for them." 
 
 * The above is an extract of a letter from General McCarvcr, who is at present the Speaker 
 of the Lower House of Oregon. 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF OREOOir. 
 
 ■ »^f. 
 
 or this vaWcy Lieutenant Wilkes lays, <' the wheat yields thirty-five or forty- 
 bushels for one bushel sown ; or from twenty to thirty to the acre. Its quality is- 
 iuperiar to that grown in the United States, and its weight is nearly four pounds to 
 the buslicl heavier. The above is the yield of the new land ; but it is believed it 
 will greatly exceed this after the third crop, when the land has been broken up and 
 well tilled. In|coniparison to our own country, I would say that the labor necessary 
 to acquire wealth or subsistence, is in proportion of one to throe ; or, in other wards, 
 a man must work through the year, three times as much in the United States, to gain 
 the same competency. The care of stock, which occupies so nMich time with ui, 
 requires no attention here, and on the increase alone, a man might find support." 
 
 So>ith of the valley of the Willamette we come to that of the Umpqua, in which 
 is found large prairies of unsurpassable arable land, though the vicinage of the 
 river is chiefly remarkable for its gigantic pine timber. Some idea of the cxtraor- 
 dinary size of its forest trees may be obtained from the fact, that their seed cone» 
 are sometimes more than a foot in length. Below the Umpqua, we next arrive at 
 the country watered by the Tootootutna, or Rouges River, and beyond that, to the 
 voluptuous valley of the Klamet. These lower portions of the first region are 
 thought by many to be the paradise of the whole territory, excelling in richness of 
 ■oil and voluptuousness of climate, even the celebrated valley of the Willamette. 
 Of this opinion is Lieutenant Wilkes, to whose exertions and researches we are in~ 
 debted for most of our accurate geographical knowledge of the western portion of 
 Oregon. Indeed, probability seems to be in favor of regarding the vallies of the 
 Klamet, Tootootutna, and the Umpqua, as the gardens of the west, and the cause 
 of the preference of the northern portions is to be attributed mostly to t^e readier 
 access afforded to them by the avenue of the Columbia. Population, however, i» 
 already gradually encroaching further and further south, and but few years will 
 elapse, before coasters will be running down to the mouths of these three rivers for 
 their agricultural products. 
 
 The principal settlement of the Hudson's Bay Company is situated at Vancouver, 
 on the Columbia ; a point ninety miles from its mouth. At this st^tion^ the main 
 branch of foreign commerce i» carried on, and from it, the chief exports in the way 
 of pine plank, the grains, butter, dec, is made to the Russian settlements, and to- 
 the islands of the ocean. They have another farm upon the Fallatry plains, west 
 of the Willamette and about ten miles from Vancouver, which is also well stocked, 
 and in productive cultivation. 
 
 Before concluding our description of this portion of Oregon, it may be well ta- 
 state, that the continual influx of emigrants from the States at the station of the 
 Willamette, and the occasional conflictions of interest, rendered it necessary, in the 
 absence of protection from the laws of the Republic, that the American settlers 
 should establish a territorial guvernment for themselves. They have accordingly 
 proceeded to constitute two Legislatrve bodies, to appoint a Chief Justice, and 
 make the necessary ministerial officers to enforce his decisions. 
 
 The two houses meet at stated periods in the year for the transaction of 
 all the necessary business of the little body politic, and the degree of importance 
 which the new legislature has already obtained, may be estimated by the fact that 
 the ofircers of the Hudson's Bay Company have accorded their acknowledgement 
 of its powers, by applying through the chief governor of all the stations in the terri- 
 tory, (Doctor McLaughlin) for a charter for a canal around the Willamette Fall*. 
 The exclusive right was granted to him for twenty years, on the condition that he 
 should, in two years, construct a canal around them sufRcient for the passage of 
 boats thirteen feet in width. 
 
 This recognition of the authority ef the legislative confederacy would, however, 
 be a politic course in the resident governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, even 
 though he should bo ever so averse to it ; for such recognition would not affect the 
 interests of his association in case it were overthrown by bis own government, ant} 
 
 ti. » 
 
HISTORY OF OREQON. 
 
 41 
 
 it would aflbrd him, meanwhile, an opportunity for 'he quiet pursuit of hii plans. 
 It is but just, however, to bear in mind that tho jurisdiction exercised by the com- 
 pany over all the citizens in the territory, previous to this legislative convention, 
 was not their own &nop?''-"\, but the investiture of the British Government, for its 
 own special objects , u..a ic is no less just to say, that this power was exercised by 
 the gentleman above-named, during his rule, with a temperance and fairness, but 
 seldom found in thoso who have no immediate superior to account to. 
 
 The letter that brings us this latter information, also tells us the Doctor hat 
 already commenced his work with a large number of hands, and that there is no 
 doubt of his perfect ability to complete it within the time named. He was likewise 
 constructing at tho date of this information, (last August) a large flouring mill with 
 four run of burs, which was to be ready for business last fall. 
 
 THE RIVBKS. ' 
 
 Having completed a description of the general characteristics of the three region* 
 of Oregon, there remains but ono feature of its geography unfinished ; and as that 
 extends for the most part continuously from region to region, it could not be pro- 
 perly embraced in the particular account of any one. We allude to the courie and ' 
 characteristics of the Columbia river and its tributaries. 
 
 The northern branch of the Columbia river rises in latitude 60^ north, and 116' 
 west (from Greenwich)' thence it pursues a northern routo to McGillivary's pass in 
 the Rocky mountains. There it meets the Canoe river, and by that tributary 
 ascends north westerly for eighty miles more. At the boat encampment at the 
 pass, another stream also joins it through the mountains, and here the Columbia is 
 3,600 feet above the level of the sea. It now turns south, having some obstruc- 
 tions to its safe navigation in the way of rapids, receiving many tributaries in its 
 course to Colville, among which the Beaver, Salmon, Flatbow, and Clarke's rivers 
 from the east, and the Colville and two smaller tributaries, higher up, from the west, 
 are the chief. 
 
 This great river is bounded thus far on its course, by a range of high, well wooded 
 mountains, and in places expands into a line of lakes before it reaches Colville, 
 where ic is 2,049 feet above the level of the sea, having a fall «f 550 feet in 230 
 miles. 
 
 Fort Colville stands in a plain of 2000 or 3000 acres. There the Hudson's Bay 
 Company have a considerable settlement and a farm under cultivation, producing 
 from 3000 to 4000 bushels of different grains, with which many of their « ther forts 
 are supplied. On Clarke's rirer the company have another post called Flathead 
 House, situated in a rich and beautiful country spreading westward to the bases 
 of the Rocky mountains. On the Flatbow also, the company have a post, named 
 Fort Kootanie. 
 
 From Fort Colville the Columbia trends westward for about sixty miles, and then 
 receives the Spokan, from the south. This river rises in the lake of the Pointed 
 Hetirt, which lies in the bosom of extensive plains of tho same name. It pursues 
 a north westerly course for about 200 miles, and then empties into the Columbia. 
 Its valley, according to Mr. Spaiilding, an American Missionary who surveyed it, 
 may be extensively used as a grazing district ; but its agricultural capabilities are 
 limited. The chief features of its region are, (like those of the upper country, 
 through which we have already traced the Columbia and its tributaries,) extensive 
 forests of timber and wide sandy plains intersected by bold and high mountains. 
 
 From the Spokan, the Columbia continues its westerly course for sixty miles, re- 
 cplving several smaller streams, until it comes to the Okanagan, a river finding its 
 source in a line of lakes to the north, and affording boat and canoe navigation to a con- 
 siderable extent up its course. On the east side of this river, and near its junction 
 with the Columbia, the Company have another station called Fort Okanagan. 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. ] 
 
 ^ 
 
 Though the country bordering on the Okanagin ii generally worthleia, this settle- 
 nent is situated among a number of small, but rich arable plains. 
 
 After passing the Okanagan, the Columbia takes a southward turn and runs in that 
 direction for 160 miles to Wallawalla, receiving irt its course the Piscous, th« 
 Ekama and Entyatecoom, from the west, and lastly, the Saptin or Lewis River, 
 from the south. From this point the part of the Columbia which wo have traced, 
 though obstructed by rapids, is navigable for canoes to the Boat Encampment, a di8> 
 tance of 600 miles to the north. The Saptin takes its rise in the Rocky Mountains, 
 passes through the Blue, and reaches the Columbia after having pursued a north- 
 westerly direction for 620 miles. It brings a large volume of water to the latter 
 stream, but in consequence of its extensive and numerous rapids, it is not navigable 
 even for canoes except in reaches. This circumstance is to be deplored, as its course 
 is the line of route for the emigration of the States. It receives a largo number of 
 tributaries, of which the Kooskooske and Salmon are the chief. Our previouH ac- 
 count of the arid and volcanic character of this region obviates the necessity of % 
 farther description here. There is a trading station upon the Saptin near the south- 
 ern boundary line, called Fort Hall, and one also near its junction with the Colum- 
 bia, called Fort Wallawalla. The Columbia at Wallawalla is 1284 feet above the 
 level of the sea, and about 3,500 feet wide. It now takes its last turn to the west- 
 ward, pursuing a rapid course of 80 miles to the Cascades, and receiving the Uma- 
 tilla, Quisnel's, John Day's and Chute Rivers from the south, and Cathlatate's from 
 the north. At the Cascades, the navigation of the river is interrupted by a series 
 of falls and rapids, caused by the immense volume forcing its way through the gorge 
 of the President's range. From the Cascades, there is still-water navigation for ferty 
 miles, when the river is again obstructed by rapids ; after passing these, it is navi- 
 gable for 120 miles to the ocean. The only other great independent river in the 
 territory is the Tacoutche or Frazer's River. It takes its rise in the Rocky Moun- 
 tains near the source of Canoe River ; thence it takes a north-westerly course for 
 80 miles, when it makes a turn southward, receiving Stuart's river, which brings 
 down its waters from a chain of lakes extending to the 56th degree of latitude. 
 Turning down from Stuart's River, the Tacoutche pursues a southerly course until 
 it reaches latitude 49^, where it breaks through the Cascade range in a successioa 
 of falls and rapids, then turns to the west, and after a course of 70 miles more, dis- 
 embogues into the Gulf of Georgia, on the Straits of Fuca, in latitude 47" 07 '. Its 
 whole length is 350 miles, but it is only navigable for 70 miles from its mouth, by 
 vessels drawing twelve feet water. It has three trading posts upon it belonging to 
 the company ; Fort Langley at its mouth ; Fort Alexandria at the junction of a small 
 stream a few miles south of QuisnelPs River, and another at the junction of Stuart's 
 River. The country drained by this river is poor and generally unfit for cultivation. 
 The climate is extreme in its variatiops of heat and cold, and in the fall months, 
 dense fogs prevail which bar every object from the eye beyond the distance of a 
 hundred yards. The chief features of the section are extensive forests, transverse 
 ranges of low countries, and vast tracts of marshes and lakes, formed by the streams 
 descending from the surrounding heights. 
 
 *' The character of the great rivers is peculiar— rapid and sunken much below the 
 level of the country, with perpendicular banks, they run as it were intrenches, which 
 make it extremely difficult to get at the water in many places, owing to their steep 
 basaltic walls. They are at many points contracted by dalles, or narrows, which dur- 
 ing the rise, back the water some distance, submerging islands and tracts of low 
 prairie, and giving them the appearance of extensive lakes. 
 
 " The soil along the river bottoms is generally alluvial, and would yield good crops, 
 were it not for the overflowing of the livers which check %nd kill the grain. Some 
 of the finest portions of the land are thus unfitted for cultivation. They are gener- 
 ally covered with water before the banks are overflown, m conseiiuence of the 
 quicksands that exist in them, and through which the water percolates." 
 
 141 ^ 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 43 
 
 " The riie of the atresmi flowing from the Caicaflc mountain! takoi place twice a 
 year, in February and November, and are produced by heavy and abundant raina. 
 The riie of the Columbia takea place in May and Juno, and is attributable to the 
 melting of the anowa. Sometimea the awoll of the latter ia very audden, if heavy 
 rains should also happen at that period, but it ia generally gradual and reachea its 
 greatest height from the 6th to the IRth of June. Its perpendicular rise is frem 18 
 to 20 foet at Vancouver, where a line of embankment has been thrown up to protect 
 the lower prairie ; but, it has generally been flooded during these visitations, and the 
 crops often destroyed. 
 
 "The greatest rise of the Willamette takes place in February, and sometimes as- 
 cending to the height of 20 feet, does considerable damage. Both this river and the 
 Oowelitz, are much swollen by the backing of their waters during the height of the 
 Columbia, all their lower grounds being at such times submerged. This puts an ef- 
 fectual bar to the border prairies being used for anything but pasturage. This hap- 
 pily ia fine throughout the year, except in the season of floods, when the cattle must 
 be driven to the high grounds." 
 
 The lakes of Oregon are numerous and well distributed in the different regions 
 of the territory. In the northern section, the Okanegan, (from which flows the 
 river of that name), Stuart's and Frazer's, near the upper boundary ; Quesnell's in 
 S3°, and Klamloop's ir 61^, aro the largest. In the central section, we have the 
 Flatbow, the Cour d'Al^ne, or, " Pointed Heart," and the KuUespelm ; and in the 
 southern district, are the Klamet, the Pit, and an abundance of inferior lakes, as yet 
 unnoticed on the maps, and for which geographers have not yet been able to dis- 
 cover names. Several of the latter, are salt, and, at intervals, we find chains of hot 
 springs bubbling in some places above the ground, like those of Iceland. The 
 smaller lakes are said to add much to the picturesque beauty of the streams. 
 
 The whole territory is well watered in all directions, and from the peculiar cha- 
 racter of its rivers, their descent, the rapidity of their currents, and their frequent 
 falls, there is perhaps no country in the world which affords so many facilities for 
 manufacturing purposes, through the agency of water power. .This is a peculiarly 
 happy circumstance, when taken into consideration with the fact, that the timber 
 overspreading the weastern portion and clustering around its mill sites, will, for a 
 long time, form one of the principal exports in the markets of the Pacific. This wilF 
 appear from the high prices which it now commands, and also, from the fact, that no 
 other portion of the north west coast produces it. Already, trading vessels resort 
 to the mouth of the Columbia to supply themselves with spars, and other necessary 
 materials, and the improving facilities of inland intercommunication, has directed 
 some of it from point to point within the territory. 
 
 Having now completed our account of the great physical characteristics of Oregon, 
 our attention naturally turns to those portions of its natural history which are equally 
 necessary to render a land serviceable to the wants of man. Of these, the first, and 
 most important, are the fisheries. " These," says Lieutenant Wilkes, " are so im- 
 mense, that the whole native population subsist on them." All the rivers, bays, 
 harbors and shores of the i ast and islands, abound in salmon, sturgeon, cod, carp, 
 sole, flounders, ray, perch, kerring, lamprey eels, and a kind of smelt or sardine, 
 which is extremely abundant. The different kinds predominate alternately, accord- 
 ing to the situations of the respective fisheries, but the salmon abound everywhere 
 over all. This superior fish is found in the largest quantities in the Columbia, and 
 the finest of them are taken at the Dalles. They run twice a year, May and Octo- 
 ber, and appear inexhaustible. To so great an extent is traffic in them already ad- 
 vanced, that the establishmet at Vancouver alone, exports ten thousand barrels of 
 them annually. There are also large quantities of oysters, clams, crabs, mussels 
 and other kinds of shell fish, found in the different bays and creeks of the country ; 
 and, to complete this piscatory feature, we are further. told, that whales are also 
 
n 
 
 HISTORY or OREOOK. 
 
 t 
 
 m 
 
 found in numbers a\ong the coait nnd nt the mouth of the Strait of Fuca, where 
 thoy aro frequently captured by the pitcivoroua aborigine*. 
 
 Of game, an equal abundance exiats, In tho ipring and fall, the riven literally 
 ■warm with goeao, duck, cranoi, iwani, and other ipociee of water-fowl ; and the 
 elk, deer, antelope, bear, wolf, fox, martin, bearer, muikrat, grizzly bbar and aif- 
 flcur make, with them, the harvoit of the hunter's rifle. In the middle section, little 
 or no game is to bo found, but in tho third region, the buffalo aro plenty, and form 
 an attraction to numerous hunting partiea of the Blackfoot and Oregon Indians. 
 
 The population of Oregon territory has been estimated by Lieutenant Wilkes, to 
 be about 20,000, of whom 19,200 or 300 are aborigines, and the remaining seven 
 or eight hundred, whites. This number, and its pioportions, have, however, in- 
 creased nnd varied considerably since the timo of his estimate. The years succeed- 
 ing his visit, beheld large emigrations from the States, and the white population 
 of Oregon may now be safely set down as being between two and three thousand, 
 of whom the majority are from the States. The largest portion of these are locat- 
 ed in tho valley of the Willamette, where, as wo havo already seen, they have 
 adopted a government of their own. The other white inhabitants are sprinkled 
 about in different portions of the territory, at the establishments of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company, whose ofTicers and servants amount, in all, to between five and 
 aix hundred, but this number does not include their Iroquois and Sandwich Island 
 serfs. 
 
 There are no means of ascertaining with accuracy the numbers of the aboriginal 
 population, as many of them move from place to placo in the fishing seasons ; but, 
 for tho purpose of furnishing thu reader with the nearest warrant for reliance, we 
 will hero insert a tabular statement, prepared by Mr. Crawford, of the Indian de- 
 partment, for the uso of last Congress. 
 
 Indians west of the Rocky Mountains, in the Oregon district, and their numbers. 
 
 Nes Percda 
 
 Ponderas 
 
 Flatheads 800 
 
 Cour D' Alene 
 
 Shoshonies 1,800 
 
 Gallapooahs 
 
 Umba-juahs 
 
 Kiyuse 
 
 Spokeua 
 
 Oknanagans 
 
 Cootomies 
 
 Chilts 800 
 
 Chinookes 400 
 
 Snakes 1,000 
 
 Calhlamahs 200 
 
 Wahkiakumes BllO 
 
 Skillutes 2,500 
 
 Sokulks 8,000 
 
 Chimnapuns 9,000 
 
 Shallatlos 200 
 
 Speannaros 240 
 
 Saddala 400 
 
 Wallawallahs 2,G00 
 
 Chopunniaheea 3,000 
 
 Catlashoots 4R0 
 
 Pohahs 1,000 
 
 Willewahs 1,000 
 
 Sinacaops 200 
 
 Chiliokittequaws 2,400 
 
 Echebools 1 ,000 
 
 Wahupume 1,000 
 
 Euesteurs 1 ,200 
 
 Clackamurs 1,800 
 
 Chanwappans 400 
 
 29,fiT0 
 
 The most numerous and warlike of the Oregon Indians are in the islands to the 
 north, but on the main land, they are generally friendly and well disposed. They 
 are, however, rapidly passing away before the advancing destiny of a superior raoe, 
 and with the wild game, vanish gradually from the white man's tracks. Those re- 
 maining, are a servile and degraded class, who perform the meanest offices of the 
 settlements, and readily consent to a mode of existence under the missionaries, and 
 other settlers, but little short of vassalage. In the Wallamette valley, there are nnvr 
 left but a few remnants of the once numerous and powerful tribes that formerly in- 
 habited it. At the mouth of the Columbia, there are some few of the Chenooks 
 still left, and about the Cascades and at the Dalles still linger considerable numbers 
 
HIITORY or OREGON. 
 
 4d 
 
 of thli ill-fated and tntt foding people. There ii no longer tny eplrit left in them ; 
 their hetrte are broken, their bowa unatrung, and from lorda of the auil, they 
 have aunk to the digradation of ita alavei. 
 
 The Kiuaea anJ Nea Porcna, atill maintain a portion of their independenre, but 
 numbera of them, through the exertiona of the mistionariei, have made considerable 
 •dvancee in civiliaation, and many more would doubtloaa adapt themaalvct »o a more 
 methodical tyatem of life, wore not tho first Iciaona of the science an exHction of 
 their labora for tho benefit of otheri. At the pretent, they can only be regarded 
 in the light of a iorvilo population, which, in the existing dearth of labor, i« render- 
 ed of vast service to the active eettler. In speaking of the influences of tho mil- 
 aionaries over the Indians, Lieutenant Wilkes remarka : " They have done but lit- 
 tle towarda Chriatianizing the nativea, being principally engaged in cultivating the 
 mission farms and in the increaae of their own flocks and herda. As far aj my 
 personal observation went, there are very few Indians to engage their attention, 
 and they seemed moro occupied with the aettlement of the country and agricultural 
 pursuits than in missionary labors." 
 
 The treatment of the Indians by the Hudson's Bay Company, is politic and ju- 
 dicioua ; they rigidly enforce that wise provision of their charter, which forbids the 
 •ale of ardent spirits, and in carrying it out, have even been known, upon the ar- 
 riral of a vessel at the Columbia with apirita aboard, to purchase that portion of 
 the cargo, to prevent others from defeating the wisdom of the prohibition. Schools 
 for the native children are attached to all the principal trading posts, and particular 
 care is extended to the education of the half breed children,* the joint offspring of 
 the tradera and the Indian women, who are retained and bred, as far as possible, 
 among the whites, and subsequently employed, when found capable, in tho service 
 of the company. The policy of this course is obvious. The savage is gradually 
 cured of his distrust, and coaxed into new connections. He abandons the use of 
 hia bows, his arrows and nil his former arms, and the result is, that he soon becomes 
 an absolute dependant upon those who furnish him his guns, ammunition, fiah-hooka, 
 blankets, &c. 
 
 The course obsrved by this Company to American settlers, is equally politic. 
 They are received with kindness, and aided in the prosecution of their objecta to 
 long as these objects are only agricultural ; but no sooner does any of them attempt 
 to hunt, trap or trade with the natives, then all the force of the body is immediately 
 directed towards them. " A worthy missionary, now established on the Columbia," 
 says GreThow, " while acknowledging in conversation with me, the many acta of 
 kindnes'. Tec<>ived by him from the Hudson's Bay Company' i agents, at the same 
 timedecla.->d — that the would not buy a skin to make a cap, without their assent." 
 No Hoonrr is an American trading post established, than a British agent, with more 
 merchandise and a larger amount of ready money, settles down beside it, and by 
 the superior advantages he gives the Indians, in paying high and selling low, 
 drives the American trader to despair, and finally sonds him, with his hopes 
 crushed, and his enterprise destroyed, back to the States a ruined man. In pur- 
 suance of the same monopolising system, the Company endeavor to prevent the 
 vessels of the United States from obtaining cargoes on tho Nortii West coast, and 
 truth to say, they are generally successful in their object. 
 
 By its enormous wealth, its extensive stations, its able policy, and numerous 
 retainers, this Company has indeed become a formidable body, and it is a matter of 
 importance that we should make ourselves acquainted with its genius and ita ten- 
 dencies. 
 
 We have seen that it is the representative of the interests of Great Britain in 
 Oregon ; we have glanced at a few of the means it adopts to protect and further 
 them, and now that recent events have given a subordinate aspect to their political 
 
 * A natural obligation where so many are got. , 
 
■I'-;! 
 
 46 
 
 H^TORT or OREOON. 
 
 f'5 i! 
 
 position, it is of interest to examine tho mode their sagacity has devised to meet and 
 overcome the circumstances threatening their decline. 
 
 The original object of the Hudson's Bay Company's establishment in Oregon, was 
 for the purposes of fur trading alone, and to that their operations were confined, until 
 their investiture with the attributes of territorial sovereignty by the British Govern- 
 ment. From that time, however, it appears they considered no person should be 
 permitted within the . limits of the tenitory, except by their consent, and hence 
 their degeneration into a mere band of conspirators, as evidenced by the course of 
 policy we have already alluded to. At length, however, the fur trade in the countries 
 of the Columbia nearly ceased, and the Company were obliged to turn their atten- 
 tion to other objects. They have, it will be found, laid out farms on the most 
 extensive scale, erected mills, established manufactures, entered into the fisheries, 
 employed vessels for the purposes of commerce, and, in short, at the present mo- 
 ment, though they have lost the regal shadow, they present the aspect of a domi- 
 nant corporation, whose enormous wealth enables it to engross everything above the 
 mere pastoral and agricultural branches of industry, and to turn even the products 
 of those, into their already overrunning coffers. This is not presented as a matter of 
 complaint against the Hudson's Bay Company, for it is but the natural bent of wealth 
 and corporative enterprise, to monopolise and grasp, to the destruction of every op- 
 posing influence, but it affords a subject of reproachful reflection against our Go- 
 venment, for not checking these tendencies, and counteracting their effects, by 
 stretching its protection to those who fall within their reach. The maternal care of 
 England for her subjects stretches to the most obscure extremity of the earth ; while 
 the eye of the Republic overlooks its despairing children even in a portion of her 
 own immediate dominions. 
 
 r I 
 
 t .-:. 
 

 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 47 
 
 
 i PROPOSAL FOR ,. ,, < 
 
 A NATIONAL RAIL ROAD, 7 
 
 FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC, 
 !| FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING A SHORT ROUTE TO CHINA. 
 
 Havino ascertained wViat Oregon is, our next inquiry becomes, in what view it 
 is of the most importance to us, and how we may most readily and completely avail 
 ourselves of its advantages. 
 
 As an agricultural country it is of no great importance to a nation having con- 
 tiguous leagues on leagues of land yielding the same products nearer at home, the 
 abundant fertility of which has never yet been challenged by the spade or plough* ; 
 but as a commercial avenue to the wealth of the Indies and the riches of the Pacific, 
 its value is incalculable. 
 
 In any view, whether agricultural or commercial, the advantages and worth of 
 this territory depend upon the easiness of its approach from the States, and any 
 means that are adopted to facilitate this intercommunication, will, according to their 
 degree of efficiency, proportionably advance its destiny. Nature has already con- 
 tributed to the object more liberally in the country under consideration, than to the 
 tame extent of any other portion of the globe. From the Missouri to the Rocky 
 mountains spreads a plais scarcely broken by a hillock ; through that stupendous 
 ridge gapes a pass presenting no discouraging opposition to heavily laden wagons 
 with single teams, and from its western side the banks of the Saptin lead the tra- 
 Telter safely through to the navigable waters of the Columbia. 
 
 The time required fur the journey by the present mode of travelling is from three 
 to four months ; but though this might suffice for the gradual drain of a surplus 
 population, it will not meet the new designs which the full possession of this land 
 of promise opens to us. 
 
 These designs are legitimately the same which have agitated the commercial 
 world since the discovery of this continent, and they are now happily within out 
 reach and accomplishment, by means of a Rail Road. As it is one of the main 
 purposes of this work to urge this project upon The People of this country, and as 
 it is filled with considerations of the weightiest moment, it will be necessary to 
 treat it with that method and particluarity which its merits demand, and which will 
 adapt it to the ready and accurate comprehension of every understanding. 
 
 Our first purpose, therefore, will be to measure the value of the object we seek 
 by philosophical inquiry, and by the estimation of its importance by other powers ; 
 and our second, to glance at some of the refiults that will flow from it to our benefit 
 as a nation. 
 
 The commerce of the East, in every age, has been the source ef the opulence 
 and power of every nation which has engrossed it. By a silent and almost imper- 
 ceptible operation, India has been through centuries the secret but active cause of 
 the advancement of mankind, and while lying apparently inert in her voluptuous 
 clime, has changed the m&ritime balances of Europe with the visit of every new 
 nation that has sought the riches of her shores. Her trade imparted the first great 
 impulse to drowsy and timid navigation ; it revealed in the direction to its coasts 
 region after region before unknown ; it found for the guidance of the mariner new 
 planets in the sky, and its restless spirit has not even been content to make more 
 
 * Oar unoccupied public lands amonnt to 700,000,000 acres. ' 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 i; '::^- 
 
 tharf a temporary pause in the discovery of another world.* Like the Genii of the 
 fable it still offers the casket and the sceptre to those, who unintimidated by the 
 terrors which surround it, are bold enough to adventure to its embrace. In turn, 
 Phoenicia, Israel,t Carthage, Greece, Rome, (through her vanquished tributaries) 
 Venice, Pisa, Genoa, Portugal, Holland, and lastly, England, have won and worn 
 the ocean diadenu Our destiny now offers it to us ! 
 
 To shorten, by a western passage the route to the Indies, which now must be 
 conducted circuitously around the fearful barriers of Cape Horn and Southern Af- 
 rica, is a design that has long occupied the attention and aroused the exertions of 
 alt maritime nations. The first and most 'remarkable effort to effect it was made 
 in the latter part of the fifteenth century, by Columbus, which resulted in the dis- 
 covery of another world, and the search has been maintained with but little inter- 
 mission, by the intervening ages, ever since. Exploring expeditions to both the 
 Atlantic and Pacific coasts have pryed in every sinuosity of shore from latitude £0° 
 South to the borders of the Frigid zone, and in the defeat of their exertions, pro- 
 jects have been formed even to pierce the continent to accomplish the design. As 
 early as the seventeenth century, a company was formed in Scotland to improve 
 the advantages offered by the Isthmus of Darien and Panama, for trade in the Pa- 
 cific ;t but the project being discountenansed by England at the violent remon- 
 strances of her powerful East India Company, the subscriptions were withdrawn 
 and the enterprise temporarily dropped. It was revived soon after by its indefati- 
 gable projector, who, having raised £700,000 and 1200 men, set sail in five ships 
 to found a colony ; but being denounced by the government and attacked by a Spa- 
 nish force while its reduced numbers were suffering under disease and famine, they 
 sunk under their accumulated misfortunes and abandoned the enterprise in despair. 
 
 From that time to this, the project r' dividing the Isthmus has been a favorite 
 theme with European philosophers aud statesmen ; but the subject appears never 
 to have advanced beyond the bounds of mere speculation until later years. In ISll 
 it was revived by Spain, who this time seemed to be seriously in earnest in 4he 
 matter. By a vote of her Cortes, dated April 30th, in the above year, the immedi- 
 ate commencement of the work was decreed, but the foreign and domestic troubles 
 into which she was plunged at this period, rendered her incapable of carrying out 
 the grand design. 
 
 The project found its next active and practical supporter in Bolivar, who in 1827 
 appointed a commissioner to ascertain, by actual survey, the best line either by rail 
 road or canal, between the two seas. The commissioner reported in favor of the 
 latter, and an estimate was subsequently made by a French engineer that a canal, 
 forty miles in length, might be constructed across it, at an expense of less than 
 three millions of dollars — but the untiinely death of the illustrious patron of the 
 scheme, put an end to its further proeecution. The next movement in the measure 
 took place in 1842, when the Mexican government, upon application, empowered 
 Don Jose de Garay, one of its citizens, to effect a communication across its territo- 
 ries, between the oceans, and invested him with the most ample rights and immu- 
 nities, on condition of his completing the work. Don Jose, in pursuance of his 
 grant, appointed a scientific commission that accomplished the survey in 1842 and 
 1843, the result of which, established the perfect practicability of a ship canal across 
 the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Upon these grounds and the security of his gover- 
 
 * The object of Columbus, was not, as has been erroneously supposed, the discorery of n 
 new continent, but a shorter route to Cathay. 
 
 f Envying the success of the PhoBnicians, David and Solomon, after having seized upon Idu- 
 mea as a preparative, sent their fleets through the Arabian Gulf to Tarshish, Ophir, and other 
 ports in Africa and India, and by this means diffused throughout the land of Israel " the wealth 
 of OnnuR and of Ind." It if to this cause, doubtless, that the latter monarch specially owes his 
 vast reputation for sagacity, as well as the splendor of his reign. 
 
 \ This scheme was projected by William Patterson, who was supposed to have been origi- 
 nally, a South American Buccaneer, cotemporary with Sir Henry Morgan. 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 49 
 
 mental granti and privileges, its projector is now in London soliciting the aid of 
 British capital to carry out the scheme. 
 
 France, with the view of advancing the value of her oceanic possessions, is deeply 
 alive to the importance of this measure. Under tbo special patronage of Guizot 
 and Admiral Roussin, a private survey of the Isthmus has recently been made, the 
 importance attributed to which, may be imagined by the careful suppression of its 
 details from the public. Thus evidences multiply that the world will not much lon- 
 ger endure the petty olMtacles which bar them from the long-desired western pas- 
 sage to the Indies. How important, therefore, v.hat we, who have an engrossing 
 interest in this subject, should protect ourselves from being outstripped by those 
 whom our rapidly advancing destiny already prumisrs to leave behind. 
 
 The English government, though the junction of the seas has been repeatedly and 
 etrenuously urged by the representatives of some of her most important mercantile 
 interests, have betrayed an apathy upon the subject which, if not accounted for by 
 the principles of her usually selfish policy, would appear inexplicable ; but she doubt- 
 less reasons thus — 
 
 " ♦ Let well alone.' By the present routes around the Cape of Good Hope, and 
 through the Isthmus of Suez, we have a fair start with the best, and a superior 
 chance over most other nations for the Indies ; and while our established power in 
 that region and our superior marine secures us a preponderance in her trade, it 
 would be madness to contribute to afford superior facilities and advantages to others. 
 Through her geographical position, the United States, from whose wonderful ener- 
 gies and fearful strides toward maritime equality we have everything to fear, can 
 more readily avail herself of the benefits of this passage than any other nation. Her 
 fleets would stream in one unbroken line through the Gulf of Mexico, her naval 
 power would overawe our settlements on the North west coasts, and her impertinent 
 anterprise, of which we have had a late evidence in China, would extend itself 
 throughout our Indian possessions. The Marquesas Islands which, in case this pro, 
 ject be carried out, lie directly in the road of navigation, would at a step advance 
 into one of the most important maritime posts in the world, while the Society Is- 
 lands also in the possession of Franco, would enhance immensely in their value. 
 Worse than all, returning back, the vessels of all Europe, would ere long procure 
 their tropical products from the newly awakened islands of the Ocean, and in just 
 the degree that the value of Oceana would increase, our West India possessions 
 would depreciate. By changing the route and extending it across the ocean instead 
 of circuitously through it, we should voluntarily resign into other hands those com- 
 manding maritime and naval stations which we have won at the outlay of so much 
 diplomacy and perseverance. The power and advantages of St. Helena, Mauritius, 
 Capetown at the Cape of Good Hope, and the Falkland Islands commanding the 
 passage round Cape Horn, will be transferred to New Orleans and other cities of 
 the United States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, to Cuba, Chagres, Panama and 
 the Marquesas Islands. Let us, therefore, ' let well alone,' and be content with our 
 present supremacy upon its present basis ; unless indeed we can gain a superior ad- 
 vantage through the Arctic sea,* or monopolize a Mexican route to the shores of 
 the Californias. The Isthmus passage must, however, be discouraged, and if per- 
 severed in, Cuba must at all hazards be obtained, to compensate in some degree for 
 the losses we shall sustain on the African coasts." 
 
 ♦ Nkw Votaoi of Ducotkrt.— It is in the contemplation of tho British govorntnent to send 
 out another expedition to the Arctic Regioni, with tlio view of discovering the, or a North- 
 west passage, between the Atlantic and Pacific ; and the Council of the Royal Society, having 
 hcen solicited to give their opinion as to the desirableness of snch an expedition, have stated, 
 that independent of the great object to bo attained, tlie benefits, that would accrue to the sciences 
 of geography and terrestrial magnetism, render such an expedition peculiarly desirable. The 
 Erebus and Terror, which were recently employed at the south pole, under Sir J. Ross, have 
 returned in such good order, as to bo ready to bo made immediately available for employment 
 on similar service.— BngKiA Paper. 
 
50 
 
 HISTORY OP OREGON. 
 
 Ui 
 
 k ^ 
 
 'V.l 
 
 ' f- 
 
 This supposition is by no means strained. Tt is but a fair inference from Britain's 
 well known scltish character and policy, and the United States would be justified in 
 turning the proposition against her. 
 
 Having thus measured the importance attributed to the design of shortening the 
 western passage to the Indies, by the immense sums which have been lavished, and 
 tho haiiarda which have been braved upon the mere hope of its accomplishment, is 
 it not incumbent upon us to inquire if we have not within our own boundaries the 
 means and facilities of eSccling it, and if we have, is it not likewise incumbent on 
 us to carry the long desired object to its fullilment 1 We owe this to our own cha- 
 racter, to our posterity, to the world — and we most specially owe to the genius of 
 the Fifteenth century (which in the prosecution of this very plan redeemed us from 
 the ocean) the completion of the purpose which wo barred. 
 
 Tho circumstance of England's opposition to the plan (or to a similar one) is alono 
 an urgent motive to the undertaking ; the revelations of each succeeding day 
 strengthen the opinion that our interests and policy are founded upon antagonistic 
 principles. We are her natural rival upon the ocean, and as we advance she re- 
 tires. Wo are the only power that ever baflled her arms, and the course of things 
 have marked us as the heir of her strength, and the successor to her trident. Al- 
 ready, the commerce of the globe divided into eight parts, gives more than^»c be- 
 tween us two, and a sub-division affords but one part less to us than to her. 
 Here, to use tho expression of one of her own writers, is a " great fact ;" — a fact so 
 pregnant that it turns Speculation into Prescience, and points to the decree of Fate 
 in our future and speedy preponderance. France understands the relative positions 
 and interests of this country and Great Britain as well as, if not better, than our- 
 selves, and is perhaps actuated to the interest she takes in the opening of the Isth- 
 mus by a mora comprehensive policy than that which springs merely from the influ- 
 ences of an immediate self-interest. The spirit of her people is akin to ours, their 
 natural bent of mind inclines them for democratic institutions, and their hearts beat 
 towards us with sentiments of warm affection. To quote the language of one of 
 their popular organs : She looks towards us as her natural ally and as the only power 
 which can eventually release the ocean from the tyranny of Great Britain. If this 
 hope live in France, how much stronger must its ray be cherished by those inferior 
 powers who dare not aspire to rise above submission ? 
 
 " Thero is a divinity that shapes the ends" of nations as of men, and we may 
 discern the fulfilment of the maxim in the continual defeat of the most daring enter- 
 prize of man as applied to this design, through a period of four centuries. Not 
 ripe for its great revolution, Providence has denied it to the world until tho hour 
 should arrive for the first great step toward perfecting the grand scheme of the creation. 
 A thousand combining influences tell us that the time has come ; the universal beams 
 of knowledge have driven Superstition and Ignorance from the stage of action to mope 
 in the dreary cells, which imprisoned under them too long the genius of mankind. 
 Science having stripped experiment of its terrors, measures with accuracy the 
 results of every assay, and despising the obstacles of Nature, whose elements, nay, 
 even tho forked lightning itself, she has fastened to her car, feels as capable of 
 beating down the barriers of a continent as of measuring the distance to a planet. 
 Anew principle has been evoked, which though simple in its pretensions, and matter- 
 of-fact in its operations, will share in future times the honor of the Mariner's 
 Compass and the Printing Press, in civilizing and advancing man. The object 
 of each is sympathetic with the other ; the result of each must tend to the same 
 end. Their principle is intercourse, and their spirit progress. The first, awoke 
 our hemisphere from its sleep in the abyss ; the second infused sentiments which 
 turned tho footsteps of our ancestors toward it ; and we must now invoke the third, 
 for tho final accomplishment of its destiny ! 
 
 It is true thero is much that is startling in^the proposition of a National Rail 
 RoAU FBOM THE ATLANTIC TO THE Pacific ocbans, and ffluch that will strike tho 
 
 M « 
 
HISTORY OP OREGON. 
 
 51 
 
 liasty •baerver as chimerical ; but when we have seen stupendous pyramids raised 
 by human hands in the midst of a sterile and shifting desert; while we know that 
 'despite the obstacles of Nature and the rudeneos of Art, a semi-barbarous people, 
 many centuries before the christian era, erected around their empire a solid barrier 
 of wall, thirty feet in height, and so broad that six horsemen could ride on it abreast, 
 carrying it over the most formidable mountains, across rivers on arches, and through 
 the declensions and sinuosities of valkys, to the distance of fifteen hu. ircd miles, 
 let us not insult the enterprize of this cnlij^^htened age, by denouncing the plan of a 
 simple line of rails, over a surface but a little greater in extent, without on j half the 
 natural obstacles to overcome, as visionary and impracticable. 
 
 Geographers variously estimate the greatest breadth of our country frjm ocean to 
 ocean at 1,7G0 to 2000 miles.* Taking the largest estimate, and adding to it 600 
 miles, to allow for occasional deviation of route, and we have a distance of 2,500 
 miles ; which at the moderate rate uf fifteen miles to the hour,t cam be accomplished 
 in seven days. We have already from New York, a continuous line of rail- road 
 and steamboat communication, laid out to Chicago, Illinois; proceeding from which 
 point .directly along the 42d parallel, we find a smooth and gently rolling plain, 
 without serious obstruction or obstacle in any part, until we strike the Great 
 Southern Pass, through the Rocky Mountains, into Oregon. The following accoun t 
 of an expedition in wagons to this point, in 1829, will serve to show the nature 
 of the facilities which olfei themselves to the traveller through the region lying 
 between the mountains and the States. It is an extract from a letter addressed by 
 Msssrs. Snith, Jackson, and Soublette, to the Secretary of War, in October, 1829, 
 and published with Prei^ident Jackon's message, January 25th, 1831 : 
 
 "On the lOth of April last, (1829,) we set out from St. Louis with eighty-one 
 men, all mounted on mules, ten wagons, each drawn by five mules, and two 
 dearborns, (light carriages or carts,) each drawn by one mule. Our route was nearly 
 -due west, to the western limits of the state of Misiouri, and thence along the Santa 
 Fe trail, about forty miles from which, the course was some degrees north of west, 
 across the waters of the Kansas,t and up the Great Platte River, to the Rocky 
 Mountains, and to the head of Wind river, where it issues from the mountains.. 
 
 " This took us until the 16ih of .luly, and was as far as we wished the wagons 
 to go, as the furs to be brought in, were to be collected at this place, which is, or 
 was, this year the great rendezvous of the persons engaged in that business. Here 
 4he waggons could easily haee crossed the Rocky Mountains, it being what is called 
 the SOUTHERN pass, had it been desirable for them to do so ; which it was not, for the 
 reason stated. For onr support, at leaving the Missouri settlements, until we 
 should get into the buffalo country, we drove twelve head of cattle, besides a milch 
 uow. Eight of them only being required for use before we got to the buffaloes, the 
 otheis went on to the head of Wind river On the 4th of August, the wagons 
 being in the mean time loaded with the furs which had been previously taken, we 
 set out on the return to St. Louis. All the high points of the mountains then in 
 Tievv, were whito wiih snow ; but tire passes and valleys, and all the level country, 
 were green with grass. Our route back was over the same ground nearly as in 
 going out, and we arrived at St. Louis on the lOlh of October, bringing back the 
 ten wagons, (the dearborns being left behind ;) four of the oxen and the milch cow 
 were also brought back to the settlements of the Missouri, as we did not need them 
 for provision. The usual weight in the wagons was about one thousand, eight 
 hundred pounds. The usual progress of the wagons was from fifteen to twenty 
 miles per day. The country being almost all open, level, and prairie, the chief ob- 
 structions were ravines and creeks, the banks of which required cutting down ; and 
 for this purpose, a few pioneers were generally kept ahead of the caravan. This is 
 
 » McCulloeh, in his Gazetteer, compiled from all the authorities, estimates the breadth at 
 its widest stretch to be .1,700 miles— Professor Morse, in hi* Geography published in 1846, 
 at 3000. 
 
 t Our Boston rail-road cars frequently travel at Vxe rate of 32 miles to the hour, stoppage 
 included, 
 
 \ It must be borne in mind, that this departure from the direct line of route along the 43d 
 parallel, is pursued by travellers with a view of obtaining water, and also game ; which are 
 JBvariably to be found in the vicinity of great rivers. 
 
sa 
 
 HISTORY OF OREaOK. 
 
 % 
 
 the first time that wagons ever went to the Kocky mountains, and the ease im£ 
 tafchj with which it was done, prove Ike facility of eommunimlinfr overland with the 
 Pacific Ocean ; the route from the southern pass, where the wa.<rons slopped, to the 
 Great Falls of the Columbia, hexng easier and better than on this side of the moun' 
 IOJ««, with grass enough for horses and vuiles, but a scarcitijnf grain for the sup- 
 port of men\ 
 
 In addition to this account, which so satijfactonly establishes the feasibility of the 
 worit in view, we have the corroboriitive relation, if corrobration lends any strength 
 to indisputable testimony, of Thomas P. Farnhatn-, who, in his journal of a journey 
 made from the Mississippi to- the mouth of the Columbia, in 1840, gives us the fol- 
 lowing statement. 
 
 "Among the curiosities of this phice, (Fort Boia^, a trading post on the Saptin,) 
 were the fore-wheels, azietree and thills of a one-horse wagon, run by American 
 missionaries from the stale of Connecticut, thus far towards the mouth of the Co- 
 lumbia. It was left here under the belief that it could not be taken through the 
 Blue mountains, but fortunately for the next that shall attempt to cross the conti- 
 nent, a safe and easy passage has lately been discovered, by which vehicles of this 
 description may be drawn through to the Wallawalla." Here we harve the testi- 
 mony of an intelligent observer who has travelled over every inch of the route, as 
 well that on this side of the mountains as the portion unexplored by the former 
 party, whose account we have previously given. This, with numerous similar ac- 
 counts in existence, among which is the journal at the end of this volume, must 
 convince the most skeptical that a rail-road to and through this district of country 
 it practicable beyond a doubt. There is reason to believe, however, that upon the 
 careful preparatory survey which must be instituted, new notches through these for- 
 midable riiiges may be found, still better adapted to the work in view, and in a more 
 direct line with Pnget's Sound, in whoso commodious harbors our commercial 
 operations in the Pacific, from the absolute absence of the requisite facilities on 
 any southern portion of the Oregon coast, must necessarily centre.* Taking the 
 practicability of the work therefore as established, it will nut be improper to devote 
 ourselves to a short inquiry as l& tlte other modes and means of effecting the ulti- 
 mate design. 
 
 In these, Nature herself volunteers her assistance to tho enterprise. No ocean 
 is 80 remarkably adapted to steam navigation as tho Pacific. Its tranquil surface is 
 scarcely ever agitated by a storm, and propitious winds and currents accelerate the 
 course of the mariner across its bosom. The general motion of its waters is from 
 west to east, at the average velocity of twenty- eight miles a day. In consequence, 
 the sea appears on some portions of the coast to flow constantly from the land, and 
 Tessels sail with great celerity from Acapulco in Mexico to the Phillippine Islands, 
 on the coast of Asia. The N. E. trade winds bbw almost uninterruptedly between 
 latitudes 5° and 23'^ north, and with the assistance of the currents and the flow of 
 the sea, enable vessels within this region, to sail from America to Asia, almost 
 without changing their saib. Our course to the Indies from the mouth of the Co- 
 lumbia, or from the Straits of St. Jean de Fuca, would be South West to the Sand- 
 wich Islands, and from thence, directly along the twentieth parallel, across. Re- 
 turning by a more northwardly route, advantage would be taken of the polar cur- 
 rents which set N. W. towards the Straits of Behring, and also of the variable 
 winds prevailing in the higher latitudes. Having crossed our continent in seven 
 days, we span the Pacific in twenty-five more, and thus in thirty-two, reach the 
 ports of China : by the same route back, the products of the East may land upon 
 the shores of Europe in forty-six days ; a period of time but little more than one 
 third of that now taken to make the ordinary passages around the southern extremi- 
 ties of America and Africa. 
 
 ♦ By crossing the river at Wallawalla and proceeding in a direct line along the banks of the 
 Eyakcma river, the distance is shorter to the harbors of Puget's Sound than to the [shores of 
 the ocean, 
 
 II » 
 
HISTOBT OF OREGON. 
 
 The view that this opens to the mind, independent of its internal benefits, 
 staggers speculation with its immensity, and stretches beyond all ordinary rulei 
 ■of calculation. A moderate forecant may, however, foresee the followfng results. 
 Tho riches of the most unlimited market in the world would be thrown open to 
 our enterprise, and obeying the now iinpulso thus imparted to it, our commerce 
 would increase till every ocean billow between us and the China sea would twin- 
 kle with a sail. By the superior facilities conferred upon us by our position and 
 control of the route, we should' become the common carrier of the world for the 
 India trade. " Britannia rules the waves," would dwindle to an empty boast, 
 and England would have to descend from her arrogart assumption of empire o'er 
 the sea, to the ley-l of a suppliant's tone, in common with the great and small of 
 the Euri"'- ^p for the benefits of this a-,-—" of nations. The employment 
 
 as comu... aarrie M be secured to ub hj imposition of a tonnage duty, 
 heavy enough to amount to a prohibition, upon all foreign bottoms arriving at our 
 Pacific coast. There is nothing remarkably selfish, neither is there any thing re- 
 pugnant to fair'dealing in this regulation; we are deserving of one special advan- 
 tage as a premium for conferring this benefit upon all, and we have the exampi} of 
 Great Britain herself, to justify us in the adoption of the rule. The rapid and ex- 
 cessive increase of our commercial marine would necessarily foUow this result. 
 Encouraged by the comparative ease and safety of ita service, and enticed by the 
 liberal wages which the demand for so many hands would ensure, thousands of our 
 young men, whom the dangers and privations of a seafaring life have heretofore 
 deterred from carrying out the natural desire of visitmg foreign climes, would em- 
 brace the sailor's occupation, and a nursery would thus be established, from whose 
 exhaustless sources the demand of our increasing navy would always find a supply. 
 
 Our contiguity and other peculiar advantages would ensure us the pre-emption 
 of all the markets of the Pacific. Our /apidly increasing cotton and other factories, 
 under this impulse would increase anew; our e.xtending agricultural operations 
 would widen till they waved their golden harvest o'er and o'er the land, and to- 
 gether they would distribute their products along the western coasts and diffuse 
 them among tho islands of the ocean. In return, Ooeana, whose trade and con- 
 sumption both would greatly multiply by the same imparted motive, would pour her 
 treasures into the bosom of our country, and render us, by her liberal supply of 
 tropical productions, independent of the West Indies. Our exportations of flour, 
 at the exorbitant rates which it commands in the markets of these regions, would 
 alone be a source of immense wealth, and on the other hand, the profits of a new 
 article of import from the coast of Peru, can scarcely be regarded as of less im- 
 portance. Guano, but little known in 1840, is now exciting the deep attention of 
 the cultivators of the soil of all nations, and to such an extent has its trade in- 
 creased, that from the importation of but a few Ions five years ago, six hundred 
 vessels of a large class are now employed in supplying the wants of Great Britain 
 and Ireland alone. It is already beginning to be introduced into this country, and 
 ere long we may expect to see its supply increase in a corresponding ratio v;ith the 
 European demand. Now, it comes to us surcharged with the expenses of a long 
 end dangerous voyage; then, it would be obtained at one half its present 'l.srgcs, 
 and we should be furnished with the most valuable fertilizer known to man, for the 
 benefit of the impoverished portions of our Oregon soil. The chief obstacle to the 
 dense population of that territory is, therefore, providentially obviated.* 
 
 Our Whale fishery and other branches of commerce in the Pacific, would be bet- 
 ter protected, and the prosecutors of the former would have convet)ient ports to refit 
 in ; to seek a hasty refuge at in case of war, and to obtain the speedy means of re- 
 dress from, should they be made the victims of the outrage of any foreign naval power. 
 
 ' " There wilf bo no didiculty ," says a work written in Liverpool on the above suT)ject, " ia 
 obtaining I'rom tho coast of Peru for the next ICOO years, a supply of guano adequate to the want« 
 of tho British/armer." 
 
54 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGOir. 
 
 ■ *; 
 
 . s 
 if''; 
 
 n 
 
 hi 
 
 -i^ 
 
 An additional proof of the necessity of increasing our naval power in this quarter is 
 furniiihed in the lute account of the ravages of the Pirates of the Asiatic iHlen, upon 
 European vCssols. 
 
 Our relations with China would be guarded and strengthened, and in caso a ne- 
 cessity should arise to redress a wrong, resent an insult, or resist an aggression, wo 
 should he able, helped by the speed of our advices, to throw a preponderating mili- 
 tary force there three months previous to any European power. 
 
 There are other views which open at this Ktii;,'o of the analysis, upon which it will 
 not be improper tu bestow a share of our consideration. 
 
 The vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean has been as yet but imperfectly explored, 
 and there is reason to believe there are many islands reposing on its bosom whose 
 fertile shores have never met the eye of man. Some of these ocean gems lie di- 
 rectly in our eastward or westward track, and their value to us as resting places and 
 points of supply, as well as posts for the erection of our fortificatiouF, would be in- 
 estimable. This brings to mind the fact that there is one important branch of com- 
 mercial policy, hitherto overlooked and neglected by ua, which the course of things 
 now call upon us to adopt ; and that is the securing under our own flag and rule 
 of maritime posts in the dilferenl fields of our commercial enterprise. We may be 
 told that this is an infraction of our constitutional economy, a violation of the spirit 
 of our institutions, and that it springs from a wild and disordered lust for power which 
 will eventuate in our dissolution ; in short every argument will be brought forward 
 by philosophers learned in mill-stones, to oppose the aggrandisement of the country 
 on the principle of aggregation. Tiiese sachems have been told in their primary 
 classes at school, that Greece and Hume fell by their unbounded ambition, and it 
 would take little short of a defeat of Nature to dispossess them of the idea. Ti ey 
 therefore, make it a primari/ object to denounce every extension of territory as de- 
 morBlising and destructive, and point triumphantly to History to establish the asser- 
 tion. Admitting this to be the case, though it applied to the Greeks and Romans, 
 ^n an early age, and might apply to any other nation in the same cycle, it does not 
 apply to us in thft' present time. We are a new people, in a new era, acting on new 
 principles, and working out a new and grand problem for the benefit of mankind. 
 "History," to make a grotesque application of a common term — " is behind the 
 age." But aside from our exception from their rule, their proposition is false as to 
 its facts, and carries absurdity in its very face. 
 
 How did Greece become great enough to decline — and how did Rome from a speck 
 upon a hill-top win the Imperial diadem that marked the mastery of a world ? 
 Surely not by building fences around their original limits, and vowing never to go 
 beyond. Such a resolution would share credit for sagacity with the refusal of a 
 handsome fortune by a needy man, because at some day he must die and leave it, 
 and might also be, compared to that stretch of forecast which would induce a states- 
 man to refu.'se all worldly power and honours, because forsooth, they must descend 
 to a successor. Nations do not perish in a moment ; they are neither swallowed 
 up in the earth like Korah and his com])any, nor do they go out like the snuff of & 
 candle ; they have degrees to their decline, and while it is perfectly easy to detect 
 all the natural causes of their decease, we have no excuse in closing our eyes upon a 
 fanciful hypolhcsi.s, which finds its basis only in the imagination. 
 
 How did Greece and Rome fall .' Not by the extension of territory as a cause, 
 (though to maintain its extreme points weakened her in her decline,) but by the vices 
 which crept into her constitution ; from the progress of those corruptions which arc 
 inseparable from aristocratical systems ; from ignorance of the true principles of 
 govennncnt, and consequently from the effect of unequal laws and unequal repre- 
 sentation. The distant tributary, suffering under the exactions of a subaltern des- 
 pot and his military bands, being too far removed from the jiarent government to 
 represent its grievances within a period to give redress a value, and at the same 
 time, too far removed to dread its enervated power, threw off the allegiance which 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 65 
 
 only imposed onerauB conditions nnd conferrnd no benefits but a humiliating pcnco. 
 Thf example of defection thus safely set, was followed by another and another, and 
 nttackod at the same tinio by a new, vigorous nnd iniiumcfnblo enemy, Kumo fell. 
 She fell through her own debasement, and her genius retired before the superior 
 vigor and energy of an uncorruptcd race. The extreme extension of territory in an 
 ago when travelling could only bo accomplished with insuperable difficulty would 
 doubtless rather weaken than strengthen a nation's power, from the difficulty, of 
 striking rapidly at rebellion, but where the communications arc as speedy and com- 
 plete as they are in the present day, the comparison will not apply. Kiiil Roads. 
 Steam Engines, and the Magnet, have " annihilated space, and exploded all theories 
 which ro-ted on the accidents of time and distancn ;" an expanded order of intelli- 
 gence has shown the benefits of union in a common system, and though our do- 
 minion stretched throughout the boundaries of this hemisphere, with the elements 
 for our agents, nnd the lightning of heaven for our slave, we could bind its extremi- 
 ties together in a moment, and throw the impubes of our power from ci 'I to end, 
 with the rapidity of thought. 
 
 By overlooking the means of protecting our marine by the discovery or purchase 
 of those island stations, we are behind every nation in the world in commercial sa- 
 gacity. Franco roars her fortifications on the coasts of Morocco, in tho islands of 
 the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and by a late arrangement, even plants her 
 standard in the very mouth of Canton. Tho Dutch own the richest of the Asiatic 
 isles, and Spain rules absolute in the Phili])ine8. Russia, not content with ovet 
 7,000,000 square miles, extending from central Europe to the extremity of eastern 
 Asia, has made a lodgnicnt on our continent, and marks the line of her possessions 
 to the North, as a bar to our farther advance ; and even Portuiral and Denmark, 
 hold their warlike posts in many parts of the Atlantic ocean. The acquisitions of 
 England are so well known they hardly need recapitulation. It has been well said, 
 that the Sun never sets upon her dominions, and that the thunder of her mornins; 
 gun from post to post around tho world, falls into the measure of a continuous 
 salute. 
 
 Gibraltar, Malta and the Ionian Isles, give her tho control of the entire Mediteira- 
 nean ; St. Helena, Ascension Island, Cape Town and Mauritius, keep watch along 
 the coasts of Africa; she has settlements, fortifications and territorial governments 
 over all the shores of Hindostan, and her power extends throughout the whole of 
 tho Eastern region. Further south, her empire spreads over the whole of Austra- 
 lasia ; — Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, tho Bahamas nnd her West India 
 Islands, command the entire stretch of our Atlantic coast and the entrance to the 
 Gulf of Mexico, while Canada environs us upon our Northern border ; yet probably 
 England would be the first to assure us, in connection with some of our own good ad- 
 visers, that extension of territory is the sure cause of a nation's eventual destruc- 
 tion. She, however, pursues this policy herself, with the knowledge that it adds to 
 her aggrandisement and power at every new stage of its consummation. With a 
 view of aiding her steam navigation across the Pacific, she has lately purchased a 
 little island in it, on which two coal mines have been discovered ; she has not even 
 thought a miserable patch of ground on the Mosquito shore,* too insignificant to 
 seize, and she is now, doubtless, intriguing for the prize of Cuba and the Califor- 
 nias. Russia is ready to devour Turkey or engulf another Poland. Austria has 
 long looked with a greedy eye upon the plains of Italy ; and every power 
 on the face of the earth, seek new acquisitions with the utmost avidity ; while 
 the United States, as if she had not recovered from the astonishment of falling sud- 
 denly into the possession of 2,000,000 square miles 68 years ago, folds her unas. 
 Burning hands, and with an amiable bow which betrays the modesty of her character, 
 exclaims, " thank you. Gentlemen Powers, not a bit moro if you please !" 
 
 ' Tliis u-as seized on pretence of it being a bccjucst from an Alricafl cliii.'i. 
 
99 
 
 HISTORY or OREOON. 
 
 I'-', I 
 
 u. 
 
 The oppoiora of the course of policy wo advocate, if nut able to defeat it on th* 
 groiimlii of renton or prncedent, will ttnd their last resource in iho tyranny of preju- 
 dice, arid the opinion of Washington, will duubtless be apjiealcd to, as a tettler of 
 •he proposition out of hand. The ago, howevtir, has outgrown fhis species of con- 
 trol. Our notions of liberty have bcconiB extended to the degree that embraces the 
 right of judging fur ourselves ; and wo feel no fear of startling the horror of our 
 readers by the aasertion that there are at least half a million of people in the United 
 States, who, from the new principles which scirrice has envoked in the present ge- 
 neration, are better judges of the cfTects of the adoption of this policy, now, than 
 "Washington, or any other man, who died forty-five years ago, could possibly haTO 
 been. There is too much of this knuckling to precedent and old opinion. \/e 
 can benefit by the e.Tperiunco of a past ag'i, without becoming itie hereditary l)ond»« 
 men of their ideas : wo can treat its wisdom with all the cunsidcratinn it deaervoi* 
 without presenting the absurd Bpcctiicio, of a people claiming to bo free, who have 
 absolutely.signed away freedom's main component in the liberhj of mind. 
 
 Again, vast countries still lie in the fairy regions of the East, the productions and 
 resources of which arc scarcely known to us, and that only await the civilising influ- 
 ence of such a nchemo ns this, to throw down their barriers of prejudice and super- 
 stition, and embrace with the rest of mankind, the social blessings of the world. Of 
 this nature and character in the opt>lent empire of Japan. Though second but to 
 China itself, it holds no intercourse with foreigners, and only permits one natiot) 
 (the Dutch) to land upon its dominions. Ought it to be too much fur American 
 diplomacy to effect its comtnercial and social redemption and throw ita rich markets 
 open to our enterprise. 
 
 Tho Oregon route, should this project be carried through, would, for its shortness, 
 for its safety, for its comparative comfort and llic accuracy with which the duration of 
 its travel could be calculated, be selected in preference to any other by all travellers to 
 the East, or the regions of the Pacific. These would' comprise among their number 
 ambassadors and their suite:) ; consuls and other government oflicors to China and 
 the Indies, lo New Holland, to the jjorts of the western coast, and the islands of 
 Polynesia, and enticed by the facilities afforded to them, many who otherwise wuidd 
 never have attempted the perils and discomforts of the old voyage, would make a 
 trip to the Indies or some island paradise in the Pacific, leaving us as they passed 
 leisurely through our territory, a portion of their wealth. Add to this source of profit, 
 the toll of the enormous amount of foreign mf rchandize which must seek this avenue, 
 or be shut out from a market altogether, and the postages which the great number of 
 letters pouring in from every part of Europe would afford, and its revenues would be 
 immense indeed. Yet the sources of all this vast income would be surplus profit, 
 for a short experience would prove, that our own internal trade, communications 
 and postages, would not only pay the current expenses of the road of themselves, 
 but woukd afford a liberal per ccniagu on the amount of capital invested. 
 
 Experience has pr6ved that no direction which can be given to human enterprise, 
 is so active and effectual in developing the resources of a country, as thai involved 
 in rail-roads; and without a'ty regard to its stupendous national advantages, both 
 external and domestic, immediate anC ultimate, it would be found that the result 
 of this project would justify the undertaking merely as a measure of internal 
 improvement. 
 
 The navigable distance to the mouth of tho Columbia is now, by the route around 
 Cape Horn, about 19,000 miles from the port of New York; by the proposed route* 
 it would he less than 3,000; which affords tho enormous saving of 16,000 miles- 
 The natural effect of such a communicatioi) across the continent would be the rapid 
 settlement of Oregon, the sudden growth of a great commercial and manufacturing 
 city at its Pacific terminus, and the establishment of a naval station on Pilget's Sound. 
 For both of these latter objects, every facility is providentially afforded. Fine 
 building stone abounds in every direction, the best timber in the world stud its 
 
HISTORY OP OREGON. 
 
 57 
 
 foreita, tho country in the neighborhood of the ocean abounds in favorable aitea for 
 water power, and for the auatenance of ateam navigntion, large minea uf coal Hro to 
 bo found in difTerrnt parta of the country. For the eatablishmentof a naval atation, 
 the harbora of St. Jean do Fuca and Puget's Sound, ufTer, aa wo have alrnady 
 acen, peculiar facilitiea for the erection of the worka of a great maritime nation. 
 
 The coat of the work ia the next branch of inquiry that demanda our attention. 
 For a guide to an eatimato of thia wo have tho tabular atatements of the American 
 Rail-ruad Journal, (a reliable authority,) which by a late computation, aeta the 
 ogg'^gnte number of tnilea of rail-way in thia country at 5,000 ; the coat of which 
 bat been S 125,000,000, or $25,000 per mile. 
 
 Aa a portion of thia expense ia occaaioned by land damages, or land for the track, 
 moat of which liea in thickly aettled, and, consequently, valuable aertiona of the 
 country, wo are entitled to a deduction in favor of the work under oonaideration. 
 The rate of thia may be obtained from the example of the Boston and Lowell Kail- 
 road, the land damagca on which amuiuited to 92,842,47 per mile. We will apply 
 thia substraction to but 1600 miles of tho prupoaed work, and alao strike the amount 
 down to $2,500 a mile, to make a smoother computation. Thus we have 
 
 2,500 miloa of road at tho rate of $26,000 per mile, $62,000,000 
 
 A deduction of $2,500 per mile from 1,500 milca, 3,750,000 
 
 $58,250,000 
 Making an aggregate of tifty-eight millions end a quarter for the completion of a 
 design which will render t very nation on the globe iur commercial tributaries This, 
 however, is a most extravagant estimate, and the coat will probably not amount to 
 within several millions of that sum. Tho distance is very roughly calculated from 
 the absence of accurate information on tho subject, and the cost is purposely amplified 
 to secure being on the safe side of the calculation. We arc justified in the opinion 
 that it will be much less, by the fact that there is at present a private project before 
 Congress which proposes to perform the work at a cost of $25,000,000, on the 
 somewhat modest condition, by the way, of receiving a grant of public lands sixty 
 miles in width along the track, from Illinois to the Pacific ocean. 
 
 The cost of the work, therefore, even though it should amount to a hundred or a 
 hundred and fifty millions, is no argument to urge against the undertaking, for it 
 would be disgraceful to our national character to impute to government an inability 
 to carry out a design which is within the scope and means of a company of private 
 individuals. The resources of our country are fully equal to the enterprise. No 
 patriot believes, no statesman daro aflirm, that we are unable to sustain the expenses 
 of a three years' war with the most powerful nation of Europe ; yet this undertaking, 
 at its utmost estimate, will not cost as much as a three years' war, and instead of 
 leaving us, as a war would do, enfeebled, exhausted, and depressed, its completion 
 would find us regenerated with new life, with our impulses awakened, our energies 
 strengthened, and advancing forward with a rapidity and vigor that would astonish 
 even Destiny itself. Let us deprecate, therefore, from the consideration of this 
 work, that fatal spirit of Economy which has been the Evil Genius to so many a 
 great design. 
 
 Economy is the besetting sin of Representative governments. Deceived by its 
 plausible exterior, and tickled with the notion that it is an essential element of 
 primitive simplicity, philosophers, whose mental scope reaches no further than the 
 piling up of particles on the simplest rule of simple addition, oppose its blighting 
 influence to every noble scheme, and advocate it on all occasions and with the 
 utmost vehemence as a cardinal principle. They do not see, or they do not care to 
 see, that the thrift which )ioards the seed to defeat us of the harvest, is the grossest 
 form of waste ; that it amuses the present with a straw, to cheat the future of its 
 golden fields. They proceed upon the false idea, that the multitude more readily 
 appreciate the rule that saves a penny now, than tho design which subtracts one 
 
fi8 
 
 HltrORY OF OREGON. 
 
 • ']1 
 
 :ni 
 
 mr 
 
 on tho hnzard of tlie return of a pound hereafter ; and it if through thii corrupt and 
 contemptible conaidprntiun, this pin-liook angling in the muddy wateri after popu- 
 larity, iliat we find h provniling mfnnnets in all our nuiSBures of expenditure. A 
 mennneis that runs from tho remuneration of tho chief mngistrate of tho Union to 
 the purchase of a territory, from tho starvation of an Afrionn lion,* to tho preiien- 
 tation to an Imaun of a piece of lac(|uernd plate ;t till at length it degenerates into 
 injustice and dishonesty in its disregard of the rights of rcvolutionaiy claimants, 
 and in the non redemptions of the continental paper which gave its illusory conoid- 
 oration for th« blood of ihnuaands of patriotic hearts. 
 
 A suflTicicnt amount of funds can be obtained for the commencement, nay, tho 
 entire rumpletion of the whole work, from tho sales of the public lands alone. As 
 suon as the survey is made and the route laid out, tho land in the immediate lino of 
 the track will be sought with the utmost eagerness by speculators, for investments of 
 their capital. It will rise at once to an immense value, and it would not bo extrava- 
 gant to expect that in less than one year froii^the marking out of the line, more than 
 thirty million of dollars would pour into the treasury of the Receiver of Sales. Ad- 
 ditional sales could then be made as tho road progressed, to a still bettor advantage, 
 and before the completion of the work, the Government would flnd its waste domain 
 of unavailable prairie turned as if by magic into marketable acres. 
 
 The road, as it progressed, would bo employed up to tho point of its completion, 
 by our merchants, our traders, and our emigrants. The great amount of trade and 
 travel, which sets out from this point, (New York,) through the western states to 
 the Mississippi, an^ returns the seme way back, would enable it to go very fi\t to- 
 ward sustaining its own existence. 
 
 It may strike some as superogatory in the Government to undertake this work 
 when it is offered to be accomplished, and all its consequent advantages secured to 
 our hand, by private enterprise ; but there are many, and insurmountable reasons 
 why it should be a national undertaking, and not left at the mercy of a band of spe- 
 culators, whose narrow objects would be private gain. 
 
 It should be national, because its objects and purposes are national ; and because 
 its accomplishment will advance tho glory as well as ensure the safety of our coun- 
 try, and beneficially affect the interests of all its citizens. 
 
 Because being the high road for all nations, its transactions will have an impor- 
 tant bearing upon our ''reign relations, and its regulations will consequently bo 
 govermental in their nature and policy. 
 
 Because the undertaking is too gigantic for the successful enterprise of individuals, 
 who, if ever able to accomplish it at all, will not be able to do so with that despatch, 
 which the general interests of the country, our views in relation to Oregon, and the 
 ardent wishes of our people demand. 
 
 Because the immense revenues arising out of it, and the wide domain accompany- 
 ing the grant, (Whitney's memorial asks for a strip of public land 00 miles in width, 
 from Lake Michigan to the Western ocean,) would create a monopoly liable to tho 
 most, dangerous abuses. From the "great number of its employees, tho numerous 
 settlers upon its lands, most of whom it would be able to coerce, and its enormous 
 wealth, it would grow into a stupendous power, which, if not capable of rivalling the 
 Government itself, might at any rate, exercise such a control by these combined in- 
 fluences over Its representation in Congress, as would place our dearest privileges 
 at its disposal. As a protection, on tho other hand, against a perversion of its pa- 
 tronage by the Government, wo should have to rely on the honor, the purity, and 
 
 * The Emperor of Morocco sent us tho present of a lion of tho desert, which, after its arrival, 
 barely escaped starvation through tho humanity of a showman, who subsequently purchosed it 
 for his menagerie. 
 
 fThe Imaun of Muscat, as an overture for a commercial arrangement, sent us two superb 
 milk white Arabian coursers, with a slave accompanying each. Wo returiieil among other 
 things, a row boat with silver ttlaUd rowlocks. The pure ore would not have cost a hundred 
 dollars more. 
 
 Wi 
 
HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 50 
 
 patriotintn of our Preiidonti ; a fiinrantcn Momewhnt mora lubttintinl it muit b« 
 •dmilted, ihnn the cupidity of individiiali. 
 
 BccauaR, the object of a Democracy, while it lecuroi to Enterprise and Talent, 
 their rnwnrdi, is to cqiinliae the unnofit* of hoaren to nil, and the act which would 
 avowedly confer apecial facilitioi for the amastmont of onormoua wealth on any body 
 of men, is in derogation of its own comprehensive scheme, A bounteous Providene* 
 has made the productions of the earth equal to the wants of all its creatures, and it 
 is a demonitrablo rulo that every usurpation of an excess is followed in tome quar- 
 ter by a corresponding loss. This tendency, through the peculiar construction of 
 society, cannot be helped at present, nor can it be corrected in a day, but it is in- 
 cumbent upon us, whom a wise director has delegated to work out a system for the 
 elevation of mankind, to interpose no obstacle to its consummation, by specially 
 encouraging an infraction of the plan. 
 
 The first results uf a private grant of the nature of the one proposed t^ the last 
 Congress, would doubtless be as follows : As soon as the route had been surveyed, 
 maps would be prepared, dividing the whole into ser : ions for sale. Then t formal, 
 and ostentatious opening of the rond would follow. A vast collei .ion of people 
 would gather together to see the show, and amid the thunder of cannon, the waving 
 of colours, and the swell of martial music, some public spirited g ntleman would 
 strike a spade into the ground while the wild huzzas of .he admiri" , multitude ould 
 make the welkin ache again. 
 
 This herculean effort ovdr, the company, after staving in the heads of a *■ ■ v oairela 
 of beer to whet the whistles of the crowd, would retire to a sumptuous din .e; to de- 
 vise plans anew, and to felicitate tjiemselves over the vast p > ^^tages they had 
 cozened from the Government.* From that lime out, their afeniic i would be de- 
 voted entirely to land speculations. The maps would be industriously circulated, 
 and adopting te their use the science of pufTing, newspapers would teem with glowing 
 rnprescntaiions to attract the attention of purchasers. The domain parcelled out 
 by the company, would be described, on account of its facilities for transferring the 
 produce of its fertility f.'om ocean to ocean, as the golden belt of the continent. 
 Speculators would rush to make investments of) their capital ai 1 undeterred by the 
 exorbitant advance from day to day in price, the poor man would hasten with the 
 tribute of his hard won gains to cast a golden anchor in the future. After this 
 course of things had been pursued long enough to swell the pockets of the company 
 with a plethera of millions, we should have no stronger guarantee than what cxista 
 in the failability of man that the work ever would be prosecuted. The whole result 
 would be, that the company who had simply assumed for a time the United States 
 ownership of the public lands (for none but tii <rt,y mile strip would sell during 
 this delusion) would good naturedly pocket Thr f' pie's money till they fell off from 
 very surfeit ; and then, declaring themselves incapable, for want of means, of carry- 
 ing out the objects of the gram, they would either sell out their privileges to others, 
 or Government, impelled by the complah fs and distresses of those who had been 
 their victims, would have to complete tbe object after all herself. 
 
 But supposing their intentions u bo sincere and their measures for the immediate 
 commencement of the work earnest, there is yet another consideration against it 
 outweighing all the res^ As soon as the grant was made, plans would be drawn 
 out, and one of the directors despatched to London (as in the present cas« of Von 
 Jos6 de Garay in relation to the ship canal through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec) to 
 solicit the aid of British capitalists to sustain the work. Its importance would at 
 once strike all, and perhaps attract the attention of the British government itself, and 
 under the direction of her wily minister, funds might be placed in private hands for 
 purchases of stock. At any rate, there can bo but little doubt that tho stock would 
 
 ' It must b(! borne in mind that tliese observations though based on the provisions of Whit- 
 ney's ])roposa1, arc merely suppositive against its theory, and are by no means meant as an im- 
 putation of his intentions, or a reflection on his character. 
 
60 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 ■! It 
 
 T 
 1 -J 
 t»1 
 
 tA\ rnpidly be taken up, and the result would be, that British stockholders, and pw 
 haps the British government itself, would control the whole enterprise. It an any 
 rate would afford her a pretext for interference on the score of protecting the pro- 
 perty of her subjects. This principle has already been vociferously claimed for her 
 by many of the creditors of our non-paying states, and the probability is, that in a 
 matter of such vital import to her as this, it would ripen i ito a governmental assump- 
 tion. In short, the necessary consequence of any private company must be, the in- 
 troduction into our very bosom a foreign influence that will pierce our continent 
 from shore to shore, and, in a double sense, divide our happy land. 
 
 Lastly, it should be national, because its vast revenues would not only enable the 
 Government, after paying off" the cost, to relieve the oountry of the burden of almost 
 every tax, whether impost or otherwise, but afford a surplus, which might be expend- 
 ed to advantage in the gradual increase of the navy, and in strengthening our sea* 
 board and harbor defences to a state amounting to impregnability. 
 
 Having settled the feasibility of the work, both as to geographical facility and as to 
 means of defraying the cost, the next thing to be considered is the Time necessary 
 for its completion ; and though our arrangement brings this third in order, it is alto- 
 gether first in importance. 
 
 The time allowed for its completion should be limited to five years, in which peri- 
 od it could as easily be accomplished by the energies of our government, as it could 
 in twenty -five ! 
 
 If 20,000 men* can complete 500 miles a year, there is no good reason why the 
 result should be delayed to bestow the monopoly of the labor on 5000 who can only 
 perform 125 miles in the same time. 
 
 Our country is as capable of a great effort as a mean one, and we have a right 
 to expect one worthy of her genius and character. We repeat that time is the 
 great object ! A series of rapidly developing political events prove that the antago- 
 nistic principles of liberty and feudalism are fast approaching their (inal struggle. 
 Alarmed at our astonishing progress, the monarchical governments of Europe are 
 preparing to bring their centralized force to bear upon the genius of Republicanism, 
 and when the collision takes place, we, as the grand promoter and defender of the 
 latter, will have to sustain the whole brunt of the shock. Let us, therefore, arm 
 ourselves against the crisis in time ! Let us extend our communications across our 
 CAuntry's length and breadth ; secure the possession of the points that will ena* 
 ble us to protect the interests of our commerce in both oceans aivd the East, and 
 assume a position worthy of the champion of the ^vorld's emancipation. 
 
 As many men should be employed upon the work as is possible to be obtained, 
 even if the number run up to 20,000, or should go even beyond that. This would 
 furnish employment to all the languishing labor of the great cities, and force, by the 
 gradual progress of the road, an immense mechanical and laboring population into 
 Oregon. This result would of itself peaceably settle our title against the world, 
 and obviate entirely any necessity of further negotiation or force. These artizans 
 and laborers having long been in the receipt of wages which they have been obliged 
 to hoard, would, by the time they arrived in that distant territory, be possessed of a 
 handsome competence, and taking advantage of the government bounty to settlers, 
 become at once substantial landed proprietors, whose patriotism and obedience to 
 the laws, would be securely guaranteed by their interest in the soil. Our govern- 
 ment in exchange for its eastern substratum of suffering population, would find ita 
 broad and fertile western territories sprinkled with hamlets, and, owning a class of 
 intelligent and happy husbandmen, who would be the chief pride, boast, and de- 
 pendence of the country. 
 
 * This number ii not offered as a portion of the rule for the accomplishment of the work 
 within the specified time. If, however, a larger number of workmen t*":.! ihe above could be 
 obtained, and paid, and the work completed in a stUUess time than five years, so much the 
 better f jr every tutereit concerned, i 
 
 [VJj I 
 
HISTORY OF ORSnOIV. 
 
 61 
 
 These settlements wonid be formed, in great part, by the artizans and workers 
 on the road, who having built temporary habitations for themselves and families in 
 the neighborhood of their work, and foreseeing that for years to come they would 
 reap a rich harvest for their agricultural labors in the wants of the immense army 
 of pioneers who had gone before, and afterward in the markets of the Pacific, 
 would yield to the love for a stationary home and the dignity of independent own- 
 ership, by settling permanently in every fertile portion of the road- side. The places 
 of those who thus dropped out of the line would be supplied by the new emigrant, 
 whom the increased price of labor in our Atlantic cities would have enticed to our 
 shores, and thus the generous spirit of the enterprise would go on, redeeming man 
 after man from the abasement of ill-requif<"l servitude into the majesty and perfec- 
 tion of human nature — lord of the land, and with no master but his God. 
 
 The price of labor in our great cities would be progressive from the commenco- 
 ment of the work to its completion ; and thus would be drawn from capitalists a 
 portion of their hoards for its beneficial diffusion throughout all classes of the com- 
 munity, ^hs rights of labor would be vindicated by the enforcement of a more 
 equal division of its returns between it and its mercantile deputies, and a great step 
 would be taken towards elevating it to its true importanee in the social scale. The 
 annual drain of population to the interior, and the new direction to be given to it 
 south, would at the same time reduce landed property nearer to its true level, and 
 modify that last remnant of feudalism, the landlord's power, into a bearable evil. 
 These two influences combined, will do more at a stroke to elevate the condition of 
 the masses, to check the fatal tendency to a division of interests and distinction of 
 castes as in the old world ; to divide the national domain among the people, and 
 thus consummate the original scheme of the creation, than all the agrarian laws, 
 8t>cial chimeras, and visionary legislation could in centuries ! 
 
 Here we bring our inquiry to a close. We have, in the first place, made a satis- 
 factory examination of our title to Oregon ; in the second, proved the capabilities 
 of that region for suppoiting a numerous population ; in the third, examined the 
 facilities which are offered for easy communication between it and the States, and 
 in the fourth, we have established the perfect practicability of a rail-road to and 
 through It, and following out the examination of this feature of our subject, we have 
 glanced at the most obvious of the advantages that will be aeeomplished through its 
 agency. In conclusion, we repeat that the earliest practicable time should be 
 adopted to carry out the design. While France and Mexico meditate the segrega- 
 tion of the continent, and while England is despatching another squadron to the 
 Arctic sea, we certainly are called upon to inquire at least, by an actual survey,, 
 whether we have not within the bosom of our own territoiies, superior facilities for 
 accomplishing the same grand purpose which impelii them. The immediate com- 
 mencement of the work itself, would not conflict witu any treaty stipulation, nor 
 could it justly give umbrage to any other power, and h> addition to afTordiiig a 
 pledge to The People of the sincerity of the Government's intentions towards Ore- 
 gon, the actual prosecution of the measure would defeat the British jugglers in 
 their design of circumventing our rights by protracted negotiation. 
 
 Let them negotiate and let us work, and while they are mousing through the 
 pages ofBynckershoeck ant: PuffendorfT in cabinet caucauses, and solemn diploma- 
 tists are exchanging assurances of profound consideration, thousands of our hardy 
 citizens will keep pouring though the gaps of the Rocky mountains, and at the 
 conclusion of the grave dispute, be smoking their pipes in every fertile nook in 
 Oregon. 
 
 The rail road is the Great Negotiator, which alone can settle our title more 
 conclusively, than all the diplomatists in the world. 
 
 Aside from the considerations of national aggrandisement, this project is war- 
 ranted as a measure of political economy which makes its appeal directly to the 
 
 
62 
 
 HISTORT OF OREGON. 
 
 ■■■■I Wf 
 
 
 heart of every philanthropist. It would be a benefaction to the oppressed masses 
 that would come with a peculiar graco from a parental government to its suffering 
 children, and in addition to its being a measure for their gradual elevation and re- 
 lief, it would also be an evidence, that among all the chartered privileges lavished 
 time and again upon the rich, the government could find it in its heart to make at 
 least one charter for the poor. 
 
 Lastly, if the magnetic telegraph should be added to this comprehensive scheme, 
 where shall calculation look for the limits of its vast results ? Basing our conclu- 
 sions upon our wonderful advance in the present century, it is no extravagance to 
 predict that in less.than fifty years, we shall behold in our beloved country a govern- 
 ment, holding the preponderance of power, owning a population of a hundred mil- 
 lions, with a central capital in the great valley of the Mississippi, commanding 
 from its nucleus of power an electric communication over three millions of square 
 miles, and dLf<.a!ng its congregated science, art, philosophy, enterprise and intelli- 
 gence ; its enlarged spirit of liberty, philanthropy, peace and good will, to the utter- 
 most ends of the earth in a fullness that will realize at last the fondest dreams of 
 the millenium! 
 
 Arouse then, America, and obey the mandate which Destiny has imposed upon 
 you for the redemption of a world ! Send forth upon its mighty errand, the spirit of 
 enfranchised man ; nor let it pause until it bears down every barrier of unrighteous 
 power; till it enlarges the boundaries of freedom to the last meridian, and spreads 
 its generous influence from pole to pole ! 
 
 i 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 63 
 
 PART II. 
 
 TRAVELS 
 ACROSS THE GREAT WESTERN PR.\IRIES AND THROUGH 
 
 OREGON: 
 
 With a description of the line of route, and the distances between the 
 
 intermediate points from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. Also, 
 
 afull description of the characteristics, capabilitiesand present • 
 
 condition of the North Western Territory, prepared 
 
 from the Journal of a member of the recently 
 
 organised 
 
 OREGON LEGISLATURE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 TJie Start— Arrival at the Rendezvous — The Features of the Gathering — The 
 Rival Fat Gentlemen — The humors of an Evening in the Camp. 
 
 It is not necessary to the object in view, tliat the writer of this journal should 
 fninish the reason which induced him to turn his face towards the wilderness. Let 
 it suffice that on the morning of the ITth May, 1843, I, (to drop the third person,) 
 mounted my horse in Independence, Missouri, and set out for the general rendez- 
 vous. This was situated in a little spot about twenty miles distant, in a south-east 
 direction. I did not start alone. A family of the name sf Robbins, from the 
 northern part of Pennsylvania, were my companions. This party consisted of a hus- 
 band and wife, two chubby boys, one six and the other eight years of age, and a 
 bouncing baby of eighteen months, or thereabouts. 
 
 After having examine'd for the twentieth time if all the necessaries requited for 
 the journey were properly stowed in the wagon, anti after having for the last time, 
 jerked at a trace, settled this and that portion of the harness, looked under the 
 horses, passed his hand over the near one's llank, and walked completely around the 
 whole concern, John Robbins mounted his seat;, gave a sonorous ahem ! in evidence 
 of his complete satisfaction, and describing a preparatary circle with his lash, was 
 about bringing it down on the backs of his team, when a little circumstance in the 
 body of the wagou interrupted his purpose, and softened the threatening sweep of 
 the gad into an oblique flourish, that spent its elegance in a faint snap near the 
 ground. 
 
 He had turned his head for the twenty-first time to see th^t all was right iu the 
 canvass domicile behind, when he disoirned that Mrs Robbins was yielding to the 
 weakness of her bosom at the separation of the last link that bound her to the asso- 
 ciations of early youth, and to the ties of friends and home. The husband kissed away 
 the tears that were tumbling over her full and rosy cheek, s^oke a wrrl of encour- 
 agement in her ear, and then, with a moistened eye himself, turned hastily to his 
 place, brought the whip sharply down, set his features as rigid as a uecemvir's, and 
 rattled off at a pace that soon jolted off every vestige of sadness or depres- 
 sion, amid the cheers of a large circle of friends and well-wishers, who had gathered 
 to see us off, and whose benizons floated after us upon the air, as if they were un- 
 willing to resign this living evidence of their continual guardianship. 
 
 The morning was magnificent. The soft fresh breeze was both bracing and bland, 
 and the sun poured down his brightness, with such superior glory, that his rays 
 seemed to stream through our very hearts, and to change every doubt and dark fore* 
 bodmg into cheerful hope. As I gazed out upon thai lovely landscape, and saw every 
 
64 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 %. 
 
 bladn and leaf quivering in gold, I ceased to wonder that the savage turned his face 
 abuve to look for God. 
 
 Our course, as I remarked before, lay south west, along the Santa Fe trail. After 
 we had proceeded on our way for about three hours, the fresh morning air served its 
 challenge on our appetites, and wo made a h»lt in answer to its summons. In com- 
 pliment to the smooth green sward, tho Robbins' family tumbled out of the wagon 
 and spread iheir cloth upon it. Then followed the tin cups and tin plates, and then 
 the edibles. Of the lust, we made most speedy disposal. Mrs. Robbins had re- 
 covered from her momentary depression, and was now chatting away in high glee, 
 only pausing occasionally, to tickle tho baby in the neck, to knead its stomach with 
 her fists, or to roll it over and over on the grass. The two boys had left the meal 
 with their cheeks yet full, and were now scampering away after each other in a race 
 over the fields, while one other member of the party, whom I must apologise for 
 having overlooked, sat beside the hearty John Robins, looking like the impersona- 
 tion of Gravity itself This was a large white dog, named Jack, who I understood 
 had long been a member of the family. He appeared to perfectly understand his 
 social position, for though there was no evidenceof improper levity in his character, 
 or any indication of intemperate importunity in his manner, one might see by the 
 decided cock of his head, and the equally decided interest he bestowed upon every 
 movement of John Robbin's knife and fork, that he knew his rights to a hair. His 
 calculations were not disappointed, and his lunch finishing the meal, I mounted my 
 horse, the Robbins stowed themselves away under the canvass canopy, and off w« 
 jogged once more, to the great delight of Jack, who went gamboling away be- 
 fore us. 
 
 We had not proceeded far before we were met by a wagon returning from the 
 rendezvous to Independence. 
 
 " Hallo, sMangers ! bound for the encampment 1" shouted a voice from the box. 
 
 " Yes ; are we far away 1" 
 
 '• A^iut three mile. You'll find a nice party there. We're only goin' back to 
 Independence for some articles we forgot, an'l then we're with you ! Good day." 
 
 In about an hour we arrived at the rendezvous, or encampment, as our roadside 
 friends had called it. We found there already over three hundred people preparing 
 for one of the most arduous trips ever undertaken in modern times. About fifty wag- 
 ons were arranged in a huge semi-circle, in the centre of which little groups were 
 busying themselves in the usual occupations of life, while others were whiling away 
 the hours in idle conversation. Here a smith was tinkering at a rivet, there a 
 female bustled over her domestic pots and pan^; in one quarter an artisan was 
 engaged in mending a shaft or resetting a wagon top, while in another, a hardy 
 huntsman was rubbing up his rifle. Numerous herds of cattle browsed about the 
 plain, while the horses reaped their harvest of the generous herbage within the cir- 
 cle of their tether. All the concomitants of civilization were there, yet so intermixed 
 with savage instances, as to startle the observer at the social hybrid. There was 
 something in the unusual scene and its object, >hat challenged the reflection and 
 led the mind off in its own despite, in search for the causes that induced it. Curi- 
 osity asked why a large body of human beings, possessed of a fair share of the com- 
 forts of life, should renounce, of their own accord, all the advantages of society, and 
 submit to a voluntary banishment in a region of which they had only heard by 
 rumor, and that was almost beyond the bounds of civil life ? Why, with vast plains 
 before them, offering the most bounteous fertility to the lightest summons of the 
 husbandman ; possessing a certain climate, and promising assured comfort ; asking 
 no purchase but those of the ploughshare and the spade, they chose rather a toil- 
 some pilgrimage and the uncertain perils of an almost unknown route, to seek the 
 same advantages in the extremity of the continent .' It certainly was not from mis- 
 anthropy, for the very manner of the enterprise denied it ; they were not flying from 
 the persecutions of intolerance and bigotry ; neither were they the victims of ill 
 balanced laws, but they were obeying that restless impulse of ambition which Li- 
 berty implants and fosters, and which displays itself in a passion for experiment and 
 adventure. This spirit, which has imparted to us energies that have astonished the 
 world, and still puzzle the monarchies of Europe, has spread its effects from the 
 Atlantic even thus far into the wilderness ; it is now directing the movements of 
 this enterprise, and stamps it as the first sign of the enlargement of the boundaries 
 of Freedom to the western ocean. Liberty and enterprise are inseperable qualities, 
 and were it not for the obstacle of inadequate means of travtl, no corner of our 
 country would be left unpeopled. 
 
 We were received on our entrance with a shout of welcome, and as we drove in 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 65 
 
 re in 
 
 a dozen busy hands were instantly lent to assist ns in arranging the disposal of our 
 articles. Our wagon was drawn to a proper spot, our horses were watered and 
 staked, Mrs. Robl)iiis was introduced to Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Harris; the liiile 
 Rohbinses received the overtures of the juvenile Bakers and Browns, and Jack 
 followed suit by making oioiit decided advances to a liandsLme terrier bitch, who 
 was doing the atniable in a series of cavortings that would have been most de« 
 lightful for any lovsr of natural philosophy to see. 
 
 As this was also my lirst visit to the rendezvous, I was received in like manner, 
 and some acquaintances whom I had made a few days before in the town of Inde- 
 pendence, came forward to welcome me and to show me the ins and outs of the 
 encampment. 
 
 " H'ar you, sir ! H'ar you !" was the greeting which, accompanied by hearty 
 and earnest grasps of the hand, met me on all sides, and in the course of half an 
 hour I had become acquainted with two thirds of the whole party. Among otiiers, 
 I was introduced to a fat old gentleman in a round jacket and very short pair of 
 corduroys, responding to the name of McFarley, and who, by the way, aspired -to 
 the command of the enterprise. Another fat old gentleman named Dumberton was 
 also introduced to me, who was McFarley 's rival for the chieftianship. He had the 
 advantage of the latter, however, in a face of aldermanic redness, and likewise in a 
 long-tailed snufT colored coat. 
 
 This latter gentleman, immediately on taking my hand, informed me that he came 
 from "East Tennessee, al a place high up on Big Pidgeon, near Kit Bullard's 
 mill ;" and then feeling convinced that it was quite unnecessary to take any further 
 measure to secure my profound respect, threw his head on one side, and waited 
 for his communication to produce its ef!ect. 
 
 Dumberton, or the Captain, as he was called, had the advantage of McFarley in 
 several other points. I have already mentioned the superior contrast of the snuflF- 
 colourcd coat with the round jacket, and I might also havo alluded to the sub- 
 stantial claims of a pantaloons of the same color in opposition to the me"': preten- 
 sions of the corduroys; but the great superiority of the Captain laid chiefly in a 
 profuse shock of siifTgray hair, which, being contrasted with the rich crimson of his 
 countenance, and further set off by the white of his neck cloth, rendered his appear- 
 ance imposing to a degree. Besides, his home department had a most superlative 
 curve, while McFarley's, on the other hand, was a sudden projection, which looked 
 as if he had just bolted the hump of a bufTalo, and from its absolute abruptness, 
 conveyed no idea of dignity at all. McFarley made up for these natural disadvan- 
 tages, however, by industry, perseverance, and superior tact, which being opposed 
 to the Captain's natural gifis, about balanced the materiel of the struggle. 
 
 The last of these remarkable gentlemen running one of the sleeves of his 
 snuff- colored coat through my arm, fairly took me prisoner, and turned mc off in 
 the direction of a neighboring cluster of trees, for the purpose of securing my influ- 
 ence in his own favor, and in opposition to his opponent. It is impossible to de- 
 scribe McFarley's face, at this attempt of the other to make capital at his expense ; 
 suffice it, it outblushed his rival's, and his teeth were set in fierce determination. 
 He was not long at a loss for an expedient to interrupt the Captain's design, for he 
 bribed a boy to tell me " my horse had run a spike in his foot, and that Mr. Rob- 
 bins wanted to see me at once." This was as great a relief to me, as it was a 
 comfort to Mr. McFarley, for fat man the first had just commenced some dispDra- 
 ging reflections upon fat man the second, that I could not have listened to without 
 compromising the neutrality of my position. 
 
 I had four men who had linked their interests with mine, and who had put them- 
 selves under my special direction. They were still at Independence, and I did not 
 expect them till the afternoon of the foljswing day, when they were to bring along 
 our common team, cattle, wagons and " fixins." For want, therefore, of anything 
 to do, I lent a hand to Robbins, iu getting up his tent, and setting his things to 
 rights. The remainder of the day was spent in making acquaintances, and project- 
 ing arrangements for future guidance, a precaution which I considered by no means 
 unnecessary, now that I had discovered that the struggles of selfishness were likely 
 in a greater or less degree, to agitate our little community. I should not omit to 
 mention here, that I was also introduced this afternoon to Mr. Peter H. Burnet, 
 who was subsequently made captain of the expedition. 
 
 After the evening had set in, I laid down in the wagon of an acquaintance, and 
 overcome with fatigue, soon fell asleep. An hour could not have elapsed, however, 
 before I started .wide awake. While I lay endeavoring to recover my disturbed 
 repose, I had a chance to hear how my neighbors were disposing of their time. In 
 
 5 
 
 m 
 
 
 4 
 
96 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 one direction the sound of a violin rasped the air; in another, a little farther otf, 
 the mellow wnrble of a flute stole softly on the night ; while hard by my ear, a 
 harmonious voice poured forth a measure of reproach to the 
 
 " False hearted Jane Lom'so." 
 
 Unable to sleep, and desirous of taking a share in the enjoyment, I arose and 
 went forth, and approaching the tent from which the last pathetic strain had issued, 
 peeped into its centre. It whs filled with a motley group, who appeared to have 
 given themselves up to the last degree of merriment. In the rear, on a huge trunk, 
 which was used as a table, sat two bottles, and a corpulent little jug, all of them, 
 doubtless, contributions from ditferent members of the company. On the right hand 
 of this imposing platform, sat McFartey, and on the left, honest John Robbina, with 
 dog Jack between his legs, who was looking, if possible, graver than ever. Behind, 
 and mounted on a high seat, made by a trunk turned endwise, with a flask m hi» 
 hand, and his hat cocked gaily into an cxirems angle, sat the ruling spirit of the 
 party. He was one of those peculiar geniuses whom Nature by the gift of a rich 
 fund of humor and invincible gaiety marks for a practical philanthropist. In his owr> 
 way, Jim Wayne was the source of more re-'t pleasure and enjoyment, by his 
 inimitable drolleries, during the long journey which followed, than any dozen other 
 causes put together. His songs were sung by the whole camp ; his stories were 
 told over and over, for the edification and amusement of every sub-circle, and 
 wherever he went, his presence of itself, appeared to possess galvanic power, which 
 operated immediately in distending the muscles of every face. 
 
 " Gentlemen !" said Wayne, at the conclusion of his dittv, with an air of impres- 
 sive solemnity, "it is my painful duty to communicate to you my apprehensions, 
 that we have an individual among us of the most suspicious character ; an individual, 
 who, so far from entering into our proceedings with that def .J of hilarity and good- 
 fellowship which are the guarantees of honest intentions, has preserved a dogged 
 silence, and has moreover given more than one indication that he is incapable of 
 appreciating the sentiment of our enlightened proceedings ; in short, gentlemen, he is 
 a creature, as a man may say, without a soul. Gentle.Tien," continued the speaker, 
 after the buzz of surprize and rapid scrutiny which sweptt he circle from man to 
 man, upon this startling communication, was over, "gentleman, the nature of our 
 enterprize, the peculiarity of our situation, demands our utmost care, and I appeal 
 to your intelligence, if an individual be found in this company, guilty of the demeanor 
 I have charged him with, shall he not forthwith be summoned before this bar, arraigned 
 for examination, and, if necessarv, I will add, for punishment?" 
 
 "Yes, Yes, where is he? Who is he 1" shouted a dozen voices, while some 
 of the bronzed faces around frowned stern resentment.," 
 
 Wayne turned, and after looking fi.Tedly at John Robbins for several moments, 
 as if it pained him to perform his duty, at length broke silence. " John Robbins, I 
 command you to produce the body of an individual now in your possession, 
 commonly known as dog Jack, that he may ansvver to the charge now about to be 
 preferred against him." 
 
 At this conclusion, the whole company broke into a general peal of laughter, in 
 which John Robbins, who was relieved from his temporary uneasiness, heartily 
 joined. 
 
 " McFarley, arraign the culprit," cried Wayne, in a stern tone, which though 
 apparently intended to check the levity of the group, only elicited another burst 
 of merriment. 
 
 Jack was lifted on the box by his master, and McFarley, who acted as clerk of the 
 court, made him face the Judge, setting him on his haunehes, and holding up his four 
 paws for the purpose of accomplishing a respectful atti'tude. 
 
 The President then addressed the otfender at length, and with nnuch dignity and 
 force. Jack, while this was going on, never once altered the solemnity of his 
 demeanor. The only departure from his usual stoicism, was an occasional glance 
 which he now and then stole over his shoulder at McFarley, who was holding him. 
 At length the President finished his address, and wound up by saying, that "as morcy 
 was thedivinest attribute of dogs as well as men, he would forgive him for this first 
 offence, and allow him an opportunity to retrieve his character, by making him an 
 honorary member of the association." Saying which, he baptized the animal on the 
 end of the nose, with some of the contents of the flask in his hand, " to learn him," 
 as he said, " to be a jolly good fellow.'' 
 
 Jack had stood everything quietly, until this, but no ssoner did the alcoholic 
 
 m 
 
. . CHAPTER rr. 
 
 ■Arrival of my Cam 
 
 On tho followins dav m,, 
 
 the plea of pressinabisi.?/, "^ '" '*^^''^ '"'^'^"^7 S? ?TT'^ '"'"' '"terrupted 
 the day, whTch rZllTTn'J"'' °^"' ^ 'ne;t n, ias h«M^ ^ T' "^^'" "C 
 "fke .„qu„ie3 of liolwST' ' ■ ''"'""tee to ^urn 1 lit' ^'T' P»" °" 
 VVallawalla, respecting thr"' ""ssionary, who Wl « '" '''Pendence, and 
 ^ade to the 2o5, to Fl n rP'"*^'"^*''ili"es of the 1,1 . ''''"''''^hmont on t £ 
 
 fnalarrange,„e.tK^^:;;«'«'a lutledistan;;^^^^ ff 't" ^'j""'"""""' - s 
 
 recruits kept pourinp in L^^ '''^^'"'""'nent of the pv' ,v P";P"«e of .nakin^ 
 
 the designitei place' '"' '"' ^' '''^ pointed time LaX al 'Z ^''""'^"''' "<^!^ 
 
 . As all the preparations which f emigrants were at 
 
 K Proper o..!.;: r "^" "'"^^ ^^^ -3- a^S.r a^^I 
 
 ^Zr '^^ -- '^^ --:Srr - - ;X;^nc. as on it de. 
 
 The wagons for the trio shnnU u ^ "' "'^ •"'=ce«« of 
 
 fecure as though you Ij l"*"- ^"h your waff3h, ^^ ""^^ Possibility of 
 heavy brown of «o^„ drHlln V" ^^T"' Tents and wa?^"!''"^ '''"P'"""''' ^"" are as 
 aer, Jaet well al the wl"' v*^ '''^ ''"'^r, if secure^JTJ /'' ""«''•=«' '"adeof 
 tra iron bolts, ly„chpT„?',J°" '^^'^^ '«><« along witfc^ ^'"'.lil^e the foj! 
 pounds of aseorfed wrCht n-ir- ^'"'' '"'"^« ^or^he axles 7 7/''f.« ^ew ex- 
 Punch for making hoTs f t ' / '""u""'' P^P^" of ud's 1 At "f".^'^ ''"^^'' ^ ''-^"^ 
 of„axea, and ,ndfed a "I ,' 1^!^.'^-'^. « handsal^t d^ wil'.te'™"- -^ a 
 
 do not weigh Too murh ^^''r,'" '«?«*""?• Al th' i^" '"« '" ^"g^"-. «« thev 
 if your wagVn^are 2 ' '''r''i*^*''«"ght along Whl '^°" " ™«" has, if the? 
 
 m 
 
68 
 
 HISTORY OF ORSOOKT. 
 
 I; <: 
 
 ' I 
 
 and the nails following, and being driven home, all will be found as tight as ever. 
 If your wagons are even ordinnrily good this will not happen at all, and you will not 
 pcrhiips have occasion to make a repair of any consequence during the whole trip. 
 Any vehicle that can perform a Journey from Kentucky to Missouri, will stand the 
 trip well. In proof of this, there are many wagons now in use in Oregon which wero 
 brought throuffh last year, though they were in quite ordinary condition when they 
 started from tTie Status. Beware of heavy vehicles ; they break down your teams, 
 and light ones answer every purpose to much better advantage. The latter wil 
 carry every thing you want, and as there are no obstac'^s on the road, in the way of 
 logs or stumps, or even rocks, until you get more thf> half way, (when your load 
 Js very mvch reduced,) there is but little danger of accident. You meet with no 
 stumps on the road, until you came to the Burnt river, and there they are very few, 
 and you encounter no rocks until you get among the tail of the Blfick hills, and 
 these are not formidable in their character, and only last for a short dis.anco. From 
 this poi.it you meet with no more ohstiuctions warth speaking of. 'uni,! you reach 
 the Grtjat Soda Spring on Bear river, which is situated in the intricacies of the 
 mountain passes. E-tperience has proved, however, that tho OnEculties there, are 
 readily overcome. If an individual should have several wagons, some good and 
 Bomo indifllerent, he might start with all ; the latter would go to the mountains, 
 where the loads being reduced one half, their burdens might be transferred entirely 
 to the strong ones, and the former could roll through empty. It is not necessary 
 (o bring along extra axle trees, as you seldom break one, though you should take 
 with you a few pieces of well seaoned hickory, to be used for wedges and for other 
 little useful purposes. 
 
 Teams. — The best teams for this trip are ox-teams. The oxen should be from 
 three to five years old, well set and compactly built, thongh thoy should not be too 
 heavy, as their feet will not bear the wear and tea'r and hardships of the rcuio as 
 •veil as those of lighter animals. This, though well to be observed as a jeneral 
 rule, is not imperative upon the emigrant, as we had with us in this trip several very 
 large oxen, of seven and eight years of age, which endured the continued labor of 
 the task very well, though not so well as the younger and lighter ones. Young 
 cows make just as good teams as any other, as previous to your reaching Fort Hall 
 on the west of the mountains, it is merely the continuance of the travel, and not the 
 hardship of the draught that challenges the physical powers of your cattle. To 
 make cows serve all the purposes of oxen, therefore, you have only to bitch a double 
 number and you will go along as comfortably and as easily, as with *he best oxen in 
 the world ; besides, cows in addition to furnishing you with a nutritious beverage, 
 night and morning, stand the trip better than the male members of their species. 
 Either of the above, however, are better for tb<> emigrant's purposes than mulesi. 
 They are, moreover, more easily managed — _ are not so subject to be lost or 
 broken down on the way — they cost less at the start, and they are worth four times 
 as much when you arrive at the end of your journey. 
 
 Those who come to this country with oxen, will be in lovo with them long before 
 they gel here. Their patient, gentle, persevering good will, are each a claim upon 
 your warm attachment. They will plunge through the heaviest mud, dive into 
 thickets, climb mountains, however great their previous labor, without the slightest 
 refusal, and in their frugal habits are content with the reward of almost any pro- 
 vender — willows alone satisfying their humble cppetites for days together. 
 
 I would most strongly urge emigrants to bring all the cattle they can procure ; 
 and horses among the rest, as with proper care, the latter stand the journey as well 
 as mules. If a person setting out would invest five hundred dollars in young heifers, 
 and drive them here, they would be worth five thousand dollars to him on his arrival ; 
 and by pursuing the enterprise in the way of stock raising, if he did not wish to sell, 
 he could in a short time make a fortune. Milch cows are exceedingly useful on the 
 road, as they give an abundance of milk all the way, with the exception of the 
 latter part of it, where, in consequence of the frequent interruptions of the previously 
 rich herbage, the supply somewhat decreases. This edible is of great value to the 
 traveller, as when thickened, it effects a great saving of flour, and its rich and deli, 
 cious qualities afford a fine and nourishing food for your children. Its other advan- 
 tage is, that the giver of it gathers it from the pastures from day today, and relieves 
 you of any trouble of carriage, by beari'iig 't herself. 
 
 We found that yearlings, nay even sucuing calves, stood the trip well, but the 
 objection to the latter is, that 4hey get all the milk of the mother. 
 
 Provmions. — As this is the most important branch of preparation, it is necessary 
 that we should bostow a careful attention upon it. Every one thinks he must eat, 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 69 
 
 rocure ; 
 
 as welt 
 
 heifers, 
 
 nrrival ; 
 
 to seli, 
 I on the 
 
 of the 
 iviously 
 
 to the 
 nd deli- 
 • advan- 
 
 relieves 
 
 t)ut the 
 
 Icessary 
 list eat, 
 
 and so tntllcd is the notion, that it would amount to little short of a separation of 
 soul and body to be persuaded to the contrary. 
 
 One hundred and Hfty pounds of flour, and liTty pounds of bacon, must bo allowed 
 to each person, and this must lie taken as n fundamental rule — a jroleclivc provision 
 as the lawyers say, which must not be overlooked or departed from. Besides the 
 above, as much rice, corn meal, parched corn meal, and raw corn, peas, dried fruit, 
 s'jgHr, tea, coflfoe, and such necessary articles of food, as you can find room for, 
 should by all means be brought along. Flour and parched corn meal will keep sweet 
 the whole way, but corn meal only lasts to the mountains. The parched meal ii 
 luost excellent in making soup — a few beef cattle or fat calves should be taken to 
 kill on the way, as before you fall in with the buffalo, you will need fresh meat Pc^.!* 
 wdl be found to be very useful also, and your dried fruits by being brought out 
 occasionally, will supply with their delicacy and nourishing qualities, many of the 
 deprivations of absence from a settled home. 
 
 The loading, in short, should consist mostly of provisions. Emigrants should not 
 burden themselves with much furniture or many beds. It is folly to lug these 
 articles two thousand miles over mountains and rivers, through a mere prejudice of 
 habit and notion. A few light trunks should be brought to pack clothes in, as they 
 will be found to be better than any other article for the ssme purpose ; boxes are 
 too heavy in an expedition where every pouml tells in every hour of draught. 
 
 All heavy articles, therefore, should be left behind, with the exception of the most 
 necessary cooking utensils, and these should be of tin, or of the lightest materlHls. 
 If you are heavily loaded, let the quantity of sugar and coffee bo small, as milk is 
 
 Deferable as a beverage for health, and, because, as I saiJ before, it tr'tvels fur itself, 
 ou should provide yourself with a water keg, and you should likewise have a tin 
 can made after the fashion of a powder cannisior, to hold your milk. A few tin cups, 
 (iibjure all crockery,) tin plates, tin saucers, a butcher's knife, a shovel, and a pair 
 of pot-hooks, will go very far toward completing your culinary arrangements, and a 
 small grindstone joined to their company, to keep them in edge, will also lend a 
 valuable assistance to this department. There are many other articles apparently 
 triflitig in their nature, which must not be overlooked, and these tho good sense 
 of the emigrant must suggest fur himself. Such are cord, bits of linen, leather, drc. 
 Rifles, fowlinrr pieces, pistols, powder, shot, ball, lump lead, and all the accompanying 
 articles of destructive warfare upon game, are, I hardly need say, of the fit A impor- 
 tance. Man's inheritance of destructiveness must be borne with him to this region 
 as well as to every otiier. The double inducement to carry articles of inherent 
 usefulness, is their wonderful advance in value — thus, a rifle worth twenty dollars 
 in the States, enhances to the worth of fifty dollars in Oregon, and fowling pieces 
 increase in price in proportion. 
 
 The clothing you take, should bo of the same description used in the middle 
 states, and enough should be laid in to last a year. Care should be taken that, 
 amongst tho rest of your wardrobe, a half a dozen or a dozen pair of strong shoes 
 should not be forgotten. 
 
 These directions will suffice to give the emigrant a notion of his wants, and of 
 the means he will require to procure them. What I have omitted, will be supplied 
 hereafter in the course of this narratiye, and the remainder left unmentioned will be 
 suggested as I said before by the intelligence of the emigrant himself. 
 
 On the 20th of May we moved to Big Spring in obedience to the previous reso- 
 lution, and found upon our arrival there, a large accession to our party. Our num- 
 ber was now found to amount to near five hundred souls, men, women and children, 
 of which 263 were men able to bear arms. 
 
 Here was an enterprize of inoment indeed ! The greatest confidence appeared 
 to prevail throughout the whole party, and self-reliance and determination were- 
 stamped on every countenance. Every now and then, as some rough looking back- 
 woodsman would swagger past, armed to the teeth with pistol and bowie knife, or 
 squads of his companions skirr on horstback over the surrounding plains, rifle in 
 hand, and blade in belt, an apprehension would start upon the mind of the difficul- 
 ties to be fonnd in harmonizing the incongruous elements, and of subduing them into 
 one reasonable, order loving mass. 
 
 With the gathering of the grand couni 1 came the climacteric of Mc Farley's and 
 Dumberton's etrujrgle. 
 
 After the meeting had assembled, and the temporary officers of it had been ap- 
 pointed, came the proposals of organization. The ripening of the proceedings to 
 this stage showed that the fdt gentlemen were not the only aspirants emulous of 
 supreme distinction. The strange assemblage was gathered from various sections of 
 
 
'r i 
 
 70 
 
 HI8T0RT or ORlr.OX. 
 
 'il 
 
 ;' IS 
 
 ^^f 
 
 the country ; they wore agitated with vaiioui virwa, nnd naturiilly scpamted inta< 
 VHfious cliquex. Most of them litul their favorite plana alrnady rut and drif>d,iind 
 their noinincts were nil ready to wnar tlie chieftain's mantle. A stormy scRsion was 
 the conacqucncc, and it was evident that the (|uestion of coinmanderHhip would not 
 be decided this day. In the middle of the uproar of the hmt hour, Dumbertoii, who 
 had given his hair an extra intellectual rush from the front, and airaneed the anuflf 
 coloiud garraenta in a style of xuperlntive finish, managi^d to ubMin the ear of the 
 asauinblage. After having waved thi 'rowd into profound silencu, ho commenced 
 a (nilugiuin upon the character of Washington : made |)atriotic nllusionuto the reso- 
 lution and the late w^tr, touched on tlm battle of New Orleans, apostrophised the 
 American eagle, and then wound uji his introduction with a very meaning sentiment 
 levelled with great force and earnetitncsa at the "iron arm of despotism.'* Imagin- 
 ing ihiil he had fairly taken captive the admiiationof his audience, iMr. Dumberion, 
 of Big Pigeon, came to the point of hia addrfss, nnd gravely proposed that the 
 emigration shioild adopt the criminal laws of Missouri and Tennessee for its future 
 government. 
 
 No sooner had the speaker delivered himself of his proposition, than Mc Farloy, 
 who had been chating like a stung hull for the last half hour, sprang up, and remarked 
 that since the genileman f/Oin Big Pigeon had found out we had robbers and thieves- 
 amoii(<; us, he, (Mc Farley) would move that a penitentiary bu engaged to travel in 
 company if his proposal ahould pass. 
 
 Mr. Dumberion, replied with a savage irony intended to nnnihiUte his oppo- 
 nent, that '*the gentleman who had sugirestcd the last resolution, would doubtless 
 find himself taken in if it did." Mr. Mc Farley denounced Mr. Dumberion as a^ 
 demagogue, whereupon Mr. Dumberion appealed to the Geinus of Liberty for the 
 purity ol his intentions in a most beautiful apostrophe. 
 
 But the Genius of Liberty not respoiidin<» to ihe call of the gentleman from Big 
 Pigeon in time, some othpr fiery spirits interfered, a/.d shifted the dispute to new 
 quest ioM» and characters, extinguishing in a moment the hopes and pretensions of 
 the Big Pigeon and its opposing faction. 
 
 Afier soma deliberation of a more quiet and sensible character, the council result- 
 ed in adopting a set of re«olution4 as its guiding principles, and postponing for the 
 time the election of a commander and his aids, leaving the chief direction tempora- 
 rily in the hands of Captain John Grant, who was employed as our pilot for the route. 
 An adjournment then look place with the understanding that wn should siart finally 
 and altogether on the morning of the 22d, and halt at thu Kanzas river, for a final 
 organization in the election of the commander and other officers. 
 
 As the resolutions adopted are interesting in a philosophical point of view, pre- 
 semiiig as they do the spectuclcof a free body of people, voluntarily assuming regu- 
 lations and restrictions for the common benefit and safety of all — and as they are- 
 calculated to be of service ta future companies of emigrant-.!, I will here insert them. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS OF THE OREGON EMIGRATING SOCIETY. 
 
 Resolved — Whereas we deem it necessary for the government of all societies, 
 either civil or military, to adopt certain rules and regulations for their government^ 
 for the purpose of keeping good order, and promoting civil and military discipline ;. 
 therefore, in order to insure union and safety, we adopt thu following rules and regu- 
 lations for the government of said company. 
 
 Rule 1st. — Every male person of the age of sixteen or upwards shall be consider- 
 ed ii legal voter in all the affairs regulating the company. 
 
 Rule 2d. — There shall be nine men elected by a majority of the company, who- 
 shall form a council, whose duty it shall be to settle all disputes arising between in- 
 dividuals, and to try, and pass sentence on all persons for any act of which they 
 may be guilty, which is subversive of good order and military discipline. They 
 shall take especial cognizance of sentinels and members of the guard who may be 
 guilty of neglect of duly, or of sleeping on their posts. Such persons shall be tried 
 and sentence passed on them at diseretion of council. A majority of two thirds of 
 the council shall decide all questions that may come before them, subject to the ap- 
 proval or disapproval of the captain. If the captain disapprove of the decision of 
 thu council, he shall state to them his reasons, when they shall again pass upon the 
 question, and if the decision is again made by the same majority, it shall be final. 
 
 Rule 'Sd. — There shall be a Captain elected, who shall have supreme military 
 command of the company. It shall be the duty of the Captain to maintain good 
 order and strict discipline, and as far as practicable, to enforce ail rules and regu- 
 
IHSTORY OF OREUON. 
 
 71 
 
 who 
 In iii- 
 1 ihey 
 (rhey 
 jiy be 
 J tried 
 Ids of 
 le ap- 
 lon of 
 In the 
 }al. 
 lUtary 
 1 good 
 jregu- 
 
 latwrts adopted by the compflny . Any man who ahnll be guilty of diaobeying orderi, 
 •hall bfl tried and sentenced at the dincretion of tho council, which may extend to 
 oxpiilxion from the company. The- Captain ahall appoint the requisite number of 
 duly Horifeant, one of whom shall take cliargc of every guard, and who (hall hold 
 their otfices at the pleasure of the Captain. 
 
 Rule ilk. — Thcso shall bo an orderly sergeant elected by the company, whose 
 duty it dhail be to keep a regular roll, arranged in alphabetical order, of every 
 person subject to guard duty in tho company, and shall make out his guard details 
 by commencing at the top of the roll and proceeding to the bottom — thus giving 
 every man an equal turn of guard duty. He shall also give the member of every 
 guard notice when he is detailed (or duly. He shnji also parade every guard, call 
 the roll and iriNpect the time of mounting. He shall also visit tho guard at least 
 once every night, and see that they are doing strict military duty, and may at any 
 time give them the necessary instructions respncti' ' their duty, and shall regularly 
 make report to the Captain every morning, and u.: considered second in com- 
 mand. 
 
 Rule blk. — The Captain, orderly sergeant, and members of the council, shall hold 
 their offices at the pleasure of the company, and it shall be the duty of the council, 
 upon tho application of one third or more of the company, to order a new eledlion, 
 for rither captain, orderly sergeant, or now member, or members of the council ; or 
 for all or any of them as the case may be. 
 
 Rule 6lk. — The election fur nflicers shall not take place until the company meet 
 at Kansas river. 
 
 Rule Ilk. — No family shall be allowed to take more than three loose cattle to every 
 male inemt>er of the ago of sixteen or upwards." 
 
 I hardly need state that many of these remarkable regulations remained as from 
 their very nature they needs must, a dead letter. The convocation, however, had 
 performed the chief uusiness they were called to accomplish, and each man at the 
 adjournment, sought his quarters with the conviction that he had taken part in a 
 prucuedin<r but little short in points of dignity and grand importance to the declara- 
 tion of independance itself. 
 
 It was grey dusk when iiin council of Elm Grove broke up, and the ceremony of 
 supper to which I hnntened with a t\\!,\\K j^ood will, led ine into the night. When 
 my meal was over, I paid a visit to ilin tent of John Robbins, and after passing an 
 hour with his family, strolled out to take a view of the camp. Elm Grove is a spot 
 eitiiatcci in the plain of a vast prairie, and receives its distinction and its name from 
 two beautiful elm trees tli.it stand as solitarv (?) land marks upon its surface. 
 Though this was the first time 1 recognised the term of '• grove " as applicable to 
 but two trees, I felt willin;j from their extreme beauty to allow them any pre- 
 rogrttivoof definition they pleased to arrogate. The night, the scene, tho stars, tho 
 air, were beautiful. The moon shed her silvery beams upon the white sheets of 
 sixty wagons, whose arrangement marked the parallelugramic boundaries of our 
 camp. A thousand head of cattle grazed upon the surrounding plain, fifty camp 
 fires sent up their enlivening beams of comfort and good cheer, the cheerful sentinel 
 whisllwl a lively air as he swaggered up and down his post, the sound of the violin, 
 the flute, the flageolet, the .'iccordion ; the rich notes of manly vuicps, some in love 
 ditties and some in patriotic strains, conjoined to lend roniat ce and excitement 
 to the scene. All was mirth, joy, and contentment, " save where i'ome infant raised 
 its fretful pipe," or where some party of infatuated gam»j3tf:r3 were cursing the 
 treacheries of a game of chance. 
 
 I passed by the tent of the Big Pigeon, and overheard a fierce discussion on the 
 new application of the veto [)0\ver, as bestowed upon the Captain of the Company, 
 and heard Dumberton denounce it, as " an absurd innovation Jupon a conservative 
 system, and a most gross violation of a cnrdinal principle of political jurisprudence." 
 Mr. Dumberton owned a circle of most ardent admirers, who if they did not exactly 
 understand the meaning of all he said, (a matter that would have puzzled the gentle- 
 man from the vicinity of Kit Dullard's mill himself,) were most devotedly resolved 
 to firmly believe every thing that fell from his lips, to be sound doctrine. There are 
 in all societies classes of people, who would rather adhere and sacrifice to principles 
 tht'v do not understand, than abide by propositions, however good, that they do. 
 There is something to hope from a mystery which confounds the senses, but a pro- 
 position that any one can understand is altogether bonealh the notice of an aspiring 
 iiiiHrrination. 
 
72 
 
 HIBTORV OF ORCOON. 
 
 i 
 
 i: I 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The start — Crosaing of the Walpaliiaia— Visit of Pollaifattomics — Cronsinn of the 
 Kamas— Sinking of the raft — New recruits — Cathvltc Missionaries— Hlerlidn of 
 officers — Crossing of liig Sandy — an Indian visit— Crossing of the Hliir—a 
 thunder storm — Novel race after blankets — Meeting with the Osagcs and Kanzas 
 — Green and thn Cam — More rain — New organization and new election — Fntndt 
 in the desert — The dead I'awnee — Buffalo — chase of an antelope. 
 
 Early on the morning of tho 22(1, the signal waa given for prpparntion, nnd tho 
 csinp WH8 Noon in oiio universal bnbel of excitement. Our arrnngementi, however, 
 were not all completed until after midday, when the team* hein|{ all hitched, the 
 cattle liurded, the tents struck and stowed, and the wagons all ready to take their 
 places in the line, assigned them for tho route, the bugle, (blown by Jim VVtiync, 
 who galloped up and down, as an aide-de-camp to the temporary commander,) soun- 
 ded Its Ia8t signal of departure, and away wo streamed to the distance of two miles 
 over the unduTating billows of tho prairie, at last fairly embarked fur the region of 
 our future homo. The country we passed throot^h this day, was one succes- 
 sion of gently undulating swells, clothed with a verdure thatovincod the rich forti- 
 lily of the soil. After a journey unmarked by any incidents, except the delays aris- 
 ing out of the confusion of a first start, wo encamped about an hour before sumtiH ; 
 having accomplished but it distance of three miles. On the following day we suc- 
 ceeded no better, only making in all, four miles. Our cattle gave us a great deal of 
 trouble, as they had heretofore been allowed unrostricled liberty in wandering over 
 the plains, and had nut yet been broken into the regularity of an onward march. 
 Wo encamped this evening on tho banks of a beautiful little river, called the Wapa- 
 luaia, a tributary of the Kanzas. It was but about twenty yards wide ; its clear 
 pellucid walera rolled over a pebbly bottom, and its abrupt banks were studded 
 with tho cotton wood, and a.sh, wliich on some portions of its cout-ae, intermingled 
 their foliage acrosH the stream. 
 
 As soon as we had (alien into our regular disposition for tho night, and slaked 
 our horses, several of us turned out with nets and fishing-tackle, to sweep and to 
 tickle the stream. But though we were Hiiceossful in furnishing ourselves with some 
 amusement, we were not so successful in the object of our endeavors — being 
 only I'ortunato enough tu secure a few trout, tnust of which fell to the shar^ of the 
 female dep.irtment of the expedition. 
 
 On the morning of the 24ih, we made preparations for crossing the stream, but 
 in consequence of the steepness of its banks, were obliged to let our wagons down 
 with ropes, and to draw thcin up in the same way. This was the first proof wo 
 had, of the advantages possessed by the vehicles with falling tongues, for they 
 were easily lifted out of danger, while the others ran against the bottom in their 
 descent, and one of them was snapped off. Our cattle plunged into the water 
 without any hesitation, and all crossing without ditficulty, we were in a short time, 
 regularly lollowing our onward movement. We might have avoided all the delay 
 and trouble of this crossing, if we had searched a hundred yards farther up the 
 stream, for there we would have found a practicable ford. 
 
 While crossing, we received a flying visit from three Potawattomie Indians. 
 They were out on a hunt, and were mounted on superb horses arrayed in sadilles, 
 bridles and martingales. They stopped but a moment to gaze at us, and then 
 scoured away at top speed towards the south. 
 
 On the forenoon of the 26th, we arrived at the borders of the Kanzas river, and 
 finding it too high to ford, were obliged to come to a dead halt, and to devote the 
 rest of the d.iy to devising means to overcome the unuxpected obstruction. Here, 
 however, the unfortunate differences which arise out of the vanity of opinion, pre- 
 vented the adoption of any practical measure, and tho debate went over till the 
 next day. On the following morning, 27ih, a committee of three, received the 
 delegated opinions of the whole, and were directed to make arrangements for cross- 
 inggiho river. Content with the compromise, tho rest of us who chose, went to 
 work at fishing for a fresh dinner. 
 
 The committee applied to a Frenchman, named Pappa, who had a log house and 
 a little spot of ground in cultivation at the cros.siiig, and endeavored to hire his 
 platform. But the old fellow insisting on the most unreasonable terms, no ar- 
 rangement could be made with him, so the convention between Pappa and the 
 plenipotentiaries of our republic, was broken abruptly off, and we were obliged to 
 commence the construction of a raft upon our own account. This proceeding 
 
HltTORV OF ORCaON. 
 
 n 
 
 land 
 
 the 
 
 leie, 
 
 |pre- 
 
 the 
 the 
 toss- 
 It to 
 
 I and 
 
 his 
 
 ar- 
 
 ihe 
 
 j(l to 
 
 Iding 
 
 brought the old curntmlgpon to his ien«ct, but not bning able to regain the commit- 
 teo, he threw himielf open to the itnpHtirncn of n KPctioii of our party, who aviiilcd 
 thcrnsftlvea of hi* reduced oliVra, and cominviicfd C'Olllin^ Lcforu l|io main body. 
 ThiN gave great dinHatufaction to lh« rent of the com|iaiiy, and inflamed (he (>!•• 
 incnta of ducord anew in the cnoip On tint 38lh, Pappa's platform whilpcroiking 
 with an inonlinato load, xuddnniy nunk, and levrral women and children raina 
 very near bi>in){ drowned ; but ooinu dozen or two of iturdy armi, lOon brouuht 
 thetn tu the «bore, and the mixhap was conliiicd to tlio luia of lome property 
 alone. I'appa'a platform was then giiflered to float down the stream, and our own 
 being now tinighi^d, we all resolved lo croMit over afterwards upon a common foot- 
 ing. On the following morning, SUth, the gencial erusning commenced, but incon- 
 sequence of the greiit number of our caille, it wbh not finished until the Olst. 
 The want of orgnniialion was the great object which retarded our movements. 
 While we wore lingering on the banks of this river, a number of wagon* from 
 the Platte country, e.amu in to join the expedition. On the SOlh, two Culholio 
 miHmoniiries arrived at the ford. They were pilgrims through the wilderness on a 
 mimiion of faith to ilin Flathead Indiana. We treated them with every observance 
 of riHprct, aritl cheerlully lent ihcm the ansistance of our raft. 
 
 'I'he Kansas river is at this point about a quarter of a milo wide, with sandy banks 
 and bottom, and its waters are muddy like those of the Missouri The crossing, aa 
 I KOid before, was completed on the .'list, and the whole party were encamped safely 
 on the other sido, at Ulack Warrior Creek. 
 
 Having now tcHted tu our heart's content the evils of too large an exercise of Vhe 
 " largest liberty," the desire became universal for the election of an absolute com- 
 mander of arrangements. Accordingly, a general meeting was held, %nd the or- 
 ganization was consummated by the election of Peter H. Burnett, as commander 
 in chief, and Mr. Nesinilh as orderly sergeant. 
 
 This election took place on tho 1st .June, and on the 3d we left our quarters for 
 an onward movement. Right glad were we to get away, for our situation had been 
 very uncomfortable during tho whole lime from the 2Gth, and our stock kept con- 
 stantly sticking in the mud on the banks of this miserable creek. On the 3d, we 
 travelled n distance of filceen miles, (more than nil accomplished during the previous 
 eleven days.) and on the following day seventeen miles more through a section of 
 the most beautiful prairie lands that had as yet ever met my eye. This day's jour- 
 ney took us across a larfju creek with high banks, called " Big Sandy," but in con- 
 sequence of the thorough organization which had already been effected by our 
 commander, and his prompt measures, it offered but little obstacle to our progress. 
 We encamped at close of day, some miles beyond its western bank. W bile sta- 
 tioning our wagoi's in their quadrangular order, and pitching our tents, we received 
 a visit from some Kanzas chiefs, much to tho terror of the women and children, 
 who gazed with any feelings* but those of admiration upon the grim visages of tho 
 warriors, made more grim by the bars of black and red paint drawn across them ; 
 or who looked with any thing but a serene sensation upon the threatening toma- 
 hawks and scalping knives which grinned beneath their girdles. These lords of the 
 soil, however, were by no means disposed to be savage with us, and after a tempo- 
 rary stay, during which they received some tobacco and a few loads of powder and 
 shot, they retired in an opposite direction from whence they came. On the fifth, 
 we crossed the east fork of the Blue, a large creek which is a tributary to the Kan- 
 zas, accomplishing this day over twenty miles. On the afternoon of the sixth, we 
 arrived at the west fork of the Blue, fifteen miles west of the branch we passed 
 the day before. We found it to be a small river about fifty yards wide, and coa- 
 trary to our expectations, it was fordable, a rain during the previous night h»v ng 
 e.Tcited our apprehensions that we should find it swelled into a torrent. First 
 uriving in our cattle, we next propped up our wagon beds with large blocks of wood, 
 and thus conveyed them over safe and sound. The prairie on the other side waa 
 level and dry, and wo encamped quite content with the day's performance. 
 
 Alas, our satisfaction was bound lo be of short endurance ; for about ten o'clock 
 at night, tho sky waa covered with a darkness so dense as to fairly acho the sight 
 that peered upward in the vain attempt to pierce it. A close heaviness oppressed 
 the air that portended the coining of a thunder storm. A signal was given to us 
 by tho guards, and every one was up in a moment to make all secure about his tent 
 or wagon as the case might be ; but while yet bustling about, the inky pall was 
 rent in twain, and a tremendous burst exploded over our very heads, that absolutely 
 struck some of us to the ground. A sullen moan followed, increasing gradually 
 into a wild shriek of the elements, as if every demon of the night was lending to 
 
 fci ) 
 
74 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 t il 
 
 ■ " 
 
 ■| 
 
 ',1 
 
 i 
 
 ^! 
 
 i;' 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 the moment |hi8 croak of horror. Al length the howling tempest struck ui, and 
 before we had fairly recovered from our first stupefaction, several tents wore blown 
 down, and two or thrte which had be>'n carelessly staked were lifted in the air, and 
 passed off on »hp breath of the hurricane like puffs of down. I stood near the 
 scene of one of these mishaps, and could not restrain from a burst of laughter 
 when, as the canvass departed, a hisband and wife jumped up in their scanty night 
 clothes, and on their hands and knees chased the fugitive sheets which curled over 
 and over provokingly before them. My merriment startled the female pursuer, who 
 on discovering mo and my roaring companions made a rapid retreat and crept under 
 the mattrass. 
 
 These were not the worst of the visitations of the storm, for the wind was ac- 
 companied by a tremendous deluge of rain that flooded the whole surface of the 
 prairie, and the entire platform of our encampment ; and it is not too much to say 
 that there was scarcely a dry inch of skin in it. Our condition during the night 
 was, consequently, very uncomfortable, and it was not until a pretty advanced hour 
 in the morning, that we had recovered from our condition. This learnt us a new 
 lesson of precaution, which was to dig a trench around the tents on pitching them, 
 80 as to lead the water off. 
 
 Ou this day (6lh,) we were encountered on our march by a party of Osage and 
 Katizas, or Caw Indians, in all the horrid accoutrements of war. They numbered 
 about ninety in all, and had evidently studied every means of making themselves 
 dis^'ustiiig and terrible. They ail rode ponies, and had their heads closely shaven, 
 wilh the exception of the stiff lock in the centre, which their [)oliteness to their foes 
 reserves for the scalping knife. The advantages of this international regulation of 
 courtesy is obvious, for when a warrior has conquered a foe, instead of being obliged 
 to ri[) off his scalp in a tedious operation with his teeth, he relieves him of it grace- 
 fully and easily hy the assistance of his top knot. He is thus allowed to pay atten- 
 tion lo d greater number of foes, and the natural increase which thus takes place in 
 deeds of arms, encourages the martial spirit of both nations. The exploit of this 
 party had not been highly creditable to their character, for they, had waged destruc- 
 tion only on one brave Pawnee, whom they had surprised and run' down like a 
 wild beust, but who, however, had wounded two of his pursuers badlyjbefore he was 
 overcome. The miserable devils had his scalp with them, and they had also se- 
 cured portions of his cheeks and nose, which were distributed among the chiefs. 
 They had ripped the former from the head of their victim with considerable skill, 
 the ears being attached to it, and upon inspection, I perceived they still contained 
 their unfortunate owner's wampum ornaments. 
 
 The Kanzas and Osages are the most miserable and filthy India\iS we saw east 
 of the Rocky mountains, and they annoyed ns excessively whenever we fell in 
 with them, through their mendicant propensities. We gave to this party a calf 
 and gome bread, as they importuned us \ -ith great earnestness, stating, to strengthen 
 their application, that they had not tasted food for three days. One of the chiefs 
 with an ear of the slaughtered Pawnee swinging around his neck, approached 
 Green, a strapping .Missuurian, who stood leaning on his rifle, and gazing at the 
 crew with a stern expression of niirifilcd )scorn and abhorretice. The savage im- 
 portuned liiiii by a s.gii for some powder and ball. 
 
 " Some powder and ball you want, eh V said Green, slowly rising from his 
 slightly incumbent position. "Some powder and ball, eh.' Well, I can spare you 
 jist one load out o' here !" saying which he significantly touched the muzzle of his 
 gun with his finger, and then slowly raised it to his sight. The savage hesitated 
 for a moment, uncertain of the white man's purpose, but perceiving that the wea- 
 pon gradually travelled to a level, he stepped back and opened his hands, as if to 
 explain the friendliness o( his purpose. 
 
 But the hooshier's blood was up, and advancing as the Caw retired, he raised 
 the but of his rifle in a threatening manner, exclaiming in an imperative tone : •' Out 
 o' my si^ht, you d — d nigger, or by — , Pll spile your scalpin for ever." The Indian 
 slouched sullenly away, and Green, when tired of chasing him with his eye, turned 
 off in another direction growling: "I'd like to spend a few private moments with 
 that fellow in the open prairie." 
 
 Iri addition to their other bad qualities, these Indians have the repntation of being 
 the most arrant thieves in the world. They satisfied us as to their rascally propen- 
 sities ou taking their departure, by the theft of a couple of horses, which disappear- 
 ed from the time of their leaving us. One of the animals was the property of the 
 indiifiiaiit Missourian. 
 
 On the 7th, we removed our camp to the distance of half a tnile further on, and 
 
 <vi > 
 
HISTORY OF OREGOW. 
 
 76 
 
 e 
 (1 
 
 rcRoIved to pause the whole day in order to dry our goods and repair the injuries 
 done by the previous storm. The night, however, ended most of our labor, for we 
 were visited by another severe shower, which again flooded the whole camp. On 
 the following morning we started ofT in the rain, which was falling in torrents, with 
 the determination of finding ground high enough to prevent our camp from being 
 continually swamped. After a weary and miserable peregrination of five miles, we 
 came to a grove of young elms on a slightly elevated knoll, v/hich secured us just 
 the advantag^.s we sought. The rain still kept coming down, but after our tents 
 were pitched, we were able to defy it. 
 
 Several of us had caught severe colds by the drenching we had received, and 
 among the rest, Mr. Burnet was badly attacked with so serious an indisposition, 
 that he was forced to resign the command. 
 
 On the 9th the clouds dispersed, the sun broke through them with its enlivening 
 rays, and we started off at an early hour to reach a grove afcout five miles distant, 
 where we would have superior facilities in wood and water, for drying our clothes 
 and recruiting ourselves. We reached it about twelve o'clock, and making a 
 halt, in less than half an hour, forty or fifty huge fires were roaring and crackling in 
 the plain. After we had thoroughly dried our garments and recovered our things 
 from their previous confusion, we turned our attention to supplying the vacancy in 
 theoiRceof commander. A council was held which resulted in a separation of the 
 two divisions, one under the command of Captain Jesse Applegate, and the other, 
 after adopting a new organization, elected William Martin commander. The latter 
 division was the largest of the two, having in it seventy-two wagons and one hun- 
 dred and seventy-five men. 
 
 On the lOth, we started out under this new arrangement with fine weather, and a 
 beautifully undulating landscape beckoned us on into its fertile depths. I rode on 
 amongst the advanced guard on the look out for buffalo, and yielding to a spirt of 
 gaiety and spirit in my horse, I suflered him to carry me far beyond the rest. Hik- 
 ing at length to turn back to my companions, I paused to take a momentary scru- 
 tiny of the horizon, when I suddenly perceived in the extreme of the south west, 
 two or thi'-e little dots just waving on its edge. " Buffalo, Buffalo !" shouted I, 
 waving MV hand to those behind, and dashing off with a dozen clattering fast be- 
 hind ine in the direction of the objects. We were not long left in doubt as to the 
 nature of the new corners, for we were approaching each other, and in a few minu- 
 tes were shaking hands with the mounted outposts of a trading caravan from Fort 
 Lurimic, on its way to Independence with furs and peltries. When the wagons 
 came up, they were cheered by our people, and welcomed with the same enthusiasm 
 that hails a sail upon the ocean after a joyless solitude of months. It being noon, 
 and a brook running hard by, we insisted on a pause, and we accordingly spent a 
 couple of happy hours together, after which we separated, and boih moved on 
 again. Surely there is something good in human nature ! Such scenes as this 
 go very far to destroy the injustice of the assertion, that man's heart is continually 
 evil, and that he naturally inclines to it as the sparks fiy upward. The converse 
 is the rule. 
 
 Upon our start, I resumed my position as a scout, and faNing in with Green, the 
 sturdy Missourian, we kept company together. As we led the advance with Capt. 
 Ganl, our attention was attracted simultaneously by a flock of large birds hovering 
 over some object on the plain, and occasionally stoopmg down towards it. For the 
 purpose of ascertaining the f/Ause of their operations, we rode toward them, and 
 on approaching the scene, found them to be a lot of buzzards feeding upon 
 the dead body of a man. Upon a close inspection, we discovered it to be 
 the body of an Indian, whose dissevered head, badly scalped, lay within a few feet 
 of his body. It was evidently the victim of the war party of the Kanzas and 
 Osages whom we had encountered a few days before. 
 
 " Pd give another horse to have a turn with one of the niggers who helped in 
 this '■' said Green, as we turned away. 
 
 The road was smooth all the way to-day ; nothing within eye-shot, but a gently 
 undulating landscape, relieved occasionally by little colonies of saplings, and cover- 
 ed with a generous crop of grass, in wliich our cattle found an elysium of proven- 
 der. We had another fall of rain on the evening of the 1 1th, but it was slight, and 
 so far from doing damage, it scarcely occasioned inconvenience. 
 
 On the 12ih, as we were jogging along at a comfortable pace, the whole camp 
 was suddenly thrown into a fever of excitement by shouts of: " Buffalo! Buffalo !" 
 At the welcome and long wished for cry, several of us who were mounted, galloped 
 ahead to lake a share in the sport. On reaching the advance, our erroneous im- 
 
 m 
 
76 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 I 
 
 pressions wore corrected by the information that the sport was over, and that Capt. 
 Gant and others had just killed a iargp biilfalo, and were waiting until the caravan 
 arrived at the scene of the exploit, to taite charge of the carcase. It turned out to 
 be a VPteran bull who had been discovered by the hunters grazing by himself about 
 two miles distant on the lead. The horsemen immediately run upon him, discharg- 
 ing their rifles to slop his career, and when they had sufficiently shortened their dis- 
 tance, drew on him their large horse pistols. This proved effectual, and the 
 old soldier bit the dust a victim to seven balls. He appeared worn with grief at 
 his desolate condition, and his flesh, toughened with age, proved hardly an enviable 
 refreshment. The old fellow had probably been left here in the spriny; when sick, 
 by the other buffaloes. These animals come down to Blue river in great numbers 
 to spend the winter among the rushes, which are abundant in tho bottoms near the 
 stream, but leave in the spring. 
 
 On the 14th, we entered and passed over a broad district of prairie land, equal 
 for farming purposes to any soil in the world ; but it was all solitary wild prairie, 
 and scarcely relieved by the slightest rise or fall. 
 
 For the last three or four days, we had every now and then seen an antelope, 
 but in consequence of the extreme shyness of the animals none of us had been able 
 to get a shot at one. To day, however, Jim Wayne, who to his character of hu- 
 morist and musician, added the qualities of a capital huntsman and woodsman, 
 brought in a young doe slung across the saddle of his horse, singing — 
 
 " Merril}- the wild stag l)OiinJs I" 
 
 with his gun crossed in the hollow of his arm, and his hat cocked more gaily than f ver. 
 •' Hollo, Jim !" shouted McFarley, who had just came up, " so you've had some 
 luck, I see !" 
 
 " Yes, and I have discovered a new ..lethod of making cheap bread." 
 " Say It, my hearty I" 
 
 "Bv finding doe to my hand in the prairie." 
 
 " Faith an you'll find it well kneaded too, (needed,) or my stomach's no judge," 
 said the politician with a moistening mouth. 
 
 "That last execrable pun entities you to one of her rump stakes, and I'll see 
 that it is bestowed upon you if it should be the last official act of my life," replied 
 the humorist with dignity as he moved on. 
 
 On the following day, 16ih, I had aijreed with Jim that he and I should take a 
 skirr together, lo see if we could not bW upon another animal of the same species ; 
 but an incident occurred in the course of the morning that diverted our intei.iioiis. 
 A shout from the rear turned our attention in that direction, and splitting away at 
 top speed, wo saw a splendid buck antelope coming towards us, followed by sotne 
 of our dogs in full chase. He had been hiding in a little thicket on our trail, f nd 
 just as the last wagon passed, some loitering hound had caught the scent and started 
 him up. Instead of striking away from us across the prairie, the frightened animal 
 came direct along the lino, and ran down its whole length, extending over two miles, 
 at a distance of not more than two hundred yards. It was a most beautiful, and at 
 the same time a most gxciting sight. Away he flew like the wind, at every mo- 
 ment the pack scouring in his rear, receiving new accessions as the chase advanced, 
 and at the distance of every few hundred yards a rifle would send its ineffectual 
 messenger to arrest his course. At length, however, a large hound from one of 
 the foremost wagons seeing tho squad approaching, lan down to meet them. The 
 affrighted buck, terrified out of his wits, though plainly headed off, did not sheer an 
 inch from his course, and the dog meeting him with a spring, seized him by the throat 
 and tumbled him to the ground. The animal contrived to raise and shake him off 
 before the rest of the pack arrived, but a rifle ball caught him in the shoulder, and 
 Jo yielded to his fate by dropping l:ist on his knees and then rolling over on his stde 
 
 ''^Thl'^antTolie is a most beautiful animal, and perhaps there is no other creature 
 in creatS capable of an equal degree of speed. He is tall, graceful, ''''^ « '^t^'X ' 
 Iped something like a deer, clothed in a hide of the same color ; and like deer, 
 the bucks have branching horns, though blacker and smahcr '" \';f' r,;;f "^^ ,^,„,„ 
 I had a conversation over the body of the animal, with an old ^ack-wood nan 
 who tdd me i.. instancing the animal's fleetness, that he }^onr.e^-;::^:i:';j:;iZ 
 grey houml, which was 
 ing manner. The ante 
 
 istancing the animal's fleetness, that he had once a very superior 
 1 was bVought into contest with one of the species in the tollow- 
 c antelope and dog were running at right angles towards c:.ch 
 not disc'ovoring the hound ^^1^,}^^^^ :-^^^-]!^": ^'^flT.^i 
 
 other, the former 
 each other. 
 
 The strumrlo then commenced, but the antelope shot aw.iv Itom lUe 
 
HISTORY OP OREGON. 
 
 77 
 
 dog with the most astonishing swiftness. The race lasted for a quarter of a miU, 
 earih doing his besi,, bnt tho antelope had then outran the dog so far, that the laiier 
 actually stood still and gazed after him in utter astonishment. Yet this houm had 
 often run down deer and wolves with ease. Tho antelope is a very wary animal, 
 and consequently extremely difficult of approach. His curiosity is, however, very 
 grcnt ; and the hunter adapting himself to the habits of the animal, conceals him- 
 self behind a hillock of sand, or some other object, and putting his hat, cap, or hand- 
 kerchief upon the end of his ram rod, waves it gently to and fro to attract his atten- 
 tion. As soon as the antclopo sees it, ho slowly approaches, occasionally pausing 
 with a snort; then gradually advancind again, snifts the air with the utmost suspi- 
 cion, and tliough no breath is heard above the humming of a mosquito, will some- 
 times turn and dash off several yards, to return in like manner again. "At length, 
 however, his fate coaxes him within reach of the trusty rifle — a crack follows, and 
 down he goes. He is not very tenacious of life, and a slight wound will bring hitu 
 to an almost immediate surrender. Notwithstanding his cxceedmg fleetness, he 
 can be run down when very fat, on horseback, if the chase is continued for twenty 
 miles. My communicant, who had spent several years in the region of the Rocky 
 Mountains, informed me that they were frequently run down by wolves, and that he 
 had often snatched the jaded prey from these carnivorous banditti at the conclusion 
 of a long chase, and appropriated it to himself. I found the flesh of the antelope 
 very delicious eating. It is very juicy, and is generally priaed above venison. 
 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ro 
 |r, 
 
 he 
 
 Visit of Pawnees — Arrival at the Platte — Its valley — lis stream — Buffalo patks — 
 Climate— Dodging a sleeper — Buffalo kuiils — Buffalo hunting — Directions how 
 to follow it — Buffalo meat. 
 
 Our course from the 13!h to tho 17th, lay up the Republican fork of the Bi 'c, 
 and at the close o( the latter day we had accomplished two hundred and tifty miles 
 from the rendezvous, giving an average of ten (niles a day from the start ; stoppages 
 and all incliidcd. The Katizas country, which is tho section through which we had 
 passed, is nineteen twentieths very fertile prairie, butscatilily furn.shed with timber, 
 except upon the streams. This conaisis generally of elm, low bur cak, cotton wood, 
 small swamp ash, and a few willows, and these ap J said before, only grow (w;' i a 
 ff;\v solitary exceptions) on the margin of the alrea-i!! In consequence of this de- 
 fect, there are but few portions of it suitable for J-r. 'iig purposes. The whole 
 coutilry is very scarce in game, and we ."jtw none ('),.. ring ihr veteran buffalo) but 
 a few deer and antelope. 
 
 The only description of smaller game wc sa^/, v, js a small kind of snipe, and a 
 very few small birds of otlier descriptions. The o .cast, of a half-starved wild cat, 
 killed by oni; of the company, attested the paucny of h3r ;angr, ;;:,,ong this descrip- 
 tion of prey. The streams also were very ' ,, rd \n their yield of fis',;. The road 
 from Independence to this point, (the crossing p,>int lo tie line of the Platte,) is 
 through prairie almost altogether, interrupied on!\ by occasional swells, which are 
 far from being an obstacle to travel. The only dirficuliies are experienced at the 
 fords upon the streams, which Hre miry, abrupt, and as I have shown, sometimes dif- 
 ficult to cross. You will, nevertheless, not ha driven more ilian once to a raft. 
 
 In the afternoon we encamped foi the last time upon the Ulue Hivor, and this 
 circnmstance in connection with the rapid progiess of the last three days, put us in 
 a most excellent humor with ourselves. While we were employed in the usual 
 duties and amusemfiits of such a pause, we received the visit of a large party of 
 Pawnees, who approached us from the south, in which dfrectiun they had been on 
 a hunt. They had with them several packs of buffalo mer.t ; (he reward of their 
 expedition. They cut this when they butcher it, into long, thii. :>d wide slices, 
 with the grain of the meat, and then cure it by drying it in tlie sun, After it is thus 
 dried, they have a mode of |)re8sin^- it between two pieces of wood, which gives ! 
 a very smooth and regular appearance. They gave us of it very liberally, and ask- 
 ed for nothing in return. These Indians are a much superior race to the Kanzas 
 and Osages ; ihcy wear their hair like the whiles ; their stature is athletic, and their 
 mien noble. While with us, they straggled freely through the camp, and amused 
 themselves very much by imitating our mode of driving the teams. We informed 
 them, before they left, of the massacre cf Ihcit brother by tho Osages and Caws, 
 
 
 ■f 1l 
 
 I IK. 
 
78 
 
 HlilTORY OF OREUON. 
 
 upon which they set up n howl of wo, and swore revenge with the most violent ges- 
 ticulations. They left us as they mot us, in the moat friendly manner, and we did 
 not sulTer from their depredations as we had from tho^e of their enemies. 
 
 " Hurrah, for the Platte ! tira la ! lira la !" cried Jim Wayne from his mouth, 
 and blew Jim Wayne on his bugle, as be galloped up and down the line, on the 
 morning of the 18lh. " Hurrah for the Platte ! Good morning, Mrs Robbins !— 
 inornin, Mc Farley — come, stir about, bustle, bustle, we must reach the Platte to- 
 day ! tira la ! tira la !" and away went the mad devil repeating the summons in 
 every quarter. All was stir and bustle ; the Platte had long been sighed for us the 
 direct line of route that was to lead us straight to the passage of the mountains, 
 and on its banks we had been assured of finding a constant and abundant supply of 
 game. I^eing twenty miles or more away, it was necessary we should bestir our- 
 selves at an early hour, to reach it before night-fall. We accordingly got an tiirly 
 breakfast, and soon the long line of the caravan unwound itself over the undulating 
 fields, to spun the main dividing ridge between this tributary of the Kanias and the 
 Great Platte. Wo travelled all day without any interruption, over the finest road 
 imaginable, and just as the sun was gcing down behind the bleak sand-hills on its 
 northern bank, wc caught our first view of the wide and beautiful valley of the 
 American Nile. Being yet two miles distant from its bank, we halted in the fertile 
 bottom land, after having accomplished a distance of twenty-five miles, congratula- 
 ting ourselves with the prospect of plain sailing, and plenty of fresh provender, until 
 we siriick the mountains. This was all wo had to console us for a cold supper, in con- 
 sequence of the complete absencie of fuel where wc were. In the morning, (liJth,) 
 we had to start without breakfast, in consequence of this want, but after travelling 
 a few miles, we found plenty of dry willows to serve our purpose, and then made a 
 most voracious meal We struck the Great Platte near the head of Grand Island. 
 
 This was a beautiful island, lying in the centre of the stream, (very wide at this 
 place,) seventy-five miles in length, and covered with the finest timber, while not a 
 solitary tree grew on the south side of the river, where we were. 
 
 Having now brought the reader to the grand avenue, which leads the emigrant 
 direct to his future destination, I will not trespass upon his patience by a description 
 of every day's journey and proceedings, but shall content myself with giving him a 
 general view of the route, its characteristics, facilities and extent ; thus advancing 
 with greater rapidity to the main subject of inquiry — Oregon itself; and thus avoid- 
 ing the unnecessary repetitions of diurnal trips, nine-tenths of which would be in 
 their description mere counterparts of those that went before. 
 
 Tlie Great Platte, is one of the most remarkable rivers in the world, and when 
 considered with a view to the facility its level banks afford for intercommunication 
 with our Pacific territories, its value is immense. It lakes its rise in Wind River 
 Mountain, (in latitude 42^) a little north of, and near the Great Southern Pa-ss, 
 and runs due east, with scarcely a pemepiible deviation of course to the traveller 
 along its banks, for a distance of 600 miles, to its junction with its southern branch, 
 and t'rom that point 3U0 miles more, when it disembogues into the Missouri, in lati- 
 tude about 41*^, 30'. Like the Nile, it runs hundreds of miles through a sterile 
 wilderness, and like the .Nile it unrolls its strip of green across the vastness of the 
 desert, and is the father of all the vegetation near it. In the way of navigation, it 
 is useless ; its waters being too shallow in great portions of it even to float a canoe, 
 and in the winter it is boinid in ice. Its banks are low and sandy, its waters mud- 
 dy like the Missouri, and its current very rapid. In consequence of its shallowness 
 it is very easy to ford, except when rams have swollen the stream, and then its ad- 
 ditional force makes it in places extremely dangerous. Though it varies greatlv as 
 to width, its average breadth is about two rniles, and its centre is frequently diversi- 
 fied with most beautiful islands, large and small, covered with the finest trees whose 
 rich and clustering foliajje contrast splendidly with the sand-hills and wide prairie 
 plains on either side. On each side of the river, and at the distance of about three 
 miles from either bank, run a continuous line of eand-hills. From the foot of these, 
 to the water's edge, is spread a sheet of lively verdure, and on the other side, the 
 boundless level is only lost in the line of the horizon. 
 
 The banks of the Platte ar« generally devoid of trees, and we suffered a great 
 scarcity of wood previous to reaching Fort Larimie in consequence ; but we fre- 
 quently found bunches of willows, and more than once, the remains of Indian 
 wigwams of the same material, eked out a substitute for cooking purposes. Our 
 general expedient was to pick uj) pieces of drift wood from the river, during the day. 
 These we could get at the expense of wading to our knees, and they supplied all our 
 necessities with a little care. But little fuel is required if proper means are used in 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 79 
 
 consuming it ; and to proceed correctly, with a view to saving, a narrow ditch should 
 first be dug in the earth about eight inches wide, a foot deep, and about a yard long ; 
 this arrangement confines the heat, and |)revcnts the wind from scattering and 
 wasting the firo. 
 
 The valley of the Great Platte is from fifteen to twenty miles wide, beyond which 
 line, on either side, the prairies lose a portion of their fertility, and gradually extend 
 towards the west in arid and cheerless wastes. The strip along the banks, of which 
 I spoke before, is filled with the most luxuriant herbage, the sand hills which bar it 
 from the plain beyond, are about three miles" through, and the outer prairie intermi- 
 nable. Within these sand hills you will find numerous vallies covered with a profuse 
 bottom vegetation, and leading by easy tracks from plain to plain. Upon the 
 outer plain, and sometimes in the sand hills, you will nnd bufl'aloes and numbers of 
 white wolves, and upon the intier one, range the antelope and deer. When the 
 season is wet, the buffalo find plenty of water in the ponds or puddles of the outer 
 plain, and, consequently, are not forced to the inner one, or to the river on its edge, 
 for water. As the summer advances, and the ponds dry up, these animals gradually 
 approach the stream, and are found in numbers in the inner section. As you go 
 along the edge of the river, you are struck with the numerous beaten paths diverging 
 in the direction of the sand hills, and leading across the surface of the farther plain. 
 A stranger is at a loss, at first, to account for such signs of population in a wilder- 
 ness, but, upon inquiry, they arc found to be the tracks made by the buflfalo, in their 
 journey to the banks of the stream for water. These paths are cut to the depth of 
 six or eight inches in the soil, and indicate by their narrowness, the habit of the 
 animals in these excursions to proceed in narrow file. In travelling up the Platte, 
 we crossed one of these paths at almost every thirty yards, and they were about the 
 only annoyance we met with upon the surface of the plain. They are serviceable in 
 a high degree in one view, '"or they aiford a perfect security against your getting lost, 
 your simple resource when having strayed far away on a hunt, being, merely to 
 strike a buffalo track, and you are sure to be ui a road leading directly to the river, 
 by the nearest route. 
 
 The whole road along the line of this stream, is doubtless the best in the world, 
 considering its length. The greatest inconvenience attendant on its travel that I 
 know of, is the unconquerable propensity it occasions in one to sleep in the day time. 
 The air is so bland, the road so smooth, and the motion of the vehicle so regular, 
 that I have knowti many a teamster go to sleep while his team stood winking idly in 
 the road without budging a step. The usual custom with us when such a case as 
 this would occur, was for each wagon in turn to drive cautiously around the sluggard, 
 and leave him to have his nap out in the middle of the road. It would someiimes 
 happen the sleepur would not awake for two or three hours, and when he arrived 
 that time behind in camp, he would cither swing around in a towering passion, or 
 slink out of the reach of our merciless tiiuntiiigs, heartily ashamed. 
 
 On the 22(1 of June we saw the fir.si band of buffalo on the plain near the river. 
 Til. re were about fifty altogether — and tliey were on their road through the sand 
 hil;s to ll'.c river o drink. We immediately mounted and gave chase, and being 
 fortunately to the leeward, ihey did not get scent of us until we were well down upon 
 them ; then by pushing our horses to their utmost speed, vve managed to get near 
 enough for a shot, and a general discharge succeeded in bringing down two of the 
 finest of the lot. 
 
 As the buffalo is sometimes a very important'item in the emigrant's calculations 
 for food, it will not be improper for me here to devote a few remarks upon the 
 manner of obtaining them. 
 
 There is perhaps no chase so exciting to a sportsman as a buffalo hunt, and the 
 reader can readily imagine the '.remendous addition its interest receives when the 
 stomach has been in rebellion .•'or hours, perhaps for days, from the insidious 
 excitements of the fresh prairie air The mode of hunting these noble animals is 
 very simple. They are most generally found upon the outer range, grazing near the 
 head of some hollow, leading up towards the sand hills. The sight of the buffalo 
 is very dull, but their scent, by its superior acutencss, compensates for this defect. 
 You must, therefore, always manege, if possible, to get to the leeward of them, or 
 you are almost certain to see the whole herd scamper off before you arrive iti pulling 
 distance. As an instance of this, I one day saw a band of about a hundred buffaloes 
 at two miles distance on the opposite side of the river running up its line on a par- 
 allel with our train. They did not see us, but the wind being from our side, they 
 Ctught the scent when fibout opposite our centre, upon which they turned off 
 instantly at a right angle and scoured away like mad. Approach t.hern to the leeward, 
 
 \ J 
 
 
 r^ 
 
 £::T 
 
80 
 
 HISTORY OF OREdON. 
 
 however, and you are almost certain to get within easy shooting distance When 
 you have discovered a herd close up lo tlie line of the hills, you should station your 
 horses in some hollow near at hand, (but out of sight,) ind then creep cautiously up 
 to your position, pick out your animals, and fire, one at a time, in slow succession. 
 If you give them a volley, they directly scamper off, and a rapid succession of shots 
 is followed by the same result ; but if you load and fire slowly, you may kill several 
 before the whole herd take alarm. I have seen three or four reel down, or bound 
 into the air and fall, without exciting any attention from their indifferent com- 
 panions. When you have fired as often as you can, with effect, from the posi- 
 tion you have taken, and the animals have moved beyond your reach, you should 
 hastt-n to your horses, mount with all speed, and approach as near as possible 
 without showing yourselves ; but when you do, put your horses up to the top of 
 their speed and away after the game as fast as you can go, You may dash at a 
 hand of buffaloes not more than a hundred yards off, and though you may think you 
 are about to plunge into the very midst of them in a moment, you will find if your 
 horii) is not well down to his work, that they will slip away like le^;erdemain. 
 Though they appear to run awkwardly, they contrive to " let the links out " in 
 pretty quick succession, and if you suffer them to get any kind of a start, you must 
 expect to have a hard run to overtake them. The better plan, therefore, is to put 
 your horso to the top of his speed at once, and thus by bringing the matter to a 
 Climax, you obviate the inconvenience of being drawn to a ilistance from the camp, 
 ami of making your jaded steed carry a wsarisome load »f veral miles, back. 
 
 If you hit a bull from cover and he sees no enemy, he will at once lie dawn, but 
 if you press him on the 0[ en plain, when injured, he will resent the wrong, turn 
 short round, bow his neck and waving his tail to and fro over his back, face you for 
 a fight. At this crisis of affairs, it is well to show him some respect, and keep at a 
 convenient distance. If you will content yourself with fifty yards he will stand and 
 receive your fire all day. As soon as vou bring him onc<! at bay you are sure of 
 him, for you may fire as often as you please, and the oiiiy indication he gives before 
 going down, of having received a wr.iind, is by a furious kicking at the assaults of 
 his deadly visitant. You must not attempt to kill him by shooting at his head, for 
 you will only spatter your ineffectual lead upon his frontal bone, but shoot him behind 
 the shoulder at the bulge of the ribs, or just below the back bone in the same 
 latitude, and you will pass your ball directly through the thick part of the lungs. 
 This is the most deadly of all shots, for the flow of blood stifles his respiration and 
 suffocates him at once. When excited these animals are very hard to kill, and unless 
 when wounded in this fatal spot, I have seen ihem so tenacious of existence as 
 to live for hours, even with two or three bullets through their hearts. 
 
 Ttie animal though it generally flies pursuit, is capable of the most romantic deeds 
 of daring. An instance of this kind occurred on the 27th of June. We had stopped 
 our wagons at noon within half a mile of the river, and while enjoying the comforts 
 of our mid-day meal, we discovered seven large buffalo bulls slowly moving up the 
 opposite shore of the river. When they got directly opposite our encampment, 
 they turned and plunged suddenly into the stream and swam directly towards us as 
 ttraight as they could come, in the face of wagons, team, cattle, horses, men and 
 &l\. Every man prepared his gun, and those on the extreme ends of the line, 
 stretched down to the bank of the river, thus forming a complete semicircle of death 
 for their reception. Notwithstanding we were thus prepared for their approach, we 
 all felt certain they wow';' turn ■ '1 and recross the river; but to our complete as- 
 tonishment, on they cfi regai iless of our grim and threatening array. They 
 were received with a iienendous bombardmcn' and down wont every bellowing 
 vagabond to the grounc'.. Several o! them ros. lO their feet, but the storm of death 
 bore them back again u^^on the sod and not a single one escaped to profit by this 
 lesson of imprudence. 
 
 There is perhaps no flesh more delicious to a traveller's appetite than buffalo 
 meat, particularly that cut from a fat young buffalo cow ; and it has the peculiar 
 advantage of allowing you to eat as much as you please without either surfeit or 
 oppression. I shall never forget t>he exquisite meal I made on the evening of the 
 first ot June. I had been out hunting all day, was very weary, and as hungry as a 
 whole wilderness of tigers. Out of compassion for my complete fatigue, Mrs 
 Burnett cooked six large slices from a fat young buffalo for my supper. My extrava- 
 gant hunger induced me to believe when I first saw the formidable array served up, 
 that I could readily dispose of three of them. I did cat three of them, but I found 
 they were but the prologue to the fourth, the fourth to the fifth, and that to the 
 aixth, and I verily believe that had the line stretched out to the crack of doom," 
 
HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 81 
 
 I should havo staked my fate upon another and another collop of the prairie king. 
 This story hardly does me credit, but the worst is yet to come, for two hours af- 
 terward, I shared the supper of Dumberton, and on passing C'tptain Gant'a tent 
 on my way home, I accepted an invitation from him to a bit of broiled tongue ; yet 
 even after this, I went to bed with an unsatisfied appetite. I am no cormorant, 
 though I must admit I acted very much like one on this occasion. My only contio- 
 laiion and excuse, however, is that I was not a single instance of voracity in injr 
 attacks upon broiled buffalo meat. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 \9 
 
 ^d 
 
 ve 
 
 3- 
 
 th 
 
 13 
 
 Progress nf travel — Grand complimentary ball to the Rocky Mountains — Route 
 through the m.mntains — Its points — lis general character — Passage through the 
 past — Arrival in Oregon. 
 
 On the 29th of .fune, we crossed the south fork of the Platte. On the Ist of July 
 we crossed the north fork at a distance of thirty-one miles from the passage the 
 day but one before, and tken proceeded along its northern bank for a period of nine 
 days, passing in succession the points on the route known as " Cedar Grove," " the 
 Solitary Tower," " the Chimney," and " Scott's Bluffs," until we arrived at F'ort 
 Larimie on the 9th ; thus averaging, from the time of our crossing the south fork 
 on the morning of the 29th nf June, about sixteen miles a day. During this period, 
 and this space of march, the weather was uninterruptedly fine, the thermometer 
 ranging from 74'^ to 83°, and the face of the road suffering no sensible variation. 
 We paused for a day at Fort Larimie, and resumed our march on the morning of 
 the 11th. From this point thereout, we suffered no further scarcity of timber, but 
 we now began to encounter a few more difficulties from the surface of the ruad. 
 This we found to be interrupted by bolder undulations, and after we had travelled 
 eight imiles further westward, we came to the debris, as it may be called, of the 
 Black Hills, whose occasional abrupt inclinations, now and then caused our teams 
 a little extra straining, but did not require us to resort to double ones. This lasted 
 but for a short distance, however, and we were soon on a level route again. On 
 the 16th we struck the Sweetwater, a beautiful little tributary of the Flatte, and 
 following its course for one hundred miles, at last came in view, on the afternoon 
 of the 30th, of the eternal snows of the Kooky Mountains. We still had an open 
 route before us, and a portion of the day remained to avail ourselves of it if we 
 pleased ; but this event was worthy of the commemoration of an encampment, and 
 we accordingly wound up the line two hours earlier than usual. The hunters of our 
 
 Earty had been fortunate this day in obtaining some fine antelope and two fat young 
 uffaloes, and we set out for a regular feast. 'A hen the meal was over, and when 
 the prospective perils which lay in the entrails of those grim giants had been can- 
 rassed again and again, we broke from all grave considerations to consecrate the 
 evening lo merriment. The night was beau'iful, scarcely a breath stirred the air, 
 and the bright stars in the blue vault above, looked brighter than ever. The camp 
 fires streamiiig upwards from the prairie plains, flooded the tents with their mellow 
 light, and made the tops of the quadrangular barricade of wagons, look like a forti- 
 fication of molten gold. Jim Wayne's fiddle was at once in request, and set after 
 set went in upon the sward to foot a measure to its notes. McFarley and the rep- 
 resentative of Big Pigeon forgot in the moment all the bickerings of their ambi- 
 tion, and formed two of a party (amongst whom was my old friend. Green, the 
 Missuurian,) who listened to the Indian traditions of Captain Gant, and then told 
 their own wonderful stories in return. The revelry was kept up till a late houj, 
 and the result was, that the whole party went to bed worn out with pleasure and 
 fatigue. From this point we pursued a directly western course, croiisiiig in our 
 route two creeks called '* Big Sandy" and." Little Sandy," and three or four others, 
 until we struck Green river, a tributary of the Colorado, which eiipties its waters 
 into the Pacific, in the Mexican bay of San Francisco. We followed Green river 
 down its course through the mountains for twenty miles, where we (truck a branch 
 of it called Black's fork. From thence we turned off in a westerly direction for 
 thirty miles, to Fort Bridger. Still west we proceeded for twenty more, to a branch 
 of the Great Bear river, called Big Muddy, and down this branch for thirty-seven 
 miles of fine travel, in a north westerly direction to Great Bear river itself. We 
 now took up the course of Great Bear river, and following it in a north westerly 
 
 6 
 
 i'l 
 
82 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 I 
 
 direction for fifty-seven miles, passed a range of hills which run down nearly to it9 
 bank ; and continuing our conrss fur thirty-eight miles more, arrived at the Great 
 Soda springs. Frora the Great Soda Sprrngs, which we left on the 27th August, 
 we took the course of a vnlley leading to the great dividing ridge between us and 
 Oregon, and after paning up it to the distance of about forty-five or fifty miles, 
 came upon the wide depression of the mountains that was to lead us into the pro- 
 mised land. This remarkable pass is so gentle in its slope, as to afford no obstacle 
 for the heaviest loaded wagons ; and, without any difficulty at all, our most cum- 
 brous teams passed through it into the valley of the Saptin, the southern branch of 
 the Columbia. This aaturul avenue, though surronnded, nay, almost overhung, in 
 pattH, with immense cragH of frowning desolation, was covered, generally, with the 
 softest and most delightful verdure that had for a long timo met our eyes. A 
 beautiful little brook meandered through it ; flowers and trees were flourishing 
 along it in profusion, and tha sweet scent and soft air that floated in our faces ofT its 
 fields, half persuaded us that we were suffering the delusion of some fairy dream. 
 Impatient of delay, some dozen or two of us on horseback, plunged into the inviting 
 scene, and led the way at a gallop to a view of the region beyond. 
 
 We soon arrived at the waters of the Portneuf, and from this point reined up 
 our panting steeds to gaze upon the valley of the Saptin which lay at last before 
 us. In an instant every head was uncovered, and a cheer rang back into the 
 gorge to the ears of our companions, which made every team strain and wagon 
 erack with renewed exertion. It is impossible to desctibe the ei. husiasm which 
 this event created in our party. Each wagon as it arrived at the | nt unfolding 
 to the view the region which had been the object of our dearest ii>^ [les and the 
 occasion of our weary travel, set up a cheer, which taken up by those behind^ 
 rang through every sinuosity of the pass and reverberated along the sides of tho 
 beetling crags which hemmed it in. Jim Wayne who was always " about" 
 when any thing of moment was afoot, was among the foremost to reach tha 
 point of sight, and there, with his bugle which he had burnished and swung 
 around his neck for the occasion, he planted himself, receiving every wagon with 
 "Yankee Doodle," "Hail Columbia," or "The Star-spangled Banner," and only 
 pausing in the tunes, to wave the instrument in the air, in immense sweeps, to the 
 measure of the answering shouts. 
 
 This passage was performed on the 39th of August, and on the afternoon 
 of that day we pitched our tents in the valley of the southern arm of the great 
 River of the West. The region we had passed through from the 30tli July up to the 
 29th August, comprised all the passes through the Rocky Mountains, and was by 
 fiir the most arduous and difficult portion of the whole journey. We performed it, 
 however, without sustaining any loss or injury beyond the bursting cf a single tire, 
 and yet averaged while doing it, the distance of about twelve miles a day. In many 
 pnrts of this region we had to move sharply to secure water and range for our cattle, 
 and the scarcity of game, forced us, so far as we were personally concerned, pretty 
 much upon the resources of our private larders. Though consisting to a large extent 
 of beetling rock, arid plains, craggy defiles and frowning gorges, Nature has provided 
 throughout a large portion of this route, a continuous line of valleys, nourished by 
 gentle rivers, whose fertile banks furnish abundant pasture for your cattle, and pro- 
 vide a road from the eastern to the western limits of the Rocky Mountains and through 
 the spurs of the intermediate region, better than many of the wagon rcutes in some 
 of the aastem states. The greater portion of this country, however, is a sterile, 
 flinty waste, and except in occasional dots, and in the green ribbons that bind the 
 edges of the stream, is worthless for agricultural purposes. One of the features 
 of this section, of singular interest, is the number of soda springs it contains, of a 
 most remarkable character. They are situated mostly on Gfreat Bear river, at tho 
 end of the valley leading up to the pass. There you will find them, bubbling, and 
 foaming, and sending up from their clear depths and gravelly bottoms a continual 
 discharge of gas and steam, as though they ware sunken cauldrons of boiling water. 
 They are represented to possess highly medicinal qualities, and it is said the Indians 
 set a great reliance upon their virtues for a numerous class of disorders. One of 
 these springs makes a loud bubbling sound, which can be heard at a great distance, 
 and there are others which eject their waters some distance into the air; and others, 
 m addition to these peculiarities, have a temperature above blood heat. To such an 
 tTtent do these phenomena prevail, that the surface of the river, in the neighborhood 
 of those on the shore, is fretted for several hundred yards with large number» 
 ot ihem, some of which force their jets many inches above the surface. The 
 scenery aboun this spot is wild and impressive ; but though composed mostly 
 
HISTORY or OBEOON. 
 
 88 
 
 of towering rocks, the fnithful bunch of gross still fastens to the vb1«b, and ofltrs id 
 tribute of sustenance and rcfreahninnt to the cattle. 
 
 On the nnorning of the 30th, we performed our orisons for the first time in Oregon. 
 
 For the first time in many dreary days the beetling crags of the Kouky Mountains 
 ran their frowning barritrs in our rear, and a broad unbrekcn plain spread out 
 before us. Our hearts swelled with gratitude and joy, and with these combined 
 emotions came a mingling of surprize, that the passage through the valley and the 
 shadow of that misrepresented gorge, had proved so slightly fermidable in its char- 
 acter. This can only be accounted for by the fact that most of the pioneers upon 
 the route, from need of the experience of others who had gone before, in the direction 
 of their preparations, set out without providing properly sgainst the difliculties and 
 privations of the route. Neglecting the important item of provioions, they havo 
 relied entirely upon their rifies, and their chance for game, and the rcHull has been, 
 that their stomachs, pinched by occasional deprivation, have spread their dissatisfac- 
 tion to the mind, and magnified and discolored every difficulty and trifling inconve- 
 nience into a monstrosity of hardship. It may readily bo imagined, that a traveller 
 on horseback, who was obliged to fly from rise to set of sun, over a barren patch 
 of desert to obtain range and food, would be anything but flattering in his descrip- 
 tions of the scene of his sufferings and perils ; but a well appointed caravan, carrying 
 water in their vehicles, and driving their provender along with them, would enjoy a 
 
 J;reater measure of contentment, end be inclined to treat the account of their way- 
 aring with a far greater degree of fairness and liberality. I do not hesitate to say, 
 as I said before, that any wagon which could perform the journey from Kentucky to 
 Missouri, can as well undertake the whole of this route, and there need be no dread 
 of difliculties, in the way of natural obstruction.s, of a more serious character. 
 I would be willing to traverse this road twice over again, if I possessed the means 
 to purchase cattle in the States, and this opinion will appear less strange, when I 
 assure the reader that several of the female emigrants feel in the same wajr disposed 
 for the pleasures of a second expedition. It is true, there is a good deal of labor to 
 perform on the road ; but the weather is so dry, ard the air so pure and bland, that 
 one turns to it, as ho does to the savory meals of the prairie, with a double alacrity 
 and relish. Besides, many of the cares as well as troubles of a first expedition, 
 would be avoided in the second. Experience would be uur pioneer, and th» con- 
 tinual apprehension of difficulties of an unknown eharactcr ahead, would vanish. 
 We would not be continually harassed, whether we should abandon our horses at 
 the pass, whether we should be out of provisions, or whether the route was practi- 
 cable for travellers like us, at all ! These uncertainties are dispersed farever. 
 Emigrants may come naw without fear. They will find a road broken to their use ; 
 they know the quantity of provisions they need ; they know also the supplies they 
 can gather by their rifles ; they know that they will not suffer for want of water, 
 and they have also been made aware that all the property they bring with them, ia 
 worth double its value as soon as they arrive. Fuel, it is true, is scarce at some 
 |,:int8, but proper care and a little trouble, will provide against any sufl'ering for 
 want of that. 
 
 You travel along the banks of streams all the way, and you can almost alwaya 
 reap a harvest of dry willows en the surface of the waters, and where these do not 
 offer, you find an equivalent resource in the sedges of their shores. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Arrival at Fort Hall— The three regions of Oregon— Salmon Falls— The Saptin 
 and (he Platte— Fait Boise— Burnt River—The Lone Pine—" Woodman spare 
 that tree "—The Grand Round— Scientific speculation of Mr. M'^ Farley— A fall of 
 ■An Indian traffic. 
 
 snow- 
 
 We killed a bullock this morning in a fit of extravagance, and after replenishing 
 ourselves with a most substantial breakfast, set out with rcaewed energies and 
 brightened prospects. We arrived in the afternoon at Fort Hall, a trading post be- 
 longing to the Hudson's Bay Com|)any, on the Snake or Saptin River, and en- 
 camped in a fine piece of timber land, under cover of its wooden battlements. We 
 past a most pleasant evening in exchanging civilities with its inmates, who were not 
 a little surprised at this tremendous irruption m their solitude. Some of the 
 members told us that they could scarcely believe their eyes when they saw the im- 
 
 
 :-i''l 
 
 I 
 
. .f. 
 
 84 
 
 HISTORY or ORKOON. 
 
 J'N.<: 
 
 
 V: : ,;:„. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 W:l 
 
 mnnse ntretch of our line, the number of our lowing hcrdi and our iqunds of prancing 
 horsemen, nnd iliey inquired laughingly if we had coinn to conquer ()regon. or devour 
 it out of hand. They treated ui, however, with every attention, and an* ored with 
 the utmoat patience and particularity, all uur inquiriea in relation to the country. 
 
 We paused here a day to recruit our cattle, end when we act out in the morning 
 following, (lat Sept«mbfcr,) we received a paninfr aalutc from one of tf>r gunaof the 
 fort, and answered it with a volley from our amhll arma. Our journev to day com* 
 mcnced through a piece of country well timbered, and ponaeaiins \ fijii apparently 
 capable of raising the graina and vegetables of the Statca. I learned, however, that 
 the climate of tliia region la aubject to frequent froata, the aeverity of which are 
 fatal to agraulturrl operations of any magnitude. 
 
 Oregon, or the territory drained by the Columbia, ia divided by immenae mountain 
 range* into three diatinct regions, the climate and other natural tlmracterialica ef 
 which are cntirelv dilTerent from each other. The first region ia that lying along 
 the coat>t of the Pacific, and extending in the interior to the line of the Cascade 
 range ; the second region lies between the (Cascade chain and the Ulue mountainii 
 and the third, between the Ulue and the Kocky mountains. 
 
 The first of tliese haa a warm, dry and regular climate, and it ia the abode of 
 continual fartility. The second, or middle region, conaista chiefly of plains between 
 ridges of mountaina, the soil of which is poor. The timber also ia very scarce upon 
 it, and what there ia \s soft and poor. The climate during the summer is agreeable 
 and salubrious ; but tho winter brings with it frequent rains. Many of its plains, 
 though generally unfit for agricultural purposes, aro covered continually with an 
 abundant crop of short grass, which renders it a splendid field for raising stock, and 
 for grazing po'posea. 
 
 The third region is called the high country, and is a mere desert, consisting of 
 ridges of rocka of volcanic strata and alternate sandy plains. It has its occasional 
 fertile spotn, it is t. ue, but they are few and far between. Its distinguishing features 
 are its excessive dryness, and the extraordinary difference of the temperatuio be- 
 tween night and day. Thia extremity amounting sometimes to a variation oi 40 or 
 even 60 degrees, ia modi'ied aomawhat in the approach toward the middle region, 
 but this outsi'ie section ia doubtlcaa incapable of being reclaimed to any great extent 
 by the hand of ncan * We emerged from the patch of vegetation around Fort Hall 
 in a few hourf o^on wide barren plains of yellow sandy clay, which among its abort 
 a; <1 dry grnss, bore nothing but the wild wormwood and the prickly pear, with hero 
 and Utcii «oine stunted cotton wood or willow. 
 
 We croasfid the Portneuf at the distance of eleven miles from our starting place, 
 and still kept along the lower bank of the Saptin, the country remainmg the same 
 in its character — 'a desert wilderness except in the partial vegetation on its streams. 
 We found tho evenings now getting to be quite cold ; the nipping air driving us to 
 our camp fires and directing our attention to extra coverlets ; but the morning sua 
 after getting an hour high, would give us another temperature, and till evening came 
 again, we would have genial summer weather. 
 
 Wo reached the Salmon Falls (or Fishing Falls, as they are called from the great 
 numbers of fish which abound in them) on tho 11th, after having passed through a 
 piece of country still the same in its barren and volcanic character, for the distance of 
 one hundred and forty miles from Fort Hall. We here caught an abundance of 
 fine salmon, and after a short enjoyment of the sport, moved onward on our course. 
 Our eagerness, now that we had conquered the Kocky mountains, to get to the 
 limit of our final destination, was extreme. 
 
 On the 14th we arrived at Boiling Spring. The country around this spot was 
 wild in the extreme, the same arid, volcanic plain, flowing its sterile billows on be- 
 fore us — a vast lake of barren waste, hemmed in and bound by shores of beetling 
 crags and towering mountains. 
 
 We were all the journey up to this point, still on the western bank of tho Snake 
 or, Saptin rivsr, but we crossed to its eastern shore above these springs, and followed 
 the course of the other side. As this river is of the same importance to the emigrant 
 for his travel in this region, as the Great Platte is for the Western Prairies, it is 
 deserving of a special notice. The Platte is a tributary to the Miaaouri, and unrolls 
 its loveliness and vegetation from the States to the base of the Rocky mountains ; 
 while the Saptin takes up the task on the western side of this stupendous barrier 
 and leads the wayfarer in the same manner along its banks, until it yields its 
 waters to the Columbia near Wallawalla. 
 
 • Mr. Wyeth saw the thermometer on the banks of Snakn river, in August, 1832, mark eighteen 
 degress of farenheit at sunrise, and ninety two degrees at noon of the same day. 
 
HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 priricing 
 ir devour 
 !rei) with 
 (untry. 
 morning 
 ns of the 
 day com* 
 ppiirenily 
 ever, that 
 which ate 
 
 mountain 
 leriatica ef 
 ^inR along 
 le Cascade 
 mountainii 
 
 te abode of 
 lis between 
 icBice upon 
 9 agreeable 
 f its plaioa, 
 illy with an 
 I »tock, and 
 
 sonaisting of 
 s occasional 
 hing featurea 
 iperatuie be- 
 iiion oi 40 or 
 iddle region, 
 J great extent 
 |nd Fort Hall 
 long its short 
 lar, *"ith hem 
 
 torting place, 
 Sng the same 
 [i its slreama. 
 idriving us to 
 I morning sun 
 Weniug came 
 
 torn the great 
 led through a 
 l\e distance of 
 Inbundance of 
 In our course, 
 get to the 
 
 khis spot was 
 lillows on be- 
 es of beetling 
 
 [of tht) Snake 
 
 and followed 
 
 the emigrant 
 
 IPrairies, it is 
 
 ^i, and unrolla 
 
 mountains ; 
 
 [jdous barrier 
 
 it yields its 
 
 I, mark eighteen 
 
 k of the 8nptiu into a vHllKy stretcli- 
 VVe crossed thia stream at its junc- 
 HitHt, '11 bank of the latter fur eight or 
 'his IS on the morning of the 20th 
 'trv had changed its character en- 
 dp ~t', instead of parched anil sandy 
 were j^laildoned with green vales, 
 
 Another striking feature of similarity is, that the country on either side of the 
 Rocky niountairia is a dry and barren deiicrt for the space of two hundred miles. 
 I'hroii^h thiiie Nierraa roll the streams oi the renpective rivers, trellicing llie vast und 
 naked waHies witli their 8tri|i» of fruitful green. 
 
 The head watura of the Lewi«, Snake ur Saplin river, as it is variously called, rise 
 in tile mountHUiH between the 4V!d and 44lh degree of latitude. Thence it flows 
 westwardly, pa«8iii|{ through a ridge uf the Hluo mountaina, and su on north-west- 
 wardly to its junction with the Columbia, receiving in its way the Malado, the Wap- 
 titacos, the Salmon liiver, the Malheur, the Burnt Kiver, Powder Kiver, and oihers 
 of le«s signiticanre. hs waters are very clear, and its current is, at some places, ex- 
 tremely swift. The rapida on it are extensive and frequent, and in consequence, 
 the river is not navigiible, exce|)t in occasional spots of still water between. 
 
 Forty-eight miles more through deserts spriDkled with volcanic rock, and we struck 
 the Uois^ river. We had diverged fioin il 
 iiig north west, which brought us to ihe II 
 tion with the Snpiin, and thence follows 
 nine miles, until wo arrived at Fort IJo 
 September. For the last twenty miles, i . 
 tirely, As soon as we struck the r.illey o 
 plains, cut rock and frowning craf>x, our 
 
 flowering shrubs and clustering timber lands. The grateful sight was welcomed 
 with a common spring of joy, and our wearied and hunger pinched cattle revelled in 
 the luxuries of its heavy herbage. 
 
 On the 23d we left Fort Boise, and after travelling over an excellent road for 
 fifteen miles, we came to a creek in the latter part of the afternoon. This wo cross- 
 ed without serious difficulty, and encamped upon its western bank. Throughout 
 this day the wind had blown quite cool from the N. W. and we had to suti'er also 
 from an impoverished and scanty range and a scarcity of fuel. 
 
 On the 23d we started oH again with the same cutting wind that had visited us 
 the day before, and which staid with us over night. Our road to day was tolerably 
 good, and after having accomplished sixteen miles over it, we brought our day's jour- 
 ney to a close on the bank uf a dry creek, with no water at hand, except what we 
 found in a sort of puddle in its bed. Two miles further on would have taken us to 
 a good encampment, with plenty of fine range and water, but the Indian pilot who 
 had been employed for us by Ur. Whitman was ahead, and out of reach with the 
 foremost wagons. 
 
 On the 24th we had to encounter a very hilly road, which retarded our progress 
 most seriously. The lulls, however, were not high, neither were they rugged or 
 abrupt, but they were frequent and thence our ditficulty. We saw the Saptin to 
 day for the last time, for it now left our track in a bold northward curve till it re- 
 turned to the Columbia near Wallawalla. We were able to make no more than ten 
 miles to day, encamping at the close upon another creek called Burnt river. This 
 stream derives its title from the numerous (ires which have consumed portions of the 
 timber in its banks. This consists principally of cotton wood and birch, which 
 abound in its valley ; and these are also intermixed with aspen and willow. The 
 stream docs not deserve ihe name of a river, being merely an ordinary sized creek, 
 but as others of less importance claim that title in this region, it may as well be 
 accorded to it. 
 
 September 25th we started up the line of the Burnt river. The valley of the 
 stream is very narrow, at some points being not more than twenty yards across, and 
 it is hemmed in by mountains on cither side. Though it abounds in timber, quite 
 a safe and passable road could be made through it by clearing out the space for a 
 track, but to do this effectually, several crossings of the stream would have to be 
 made. This could easily be performed in consequence of its low banks and firm 
 bottom, but we had no time to clear out the way, and of lute, the tortuousness of 
 the roads had so scattered and divided our company, that we proceeded hcltcr 
 skelter along in separate detachments, each following, as best it could, the careless 
 lead of those who went before. We were thus betrayed into many difficulties that 
 might have been avoided, if an orderly arrangement had been preserved. Some- 
 limes the turn only of a few yards would have saved us the most obstructive hi'ls 
 and hollows, and I am informed that the course of the river could have been avoided 
 altogether by a turn to the left, which strikes the trail near Powder river, running in 
 an extensive plain, remarkable for a solitary tree in its midst, known as " The Lone 
 Pine." But if this should not bo the case,* I would advise future emigrants to 
 
 ' It is the case- 
 
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 IMAGE EVALUATION 
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 WnSTH.N.Y. USSO 
 
 (716)872-4503 
 
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 S6 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON'. 
 
 seleit some eight or ten good men to send on ahead, to search for the most eligible 
 route, and, if necessary, to clear one. This will sare them much trouble. The 
 rango from this spot to the end of the journey is most excellent ; the bunch grass 
 is plenty in the valleys and in the sides of the hills, and there are plenty of rushes 
 along the banks of this stream. We made but eight miles to day. 
 
 On the 26tb, the road got worse, if anything, than before, and after floundering 
 through hills and hollows, for six miles, we struck a hill of most difficult ascent, that 
 required us to double our teams. Vet even this hill, as well as another still more 
 difficult, which we descended, might have been entirely avoided by an advance 
 of two hundred yards farther up the stream, where nature has furnished an easy as- 
 cent round the sides of both. This, however, was not discovered until all the wa- 
 gons had passed. The sbove hill is the first that we have met in our road, which 
 obliged us to double our teams. 
 
 September 27th. — We were visited last night by a sharp, keen frost, and when 
 we turned out in the morning we found the shivering chill utill lingering among the 
 valleys of the surrounding nountains. This morning we emerged from our trou- 
 blous passage through the immediate valley of the river, and struck a beautifully un- 
 dulating valley which fringed with its luxurious productions the border of a lovely 
 plain. In the mixed vegetation which here abounded in rich profusion, we found 
 red hawes and cherries in abundance, and also a description of elder berries, which» 
 unlike ours, that are of an insipid sweet, have a delicious tartness, somewhat simi- 
 lar in flavor to winter grapes before they are touched with the frost. In the course 
 of the day we passed a Kiuse village, and after completing twelve miles over a 
 good road, halted for the night. 
 
 September 28th. — Our route to-day lay through a beautiful valley surrounded on all 
 sides by the overtopping ridges of the Blue Mountains, their huge bases clothed 
 with immense forests of majestic pines, and their stupendous tops gleaming with 
 everlasting snow. Above their dazzling peaks were piled in grand confusion, 
 masses of fleecy clouds, through the irregular breaks of which the clear azure of the 
 vault above showed its softening contrast, and the sharp rays of the sun poured their 
 floods of radiance. But through all the towering terrors of these mountains, our 
 sweet little valley still wound on, offering its velvet verdure and its gentle surface 
 to facilitate our progress. In the afternoon we emerged upon an extensive plain, 
 which I have mentioned before as remarkable for a solitary tree in its centre. This 
 noble monarch of the plain is a magnificent pine, rearing its head alone amid 
 the level blank of the prairie, that bears no other object on its surface for miles to- 
 gether, higher than a stunted shrub. As we approached this lonely hermit, I could 
 not resist an impression of sadness, and the idea was forced upon my mind that it 
 had stood there a sapling amid a million of its kind, and that when centuries ago, 
 the mastodon and the behemoth abandoned forever their sombre depths, the forest 
 followed on, leaving this solitary scion of their race behind, to mark the spot over 
 which they had waved their sheltering foliage since the beginning of the world. 
 
 This splendid outcast has lang been known to all travellers ia this region as 
 ,' The Lone Pine," and it could not possibly have received a more expressive and ap- 
 propriate designation. I was about six miles distant from it when it first attracted 
 , my attention, and as we progressed I kept regarding it with admiration, at intervals of 
 •very few moments. When but a little more than a mile off, I noticed that the 
 leaders of our line were circling round it, and making demonstrations of an encamp- 
 ment. From the surface of the plain my eyes travelled naturally to the summit of 
 the tree, when I was struck with its unusual motion. I thought Lsaw it tremble. I 
 was seized with a sudden apprehension, but unwilling to yield to it, I rubbed my 
 eyes and looked again. In the next moment my horse was galloping at top steed 
 over the space that separated me from it, while I, regardless of the distance, was 
 waving my arms to those around it, and shouting to them to desist. I was too late ; 
 before I had accomplished half the distance, the majestic monarch toltered for 
 a moment from its perpendicular, then sweeping downwards through the air, 
 thundered in ruin upon the plain. I could have wept for vexation, to see this nuble 
 land-mark, which had braved the assaults of time through a thousand winters, thus 
 fall an inglorious victim to the regardless axe of some back-woods' Vandal. L had 
 been cut by some inconsiderate emigrants for fuel ; a necessity that could have 
 been more easily and much better supplied, by a profusion of small dead willows 
 that were strewed about ; for the pine was so green that it could not be made to 
 burn at all. We this day accomplished eighteen miles. 
 
 September 29th — We left the plain and- its prostrate land-mark this morning 
 and in the middle of the day entered anather valley, as rich m its fertility as the one 
 
HISTORY OP OREGON, 
 
 «7 
 
 te; 
 for 
 air, 
 ble 
 
 Had 
 ive 
 
 |W8 
 
 to 
 
 ng 
 
 «r tlM day before, and like it, it also ran between two immenie parallel ranges of 
 «now-topped mountains, the sites of which, a little way below the vegetation line, 
 irere covered with thick forests of pine to where their bases were lost in the bot- 
 tom swells. The range along here, was very superior, and the surrounding proofs 
 of general fertility gave evidence of its being admirably adapted to grazing purposes. 
 The soil is most excellent, but the drought at the same time, must often be severe. 
 Mo!<t of this beautiful valley might be irrigated from the tributaries of Powder River, 
 <itself u, tributary of the Saptin,) several of which we had to cross in following the 
 course of this wide valley prairie. Twelve miles to-day. 
 
 September 30th. — Travelled nine miles over an e.xcellent road, with the exception 
 of the last half mile, which was rocky and perplexed ; but this might have been es- 
 caped as we afterwards found, had we turned, down an opening to our right, which 
 W9 had rejected on passing, but which led through a smooth and easy passage di- 
 rectly to th« place where we finally encamped. 
 
 October 1st. — We this day came to the " Grand Round," the name of an im- 
 mense valley, one hundred miles in circumference, which will vie in fertility with 
 the valley 'of the Missouri, or indeed, with any spot in the world. Trees of all kinds 
 are sprinkled throughout its suiface t shrubs, flowers, brooks, singing birds, meadow 
 lark, and other winged game, diversify it, with many other of the attractions of more 
 lavish regions, and its general temperature is guaranteed by the evidences of its prodi- 
 gal vegetation. The Grand Round is nearly circular in its form and lies embosom- 
 «d in the Blue Mountains, which here, like their predecessors before described, are 
 covered from b«ttom to top with lofty pines in studded forests. The bottom of this 
 magic circle is rich, level prairie laud, trelliced with crystal springs issuing from its 
 surrounding mountain border, which, with but slight assistance from the art of 
 man, could easily be made to irrigate the whole surface of the valley. 
 
 In this region abounds a peculiar vegetable called Kamas root, which has a sweet 
 and pleasant taste, and which is also very nutritous food. It is about the size of a 
 partridge egg, and is cured by being dried upon hot stones. We purchased large 
 quantities of it from the numerous Indians we found in the vicinity. 
 
 In this region also may be found one of the most wonderful creations of nature, 
 existent in the world. This is a pond, or well, of boiling salt water, hot enough for 
 cooking purposes, and bottomless in its depths. The steam arising from it may be 
 seen at the distance of several miles, and resembles the vapor arising from a salt 
 furnace. It occasioned no small degree of conjecture among the various savans and 
 philosophers of our party, and not a few were the opinions expressed as to its cause. 
 McFarley, however, gave the most satisfactory account of any, to the inquirers. 
 He represented the nteridianof Grand Round to be exactly opposite to Mount Ve- 
 suvius, en the other side of the globe ; that that tremendous volcano " had been 
 burnin long afore Christ, and it stood to reason, as it eat deeper and deeper into 
 the bowels of the earth, it must eventually £ome out on tiie other side." He believ- 
 ed this spring to be an indication of its approach to the western surface, and that 
 ** the superincumbent weight of water upon the spot was all that kept it for a time 
 from burstin to a vent." He then added his deliberate opinion, that ere long, the 
 area of the Grand Round would be the scene of a tremendous eruption and the cir« 
 cle of mountains which hemnted it in, would be the rim of its crater. 
 
 This notion created no small alarm among some of our f ks, and a very extensive 
 opinion prevailed that it was better to move on as soon as possible, and give Vesu- 
 vius a chance. 
 
 I should have mentioned before, that on entering the " Grand Round," we had 
 to descend an abrupt declivity of three or four hundred feet, covered with loose 
 rocks, as large, and, in some cases larger than a man's head. This was by far the 
 worst hill we had yet descended, but by locking both hind wheels, and with teams 
 80 well trained as ours, we all descended in a^ut three hours without hurt or in- 
 jury to a single soul, and no damage was done to our truck beyond a slight crush of 
 one side of a wagon body. 
 
 October 2d. — We ascended a hill, or rather a mountain, at the edge of the " Grand 
 Round," and then descended it in an extensive declivity on the other side, ending 
 at a fine running creek for which I could find no name, but on the banks of which 
 we encamped. Both of these hills, the one at the entrance and the other at the 
 outlet of the Grand Hound, might be better avoided by turning to the Inft upon the 
 mountain side and passing them altogether. We passed during the latter part of 
 this day, through large bodies of heavy pine timber, and I will take this occasion 
 to remark, that the timber of the Blue mountains were the first considerable boilies 
 we had seen since we left the banks of the Kanzas. 
 
i ■' 
 
 88 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 i 
 
 it 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 f 
 
 October 2d. — We were obliged lo-dny to ascend and descend three very bad hills, 
 and to pasa over eight miles of n very rough and difficult road, a portion of it run- 
 ning through a track heavily timbered with pine. We cut through this a road for 
 the wHgons, and it now offers much superior facilities for those who follow. 
 
 October Ath, — This day our route stretched through tho still continuous pine, but 
 they wera more sparely scattered than before, and our progress consequently was 
 more easy. The weather was cold and bleak. 
 
 October 5ih. — .\ slight fall of snow this morning brought us to our heaviest cloth- 
 ing, and increased the size of our early camp-fires. The roads were excellent be- 
 fore us, but in consequence of two bad hills, and the disposition to linger round our 
 fires, we did not make more than eight miles, after completing which, we went early 
 to camp. 
 
 On tho 6th, we descended the Blue mountains, by an easy and gradual declina- 
 lion over an excellent road, and encamped on the banks of the Umatilla river near 
 a Kiuse village. This stream, like most of the rivers we had crossed in Oregon, 
 was nothing more than a go«>d sized creek. Its waters were beautifully clear and 
 its banks were studded with an abundance of cotton wood timber. We were no\v 
 in the second region of Oregon, and from the moment wn had descended from the 
 tnuuntains, we felt the difference of the two climates. The one we had left being 
 sharp and severe, and this being mild and dry, and offering in its abundant grasses 
 superior facilities for stock raising and grazing. 
 
 After descending from the region of the pine, we had now come into a country of 
 broad sandy plains, intermixed with a yellowish clay, productive, as I have said be- 
 fore, of abundant herbage, but destitute of timber, except upon the margin of the 
 streams. From this point to the Columbia at Wallawalla, is between forty and 
 fifty miles through continuous plains, varied only with occasional hills of sand. This 
 surface, except in the vallies of the streams, is sandy ard sterile, yet in its least 
 favored sections it bears a description of scattering brnch grass, upon which the 
 cattle become very fat. ' 
 
 We found the Indians of this village very friendly, and exceedingly anxious to 
 trade with us. They proved their degree of civilization and advance in the arts of 
 agriculture, by bringing us large quantities of Irish potatoes, peas, corn and kamas 
 root, for which we gave them in exchangP,'clothes, powder, ball and sundry trifles. 
 They raise a large number of horses, by the luxuriant pasturage of the surrounding 
 country, and were continually pressing them upon us for sale, offering two of the 
 finest that we might select, for one of our cows. Seduced by the delights and com- 
 forts of this place, after the weary wayfaring we had just passed through in the up- 
 per region, we determined to remain here a day to recruit, and we accordingly gave 
 ourselves up to a regular frolic, during which the peas, corn and potatoes, with nice 
 spare ribs, Ash and steaks to match, vanished from the earth like witchcraft. 
 
 Let me remark, for fear th^t I may overlook it, that while travelHng on the 
 Burnt river, and while passing through the Blue mountains, we had much trouble in 
 finding our stock in the morning, as they wandered off in the bushes during the night, 
 and often strayed out among the hills after the bunch grass. We found the road 
 along this river, and through these mountains, the worst of the whole routs, and 
 indeed, nearly all the bad road we saw at all. Lieutencit Fremont who came be- 
 hind us, and who had Mr. Fitzpatrick for a guide, wc rther dojvn the Grand 
 Round to the right, came out at a different point, an e his way through the 
 
 Blue mountains by a route, which ho states, to be mort o.>fe and easy by far than 
 the one by which we came. Our route, at any rate, can be so improved with a small 
 amount of labor as to be quite practicable, and even as it was, we came through 
 it with our wagons in perfect safety, without even unloading them at a single point. 
 Many, if not most of the bad hills we had passed, could have been avoided oi over- 
 come, with a very little labor. 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 Arrival at Doctor Whitmari's Mission — Perplexity — Confllicting Counsels — Dim- 
 gion into Squads and successive departures — Progress of the Advance Guard to 
 Vancouver — Our arrival at Fort Wallawalla — Arrangements with its Commander 
 — Naval Operations — Boat Building — the Grand Rapids — the Falls — the Little 
 Dalles — the Grand Dalles — the Whirlpool — Death in the Rapids — General Cha- 
 racteristics of the Middle Region; its Indians, their Habits and Pursuits. 
 
 On the Sth October, we moved on and encamped in the afternoon within twenty 
 
HISTORY or ORGQON. 
 
 89 
 
 lOl- 
 
 to 
 ider 
 Itlle 
 'ha- 
 
 inty 
 
 miles of the Methodist mission establishment, kept by Dr. Whitman, on the bankt 
 of a little tributary of the Wallawalla; but not finding the pasturage to our liking, 
 we moved on the nrxt day a few miles further in advance, and finding a prairie 
 offering us all the advantages we sought, the section to which I was attached, de* 
 termined to make a halt for a few days, to recruit our weary and way worn cattle. 
 Most of the party had advanced before us and were alieady at the mission, but we^ 
 in consequence of our halt, which continued through a period of five days, did not 
 reach there until the lAth. The mission establishment is situated on the north 
 east bank of a small stream emptying into the Wallawalla, around which there are 
 two or three hundred acres in good cultivation, and on the other side of the stream, 
 was the grist mill, where the Doctor converted his grains into flour. It was in a 
 very dilapidated condition when we saw it, but the Doctor informed us that he had 
 made arrangements to rebuild it, and make it an efficient feature of his little colony. 
 
 This settlement has existed here under the care of the doctor and his excellent 
 wife, ever since 1834, and by his persevering industry he has fairly coaxed civiliza- 
 tion into the very bosom of the wilderness. The stream on which the mission 
 house is situated is from fifteen to twenty yards in width ; its clear cool waters run 
 over a gravelly bed at the rate of five or six miles to the hour, and its banks, on 
 either side, are ornamented with groves of flourishing timber, and flowering 
 shrubbery, that are the usual accompaniments of fertility of soil and geniality of 
 climate. The valley of this stream is about thirty miles in circumference, and is a 
 favorite spot with the Kiuse for raising horses, numbers of which we found gallop- 
 ing about in all their native freedom over its plains. 
 
 Upon our arrival, wefoond the pasturage in the immediate vicinity of the mission 
 much eaten out by these animals ; but a few miles further back, towards the moun- 
 tains, it flourished in unsurpassed profusion. We found at Doctor Whitman's 
 every thing to supply our wants, and he furnished us with fine wheat at one dollar 
 
 Eer bushel, and potatoes for forty cents. His supply of the first gave out, but he 
 ad corn and potatoes in abundance. 
 While pausing at this place, we were agitated and perplexed in the extreme what 
 course to take in relation to the arrangements we should make for the successful 
 conclusion of our expedition. Wr were assailed wich various opinions from every 
 one we met, and in the general indecision were for a time brought to a dead stand. 
 Most of the residents of the mission agreed in advising us to leave our cattle and 
 wagons at this point, or if we did take them to the Dalles or narrows (a point on 
 the Columbia, 120 miles in advance) to send them back here to winter. Others 
 told ns that we could not reach the Dalles with our teams, as jaded as they were, 
 as we would find no range along the course of the Columbia. All, however, seem- 
 ed to think that it would be impossible for us to get our wagons, or our cattle, to 
 the Willamette this fall. But we had already overcome too many difficulties to 
 admit the word impoisible as a part of our vocabulary. We could not remain where 
 we were for a number of reasons. The pasturage in the immediate vicinity was 
 too scanty ; the width of range would not allow us to keep our stock together, and 
 we suffered an additional danger of their loss from the dishonest practices of the 
 Indiana, who, if they did not steal them outright, led them off, for the purpose of 
 being paid to bring them in. Many of us were obliged to pay a shirt (the price 
 uniformly charged by the Indians for every service) for three or four successive 
 mornings, to get back the same animal, and this was a kind of tribute that if kept 
 up, would make fearful inroads'upon our wardrobe. The majority of the emigrants 
 therefore resolved to attempt the threatened dangers to the actual evils that now 
 beset us. Accordingly they set out in squads, on successive days, and before the 
 end of the month, all had reached the Dalles in safety. What surprised them most, 
 after the representations which had been made, was the fine pasturage they mot 
 with all along the way, and especially at the Dallas, where, we had been led to 
 believe, the cattle could not subsist at all during the winter. As the parties to 
 which I now allude, preceded me, I may as well continue this anticipatory account 
 of the route as far as it concerns their progress. They struck off in a south west- 
 erly direction, leaving the sterility of the river's bank, and instead of perishing for 
 want of range, their cattle even improved ail along the way. Some of them left 
 their wagons at the Dalles, and drove their cattle through the Cascade mountains, 
 conveying their baggage and families on pack horses through the mountain paths ; 
 and some went down the river by the boats. But the greatest portion of them con- 
 structed rafts of dead pine timber, a few miles below the Dalles, large etiough to 
 carry six or eight wagons, and upon these floated safely down to the Cascades on 
 the Columbia. Their cattle were driven down the river's bank about thirty miles. 
 
90 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON* 
 
 then swum icrosfl and were driven down the other bank to VancouTer. Here the party 
 obtained boats from Or. McLaughlin, the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company's 
 establishments in Oregon, and returned to the Cascades for such of the families, 
 wagons and baggage as had been left behind. This method was found to be, of all, 
 the most successful. By the first of December, all the emigrants had arrived at 
 Vancouver, but the greatest portion of them had reached there as early as the 
 fifteenth of the preceding month. 
 
 The large portion of the emigration t« which I belonged, arrived at Fort Walla- 
 walla, on the ICth 0' tober. This we found to be a rough parallelogram constructed 
 out of the drift wood drawn from the river during the annual rise of the Columbia, 
 in June and July. It is situated on the northern bank of the Wallawalla, just where 
 it joins the Columbia. We found a Mr. McKinley, a very intelligent Scotchman, 
 in charge of this post, and at Ms hands received every civility and attention. 
 This gentleman proposed to us a conditional arrangement, subject to the ratification 
 or refusal of Doctor McLaughlin, his superior, at Vancouver, in regard to our cattle. 
 He represented the impossibility of our conveying them to Vancouver, and to save 
 us any loss, offered to take them for himself, and give us an order on the Doctor 
 for an equal number of Spanish cattle of the same age and gender, in the possession 
 of the latter at the before-mentioned station. If Dr. McLaughlin disapproved of 
 the arrangement, Mr. McKinley was to hold our cattle subject to our order, and to 
 teceive one dollar per head for their keeping. This was a pretty acute arrangement 
 of his, as we afterwards found, but as it eventuated in nothing but a temporary 
 deprivation of our beasts, we did not have occasion to regard it as a very serious 
 matter. As soon as this arrangement was made, we went to work briskly in build- 
 ing boats from material which we sawed out of the drift wood of the stream, and 
 having all our preparations completed on the 20th, we set out on that day with 
 Indian pilots for our guides. 
 
 The Columbia at Wallawalla, is a beautiful clear and calm stream, and about as 
 wide as the Ohio at Louisville, Kentucky. We made fifteen miles the first day, 
 and on the morning of the second, passed in safety the Grand Rapids, one of the 
 most dangerous points on the river. From this point to the falls, about ten miles 
 above the Dalles, we passed through many severe rapids and narrow passes. At 
 the falls, where the whole Columbia tumbles down a perpendicular ledge of rocks 
 from a height of ten feet, we were obliged to draw our boat from the stream and 
 make a portage of about throe quarters of a mile, and then launch her anew. This 
 was dono with the help of a party of Indians, thirty-five in number, whom we founii- 
 at the place of our landing, and whom wo employed to shoulder our baggage and 
 carry our boat the necessary distance ; giving to each of them for the service, five 
 loads of powder and ball, and to their chief, a shirt and some tobacco. These fel- 
 lows appeared to understand their interests very well, and subserved them often with 
 as much acuteness as thorough Yankees. Employ all, or none, was the word, and 
 until we had made a fair business arrangement with the chief, not a lop ear would 
 lend a hand to any of our work. The chief spoke English very well ; was a tall, 
 fine looking fellow, dressed in the broadcloth costume of a white man, and wore 
 upon his feet, instead of moccasins, a pair of very fine shoes. His authority ap- 
 peared to be absolute, and the moment he gave the word of command every thing 
 was performed with the regularity of clock work. Our boat, which was a superior 
 one, that I had procured by especial favor from Mr. McKinley, had now far out- 
 stripped all the rest, and indeed, when we left the river for the portage, the remain- 
 der of the flotilla had been out of sight for several Lours. After our launch, we 
 pursued the stream for four or five miles, when we struck the little Dalies. This 
 is a narrow channel, rushing in whirlpools and dangerous rapids through two pre- 
 cipitous walls 6f rock. Here we were obliged again to put our families on shore to 
 lighten the boat, and to procure some Indians to take her through the gorge. Be- 
 low this point, and between it and the Grand Dalles, we encountered some severe 
 and threatening rapiJs, all of which, however, we safely overcame. The Grand 
 Dalles is a narrow channel cut through the solid rock, over which it used to flow 
 and fall, by the mere force of the stream. This channel is about two miles in 
 length, and runs between perpendicular walls of basaltic rock, which fence it in on 
 either side, to the height of four or five hundred feet. When the river is low, it 
 may be navigated with but little danger, but if swollen, it is death to attempt it, and a 
 portage must of necessity be made. We employed some more Indians here, but 
 Isaac Smith, our intrepid waterman, insisted upon acting as the coxswain. It was 
 fortunate for us he did, for when we were about in the middle of the pass, the stroke 
 
 ' lie snapped in two, pitching the Indian who worked it, nearly over the bows, 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 n 
 
 we 
 'his 
 
 >ws. 
 
 and the boat suddenly twisted around and shot down the stream stern forwards. 
 Smith alone was calm, and seizing a paddle fiom the red skin nearest to him, shout- 
 ed in a voice of authority, which danger sanctions in superiority, " Down ! down ! 
 every soul of you !" Fixing his eye upon a whirlpool ahead, he waited until we 
 reached it, and then adroitly striking his paddle in the water, by a dexterous move- 
 ment whipped her head into the iorce of a circling eddy, and checking it instantly 
 on the other side, before she could repeat the motion, our little craft shot like an 
 arrow from the perilous spot, head on again, into a smoother current. Smith drew 
 a heavy sigh of relief as he handed the paddle back, and sat down in his place with- 
 out evmcing any other sign of satisfaction at the triumphant result of his exploit. 
 
 The Columbia river above this point can never be made safe for boats of any 
 size ; the navigation being difficult and uncertain, even at low water ; and when 
 high, as I said before, it is quite impassable. But the day after our passage, one 
 of Captain Applegate's skiffs upset with three men and three boys. Two of the 
 boys and one of the men were drowned. The former were about ten years old- 
 one of them being the son of Captain Jesse Applegate, and the other of Lindsay 
 Appiegate. The man drowned was an old man named McClelland, who steered 
 the skitf. 
 
 During our passage from the Wallamette to the Dalles, we saw no timber on the 
 Columbia river, or near it, indeed no bolder vegetation appeared than a few occasional 
 willows near its brink. The Indians are numerous all along its line, and are exceed- 
 ingly thievish, stealing without hesitation everything they can lay their hands on. 
 The reason of their being so numerous in this quarter is, that the Falls and the 
 Dalles are the great Usheries of the Columbia river, where immense numbers of 
 salmon are annually taken by these primitive fishermen. 
 
 Before leaving this region, I will remark, that the portion we saw of it in eur 
 passage down the river, was of a description that should by no means be taken as an 
 evidence of its general character. Beyond the immediate line of the Columbia, 
 which is a tract of blank, discouraging sterility, stretch numbers of fertile plains, 
 which, though not adapted to the general purposes of agriculture, produce a rich| 
 continual and luxuriant herbage, admirably adapted to grazing purposes, and indeed 
 rendering it second to no region in the world for raising stock. Its surface is al- 
 most a thousand feet above the level of the sea, and it is generally a rolling prairie 
 country, with the exception of that portion about a hundred, or a hundred and fifty 
 miles to the north, which is barren and rugged, and much broken with rivers and 
 mountain chains. It is in this section that all the horses are reared for the su(^ly 
 of the Indians and the traders of the interior. '* It is nut uncommon," says Captain 
 Wyeth, " that one Indian owns hundreds of them. I think this section for produc- 
 ing hides, tallow, and beef, superior to any part of North America; for with equal 
 facilities for raising the animals, the weather in the winter when the grass is best, 
 and consequently the best time to fatten the animals, is cold enough to salt meat, 
 which is not the case in Upper California. There is no question that sheep might 
 be raised to any extent in a climate so dry and so sufficiently warm, and where so 
 little snow^or rain falls. It is also the healthiest country I have ever been in, 
 which, I suppose arises from the small quantity of decaying vegetable matter, and 
 there being no obstruction from timber to the passing winds." 
 
 The premium portion of this whole region, I have been informed, is the Nez 
 Perces county, which takes its name from one of the tribes inhabiting it. The 
 region, however, in the vicinity of Mr. Spaulding, an American missionary, who has 
 an establishment on the Saptin, a few miles above its junction with the Columbia, 
 is thought to be the finest of all. He has a fine herd of cattle and a very numerous 
 lot of sheep, and I am informed upon good authority, that his ewes have lambs twice a 
 year. The whole surrounding country is covered with a heavy bunch grass which 
 remains green during the whole winter. This generally dries up during the sum- 
 mer heats of July, but it is then as good as hay, and the slight rains in the fall 
 make it shoot up at once, after which it remains green till the succeeding sum* 
 mer. I saw it in October as green as a wheat field. *^ 
 
 » The followini; extract from the letter of Nathaniel Wyeth, in the report of the Committee 
 of the House of Representatives on the Oregon Territory, February 16th, 1838, will serve to 
 confirm this description. Wyeth was the enterprising trader who established Fort Hall. 
 
 "This country, (the miildle region,) which affords little prospect for the tiller of the soil, 
 is perhaps one of the best for gra/.ing in the woild. It has been much underrated by travellers 
 who have only passed by the Columbia, the land along which is a collection of sand and 
 rocks, and almost without vegetation ; but a few miles from the Columbia, towards the hills 
 and mountains, the prairies open wide, covered with a low grass of a most nutritious kind, 
 which remains good throughout the year. In September there are slight rains, at which time 
 the grass starts ; and in October and November, there is a good coat of green grass, which re_ 
 
92 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 
 While at Wnllawalla I saw Ellii*, the chief of the Nez Percea. He spoke the 
 English language very well, and I found him to bo quite intelligent and well versed 
 in the value and the rights of property. He has a fine farm of thirty acres in good 
 cultivation, a large bai.d of cattle, and upwards of two thousand beautifdl horses. 
 Many of the Kiuse^ have, as vVyeih says, hundreds of these noble animals. They 
 havp a groat desire to acquire stock, of which they have already a considerable 
 quantity, and yearly go to the Willamette and give two of their finest horses for 
 one cow. In a few years from this time these Indians will have fine farms and 
 large herds of cattle. They have already made great progress in civilization, and 
 evince a strong desire to imitate the whites in everything they do. This is shown 
 in a very remarkable degree, by their fondness (n our dress, the meanest portion of 
 which, strange to say, they have the strongest passion (or. As I said before, thojr 
 uniformly charge a shirt for every service they perform, and to such an extent do 
 they carry their admiration of this graceful article, that I have seen some of them 
 with nothing else on under heaven besides, but a pair of old boots and a worn out 
 hat, parading up and down for hours with the most conceited strut, as if they were 
 conscious of attracting universal admiration. 
 
 Grain grows very well in the vicinity of Mr. Spaulding's, as also do potatoes and 
 garden vegetables generally. It also produces fine corn, but for this the soil requires 
 irrigation. Mr. Spaulding last year raised four hundred and ten bushels upon four 
 acres. The ground was measured in the presence of five gentlemen, and its 
 quantity accurately ascertained. It was sown in drills. 
 
 \, 
 
 I I 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Arrival at the Dalles Mission — Continuation of journey down the river — Scenery 
 of the Columbia — The Cascades — Indian tradition — Arrival of Vancouver — The 
 Chief Factor — Mr. Douglass — Conduct of the Hudson's Bay Company to 
 Emigrants — Jumping the rapids — Penalty of braving the Cascades — Stock 
 raising — Condition of the settlement at Vancouver — Prices of goods in the 
 territory. 
 
 V. 
 
 '•!;* 
 
 After we had passed the narrow and dangerous channel of the Dalles, we came 
 out into a smooth and calm surface of river, over which our little craft glided with 
 a quiet rapidity. Wo now for the first time caught a glance at a seal, occasionally 
 popping his head above the level of the stream and as quickly witdrawing it on our 
 approach, and as we progressed we found their numbers increased. This animal 
 abounds in the Columbia from this point to the sea, and it is also found in conside- 
 rable quantities in the Willamette, below the falls of that river. 
 
 A mile's sail from the fret of the Dalies brought us to the Methodist mission 
 establishment under the charge of Messrs. Perkins and Brewer, which is commonly 
 known as the Dalles Mission. 
 
 The mission houses stand on a most commanding and eligible site on the south- 
 west side of the river. When you ascend the bank, the sward runs before you in a 
 gentle and regular inclination for about a mile, when it joins a line of hills of mode- 
 rate altitude, covered with a profusion of pine timber, intermixed with some scat- 
 tering white oak. Just at the foot of the hill, and on the edge of this timber, stand 
 the mission houtus, and between them and the river, are sprinkled numerous Indian 
 huts or lodges, whose rude inmates are the object of the missionaries philanthropic 
 care. Immediately to the south-west, is a fine mill stream, and directly below it a 
 rich bottom prairie, skirted with yellow pines and oak. This plain is about large 
 enough for three fine farms, and can easily be irrigated from the stream I have 
 alluded to. The grazing in the vicinity of this spot extends in a circumference of 
 twenty or thirty miles, and offers facilities at a very trifliag expense, for raising 
 great numbers of sheep, horses, and other cattle, and the mast from the white oak 
 will support numerous droves of hogs. 
 
 mains so during summer ; and about June it is ripe in the lower plains, and drying without 
 beins wet, is made like hay. In this state it remains until the autumn rpins again revive it. 
 The herdsman can at all times keep his animals in good grass, by approaching the mountains 
 in summer, on the declivities of which almost any climatt! may be had." 
 
HIITORY or OREGON' 
 
 :e of 
 
 iBing 
 
 oak 
 
 hont 
 
 re it. 
 tains 
 
 The Dalles miision is at the head of the practical navigation of the Columbia, and 
 I regard it aa one of the most important stations in the whole territory. It is a point 
 which all who go up and down the river must pass, and I have no doubt that in s 
 few years steamboats will be running between it and the Cascades. In addition to 
 the facilities which I have already mentioned, it has a mild and dry climate, about 
 the same as that of Nashville, Tennessee. It is slightly colder than Wallawalla, in 
 consequence of its nearer vicinity to one of the stupendous Titans of the Cascade or 
 President's range, called Mount Washington, about fifty or sixty miles to the south- 
 west. I was at the Dalles on the 23d of November last, and there had up to that 
 time been no visitation of cold weather, nor no fall of rain heavy enoagh to wet the 
 
 Sound two inches deep. To this place, moreover, from its peculiar situation, and 
 e characteristics of large portions of the adjacent country, both north and south, 
 will all the cattle raised in the second region have to be driven to be slaughtered, 
 and here the inhabitants from abovo will purchase their general supplies. 
 
 The beauty of this situation and the auvantages it possessed over any to which I 
 had yet arrived, determined me to leave my folks und effects there for a time, and 
 make a voyage to Vancouver myself, to carry out the provisions of the arrangement 
 I had made with Mr. .^IcKinley, at Wallawalla, in relation to our cattle. I accord* 
 ingly set out on the 6th of November, and continued my route down the river. 
 
 The Columbia, between the Dalles and Cascades, is a calm and clear stream, 
 without a rapid in it, and as safe in its navigation as the Ohio. The current is slow, 
 but there is at all times an ample supply of water. The distance between the two 
 points is thirty-six miles. Immediately after leaving the missionary landing, the 
 river which was about a mile wide, passed for two miles through high walls of per- 
 pendicular basaltic ruck standing in square columns, sometimes of a feet, and some- 
 times ef two feet in thickness. These rocks, which are the same in character as all 
 that I had seea on the borders of this stream, were perpendicular in their position, 
 except at two points where we found them gently inclining inward tovrards the 
 river. After we had proceeded some three or four miles from our starting point, 
 the hills gradually ran towards the river's sides, Those on the southern bank are 
 covered with pine and white oak, and those on the northern side bear scarcely any- 
 thing but scrubby white oak. As we neared the Cascades, the mountains inoreased 
 greatly in height, and the pines upon their sides grew larger in their rize than those 
 on the introductory hills, and became more thickly studded, until the mountains were 
 covered with them. We frequently passed tall walls of rock many hundred feet in 
 height, that raised their castellated sides on the very brink of the river. In fact, the 
 river is so shut in with these natural bastions, both above and below the Cascades, 
 for twenty miles on either side, that within this whole space, there is no bottom 
 lands at all with the exception of a single spot of fertility three miles below, 3r,d 
 occasional scollops, stolen from the mountains, bearing in their semicircles nc '^h;^ 
 but the liut of some Indian fishermen. On our way down, we passed several rain 
 carrying the adventurous members of our expedition, their families and their baggage, 
 and arrived there ourselves on the seventh. 
 
 The Cascades are made by the Columbia forcing its way through the Cascade 
 or President's range of mountains over an immense field of rocks, which at this 
 point strew its bottom and peep above its surface. This point of the river bears 
 no resemblance to the Dalles at all. Instead of being confined between perpen- 
 dicular walls of basaltic rock, it is lined on either side by the slopes of towering 
 mountains studded with evergreen pine, and birch and oak. Immediately at 
 the Cascades, the mountains rua close in to the shore, but, as if satisfied with the 
 experiment at this point, they start away from both sides to the east, and leave seve- 
 ral spaces of high, yet tolerably level land. As we approached the Cascades, the 
 roar of the waters fretting in their uneasy course, gave token of its vicinity, and the 
 increasing current of the river lent to our little vessel an additional speed. The 
 growing (mm, and gathering obstructions in the shape of rocks in the bed of the 
 stream, at length warned us to the shore, and we were obliged to give oar boat 
 again to the Indians on the bank, and make a portage to escape the danger. The 
 water is here very deep, and the bed of the river is filled with huge deta«lhed rocks, 
 with intervening patches of white sand. From the compression of its volume in a 
 trough of three or four hundred yards, and its fall of one hui:died and fifty feet in 
 the distance of a mile and a half, the current here sets downward with immense 
 force, and renders the passage dangerous in the extreme. 
 
 These rocks are generally conical in form, and stand with their small ends op, 
 like gigantic hen's eggs, deposited in the bed of the stream. They are all worn 
 smooth by the continual friction of the current, and many of them are from ten to 
 
 \ 
 
94 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 I! ■; i 
 
 fifteen feet high above the water leTel. It it a moat beautiful eight, aa the water 
 luabes down with reaiatleia impetuoiity, ragigg and foaming at the reaiatanee made 
 by theae [atubborn opponenta m the very centre of ita volume, to atand and gaie 
 upon, from the commanding poaition on the northern bank. In all the whirl and 
 turmoil of thia watery Babel, I noticed a aeal or two occaaionally popping up their 
 head* on the lee aide of the rocka, aa if to make an occaaional inquiry aa to the 
 cour8e of matter* out of doora. The Indiana have a remarkable tradition in rela- 
 tion to these Cascadei. They aay that about aeventy or eighty veara age, they did 
 not exist at all, but that the river ran amoothly on under the side of a projecting 
 mountain, from which an avalanche alid into its bed, and drove it into ita preaent 
 fretful confine. This aeems almost incredible, but appearancea go atrangely to con- 
 firm it. The river above the Cascades haa all the appearance of being dammed up 
 from below, and for many miles above, you will see atumpa of treea in thirk aquads 
 extending, at aome points, more than a hundred yards from the shore along the 
 bottom. Those have all the appearance of timber that haa been killed by the over- 
 flowing of water, aa you will sometimes sea it in a mill dam. The tops of aome 
 of them approach to within a foot or two of the aurface, while in many placeai 
 others rise above it for ten or fifteen. What is strongly conf:.^mative of their report, 
 is the fact that you can find no such appearances at any other point on the river. 
 It is certainly beyond dispute, that these trees could ever have grown there, and in 
 absence of any other mode of accounting fur the phenomenon, we must come to 
 the conclusion that they have been drowned by aome great overflow, caused by « 
 coBvulsion, or a lapse of nature. On the south bank, commencing at the foot of 
 the Cascades, and extending half a mile up the river, and spreading between it and 
 the mountains, ia a space of level land, about three hundred yarda wide, which if 
 covered with pine, and ia elevated, at low water mark, some fifty or aixty feet. Among 
 these pines, scattered over the surface of the ground, you will see numbers of these 
 loose rocks, a portion of which have tumbled into the flood. It is also worthy of 
 remark, that the pines growing here are all young treea, none being more than a 
 foot in diameter. 
 
 The portage here ia about half a mile, and ia made on the north bank going up* 
 and on the aouth bank coming down. The boata, however, are not taken out of the 
 water and carried around aa they are at the Falla, but ere drawn alons by ropes ex- 
 tending to the bank, and in some places are lifted over the rocks. The Caacades 
 form another great salmon fishery. The Indians have speculated and practically 
 experimented upon the dootrines of internal improvement in application to this ob- 
 ject, by making artiflcial channels by an ingenious arrangement of the loose rock, 
 ao aa to form a number of natural canals, into which the great body of the fish find 
 tkeir way in passing up the river, when they are taken with great ease. 
 
 The Cascades are a very important point of the Oregon territory in a busineas 
 point of view. All the commerce and travel up the river, are compelled to pasa 
 them, and to make this portage. There is fine grazing, fine timber, aome good 
 soil, and an incalculable amount of water power m the immediate vicinity. The 
 piece of level land I have already alluded to as lying on the south bank, would form 
 a fine situation for a small town er a farmer's residence. The ripids below the 
 Cascades extend down about three miles or more, and ofTer almoat insurmounta- 
 ble impediments to navigation at low water, especially to boats ascending the stream. 
 It requires, perhaps, a full day's time to pass from the foot of the rapids to the Caa- 
 cades with a loaded boat. Portions of the loading have to be taken eut and car- 
 ried a few yards, at some two or three different points. In descending the river, 
 the Hudson's Bay Company always pass through them without unloading, and their 
 mode of passage is very descriptively called " jumping the rapids." From the Cas- 
 cades to Cape Horn, (a perpendicular wall of rocK about five hundred feet high, 
 and ^running ^long the bank of the river for the space of half a mile on the north 
 tide,) is twenty miles ; and down to this point the mountains continue to be tall, 
 and to run close to the margin of the stream. On the sides of these, both above 
 and below, there are many beautiful waterfalls. There is one in particular, just 
 above Cape Horn, formed by a considerable mountain stream, whose whole volume 
 falls in one perpendicular pitch of five hundred feet amid the caverns of the rocks. 
 ^At Cape Horn, which is midway between the Cascades and Vancouver, (a distance 
 of forty miles,) you can perceive the mountains dwindle rapidly into hills, and what 
 remains of them when you arrive within ten miles of the fort, turn off abruptly from 
 the river on both sides, almost at right angles, and leave, spreading from Us banks 
 towards the sea, level, yet high districts of fertile country, many miles wide, cover- 
 ed with an immense body of pine, fir and white cedar timber. On the north bank. 
 
ni»TORY or OREGON. 
 
 w 
 
 thii strip of country rum lome diitnnce below Vancouver, anil on the louth it 
 •tretches to the Willamette. The Willnmotto is a fine rivor entering the Colum- 
 bia five milei below Fori Vancouver, and running nearly in a louth easterly (lirec> 
 tion from the parent stream. This course, aided by a slight southern inclination of 
 the great river, immediately after receiving it, forms a triangle, the point of which is 
 formed at the junction, and the base of which extends about five or sii miles up 
 the bsnks of both rivers until it reaches an equilateral breadth. This is low bottom 
 prairie covered with scattering u«h and cotton wood. It is overflown every sum* 
 mer, and forms an exception to the high but level land, which I mentioned as stretch- 
 ing along the nhore for twenty i/r thirty miles above. On the north side of the Go- 
 lurnbia, in this lower region, the soil is rich, but gravelly ; on the south side it 
 it richer still, ^d is spread upon a substratum of yellow clay. 
 
 On the tenth of November, I arrived at Vancouver and could scarcely believe mj 
 •^•s, when on approaching it, I beheld moored securely in the river, two square 
 rigged vessels and a ste^boat. My very heart jumped as I set eyes on these 
 familiar objects, and for the first time in four months, I felt as if I had found a sub- 
 ■tantial evidence of civilization. The impressions of the refinements of the mission^ 
 and the peculiarly domestic comforts which the excellent ladies attached to the es- 
 tablishments spread around them, were as nothing compared with the yards and 
 masts of these coursers of the ocean. 
 
 The river at Fort Vancouver is from 1600 to 1700 yards wide. The Port, which 
 is the principal establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company in Oregon, is on the 
 north bank of the Columbia, 90 miles' distance in a direct line from the sea. It 
 stands a considerable distance back from the shore, and is surrounded by a large 
 number of wooden buildings, (among which is a schooNhouse,) used for the various 
 purposes of residences and workshops for those attached to the establishment. This 
 colony is enclosed by a barrier of pickets twenty feet in height. On the bank of the 
 river, six hundred yards farther down, is a village somewhat larger in extent, (con- 
 taining an hospital,) which is allotted to the inferior servants of the station. Two 
 miles further down the river, are the dairy and piggery, containing numerous herds 
 of cattle, hogs, sheep, &c., and about three miles above the fort, are grist and savr 
 mills, and sheds for curing salmon. Immediately behind it, is a garden of five acres, 
 and an orchard filled wiln peach, apple, fig, orange, lemon, and other fruit trees, 
 and containing also grapes, strawberries and ornamental plants and flowers. Be- 
 hind this, the cultivated farm, with its numerous barns and other necessary buildings, 
 spreads off towards the south. The land appropriated here for the purposes of ar- 
 ming, is from 3000 to 4000 acres, and is fenced into beautiful fields, a great por- 
 tion of which has already been appropriated to cultivation, and is found to produce 
 the grains and vegetables of the States, in remarkable profusion. To cultivate these 
 immense farms, and attend to the duties arising from the care of flocks, the drud- 
 gery of the workshops, the heavy labor attendant upon hewing timber for the 
 saw mills, the British residents do not hesitate to press into their service the 
 neighboring Iroquois, and even to avail themselves of^ human transplants from the 
 Sandwich Islands ; many of the natives of which are already here working in 
 gangs for the benefit, and at the direction of this shrewd and able company. 
 
 On my arrival I was received with great kindness by Doctor McLaughlin and 
 Mr. James Douglass, the second in command. They both tenderded me the hos- 
 
 fiitalities of the fort, which ofler, it is scarcely necessary to say, I accepted willing- 
 y and with pleasure. Dr. McLaughlin is the Governor or Chief Factor of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company, a situation most diflUcult and arduous in its duties, and 
 requiring most consummate ability in the person aspiring to fill it. The Hudson's 
 Bay Company have been most fortunate in their selection of Doctor McLaughlin 
 for this important trust. Possessed of a commanding person, a refined, benevolent 
 and amiable manner ; owning extensive acquirements drawn from study, travel and 
 intercourse with mankind ; a profound knowledge of human nature, and withal » 
 firmness that ensures obedience and respect, he is peculiarly qualified to protect 
 the important interests of tKis powerful company, and to control its wayward ser- 
 vants, while thus far removed from the reach of other civil authority. Doctor 
 McLaughlin is upwards of six feet high, and over sixty years of age. In person he 
 is robust, erect, and a little inclined to corpulency, one of the natural results of con- 
 tentment and repose. The clear flush of rosy health glows upon his cheeks, his 
 eye still sparkles with youthful vivacity while ho is in conversation with yon, and 
 his fine head of snow white hair, adds not a little to the impressivsness of his ap- 
 pearance. His hospitality is unbounded, and, I will sum up all^his qualities, by say- 
 ing that he is beloved by all who know him. ^ 
 
96 
 
 HISTORY or ORRQON. 
 
 li ? 
 
 Mr. DougUii ii alto upwards o( sii feat, and about forty five yeara of age ; ha 
 ia likewiao incliiiud to bo corpulent, and hia hair it also gently receiving ii« aifl- 
 ing from the salt of Time. He ia like hia auparior, n man of accompliahcd man* 
 nora Hnd great buaineaa habile. He came to America in hia boyhood, filtered 
 the aervice of the H. B. Company, immediately on hia arrival, and baa renmined 
 in it ever aince. 
 
 The mmlut operamli of thia wonderful corporation it remarkable for the perfect 
 accuracy of ita lyttem. A code of catabiiahad rules, embracing within it* tcopa, 
 the chief Factor and the meaneat aervant, ia the inflexible rule which guverna 
 all. Every man hat hia allotted department to fill, and hia regular tatka to do, 
 and he ia held reepontible for the faithful performance of that and nothing more. 
 A ayatem of far aighted policy ia brought to bear upon the manngemont of every 
 department, whether it be the trapping of a territory, the trantpitinting of nntivea, 
 the reinforcement and aupply of any of their numeroua fortt, the occupation of • 
 point, or the aisumption of a privilege.* A regular price it set upon every thing, 
 and it ia labor thrown Awa;jr to attempt to underbid it. Their gooda are all of a 
 moat auperior kind, and it ia no leaa a rule to aell them at reaaonable rate*, than 
 it is to have them good, Vancouver is the grand depot of all the other furta of 
 Oregon, and it ia likewiae the grand magasine of their auppliea. The vcaaels that 
 bring the comforts of other dimes in at the mouth of the Columbia, here unload their 
 freiuht, and the fertile valley of the river yields up its abundant storea at the 
 aligntest aummona of their wants. 
 
 Their mode of transportation, and the carriage of their cooda from place to 
 
 Itiace, is peculiar, and worthy of mention. They pack all their (joods in uniform 
 ots, of one hundred pounds each, and their boats being all of ono size and form, ara 
 consequently all loaded alike. When they make portages, in aacending or descend- 
 ing the stream, an eatablished rule, which on no account must be departed from, 
 directa the number of packages to be taken out to lighten the craft, and this direc- 
 tion varies according to the navigation of the place. Thia regulation ensures the 
 aafety of every expedition, and prevcnta many losses and dangers that would 
 otherwise arise out of the indiscretion and daring of the boatmen. A f-^ yeara 
 ago, a party of eight of the company's servants were descending the river in a boat, 
 and when they came in contact with the Cascades, and were about landing to make 
 tho portage, according to custom, one of the party proposed, as they were anxioua 
 to arrive at home, that they ahould run through them. T^e proposal, though 
 Btanling at firat, wna graduaflv asseiiled to by ulTof the party but one. This was 
 an old pilot, who had been in the Company's aervice for a number of yeara, and who 
 waa well acquainted with all the dangera of the passage. He held out stubbornly 
 against their united wishes, until accuaed of cowardice, when he relinquished hia 
 opposition, and partly to vindicate himself from the charge, and partly out of spite 
 to their reckless folly, determined to give them a chance of proving his correctness 
 by actual experiment. The boat passed aafely down for some two or three hundred 
 yards, when multiplyine dangers whirled and foamed on every side, and the increasing 
 ones that roared and moke ahead, struck them suddenly witn a panic, and for a 
 moment they ceased to pull their oara. The pause was fatal. The edge of a 
 whirlpool caught the tail of the boat, awung her broadside to the stream with sudden 
 velocity, and rushing it in this helpless condition among the moat fearful rapida, 
 it waa suddenly overwhelmed by the lashing waves, and all on board periahcd, save 
 the old man who had oppoaed the experiment, and one other hand. The pilot seized 
 on an oar, and was picked up with it firmly enclosed in his senseless grasp, at a 
 apot four miles below the scene of the disaster. The other man, by an equally stranse 
 caprice of the current, waa cast insensible upon the bank immediately below the 
 Cascadca. 
 
 Whatever may be the cauae of complaint existing against the Hudson's Bay 
 Company, in their treatment of former emigrants from the United .States, the kind- 
 neea of Dr. McLaughlin to this emigration has been very great. He furnished them 
 with goods and proviaiona on credit, and such as were sick were aent to the 
 Hospital free of expenae, where they had the strict and careAil attendance of Dr. 
 Barclay, a akilful physician, and an excellent and humane man. The Chief Factor 
 likewise lent the emigrants the Company's boats, to bring down such of the familiea 
 and baggage as had been left at the Cascade* by the advanced guard of the expedi- 
 tion, which had preceded me ; and he also furnished them with the same facilitiea 
 
 * Along deicription of the diflerent trading posts belonginff to the H. B. Co., has been left 
 out, inconsequence of the previous supply of that information id the demonstration of title and 
 in the Oeographical sketch. 
 
HISTORY or ORCr.ON. 
 
 Vf 
 
 I Bar 
 
 kind- 
 jthem 
 the 
 Dr. 
 actor 
 lilies 
 
 S' edi- 
 _ itiM 
 
 hnleit 
 [leand 
 
 fbr croiiinff thn rivnr with their cattli), nt Vancouver. Had it not been for tb« 
 kindtiou ofthii etcellont man, many of ua would have aufTurod ureally, and I havt 
 no doubt, that much injuitico haa been dona him, bv confounding hia ueraunal 
 eonduct with that of many of hia countrymen. The policy of the cfompanj 
 toward the Indiana, haa, it ia true, been very aeriautly condomnod, aa will be atiea 
 by Mr. Spnutdiiig'a communication, embraced in Mr. Pundleton'a report, but it ia 
 very quuationable, whether Dr McLaughlin ia jiiitly chargeHblo with all tho evila 
 that have nriaon out of tt. It ia certainly true, thnt he haa been in aome inoaiure 
 the victim of miarcproaentation ; for I know uf my own knowlHlge, that tho Indiana 
 of Southern Oregon, and ihoao tribea bordering on the' Californian line, Inaiead 
 •f being inoflenaive and well-diapoaed, aa deacribod by Mr. Spauiuinir, are on tho 
 eontrnry hoilile, thicviah, and treacheroua. Thia ia aomethitig towarda a general 
 Tefutntion. It ia certain that the Doctor liimi^clf haa uniformly aided aetttura, by 
 ■upplying thom with farming implemonti, and with aced grain, aa n loan, to bo 
 returned out of the auccceding crop. He haa oven went ao far aa to lend them 
 hoga, to bo returned two or three yoara afterward, by their iaaue of the aame age ; 
 to furnish oxen to break their ground, and cowa to aupply milk to their familiea. 
 Thia certainly appeara to me to bo a vury poor way to retard the aottlcment of the 
 legion, and to diacouragn adventurera wlio nrrive in it. 
 
 A great deal hna boeri aaid againat him hocauan ho hna refuaed to aell the cattle 
 belonging to tho Company, but thoae who have made theae complainta, have 
 eerlainly reflected very littlo upon tho aubjcct, and aro incapable of inoi^auring the 
 enlarged acopo of the Doctor*a policy. The aupply of the cattlo ■ nd aheep of the 
 ■ottlementa waa very limited, and the great object haa been to increaae it. Thia 
 could only be carried out by secure meaauroa for their protection ; and it would have 
 been abaurd, indeed, while tho authoritiea of the Fort were denying themaelvea the 
 hizury of beef or mutton, to carry out this important object, if they ahould huve 
 sold cattle to thoae whose caprice mighl destroy them at pleasure. Doaidea, all the 
 - cattle, with the exception of a very few, were inferior Spanish animals, and it was 
 a matter of necessity to improve the stock, by crossing them with thoae of the 
 Engliah breed. The same case existed with regard to the sheep, which were from 
 California, but which, by repeated crossings, huve at length not only been greatly 
 increased, but but huve been improved nearly to the condition of full blooda. 
 
 The Bcience of atock raising, the rouifh mountain men who were tho first aettlen 
 from the States, did not understand. They could only undersfand that brutea wore 
 made to kill, and hence the disaatiafaction, and consequent rumplaint. Having 
 improved his stock, and accomplished a propter degree of increase, the Doctor waa 
 ready enough to sell on reasouHble terms, though, to say the truth, he did not find a 
 very ready market. The buainesa of aheep raising on a small scale is acarcely 
 worth attention. The wolvea are sure to kill the animals, unless they are continue 
 ally attended by a shepherd, and carefully folded at night ; and besides, woollen 
 goods can be had here so cheap, that their fleece hardly pays for the care required 
 to raise it, and the raising of nomed cattle, and wheat, is much more profitable. 
 So far as its own individual interests are concerned, (without regard to the claim to 
 sovereignty from exclusive occupation,) it is not the interest of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company any longer to retard the settlement of this country. The beaver have 
 nearly been exhausted from the region ; the Indiana are year by year rapidly 
 paasing away, and even those that remain, can bring nothing to the Company in the 
 way of trade. By aettlement from the States, tho Company, who monopolize the 
 commerce and manufacturos of the place, obtain white mori for cuatomers, the trade 
 of one of whom ia worth that of forty Indiana, who have nothing to sell. 
 
 The prices of groceries and clothing at Vancouver, are, upon a general average, 
 the same as in the States, aome that cost more, being balanced by those that come at 
 less. Loaf sugar of the firat quality, is worth 20 cents per lb. ; coffee, 2i cents ; 
 brown sugar, 12^ cents. Tea is better and cheaper than in the States, the road 
 to China being so much shorter than from the Atlantic coast, and lying aa it were 
 right oppoaite the door of the Columbia river. Woollen gooda and ready made 
 clothing being introduced here without duty as it is considered an English pott, are 
 greatly cheaper than with us. A very good strong quality of blue broadcloth six 
 quarters wide can be had for one dollar and twenty-five centa per yard. A very 
 neat cloth roundabout, comea at $4,37^ ; pantaloona at five dollars ; heavy, well- 
 made cotton shirts are worth 13 centt Ivlackinaw blankets of superior quality, 
 $3,50 each. All articles of cutlery are r.Lo cheap from the same reason as the 
 above. Calicoes and brown cottons are about the same as in the States. Iron is 
 about 10 cents a pound ; gunpowder 86 cents ; lead 12i cents, and shot the lame. 
 
 7 
 
98 
 
 HiaTORT or OREGON. 
 
 Boots and shoes are yet very high, and crockery tf al) descn'ptiont is aTso dlBsr 
 Chains, tools, and farming implennents, are very reasonable ; the best Gary ploughir 
 ean be had to order from an excellent blacluniith at the place at 314 cents per 
 pound. Wheat is worth one dollar a boshet ; potatoes^ 40' cents ; fresh pork 19 
 cents, pickled 12^ ; frdsh beef, 6 cents per pmmd. American cows bring from 
 S60to$75v and Spanish from S30 to $40; osm from $7S> to 1125, per yoke;. 
 American horses from 950 to 76 dollars each. There ia a» abundance of poultry 
 in the country, and there are also a plentiful supply of the two cheees of domestic 
 animals known by the familiar appellations of eats and dogsy but stilf I wouldl adviso 
 emigrants to bring dogs with them that are of a good breed, a» in a country where 
 so much game a^nds, and where there are herds to watch, they are calculated to- 
 be very useful. 
 
 All the goods sold ait Vancoaver are of the most superior qnolity, and tho purcha' 
 ser in thie region of general honesty and enterprise, receiveo them at twelve montho 
 credit ; so thus the greatest obstacle to the poor emigrint after hia arrival here, va- 
 nishes at once. This is a country of peace and good will ; every new comer is re* 
 eeived as a brother ; the poor man's wealth lies in his arms, and the industry and 
 enterprise which brought him here to claim by hia labor heaven's first gifts in the 
 riches of the soil, is accepted aa the substantial and sufficient guarantee of hia good 
 feith. 
 
 The utmost liberaKty characteriaea all the dealinga with tha stranger and even 
 with the resident. If your fortunes have been adverse, and you are not ablo t» pay 
 for last year'a dealings you are required to give your note, drawing.inteveat at 
 five per cent. Instances have come to my knowledge since my arrival, in which 
 Dr. McLaughlin has extended the credit of some of his customero for two or three 
 years together. He has supplied most of the members of last year's emigration witb 
 such articles as they needed, taking in payment only thepledge of theii honest faceo 
 and bard hands.* 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 
 The Chief Factor's frohity — Departure from Vancouver — Wajrpato latmiA — Game 
 — The Willamette — Lirmtan — FaUatry Plaint — The Klackamus — The Fallt— 
 Fallatry River — Thomas McKay — Yam Hill Xiver—Multonomah — MeFarley 
 and Diemherten — Theirnew positions — The half heeds. 
 
 I iiAvi stated before that the special object of my journey to Vancouver Was to* 
 consummate the arrangement I had made with Mr. McKinley of Fort Wallawalla, 
 in regard to the exchange of our cattle. On the morning after my afrival^ I there' 
 fore opened my business to the Doctor, and presented hin» with the aforesaid gen* 
 tleman^s order. The old gentlemen at once gave evident signs of displeasure. He 
 saw in a nrament that Mr. McKinley had taken advantage of out ignorance to drive 
 a sharp bargain, and gave an immediate and decided dissent t» the whole proceed- 
 ing- 
 
 " Are yeu aware," said he to me, " that enr Spanish cattle are muck' inferior to- 
 
 yours 1" 
 
 I told him I thought they were from the specimens I had seen at hia place. 
 
 " And yon have learned," continued he, ^ that cattle may be safely driven front' 
 Wallawalla to this post V 
 
 1 admitted that the success of our emigraatain buinging throagh their atoek, had 
 convinced me of that fact. 
 
 ** Mr. McKinley has done very wrong," said he, shaking his head, " very wrong^ 
 indeed f Tour caAtle are superior to those I should be obliged to give you, and 
 you would be mucb the losers by the arrangement. I will net consent to* profit by 
 your reliance on eur good faitb. I wiil write to Mr. McKinley to take good care of 
 your animals, and to deliver them to you whenever yeu have settled upon your final 
 residence. If yen should decide upon settling near us, we shall have the advantage 
 of improving the breeds by them. But coma, Mr. , leave this matter to me r 
 
 * There is nothinif wonderfiil in all this. The Doctor could do buiineu in no other way 
 witk the claii of customen he leeki, and as foirthe taking of the note at the end of the year, 
 when the niifortunet of his creditor have left nothing eUe to take, it is a measure itnctly 
 protective of liimseir, and has nothing of generosity in ft.. The Doctor is doubtless a very •X'- 
 caUent man, but the fcbove ciroumstances only prove him to be a very good merchant. 
 
mS'TORY OF OREGON. 
 
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 let us .drop business for the present, and lake a turn down towards the river ; T wish 
 to give some directions to an expedition to Fort George, and then I wish to show 
 you a splendid stallion which I bought from an Indian this morning." 
 
 It may be supposed by some, that Dr. McLaughlin, under the idea that I was one 
 «r the leaders of our formidable expedition, was practising upon me a piece of most 
 adroit Anesse, t« enlist my favor at the outset, but, as I have had mucn the best op- 
 portunity to judge, I siiall not hesitate to decide in favor of his entire sincerity. 
 
 That I may not overlook it, I wilt take this opportunity to state that when I was 
 «t Vancouver, the cattle of our emigration which had been driven clear through to 
 the'Willamette, were improving rapidly, and many of the o.xen were already ao far 
 recruited as to be able to be worked daily in the plough. 
 
 Having concluded my business at Vancouver, and after having spent three very 
 pleasant days in the hospitable society of the place, I determined to proceed on to the 
 Willamette to make a selection of my final location. 
 
 Five miles sail down the Columbia brings you to the eastern mouth of the 
 Willamette. The first object that strikes you immediately upon your entrance is 
 Saury's Island, or as it is sometimes called, Willamette or Wappato Island. This 
 is a long tract of low land about twenty miles in length, and about five in width. 
 It lies directly in the mouth of the river, and thus splitting the stream, causes it to 
 disembogue by two outlets into the Columbia at a distance of fifteen miles from 
 each other. Its surface is mostly a low bottom prairie which overflows every sum- 
 mer, and it is intersected in every direction with small shallow lakes in which grows 
 a species of Indian potatoe called " Wappato," similar in flavor to the Irish potatoe, 
 and being a most excellent and nutritious description' of food. There are, however, 
 several spots of fir timber on it, on high ground above high water, and also a large 
 •mount of cotton wood, white oak and ash timber in several portions of it. There 
 are immenee numbers of wild hogs upon the island, the issue of some placed there 
 several years ago by the Hudson's Bay Company, which find u plentiful subsistence 
 in the Wappato root, and on the mast of the oak. On the lakes, marshes and 
 rivers of this place, may be found innumerable swarms of wild fowl, consisting of 
 ducks, geese and swans. These the Indians kill in great numbers and sell to the 
 whites at extremely low rates, the former being charged at four, the second six, and 
 the latter at ten loads of powder and shot each. A family could easily be supported 
 here on wild fowl alone. After you pass up the river for two miles, you come to the 
 Willamette slough where tho stream divides itself ; the smaller portion turning to 
 the left and running down in that direction along the island till it reaches the 
 Columbia 15 miles south of the northern mouth. From the slough starts a ridge of 
 lofty mountains about fifteen hundred feet in height, running parallel with the bank 
 of the river up along its course. These are covered with immense forests of fit, 
 white cedar, hemlock, cherry, maple, and some other kinds of trees, but the fir and 
 cedar constitute nine tenths of the whole body of the timber. The space between 
 this ridge and the river is low bottom land, which overflows in some years, except 
 at a point five miles from the river's mouth that has since been laid out by 
 General M'Carver and myself under the name of Linntan. This stands upon a high 
 piece of level land about five feet above the level of the stream, and from its being 
 the nearest eligible site for a settlement on the Willamette, it appeared to us to 
 ofier superior advantages for a town. As 1 may be supposed, from the fact I have 
 above stated, to be interested in this point, I will pass it without further remark. 
 When you reach Linntan you have as yet seen no fine farming or grazing country, 
 except that which is covered with immense bodies of timber requiring too vast a 
 labor to remove. From Linntan, there is a good road passing over the ridge of 
 mountains I have mentioned, and leading out ten miles to the famous Fallatry 
 Plains. As you approach within five miles of this region of exhuberant fertility, the 
 timber, which is mixed fir and cedar, becomes more scattering, and the country 
 gradually more open. These plains, as they are called, consist of a succession of 
 small prairies about three miles long, and two broad, separated from each other by 
 small groves of timber, and stretching west from Linntan, until they connect 
 with the Yam Hill country, which I shall hereafter describe. These beautiful plains 
 are almost encircled by a ridge of verdant mountains, in the form of a horso shoe ; 
 its convex sweeping towards the Willamette and the open end running into the Yam 
 Hill valley. This ridge of mountains is in many places heavily timbered, and in 
 others the timber is very scattering, the surface of the mountain being covered instead, 
 with fine grass, constituting an inexhaustible range. How far apart this horse 
 shoe is at the base, I cannot with exactness tell, but I suppose it, from a cursory 
 observation, to be from twenty to thirty miles, and enclosing in its boundaries land 
 
 • i I 
 
 i 
 
 '.ii 
 
 _J^ -^ 
 
100 
 
 HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 (enough for two fine countries. These plains are ffently underlating smooth ptgimea', 
 with a black fertile soil upon a clay foundation. The fir timber comes immediately 
 up to the prairie, so that in five stops you can be out of the open field, in whose 
 velvet smoothness not even a twig can be seen, into the dark green recesses of an 
 everlasting forest of the tallest, straigbtest timber, studded in the thickest and most 
 formidable array. I should think there was rail timber enough upon ten of these 
 acres to fence five hundred. 
 
 There are no deep branches running through these plains, but the water runs off 
 in little vallies about ten yards wide, and where these vallies reach the forest, they 
 are covered with black ash and white oak timber. There is also at various places 
 around these prairies fino bodies of white oak timber. Take them altogether, I havo 
 never in my life seen prairies more beautiful than these are, or that were situated 
 more advantageously for cultivation. The first settlements in this voluptuous region 
 were made about three years ago, and they now extend to about fifteen miles into 
 their bosom, and already embrace many fine farms, some containing as much as a 
 hundred and fifty acres in fine cultivation. Were I possessed of a poet's imagina- 
 tion I might describe in spontaneous song the superlative loveliness of this delightful 
 scene as viewed from the slope of one of the encircling bills, but not being gifted 
 wifh the poet's frenzy, I must leave the features of this delightful region to the 
 imagination of the reader. 
 
 The Willamette river is navigable for ships for five miles above Linntan, bat 
 after passing up that distance, you come to a bar which forbids the further passage 
 of vessels of any draught. Small vessels and steamboats, however, can ascend 
 to within a short distance of the Falls. Three miles below the Falls, you come 
 to the mouth of a stream called the Klackamus, which enters the river from the 
 east. It rises in the President's range, and in its course of thirty miles, collects a 
 considerable body of water, which it contributes to the main stream. Its current 
 is rapid and broken, and not navigable to any available degree, and its tide sets with 
 so strong a force into the Wallamette, as to offer a serious impediment to boats 
 stretching across its mouth. 
 
 As we neared the Falls, the water was shallow and fretted by the irregular surface 
 of the bottom, and we were obliged on coming up to it to make a portage beyond. 
 At the place of our debarkation, on the eastern bank, rose a perpendicular wall of 
 rock, stretching somo distance down the river. Through this, however, you find 
 an easy avenue, but recently cut, to the high land above, which as soon as you as- 
 cend you find yourself amid the forests and the prairies of the upper plains. 
 
 After rising above the Falls, we came in view of Oregon City, the town of secon- 
 dary importance in the territory. Here is situated, at the present time, from eighty 
 to an hundred families, with stores, mills, workshops, factories, and all the conco- 
 mitants of thriving civilization. They have likewise an independent government 
 of their own, and as far as things have progressed, every thing has gone well. 
 Great improvements arc meditated at this place, and Dr. M'Laughlin, who is the 
 owner of the first establishment you meet in rising from the lower bed of the 
 river, meditates the project of cuttii>g a canal around the Falls for the purpose of 
 the more easy transportation of the harvests and manufactures of the upper settle- 
 ments of the Columbia.* 
 
 The Falls presented a beautiful sight as they rushed |in alternate sheet and foam, 
 over an abrupt wall of dark rock stretching obliquely across the stream, and the 
 hoarse uproar of the waters as they tumbled into the bed of the river below, lent an 
 additional solemnity to the imposing grandeur of the scenery around. 
 
 The river's edge, for several miles above them, is bordered by a row of moun- 
 tains, shutting out the surrounding prospect by their continually intervening bulks, 
 from us who sailed upon the silvery bottom of the immense green trough between. 
 There was nothing forbidding in their aspects however, for their sides were cov- 
 ered with umbrageous forests of thickly studded timber of the most magnificent 
 description. About fifteen miles above the falls, these hills, by a gradual modifica- 
 tion of their altitude, roll into verdant undulations, spreading at last into level 
 grassy plains, and alternating with fiourishmg clumps of timber land. At this point, 
 we came upon McKay's settlement, which is situated on the eastern bank, and pre- 
 sents all the evidences of a flourishing [little town. Thomas McKay, its founder, 
 is a native of this region in the fullest sense of the word, being the joint descendant 
 of one of the early fur traders belonging to the Pacific Company, and a Chippeway 
 squaw. The son, following the fortunes of his father, grew up in the service of 
 
 , * We have already seen that this project is.in course of cozuummation. , 
 
HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 101 
 
 as- 
 
 ihe 
 of 
 
 ittle- 
 
 oun- 
 ulks, 
 ^een. 
 
 COT- 
 
 icent 
 ifica- 
 level 
 loint, 
 pre- 
 ndeTr 
 bdant 
 pway 
 se of 
 
 the North West Assoeiatiun, and transferred hinnself, at the time of its dissolution, 
 into that of the Hudson's Bay. Having at length acquired a competence, he re- 
 tired from their arduous service, and estabhshed himself in his present location. 
 Ho may now be said to be the most wealthy man in the valley of the Willamette, 
 having an extensive and well stocked farm, and being the owner of a grist mill of 
 superior construction, which must have cost him several thousand dollars to erect. 
 He is a fine specimen of the two races, and combines the energy and perseverance 
 of the one, with the strong passions and determined will of the other. His life has 
 been one scene of wild adventure, and in the numerous conflicts of tho ea ly trap- 
 pers with the savage tribes, he was always foremost in the fight, and the most re- 
 markable in his display of daring bravery and enduring courage. Many a red man 
 has fallen in conflict beneath his rifle, and tho warlike bands that have gradually 
 moved away, or been subdued into obedience, well recollect the terrible prowess of 
 their dreaded cousin. 
 
 Between this town and the mission establishment above, (a distance of forty 
 miles,) farms are sprinkled all along, and at twelve miles above McKay's, we meec 
 another flourishing village, called iarvis's settlement, containing between thirty and 
 forty families, which are about divided as to national distinction. It was originally 
 a mere collection of retired Hudson's Bay servants, hut the gradual accession of 
 American settlers, has thus changed its co'nplexion. This is a significant circum- 
 stance, and clearly indicates that it is our destiny to first alter and then reverse the 
 political balance of every settlement in Oregon. 
 
 In my progress up the river I omitted to mention the fact that at a short distance 
 above the falls, wo come to the mouth of another small tributary on the west, called 
 the Fallatry river. It takes its rise in the northern portion of the range of moun- 
 tains which I have described as encircling the Fallatry plains, and in its course 
 t(irough,them, pursues a southeasterly direction until it empties into the Willamette. 
 
 The next stream entering the Willamette on its western bank, is the Yam Hili 
 river. This tributary rises in a west, or south west direction from the point of its 
 junction with the Willamette, in the range of low mountains that run along the 
 edge of the coast. It starts from its source in a northwest direction, and receives 
 a number of smaller tributaries in the shape of creeks. The valley of this stream 
 is a very fine country, consisting of prairie, spotted with groves, and oak timber 
 growing upon the same rich vegetable soil that is spread upon its plains. It ex- 
 tends to the bases of the mountains in which tlio Yam Hill takes its rise, and from 
 its westernmost limit the roar of the adjacent ocean can be heard. The route to 
 California passes some distance along the line of this valley, and a most excellent 
 load can be had leading from it, through the Fallatry plains, to Linntan. 
 , The country all along the eastern bank of the Willamette, above McKay's set- 
 tlement, is as good as tho Yam Hill country, or tho Fallatry Plains, and is much 
 the same, both in regard to its natural productions, and its soil. There aro fine 
 facilities for intercommunication with its different points ; the line of travel is level 
 and easy, and it has in consequence, secured throughout its course, a row of settle- 
 ments which in a few years will extend into a continuous chain. 
 
 After you leave Jarvis's settlement, you proceed up the river for about thirty 
 miles, when you come to the principal town of Oregon. This is situated on the 
 eastern batik of the Willamette, and is ninety-four miles from the Columbia river. 
 It was first formed in 1834, by a party of American missionaries under the direc- 
 Jaon of Messrs. Lee, Shepherd, and others, and its vicinity had, even previous to 
 that period, been selected by several retired servants of the Hudson's Bay Com- 
 pany. It has, ever since the above period, been the seat of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal mission, and has now become the head quarters of the operations of the dis- 
 trict. Passing the period of my first visit to it, I will take this opportunity to state 
 that there are at the present moment, (March, 1844,) at this place over two hun- 
 dred families, and that there are in the whole valley of the Willamette, more than 
 a thousand citizens of the United States. A church, a hospital, an academy, mills, 
 workshops, comfortable |dwellings, a herd of five thousand head of cattle, and all 
 the accompaniments of 'civilization and refinement are to be found here, and any 
 man who can be content to live beyond the limits of a densely populated city, can 
 find at this place all the comforts and enjoyments which a rational being, uncor- 
 ruptpd by false appetites, can crave. 
 
 Already a court-house has been erected, and a military organisation formed, the 
 object of which is, protection against any formidable attack from the border In- 
 dians, or a means of resistance to any attempted aggression on the pnrt of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company. It is, however, proper for mo to say that there is not the 
 
 
 II 
 
102 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 
 ft : 
 
 slightest dread of either of these circumstances, as no hostile 'demonstration hav 
 been made, for several years, upon any of the white settlers in this region, and we 
 have received evidence upon evidence, that the authorities of Vancouver are will- 
 ing that we shall take the burden of civil and criminal jurisdiction from their shoul- 
 ders, so far as regards the government of otuselves. It is, doubtless, their wisest 
 policy. An American from the States grows up with the notion that he has a right 
 to help govern himself, and he submits with a very bad grace to any exercise of 
 sovereignty on the part of an Englishman. Indeed, he will not aobmit to it at all, 
 and I have no kind of doubt that had the Hudsan's Bay Company been unwise 
 enough to truckle to tho policy of their national government, and to insist, in despit» 
 of their own interests, on exercising legal control over us, the peaceful valleys of 
 this region would, ere now, have been dyed with baman blood. 
 
 McFarley and Dumberton, both appear to appreciate the value of the field that 
 is here thrown open to their ambition, and already these aspiring spirits have adopt- 
 ed a system of harrangueing '* The People," with a view of effecting new political 
 arrangements. Each evidently thinks Nature intended him for a legislator, and con- 
 stantly endeavors to lend Destiny some aid in the immense up hill nature of her 
 task. As might be supposed, in a rivalry of this kind, the opponents represent 
 opposite sets of principles and opinions. McFarley being a red hot, ultra radical, 
 and Dumberton, representing the cold and calculating conservative. Each have 
 managed already to secure a clique, and whilc^ McFarley is regarded by his faction, 
 as " a thunder-an-lighmin-smart-feiier ;" Dumberton is revered by his " following" 
 as '■ a tremendyers man." I am inclined to think McFarley will get the best of 
 the struggle, if there is to be any best about it, for he advocates extending the elec- 
 tive franchise to the Indians, with whom he has already secured an extensive in- 
 terest and admiration, by his expertness with the rifle and in spearing fish ; while 
 Dumberton confines himself to prc»found and ponderous speculations on the more 
 abstruse propositions of political <iconomy. 
 
 Whether Messrs. McFarley or Dumberton will have anything to do with it or 
 not, I have no doubt, that the civil and criminal government of the little colonies 
 of this territory will shortly bo perfectly organised ; and in a manner too that will 
 render us entirely independent of the jurisdiction or assistance of the United Slates ; 
 .in which case, inasmuch as she has neglected this region so long, she must look 
 out, say some of the old settlers, that she does not lose it altogether. 
 
 There are a large number of Indians about this settlement and valley, who are 
 under the care of the missionaries, and who perform much of the servile labor of the 
 mission establishment. Indeed they are employed the same way by these religious 
 establishments, throughout the territory, as they are by the Hudson's Bay Company ; 
 so if there is anything which smacks of slavery in the one case, it necessarily follows 
 in the other. 
 
 . There is another, and pretty numerous branch of population growing up here, 
 which cannot be passed without notice. This is the class of half breeds, the issue 
 of the Indian women, who are either married to, or fall otherwise in the haads of the 
 careless trapper, or the indifferent woodsman. As there is a great scarcity of white 
 women in the territory, this state of things naturally results, and the consequence 
 will be, that the half breeds, during the next five or six years, will form by far the 
 most numerous native born of the population. Some of these are fine specimens 
 of the two races, and if the cross turns out many such men as McKay, there will 
 be no reason to regret this perversion of ft^icy, or rather this push of necessity (»> 
 the part of their male progenitors. 
 
 At a short distance above Multonmah, a stream called the Santa Ann I believe, 
 enters the Willamette from the cast, along the banks of which there is a vast body 
 of fine country. It takes its rise in the portion of the President's range in the vici- 
 nity of Mount Jefferson. 
 
 The portion of the Willamette valley lying between the Cascade ridge and the 
 range of low mountains next the ocean, is from fifty to one hundred miles wide, and 
 about two hundred and fifty, to three hundred feet long. It consists of rich prairie 
 land and timber, and let who will say to the contrary, is one of the finest pieces of 
 farming land to be found in any country. There is very little difference in the seve- 
 ral portions of this valley, with the exception of the circumstance, that the timber 
 is larger and a little more abundant in some places than in others, and no>w and then 
 the prairies vary to some extent in size. This section constitutes the great body 
 of the prime farming and grazing section of the lower region of Oregon, though 
 there are other beautiful portions in the valleys of lh& Tootoatutna^ the Umpqua 
 and the Klamet farther south. 
 
HrSTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 103 
 
 are 
 the 
 
 the 
 and 
 
 seve- 
 iinber 
 then 
 body 
 ough 
 xtp^ua 
 
 CHAPTER X. , 
 
 iP«»ei/fe 'dotrn the Cohimbi*— Astoria— The mouth of liu Columbia — Lawyer a in 
 Oregon — Lmo twit — A^Uition oj the comununily — iMtninous view of the gentle- 
 men from Big Pigean — The phtlosophv of $oul saving and mode of converting 
 savages in Oirgon — How in raise wheat — FacilUies for farming purposes — 
 ■General view of the (otiley «/' tke WillameUe. 
 
 To reach the Willamette, I had procveded down the Celumbia to the eastern 
 ineuth 'of the foriner river at Wappato Island.; and for the purpose of completing 
 <the r«ute to Astoria, I will now uUe the river up at that pemt again and trace it to 
 the ocean. Passing along Wappato for fifteen amies, you come to the western 
 tnouth of the WiNam«tte. The Island at this point is high and has a bold rocky 
 shore, right up te which, the water is of sufficient depth to allow a large class vessel 
 to lie up and unload, an important advantage in case the point should ever be select- 
 ed f«r commercial purposes. On the southern bank of the river itnmediaiely below 
 the lower mouth «f the Willamette, is « situation which would afford a fine site for 
 a settlement er a town, ft is true it ts covered with fine heavy timber, but it rises 
 gently from the river, «nd through the forests in the rear, a natural gap may be seen, 
 which off' " facilities for an avenue directly to the riches of the Fallatry plains be- 
 hind. Thti 11 jdson's Bay Company perceiving the advantage of the situation, have 
 already built a house there and nave established one of their servants in it. They 
 faave many beuses thus spotted about on eligible sites, the whole object of which 
 in many cases must merely be the eventual assumption of a prior right, by pre-occu- 
 pation, in «as8 others should wish to eettle in the same place. 
 
 As you .pass down the Columbia, you find no plains along the river, but it is still 
 twrdered with its row «f mountains running al«ng the banks on either side, and 
 bearing upon their sides the everlasting groves of timber. A few miles below 
 Wappato Island, «n the other side of the river, you strike the mouth of the 
 Coweliic river, in the valley of which I am told some very good land is to be 
 found, though most of the soil on the north bank of the Columbia is poor, and is 
 unfit for the production of wheat or the esculent grams, except sparsely and in 
 epots. Thia feature increases as you proceed northward, and the land in the vicinity 
 of Nisqually, on Puget'e Sound, is incapable, as I ant) told, of ordinary production.* 
 
 Below the Cowelitc river, the Columbia begins to widen, and at the distance of 
 ten milea from the sea, it spreads to a width of several miles, forming by its singular 
 extension at this part, the portion which British navigators have called Gray's bay, 
 for the purpose of making the world believe that Captain Gray did not discover the 
 Columbia, but only entered the bay into vAick it disembogues, to the distance of 
 twenty or tUrty miles, 
 
 Astoria, or Fort George as it is now called by the company who have it in pos- 
 session, is situated on the soutb bank of the river, about ten miles from the ocean. 
 it stands on a hill side, and consists only of a few acres which have been redeemed 
 by industrious clearing from the immense forests running behind it. Some of these 
 trees are «f the most enormous size, and the soil can enly be got at with immense 
 labor in the way of dealing. Until our arrival, it consisted only of three or four \of 
 houses in a rather dilapidated condition, but now it is revived by its old name of 
 Astoria, by Captain Applegate and others, who have laid off a town there, and 
 <livided it into lots. It will hardly answer the expectations of those who go to it 
 The ground is rendered too wet for cultivation, by numerous springs that run 
 through it in every direction, and the ocean air is sure to blast the wheat before it 
 can ripen. Garden vegetablea, however, grow there finely.. Beyond Astoria, and 
 nearer to the ocean, you find a small prairie about two miles long by three wide. 
 It has been formed, it is said, by the ocean, and its soil is represented to be a rich 
 black sandy deposit, varying from eight to fifteen inches deep, when it comes to a 
 foundation of pure sand. 
 
 The HMuth of the Columbia is the only harbor for ships upon the whole Pacific 
 coast of Oregon. Its channel is very difficult, being tortuous in its course, and per- 
 plexed by sand bars, and on account of the violence of its breakers, caused by the 
 sudden confluence of the river's descending volume and the ocean tides, it is 
 extremely dangerous for more than two-thiids of the year to attempt to enter it. 
 
 ♦This is at variance with the account of Lieutenant Wilkes, who represents the Nisqually 
 establishment as a very good one, and as furnishing, by its productiveness, supplies to other 
 stations and to the Russians. 
 
 !!i 
 
 m 
 
104 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 J 
 
 it- ' 
 
 Once in, however, nnd there is good anchorage and safe navigation. The whole' 
 coast, in fact, is perilous to approach, and a north-east wind by giving navigators a 
 lee shoro of black overhanging rocks, heightens their danger not a little. The only 
 place of refuge for vessels south of the Columbia on the Oregon coast, is the mouth 
 "f the UmpquB, a river entering the Pacific in 42° 51', where vessels drawing eight 
 feet of water may securely enter, A similar harbor may be found between forty 
 and fifty miles to the north, called Gray's Harbor, which also affords like lecurity 
 for vessels of the same draught. 
 
 Having now completed the account of the line of route from the state of Missouri 
 to the mouth of the Columbra, I will now return to tho valley of the Willamette as 
 the point of the greatest interest, and after a. few more remarks concerning it, will 
 turn my attention to some of the general featirrea of the territory. 
 
 As I said before, ships ascend the Columbia to the lower mouth of the Willa- 
 mette at Wappato island, (and as high as the Cascades, in a direct onward course 
 if they please,) and turning into the river, sail five miles up it to Linntan, and! 
 beyond that, five miles more. There, a bar forbids the further progress of any but 
 small vessels which may proceed onward to within seven or eight miles of the falls^ 
 and boats may go nearly up to it Above the falls, t.ie river is navigable for steam- 
 boats for over fifty miles. 
 
 Before passing Oregon city, I will take this opportunity to mention a circumstance- 
 in relation to it, which is not a little amusing in its character, as well as significant 
 of the progress of civilization and social refinement in this primeval wilderness. 
 It appears that Doctor McLaughlin, and some of the missionaries of the settlement 
 above, are rival claimants to a portion of it, and one of the reverend gentlemen 
 connected with the mission, hits given way to his litigious feelings and employed a 
 Mr. Ricard, a lawyer, (we have lawyers here too you see,) to institute a suit against 
 the doctor for the site in dispute, in the United States courts, with the hope of 
 compelling an ejection of the trespasser. Mr. Ricard has commenced proceedings, 
 by putting up a very large hand bill, giving an abstract of the title of the mission,, 
 and notifying the doctor and all other persons to quit the premises — warning those, 
 moreover, who have not as yet encroached, by no means to do so, withoat obtaining 
 ■f)ecial leave from the owners aforesaid. I know very little about the merits of this 
 dispute, but I do know that this is the fruitful source of one-half the debates of the 
 settlements. It takes the place of. foreign and domestic news of other portions of 
 the world, and wonderful are the speculations that are projected on its score. It 
 may be readily supposed that such a circumstance as this, has not been overlooked 
 by McFiirley and Dumberton ; on the contrary, both snapped at it with the avidity 
 of hungry tigers. McFarley is very strenuous in favor of the claims of his own 
 countrymen, and has made out a deduction in their favor, which is based, I believe, 
 on the treaty of Utrecht^ or sonte other equally satisfactory basis. He is very 
 decided in his intention of sustaining them with his personal influence and talents, 
 and has solemnly pledged himself even to the extent of fighting it out with the rifle. 
 Dumberton, on the other hand, though equally decided in favor of the mission claim- 
 ants, avers that ho cannot but regard the circumstance of this dispute with the 
 highest degree of satisfaction. "An opportunity is now furnished us," says he, 
 " through this insignificant controversy, to settle the title of the whole country, and 
 to expel the govermental trespassers from every point and portion of its dominions." 
 "This," he adds, "will bring war between the United States and Great Britain ; 
 Ireland will revolt ; Canada will secede ; the monarchs of the Indies will throw off 
 their slavish yoke ; Russia unrestrained will snap up Turkey as a famished mastiff 
 would deal with a fresh kidney, and, in short, the whole world would bo revolu- 
 tionized, and the balances of power altered by the controversy in relation to 
 this scrip of land." Tbia opinion, backed as it is by the weight of Dumberton'* 
 enormous reputation for profound sagacity, has created no slight sensation in our 
 little world. I believe Doctor McLaughlin has been made acquainted with these 
 views of the gentleman from Big Pigeon, but whether their forcefulness created any 
 serious alarm in his mind, or whatever other effect they have been attended with, f 
 have not been able to ascertain. 
 
 So far as the philanthropic objects of the mission are concerned, I do not see that 
 they can derive any direct or indirect benefit from the possession of the place they 
 strive for ; though I, for one, am decidedly in favor of their relinquishing no right 
 of settlement they have acquired in any portion of the territory ; but I here feel 
 bound to say, as a portion of my general remarks upon this territory, that all the 
 Missionaries whom I have seen within it, have succeeded much better in making 
 farms, raising stock, erecting mills, establishing stores, and improving their own 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 105 
 
 tny 
 h,I 
 
 worldly condition, than they have been in saving the louls of the Indians. I have, 
 however, no rishl to criticise and condemn the peculiar system of these gentlemen, 
 for they should certainly know more about the redemption of souls than I who 
 never worked at it. It, therefore, is not for me to say that the Indian will not more 
 readily imbibe regenerating grace by digging the ground and carrying logs on his 
 shoulders, than in wearing out his knee-pans in fruitless ejaculations. 
 
 The Yam Hill River, which I have spoken of before as entering the western bank 
 of the Willamette, is navigable for canoes and keel boats up to its forks, about fif- 
 teen or twenty miles from its mouth. Above this still, and at the head of naviga- 
 tion on the Willamette, is another town laid out, called Champoe, but I do not know 
 that any lots have as yet been sold at that place. 
 
 I look upon the Willamette valley as one of the finest agricultural countries in 
 America. The soft, rich soil of the prairies is easily broken up from its original 
 imbedJudness with a single yoke of oxen, or a team of horses, and the moderation 
 of the climate allows you to sow spring wheat as early as the middle of February, 
 and from that until the \6th of May, as the season happens to run. You commence 
 ploughing in October, and plough and sow wheat fronj that time to the fifteenth of 
 May, to suit the spring or fall crops. There is not much difference in the yield of 
 the early and late sowmgs, but you must put about twice as much seed in the ground 
 for the latter as for the former. The land yields from S5 to 40 bushels to the acre. 
 I saw a field of five acres sown about the I6th of May last, in new ground, which 
 produced one hundred and ten bushels of the most excellent grain. 
 
 The wheat of this country is better than that of the States. The grains are 
 larger and plumper, and a bushel weighs several pounds more. 
 
 This country produces oats, peas, tomatoes, and' garden vegetables generally, in 
 great abundance. Irish potatoes and turnips grow better here than in the States. 
 Sweet potatoes have not yet been tried, with the exception of an inferior specimen, 
 from the Sandwich Islands, and they did not succeed well. If we had some good 
 seed from the States, I have no doubt wecotilJ mak« them produce very well. In- 
 dian corn does not succeed well, and it is not so prt^able a crop as other grain, 
 yet it can be raised here in sufficient quantities for all useful purposes, for you need 
 but little, in consequence of not being obliged to feed your siock. 
 
 Fruit, such as apples, peaches, cherries, plumbs, pears, melons, &c., thrive here 
 exceedingly well ; while wild fruit and berries abound in the utmost profusion. 
 Cranberries are found in great quantities near the mouth of the Columbia, and are 
 brought up here and to Vancouver, by the Indians, and sold for almost nothing. 
 Blue-berries, raspberries, sal-lal-berries, thorn-berries, crab-apples, a kind of whortle- 
 berry, and strawberries are found in large quantities in every direction in this sec- 
 tion of Oregon. The strawberries of this country are peculiarly fine ; they are 
 larger in their size than those of the Slates, and possess a more delicious flavor. 
 
 As regards the country for grazing, it is certainly all that any one could wish it. 
 Cattle require no shelter nor feeding, and upon the Yam Hill plains numerous salt 
 springs supply another necessary of their fodder. Cows calve here when fifteen 
 and twenty months old. This is also a good country for raising hogs ; upon the 
 Willamette below the falls, and on the Columbia, they live upon the wappato-root, 
 and upon the plains they find a plentiful subsistence in tho grass and fruit of the 
 white oak. The grass of this country as I have had occasion to say before, is pe- 
 culiarly nutritious, and cattle who have been put here to recruit, recover their phy- 
 sical energies with wonderful rapidity while feeding on it. In the last of November, 
 the period of my first visit to this place, I saw a fine sorrel horse, which had been 
 brought to this country by Mr. John Holeman of Clinton County, Missouri, (hat was 
 turned upon the grass in Fallatry Plains in the middle of the previous month. He 
 was then so reduced and feeble, with the fatigues he had undergone during the trip 
 from the States, that he could barely raise a trot ; but when I saw him, he was ia 
 fine condition and cMrvetting about the plains as gaily as any of the other horses, 
 with whom he was enjoying primitive independence. Cattle that were worked from 
 the States to the Dalles, and from there brought down to the Willamette valley 
 last year, have borne the winter well, and are now thriving rapidly. 
 
 The climate of this lower section of Oregon, is indeed, most mild. Having now 
 passed a winter here, permanently and most comfortably established at Linntan, I 
 am enabled to speak of it from personal experience. The winter may be said to 
 commence about the middle of December, and to end about the 10th of February, 
 and a notion of the genial nature of its visitation may be gained from the fact, that 
 I saw strawberries in bloom about the first of last December in the Fallatry Plains, 
 and as early as the 20th of February the wild flowers were blooming on the hill- 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
106 
 
 HI8T0RT or OREGON, 
 
 • 
 
 H ■ ! 
 
 , tM 
 
 •idet. The grait hat now twen growing linee the 10th of Februanr, and toward! 
 the end of that month, the trees were budding and the ehrubbery in bloom. About 
 the 26th of November, we had a apelt of cold weather, and a alight fall of anow, 
 which, however, was gone in a day or two. In December, we had very little mow, 
 •U of it melting ai it fell ; in January we had more, but all of it like the previ- 
 ous falls, melted as it came down, with the exception of one visitation, that manag- 
 ed to last upon the groend for threo days. 
 
 The soil haa not been frosen more than one inch deep during the whele winter, 
 end ploughing has been carried on without interruption throusmut the winter and 
 fall. As regards rains in the winter, 1 have found tnem much less troublesome than 
 I anticipated. I had supposed, from whnt I had heard of the incessant atorma of 
 this region, that out>door work could not be done at all here, during the rainy sea- 
 son, but I have found that a great deal more labor of thia description can be per- 
 formed hero, than during the same period in the western states. The rains fail in 
 gentle showers, and are generally what are termed dritzling rains, from the effect 
 «f which a blanket-coat is an effectual protection for the whole day. They are not 
 the chilly rains which stins you in the fall and spring seasons of the eastern states, 
 but are warm aa well aa li|^t. They are never hard enough in the worst of times, 
 to wash the roads or fields, and consequently, you can find no gullies worn or cut 
 in your fields, by this means. 
 
 As to wind, I have witnettei lesn, if such a terra car^ be used, than at any other 
 place I have ever been in, and I have but to say, that if the timber we have here, 
 epread their lofty branches in the States, they would be riven by the lightning, and 
 blown down to an extent that would spare many of them the blow of the settler's 
 «xe. Here, I have heard no thunder, and have aeea but one tree that had been 
 struck by lightning. 
 
 :•'<•, vi->» 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 - * 
 
 Aborigines of Oregon — Their nuti^ers and character — Their eanoet — Their mode 
 of fishing— Game — Timber — Fisheries — Water power-*Mountains — A volcano 
 — Oomtitercial, Agricultural, and Manufacturing features of Oregon — Value of 
 the arm of labor. 
 
 Thv aborigines of Oregon form, at present, nine-tenths of the population of the 
 whole country, and from their newly adapted habits, are deserving of a place in the 
 social census. They were formerly much more numerous, but like all the savage 
 race, they melt away from the white man's approach like shadows before the ad- 
 vancing sun. I have no means of accurately ascertainins their number, as large 
 bodies of them are in the habit of moving from place to place to reap the varying 
 harvests of the fisheries, but I believe they somewhat exceed 20,000. They are 
 most numeroua in the Nez Perces country, which extends eastward from Wallawalla, 
 and considerable numbers of the Cheenooks attracted by the fisheries, are to be 
 found at the Dalles and at the mouth of the Columbia river. They are, however, 
 degenerate and broken, and instead of the proud and warlike being which presents 
 itself to the imagination when the idea of an American Indian enters it, they but 
 offer to the actual beholder the specimen of a creature degraded almost to the level 
 of A beast, and capable of submitting to the most servile abasement. Indeed, so 
 completely are they under the control of the superior intelligence of the Anglo Saxon 
 settler, that they can scarcely be considered in a much more dignified light than as 
 a race of natural villiens or serfs. The Nez Perces Indians retain in a greater de- 
 gree than any other, their ancient independence ; but even the members of this 
 tribe fall readily under the control and mastery of the whites. 
 
 The Indians between Wallawalla and the Dalles are a cowardly and thievish set, 
 and the portion of them situated at the latter place, in addition to being degraded 
 and ignorant in the extreme, are so addicted to stealing, that they lay hands on 
 every trifle that comes within their reach. Those portions at Vancouver and in 
 the valley of the Willamette, are abject, servile, and filthy in their habits, and most 
 of them go half naked during the whole year. In both this and the adjoining region, 
 they perform a great deal of work for the whites, and where labor is so scarce as it 
 u iiere, they are of no slight assistance to the settlements. Many of them make 
 very good hired hands, and they are found particularly useful in rowing boats, pad- 
 dling canoes, herding cattle, and in the menial operations which require a sort of 
 
HISTORT or OBEQON. 
 
 107 
 
 <■ 
 
 n, 
 
 it 
 
 ke 
 
 id- 
 
 of 
 
 nfau labor, if inch • term etn b« uted, that would be dear at the ootlay of a valu- 
 able aattler'a time. You can hire a Chenook to work upon a farm a week for a 
 ahirt worth 83 centi. 
 
 These Indiana conatruet the fineat canoea in the world. They make them out 
 of the cedar which growa at the mouth of the Columbia, from twenty to thirty feet 
 long, and from three to four feet wide. Their bottoma are flat, like thoae of akiffe, 
 and being light, thii construction, together with the aharp form of the bowa, makea 
 them very awift. In fashioning the ranoe, they commence upon the middle and 
 taper it gradually to a sharp point at each end, not turning it up with a flourish like 
 the bows and atern of ordinary vessels of the kind. The only ornament they put 
 upon them, ia a aort of figure head made of a aeparate piece of wood, which is fitted 
 on the bows, and is generally beautified with a rude moaaie of aea-ahella imbedded 
 in various figures in the wood. 
 
 The conduct of the Hudson'a Bay Company towarda the Indians, haa been prompt 
 and discriminating, both in the distribution of benefits, and in the punishment of 
 offences. They have not held a whole tribe responsible for the unauthorised acta 
 of individuals, but have in all eases carefully sought out the real perpetratora and 
 punished them without fail. When the country was first visited by the whites, the 
 nativea were of a ferocioua and warlike character, and it recjuired sixty men to pass 
 up the Columbia in boats, to ensure the safety of the expedition ; but now, a aingle 
 individual can pass without molestation to the Palles, and a aquad of six or eight 
 may travel in perfect security through any portion of the territory. The Flatheads 
 ana Snakes, formerly the most incorrigible, have long been peaceable, honest, and 
 friendly. One of the gentlemen belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, told me 
 that in the many trading expeditiona they nad had with these tribes, they had never 
 loat the first article, and many times they had purposely exposed their goods to tri- 
 fling depredationa, for tho purpose of testing their honesty. 
 
 All of the tribes of Oregon wear their hair long, and are exeeedinsly fond of the 
 dress of the whites ; but nothing holds so strong a claim to their admiration, or ao 
 firm a seat in their affections, as a thirt. A pair of pantaloona holds the next place, 
 a coat next, and so on through the inferior articles of apparel. They ahow the 
 most extravagant delight when dressed in these garments, but still prefer to display 
 the shirt on the outside of all. Candor, however, compels me to declare, that those 
 who are fortunate enough to possess one of these articles, generally make it do the 
 duty of a full dress. They call the Americans, "Bottom" which title they have 
 adopted in consequence of having been originally informed by Captain Gray, the 
 first pale face who ever entered their territory, that he came from a place called 
 Boston. The English they call King George. 
 
 The Indiana of Oregon are exceedingly addicted to gambling, and have been 
 known to pursue this demoraliaing passion to the fatal length of even atakiiig their 
 liberty on a game, and playing themselves, by a run of ill luck, into a state of per* 
 petoal alavery. When we estimate the love of a savage for independence, we can 
 arrive at some measurement of the degree of the passion which cxacta its sacrifice. 
 Upon the whole, these Indians are of vast benefit to the whites of this region. Ia 
 the present condition of (he settlements, we should lose much by their absence. 
 
 F1SHKRIK8. — The fisheries of this country are very great, and foremost among all 
 the varietiea which they produce, is the unrivalled salmon. It would be imfiossible 
 to estimate the numbers of this excellent fish annually taken in the Columbia and its 
 tributaries ; but they have been aet down at ten thousand barrels a year, which 
 number I do not think by any meana too large. The salmon in this country are 
 never caught with a hooK. They are sometimes taken by the Indiana with a email 
 acoop net, but generally are caught with a sort of spear of a veiy peculiar descrip- 
 tion. These are made by the nativea after the following fashion. They take a 
 pole, made of aah, or of some hard wood, about ten feet long and one inch thick, 
 and gradually tapering to a point at one end. They then cut a piece, about four 
 inches long, from the sharp prong of a buck's horn, and hollow out the large end ao 
 that it fits the pole. About the middle of the buck horn, they make a small hole 
 through which they put a cord, or leather atring, that runa along the pole and fas- 
 teas to it about two feet from the lower end. When they spear a fish with this 
 weapon, the pole is withdrawn and the buck horn barb ia left imbedded in the ani- 
 mal's body, or having run through and through it, remaina faatened on the other side. 
 Escape is thus rendered impossible, and the prey unable to elude t^^^ prong, is se- 
 curely drawn in by the string. All the salmon caught here are tt.:.en by the In- 
 dians, and sold to the whites at about ten cents each, and frequently for leaa. One 
 Indian will take about twenty upon an average per day. 
 
 m 
 
 /I 
 
108 
 
 HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 ?{»" 
 
 Thn Ralmon takon at different pointa, diflfer greatly in kind and quality, and it ia 
 only at particular pincfa that they can be taken. The fattcat and beat are thoac 
 taken at the mouth or the Columbia, and the next heat are thuie taken in the 
 Columbia, a few milra below Vancouver, at the Caicadea, and at the Dallea. 
 Those taken at the Willamette falla, are amaller in aize, and inferior in flavor, and 
 •re aaid to be of a different kind. What ia ainKular, thia fish cannot be taken in 
 any considerable numbera with largo aeinea, and this ia only to be accounted for, by 
 their remarkable shyncas, and their auperior activity. I believe no white man haa 
 yet succeeded in taking them with the gig. They make their appearance in the 
 vicinity of Vancouver, tirat in the Klackamus river, and the boat quality are taken in 
 June. 
 
 There are aeveral other kinda of flah in th» bays, rivers, and creeka of the 
 territory, of which a apeciea of cod and the sturgeon are the most important. The 
 latter are a large fish, and afford great sport in a leisure hour to take them with a 
 book and line. They arc taken in the Willamette, below the falls; in the Colum- 
 bia, at all pointa, and in the Snake or Saptin river, as high up ns Fort Bois£. Of 
 shell-fish, we have the crab, clams, muscles, and a small description of oyster. 
 
 Game.-^The wild animals of this, the first section of Oregon, are the black bear, 
 black-tailed deer, raccoon, panther, polecat, rabbit, wolf, beaver, and a few othera. 
 Of these, the deer and the wolves are the moat aumeroua. We have no buffaloea, 
 antelopes, or prairie chickena here, but in the second aection the latter apeciea 
 of feathered game are plenty. 
 
 Of fancy birds, we have blue jay, larger, and of a deeper blue than thoaa 
 of the States ; the nut-brown wren, a moat beautiful and gentle little atom, acarcely 
 larger than the humming-bird ; also a apeciea of bird, which resembles the robin in 
 form, color, and aize ; and also a apeciea of nightingale, that sings the livelong 
 night ; but though I havo heard these evening songsters, time and again, I have 
 never yet managed to get sight of one. The bald eagle, so well described by 
 Wilson, ia found along all the rivera ; but here, he ia obliged to compromise a 
 
 Eortion of his lordly character to hia necessitiea, and to work for his own living, 
 aving no fish-hawks to catch his game for him. He feeds principally upon the 
 dead salmon he gleana from the aurface of the water, as they float downward in the 
 atream, and changes hia diet by an occasional awoop upon some unlucky duck, 
 which ho catches either while on the wing, or while feeding in the river. If the 
 duck when pursued in the air, can reach the surface of the water, he doea so with 
 the utmost speed of wing, and seeks a momentary refuge by diving under it. The 
 eagle, balancing himself over the spot of hia victim'a diaappearance, waita until he 
 rises, and then strikes at him again and again, until the latter's strength becomes 
 wasted with the unusual effort, and giving out at length, the relentless conqueror 
 hears him off aa he rises languidly and for the last time to the surface of the water. 
 We have also pheasants in abundance, likewise partridges, grouse, brant, pelicana, 
 plovers, wild geese, thrush, gulls, cranes, swans, and ravens, crows and vnlturea. 
 For a sportsman, this region is a paradise, and a dog and a gun will afford him a 
 chapter of elysium every day of h<s life. 
 
 There ia one peculiarly attractive luature, which thia country possesses over most 
 others, and that is, that like Old IrelanJ itself, it haa no poisonous reptiles or 
 insects, and better than Ireland, we are not burdened with obligationa to any 
 saint for the saintly office of extirpating them. The only snake we have, ia the 
 harmless garter-snake, and there are no flies to annoy the cattle. 
 
 Timber. — The timber of this section of Oregon, constitutes the main source of ita 
 wealth. It is found in isezhaustible quantities on the Columbia, and on the Willa- 
 mette, just where the water power ia at hand to cut it up, and where ships can 
 easily take it on board. The principal timber of thia section is the fir, the white 
 cedar, white oak and black ash. There are three kinds of fir ; the white, yellow, 
 and red ; all of them fine for plank, shingles, boards and rails. 
 
 The white fir makes the best shingles. The fir is a species of pine, which grows 
 very tall and straight, and stands very thick upon the ground. Thick as they 
 stand, however, when you cut one, it never lodges in ita mX, for the reason that it 
 never forks, and the limbs of the others are too small to stop the descent of its 
 enormous bulk. In the Cascade mountains, and near the mouth ot the Columbia 
 river, they rise to the height of three hundred feet. They split exceedingly well, 
 and miike the finest boards of any timber I have ever seen. I cut one tree, front 
 which I sawed twenty-four cuts of three foot boards, and there are plenty of such 
 specimens all around me, yet untouched. 
 
 The white cedar is very fine timber, and is nearly if not quite equal to the red 
 
 \ 
 
HISTORY or OREGON. 
 
 100 
 
 eadtr of the SUIm. In the vicinity of Linntan, il growi to the tixe of Ihrre feet 
 in diameter, niid ia tall enough to make lix rail cuts to the tree. I have cut two 
 ware-houae logi, thirty feet long, oflT one tree, nod three of the aame loga otf a red 
 fir, which waa only about fourteen inchaa in diameter at the stump. 'I'he cedar 
 aplits remarkably well, makea fine raili, ihinglea, or houie-loga, and latta a 
 lifetime. 
 
 The white oak timber ia better for wagon-making than any apecimena to be 
 found east of the Rocky Mountains, and it ia the best wood that can be had for axe> 
 handlea, and for similar purposes. It grows about aa tall as in the Siatea. The 
 black oak, which also grows profusely in our foroats, makes excellent fire-wood, and 
 answers likewise for many 'other purposes. 
 
 In the range of mountains back of Linntann, we have plenty of the hemlock, the 
 bark of which is fine fur tanning hidea ; and I have no doubt that ere long, the skina 
 that will be stripped from our large herds of atock, will be extensively converted 
 into leather, by ita agency. We have also the dog-wood and cherry-maple, sprinkled 
 among the fira and cedara. The hazel of thia country ia four times largtir than 
 that of the Statea, and ia also much tougher in ita textnre ; it is extenaively used for 
 hoops, and for the manufacture of a coarse kind of scrub broom. The fruit of thia 
 tree iaof a lighter color than the hatel-nuta of the Stales, and thoy are of the shape 
 and aixa of a chinkapin acorn. Persons coming from tlie States will find very little 
 timber here like that to which they have been accustomed, for all of it is un a 
 grander s:ale. The black ash and dog-wood are very similar to those of Tennessee 
 and Kentucky, and the white oak is perhaps but little diiTeront from any eaatward 
 of the mountains. But we have no walnut, hickory, percimmon, pawpaw, locust, 
 coffee-nut, cheatnut, sugar-tree, box-elder, poplar, sycamore, or elm. 
 
 Water Power, — The water power of this country is unequalled, and ia found dis- 
 tributed through every section. That at the falls of the Willamette cannot be aur- 
 paaaed in the world. Any quantity of machinery can be put in motion there ; but 
 the good water power is not confined to the Willamette falls, for in many placea on 
 the Columbia, the Willamette, and the other rivers, there are mill aitea as good, 
 though none of them are quite ao large. These advantages for converting the tim- 
 ber which surrounds them, into a marketable commodity of great value in the 
 neighbouring ocean, will ere long be appreciated to a far greater extent by even thia 
 region, than at preaent. 
 
 ilfountatn*. — We have the most beautiful scenery of North America — we lie 
 upon the largest ocean, we have the purest and most beautiful streams,* the loftiest 
 and moat majestic treea, and the most stupendoua mountains of the continent. The 
 latter, as I have had occasion to mention before, are divided into three great rangea, 
 but aa tho description of the featurea of the lower region is at present my especial 
 object, I will pass over the Rocky mountains and the Blue, and confine myself to the 
 President's range which forma the eaatern wall of our valley. The several peaka 
 of thia range are grand and imposing objects. From Vancouver you have a full and 
 fair view of Mount Hood, to the south, which ia called by some the tallest peak of 
 the Cascadea, and rises more than aixteen thousand feet above the level of the sea, 
 and ten thouaand above the mountaina immediately around it. Thia lofty pile riaea 
 by itself in a regular and perfect cone, and ia covered with perpetual anew. It 
 ia the only peak you can see from Vancouver, as the view in other directions ia ob- 
 scured by tall fir timber. At the mouth of the Willamette, aa yNi enter the Co- 
 lumbia, you have a full view of Mount St. Helena or Mount Washington, and alao 
 of Mount Hood. From Linntan you have a very fair view of the former mountain, 
 which ia almoat fifly miles distant from this point, though it looks as if it were al- 
 most within reach. This peak is very smooth and perfectly conical in ita form. It 
 ia nearly aa tall as Mount Hood, and ia the moat beautiful of the range. It lies im- 
 mediately on a line with the mouth of the Columbia, and ia a land-mark visible 
 aeveral miles at sea and useful in directing vessels to ita harbor. Like Mount Hood 
 it atanda alone in ita solitary grandeur far above all surrounding objecta and awing 
 them into inaignificance. This mountain, which until last year, towered aerenely in 
 the air covered with ten thousand perpendicular feet of snow, suddenly burst into a 
 burning volcano, in which atate it now remains. The crater is in ita aide about 
 two-thirda of ita distance from ita base, and by the account of the Indian inhabitant! 
 in its vicinity, it emitted a flood of lava at the time of its eruption, which poured ita 
 stream of fire through the whole depth of the virgita abeet that wrapped ita aides. A 
 
 * We protest against this claim for their rivers, for it is at variance with the writer's own 
 description of the whole line of streams which he traversed from the Rocky mountains to the 
 ocean. 
 
 ..;i"' . Mi 
 
110 
 
 HltTORY or ORBOON. 
 
 ;..» 
 
 In 
 
 Hvage who had been hunting dtter lome diaUnoe up the mountain, Andin^ bit re* 
 lurn to hie wigwam thua cut otf, tuuk • run and attamptad to jump acroaa it, but not 
 being able to oitfar ita breadth, ha fell with one fool in the glowing torrent, and waa 
 ao aeverely burnt, that he came very nearly being lamed for life. He haatened to 
 Vancouver, however, and by the aaaiatance of Dr. Barclay nt the Fort, waa gradu* 
 ally cured. 
 
 Thia mountain ia aecond in hei|fht to but one in the world, (Cotopaxi in South 
 America,)and like other volcanoea it burna at intervala. On one aide of it near ita top, ia 
 diacovered a large dark object amid the aurroundin^i anew, which ia auppoaed to ba 
 the mouth of a huge cavern, and doubtloaa ia the ancient crater of aoine expired iaaue. 
 On the 16ih February 1844, the mountain burned moat magnificently. Denaemaaaea 
 of amoka roae up in immenae columna and wreathed the whole creat of the peak 
 inaombre and ma«aive clouda ; and in the evening ita fire lit up the flaky mountain* 
 aide with a flood of aoft yet brilliant radiance. Tlie range, of which thia ia the moat 
 dialinguiahing feature, runa throughout the whole length of the territory and i« re* 
 markable for ita aeperate and independent conea. 
 
 Commeretoi, Agricultural and Manufacturing advantages. — The commercial ad* 
 vantagea of thia country are very great. Ttie trade with the Sandwich lalanda ia 
 daily increaaing, and aurroundad aa we are with a half civilised race of men, our 
 manufacturing power will aoon have a home market for itaelf ; beeidea. South Ameri* 
 ca, California and the Sandwich lalanda, muat depend upon ua for their lumber. 
 Already large quantitiea of ahinglea and plank are aent to the latter market, and 
 we ahall alao have a full demand for all our other aurplua productiona at the aama 
 port, for moat veaaela viiiting the north Pacific, touch at theae iaiaida for the pur* 
 poae of obtaining auppliea of freah proviaiona. The Ruaaian aettlementa are already 
 dependent upon ua, and even the marketa of China are within our reach. For the 
 aupply of the regiona of the Pacific, and the more northern aettlementa of the coaat, 
 there can be no competition with ua in the way of proviaiona, aa we have no neigh* 
 bora in the producing lino. 
 
 I conaider Oregon, in many reapecta, auperior to California, aa in the latter 
 country, the climate ia ao warm that pork ana beef cannot be put up, and conae* 
 quenily the graier loaea half hia proiita ; beaidea, its enervating temperature like 
 that of all warm countriea, haa a degenerating eflfect upon the enterpriae of the in* 
 babitanta. For a commercial and manufacturing people, the climate of Oregon ia 
 warm enonsh. We can here preaerve our pork and beef without danger of it* taint- 
 ing before tne completion of the packing ; and we have finer timber, better water 
 power, and are not aubject to the ruinoua droughta of California. 
 
 Since our arrival, the proapecta of the country have very much improved. Buai* 
 neaa of all kinda ia active and timea are flouriahing. We live in a atate of primitivo 
 aimplicity and independence ; we are the victima of no vicea ; there ia no drinking 
 or gambling among ua, and Labor meets with auch ample inducemente and ready 
 rewards, that laiy men are made induatrioua by the mere force of the influencea 
 around them. 
 
 Farming is considered the beat boainess of thia country. The buaineaa of making 
 and putting up butter, which ia never worth leas than twenty cents per pound, ia 
 Tery profitable. A good freah article is, I am told, never worth less than fifty cents 
 and often brings one dollar per pound in the Pacific islands. There are -now in 
 operation, or will be thia summer, milla enough to aupply the whole population with 
 flour. There ia no acarcity of proviaiona at the pricea I have previoualy stated, and 
 I find that the emigrants who came out last year, live very comfortably, are per- 
 fectly content with their change, and are much improved in their appearance since 
 the time of their arrival. 
 
 We have the finest spar timber, perhaps, in the world, and vessels arriving at the 
 Columbia often take off a quantity for that purpose. The saw mills at the Willa- 
 mette Falla cut large quantities of plank which they sell at two dollars per hundred. 
 In speaking Of the fir before, I omitted stating that it made excellent coal for black- 
 smith's purposes ; and I will farther remark that it is singular that neither the fir nor 
 the cedar, when burned, makea any ashes. It has been supposed that the timbered 
 land of this country will be hard to clear up, but I have come to a difTorent conclu- 
 aion from the fact that the fir timber haa very little top, is easily kindled, and bums 
 readily. It also becomes seasoned very soon, and it is the opinion of good farmers 
 that the timbered land will make the beat wheat-fields of the country.' 
 
 When an individual has any idle time, he can employ himaelf in making fir and 
 cedar ahinglea, for the first of which he can get four dollaia a thousand, and for the 
 aecond, five ; any quantity of them can be disposed of at theae rates. Carpenters 
 
MI8T0RY or ORKUON. 
 
 ni 
 
 ■nd other meehanici ebtitin thr«« doKars p«r day and found. Th«r« it •mploymont 
 in ■bun<lnnca for every one deairing ii, and it it only neceeiery for a man to bo in- 
 duitrioui lo aecompliah aura euccei* and auiiwund himaelf wilK all Iho eomforta of 
 an earthly paradiao. 
 
 irs 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Concluding rtnutrka—Direetiont lo Emigranti—Lint of route and tMt of iiit*n- 
 
 CtM, At, 
 
 Havino now completed an accoont of all the material pointa of our eipediiion 
 into Oregon, and furniahed the inquirer a general idea of ita character and capabili- 
 tiea, the only thing ^hat remain* for me to do in the limita of thia aketch, ia to 
 add a few more directiona for the emigrant, for whoae particular benefit, aa I aaid, 
 before, theae imperfect notea are furniahed. I have ahown, indeed the reault of our 
 general expedition proved, that the route from the Rendeivoua in Miaaouri, to thio 
 point, ia practicable for any deacription of conveyance, and the auoceaa of our caltl* 
 m coming through, adda an aaaurance that it ia remarkable aa well, for ite extraor- 
 dinary emigrating facilitiea. If thia needa any corroboration, a world of evidence can 
 b« furniahed to auatain it, aa well aa every fact I have advanced ; but in aupport of 
 the peculiar feaaibility of the route acroaa the Indian territoriea of the Statea and 
 along the line of the Platte, I will merely refer the reader to the fact, tliat Mr. Aah- 
 ley, m an expedition in 1836, drew a field piece, (a aix pounder) from Miaaouri, aoroae 
 the prairiea, through the aouthern pata, to a fort on Utah lake (to the aouth of our 
 aoutnern boundary line,) the whole journey being a diatance of 1300 milea ; and to 
 the additional fact that in 1838, a large number of heavily laden wagona performed 
 the aame journey with eaae and without an accident, aa will bo eeen by a reference 
 to Conareaaional documenta on file. 
 
 It will be remarked that I have alnrred over portiona of tho route and neglected 
 the regular incidenta of much of our dnily travel, but when it ia remembered that 
 the journey laated aix montha, and that the eventa of m»ny aucceaaive daya acarceiy 
 varied from each other, the reader will come to the concluaion that it would hav* 
 been hardly wiae in me to have taxed hie patience with each day'a dull routine. The 
 great object, I conaidered to be, the furniahing the courae of the route, a view of ite 
 general aspect and difficulties, the diatancea between pointa of travel, (the muin ob* 
 jact of the present chapter) and to impart an accurate notion of the region which 
 the aettler must make his future home. I have therefore avoided everything that 
 did not contribute to this design, with the exception of a few trifling moident* of 
 humor inseparable from such an expedition, which I introduced to enliven the mono- 
 tony of the narrative, and which, moreover, I considered useful, aa affording an idea 
 of camp life, and the amusements of a journey over the prairiea. 
 
 Emigranta should start aa early aa possible in ordinary aeaaons. The firat of 
 May Hnould bo aet down if poasible as the outside limit, and even aa early aa the 
 firat of April, would do. For those coming from the Platte country, it is thought 
 to be moat advisable tocroaa the Missouri at MePherson'a ferry in Holt county, and 
 to take up the ridge between the Platte and the Kanzaa rivers. 
 
 Companies of iorty or fifty wagona are large enough, and I would adviae bodiee 
 of traveliera for thia region to keep within that measure. Large bodiea prove un- 
 wieldly to arrai>ge and to control ; the numerooa atock attached to them become 
 troublesome, and moreover large bodiea of Americana are proae to differ in opinion. 
 Small collections offer but few inducements to a diaordered ambition, but largo onea 
 are conducive of selfish strife and discord. This has been seen to have been the 
 caaewilh our expedition ; which divided after croaaing the Kaniaa ; and which waa 
 further subdivided afterwarda, on the other aide of the mountain*. I did not par- 
 ticularize this latter circumatance becauae I considered it of minor importance 
 at the time, and it is now suflicient for my purpose to mention it here, aa a cautioo 
 against the error which induced it, in the future. 
 
 In driving stock to this country, about one in ten is lost ; not more. Having 
 atarted, the best way to proceed to save your teama, ia to drive a reaaonable diatance 
 every day, and to atop and go into camp about an hour before aundown. Thia givea 
 time for all the necessary arrangementa of the encampment and afforda the teams 
 an opportunity to rest and eat before the night seta in. About eight houra drive in 
 the long daya— reeling an hour at noon— ia, I think enough for one day's travel, and 
 
 I' 
 
t 
 
 112 
 
 HISTORT or OREGON. 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 you should make it a rula never to drive irregularly if you can help it. Along the 
 whole line of the Platte, on the Bear and Bois^ rivers, and in many other places, 
 you can encamp at any point you please ; but at some points of the route you will 
 be compelled to drive hard to get water and range for your cattle. 
 
 When you reach the country of the buffalo, never stop your wagons to hunt, as 
 you will consume more provisions during the delay than you will save by the amount 
 of your game ; for it is generally consumed at once from the difficulty of curing it, 
 in consequence of the warmth of the weather. Let your horsemen and scouts per- 
 form this duty, and supply this want for you ; and if (hey use proper exertions, they 
 can keep you all in fresh meat throughout the whole of the country of game. Any 
 one wishing the amusement of this sport, should bring along an extra horse, and not 
 use him until he reaches the buffalo region, as the hunting of this animal is rough 
 work, and emigrants must needs be very careful they do not break iheir horses down. 
 A prudent care should be taken of horses, teams, and provisions from the start, and 
 no extra exertion should be required from the two first, and nothing of the last should 
 be thrown away that can be eaten. 
 
 If a prudent course is taken, the trip can be made in ordinary seasons, in four 
 months. It is true it took us longer, but we lost a great deal of time upon the road, 
 and besides, we had the way to break. I have reason to believe, that other and 
 better routes than the one travelled by us can bo found. Captain Gant, our pilot, 
 was decidedly of the opinion, that to keep up the south fork of the Platte, and to 
 cross it just above the stream called the Kooshlapood, and thence[up the latter stream, 
 
 Etassing between the Black Hills on your right, and the Rocky Mountains on your 
 eft, and striking by this course at last the ordinary route by Green river, would be a 
 better and nearer way into Oregon, and more plentifully supplied with game than the 
 one we took. He had travelled both, and only brought us through the road he did, 
 to avoid the large bands of Sioux and Black feet Indians, whom he hikd been informed 
 Tvere hunting upon the southern route. 
 
 The following table of distances, it is proper for me to say, is a rough calculation 
 made up from an estimate of our daily travel. It consequently does not claim the 
 accuracy of a geometrical admeasurement, but it is thought by those to whom I have 
 submitted it, to be not far out of the way. ....... ,,.... 
 
 '\ 
 
 A TABLB or DISTANCBS FROM INDEPENDENCE, HI8S0DRI, TO THE TNTBRMBDIATE POINTS 
 BETWEEN THAT TOWN AND ASTORIA AT THE MOOTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER. 
 
 Miles. 
 From Independence to the Rendecvous, • 30 
 RendozTOUs to Elm Orove - - - 15 
 From Elm Orove to Walpalusia, - • 33 
 Walpalusia to KanzaiTiver, • • - 31 
 Kanzas River to Big Sandy creek, - ■ 31 
 Big Sandy to Hurricane Branch, • • 13 
 Hurricane Branch to East lork of 
 
 Blue River, 30 
 
 East fork to We8t fork of Blue River, ■ IS 
 West fork to where we came in light of the 
 
 Republican fork of the Blue lUver, • 41 
 Up Republican fork of the Blue River to 1 
 where we left it to cross over to the > 60 
 Big FlaUe River, . . . ) 
 Up the Platte to where we saw the first herd 
 
 ofbuftalo, ..•-.. 
 Up the same to the crossing on the South 
 
 fork of same 
 
 South fork to crossing on North Fork of 
 
 same, 
 
 Crossing of North Fork to Cedar Orove, • 
 Cedar Orove to Solitary Tower, 
 Solitary Tower to Chimney Rock, - 
 Chimney Tower to Scott's Blufl's, • 
 Scott's Blaffs to Fort Larimie, • 
 Fort Larimie to Big Spring at foot of Black 
 
 Hills, 
 
 Big Spring to Keryan on North fork of 
 
 Platte, 
 
 Keryan to crossing of North Fork, • 
 Crossing of North Fork to Sweetwater 
 
 River, 
 
 Up Sweetwater River to where we first f 
 saw the eternal snows of the Rocky > 
 Mountains, . . . . ) 
 
 From the above point to main dividing 
 ridge of Rocky Mountains, • 
 
 66 
 
 117 
 
 31 
 It 
 18 
 18 
 30 
 
 40 
 
 Miles. 
 From dividing ridge to Little Sandy River, 16 
 Little Sandy to Big Sandy, - - - 14 
 Big Sandy to Oreen River, • ■ -30 
 
 Down same, 13 
 
 To Black's fork of Orcen River, - ■ 33 
 From Black's fork to Fort Bridger, ■ • SO 
 Fort Bridger to Big Muddy River - • 39 
 Big Muddy to Bear River, - - • 87 
 
 Down Bear Riverto range of hills mentioned 
 
 as running up to its oank, - • 67 
 
 Down Bear Riverto Oreat Soda Spring,' • 38 
 From Soda Spring to the Fortneuf River, 
 
 the first water of the Columbia, - • 35 
 To Fort Hall in the Snake or Saptin River, 68 
 From Fort Hall to the Fortneuf again, • 11 
 Fortneuf to Rock Creek, - ... 87 
 Rock Creek to Salmon Falls on the Saptin, • 43 
 Salmon Fall!* to crossing on the Saptlii, - 37 
 From crossing of Saptin to Boiling Spring 19 
 Boiling Spring to Boise River, - - '48 
 Down same to Fort Boise on Saptin, • • 40 
 Fort Boise to Burnt River, ■ • -41 
 
 Up Burnt River for, 36 
 
 From last point to Powder River at " the 
 
 Lone Pine," 18 
 
 From " the Lone Pine " to Grand Round, . 16 
 Orand Round to the Umatilla River on the 
 
 west of the Blue Mountains, . • 43 
 Umatilla to Dr Whitman's Mission, • * 39 
 Mission to Fort Wallawalla, • . 35 
 Wallawalla to the Dalles Mission, - • 130 
 Dalles to Vancouver, . . • . lOO 
 Vancouver to Astoria, ■ ... SO 
 Astoria to the ocean, 10 
 
 Making in all from Independence to the 
 Pacific ocean, 
 
 3036 
 
 w\ 
 
HISTORY OF OREGON. 
 
 118 
 
 From Independence to Vancouver by the above computation is 1946 miles by the 
 route we travelled I am well satisfied that the distnnce does not exceed 20O0 miles 
 fbr the reason that our ox teams could not have accomplished a greater distance 
 within the time of their actual employment. 
 
 The trip to Oregon is neither a costly nor an expensive one, and an individual can 
 travel here at as small an expense, as he can move from Tennessee or Kentucky, 
 to Missouri. All the property he starts with he can tiring through, and it is worth, 
 upon his arrival, more than when he set out. 
 
 To conclude, there is no country in the world where the wants of man can bo so 
 readily supplied, and upon such easy terms as in this ; and none where the beauties 
 of nature are displayed upon a grander scale. 
 
 The chief value of this country, I must remark in closing, lies in the advantages 
 it offers to the Unvtei States for a direct route to the East Indies and the ports of 
 the Pacific ocean. Already these have been embraced by the Hudson's Bay settlers, 
 and even now, the products of this region have grown to an importance that would 
 make them sadly missbd by several of the island markets and settlements upon the 
 western coasts which they have of late supplied. Every day adds to their amount 
 and their demand, and an ordinary sagacity may see in this fact, the promise of our 
 future importance in the commercial world. There are many considerations in' 
 volved in the first steps of our advance which it would please me to allude to in 
 detail, but they are not embraced within the scope of my present purpose, and I leave 
 
 them to the treatment of abler political economists. 
 
 ** * * ♦ » * ♦ *•#• 
 
 The more extended political organization of which I before spoke, is about to take 
 place, and I was waited upon two or three days ago by a party from the Fails, to 
 consult upon a plan of a general territorial government, with a legislature of two 
 houses, and a Chief Justice for its first executive officer. This arrangement will 
 embrace all the settlements of the valley into one common government, the repre- 
 sentatives of which will convene in general congress, at stated periods, at Multono- 
 mah or Oregon city, and there transact all the necessary business for our little 
 body politic. When this plan is adopted, (as it doubtless will immediately be,) it will 
 perhaps, be the peculiar honor of your hnmble servant, to sit in a curule chair of 
 the first Republican Goverment beyond the Rocky mountains. We shall then bo 
 able to make our own laws, and likewise to do our own voting and our own fight- 
 ing. Let not our bretheren of the States mistrust our ability to maintain ourselves 
 in our new position ! We have strong arms and stout hearts ; we have despised the 
 toils of two thousand miles of travel to build our homes upon the soil, and we will 
 never leave its face, until we sink beneath it.* 
 
 CONCLUDING NOTE. 
 
 35 
 68 
 11 
 87 
 43 
 27 
 19 
 48 
 40 
 41 
 36 
 
 18 
 16 
 
 43 
 
 39 
 35 
 130 
 100 
 SO 
 10 
 
 FALCONER'S RECENT WORK ON THE OREGON QUESTION. 
 
 The author cannot say his last word without allusion to a British re-;»ublication 
 which appeared when the foregoing pages wei'e in press. It is entitled , " Thk 
 Oregon Question ; or a Statement of the British Claims, in opposition to 
 THE Pretensions of the United States, by Thomas Falconer, Barrister 
 AT Law, op Lincoln's Inn." 
 
 It is unnecessary to our purpose to travel after the writer though all his tortuous 
 sophistries, as thoy are fully answered by the plain statements of \he previous por- 
 tions of this work; but, as Mr. Falconer is a special advocateof international law, 
 end advances some rather novel and interesting positions, it m»y not be amiss to 
 glance at the main points of his performance. The '.earned barrister somewhat in- 
 geniously commences by adjudging us the French Title as the foundation of our 
 claims, and having given it this position as his least formidable obstacle, pelts away 
 at it with evident satisfaction. He is welcome to his pains, for if he succeeds in 
 destroying it altogether, it will not affect our claims a jot. He next insists upon the 
 
 ■ » Recent accouts from the west inform us that there nre now gathered near Independence, 
 Missouri, about 7000 emigrants, all destinded for Oregon, and California. They ore to set out 
 in convenient detachments about the 1st of June. 
 
 8 
 
114 
 
 HISTORY OF OREOOIf. 
 
 discoveries of Drake with the utmost pertinacity, though he succeeds but poorly, anJ 
 can manage to defend the varacity of the freebooting Preacher, on whose romantic 
 statement!) they depend, no better than by nailing — what motive he could have to lie 1 
 This appeal, in the face of the fact, that navigators had for nearly a hundred years 
 previous been struggling for the renown of the furlhercst northern advance, is the 
 very superlative of absurdity, and is undeserving of a grave reply. Mr. Falconer 
 lays great stress upon the concessions of Spain by the Nootka treaty, (a rather 
 strange mode by the way of fortifying the antagonistic claims of Drake and Cook,) 
 and insists that, " this convention was an admission of the right of the English Go- 
 vernment to make settlements." Well, suppose it was, what then ? She did 
 not consummate that privilege by any settlement, as we have before shown, previ- 
 ous to the succeeding war of n96i which swept the right away with the other con- 
 ditional agreements and reciprocal privileges dependant upon a state of amity ! 
 Had she, in the mean time, made an actual settlement and retained it through the 
 war, her proposition that " the right to make settlements was t cession of terri- 
 tory," would, m its application to this case, wear a graver aspect. But throwing 
 aside the Nootka treaty, and granting Britain the privilege of settlement in unoccu- 
 pied wastes as a natural right, and stilj she gains nothing by it, for, by her own 
 rule : " discovery alone and an alleged intention to occupy do not give a perfect 
 title, unless an actual occupation take place." This is an unfortunate quotation of 
 the learned barrister's, for we have seen that Britain's very first settlement in any 
 part of Oregon, was at Astoria, after the purchase of the Pacific Fur Company's 
 effects in 1813; while on the other hand, the United States reaps the harvest of 
 the principle by a number of explorations and settlements extendmg frojn 1792 to 
 the above period. But these formidable circumstances must be overcome, and the gen- 
 tleman of Lincoln's Inn seeks to accomplish bis purpose by a farther burrowing into 
 international law. By the outlay of a little industrious research, he findi> that this 
 grand system accords to the subjects of monarchial governments privileges by dis- 
 covery and settlement,' which it denies to the Citizens of a Republic ; that while 
 the former may be empowered by their sovereign to discover countries, to take pos- 
 session and establish laws, the latter cannot receive similar powers from the Presi- 
 dent of the United States, "and without such authority," continues he, " ihey are 
 mere outcasts and vagabonds upon the face of the desert, and no political inferences 
 can be drawn from their acts. Hence," concludes the learned barrister, " the Bri- 
 tish settlement on the Columbia in 1813, was the first of a national and legal charac- 
 ter, recognizable as such, by foreign nations." This is all very well as an ingenious 
 obliquity of argument, but we understand the political distinction between Americans 
 and Britons in a different sense. By our institutions every Citizen of the United 
 States is in himself a sovereign, and possesses, as a matter of course, every natural 
 right and its consequences, that monarchs grant by special act of grace to their obe- 
 dient subjects. While Europeans range in varying subordinate degrees, the Citi- 
 zens of our glorious Republic have a right to rank with kings. 
 
 Satisfied with his deductions, the learned gentleman finally winds up with an 
 appeal to the commercial interests which will be injured by a state of war, and 
 with a suggestion that the whole dispute be referred to the arbitration of some 
 foreign ]iower. 
 
 Do we need more than this to prove the absurdity of international law as applied 
 to us 1 Is not the above insulting construction of our institutionn, a sufficient argu- 
 ment to induce us to reject at once the system it is based on with the contempt 
 it deserves ! Instead of gravely inquiring what might have been the opinion of this 
 or that monaichical writer some hundreds of years ago, would it not be more dignifi- 
 ed — more just, to decide for ourselves upon the merits of thecasci and according to 
 first principles ) 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 CONTAINING THE DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE— TREATIES 
 AND NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA, SPAIN, GREAT BRIT- 
 AIN AND THE UNITED STATES, REFERRED TO IN THE FIRST 
 PORTION OF THE FOREGOING WORK. 
 
 (No. 1.) 
 
 Convention between the United States and Russia, signed at St. Petersburg, on the 
 
 lllh of April, 1824. 
 
 Article 1. It is agreed that, in any part of the great ocean, commonly called 
 the Pacific Ocean, or South «ea, the respective citizens or subjects of the high coa- 
 tracting powers shall be neither disturbed nor restrained, either in navigation or in 
 Ashing, or in the power of resorting to the coasts, upon points which may not 
 already have beeu occupied, for the purpose of trading with the natives ; saving 
 always the restrictions and conditions determined by the following articles. 
 
 Art. 2. With the view of preventing the rights of navigation and of fishing, 
 exercised upon the great ocean by the citizens and subjects of the high contracting 
 powers, from becoming the pretext for an illicit trade, it is agreed that the citizens 
 of the United States shall not resort to any point where there is a Russian estab- 
 lishment, without the permission of the governor or commander ; and that, recipro- 
 cally, the subjects of Russia shall not resort, without permission, to any establishment 
 of tht United States upon the north-west coast. 
 
 Art. 3. It is, moreover, agreed that hereafter there shall not be formed by the 
 citizens of the United States, or under the authority of the said States, any estab- 
 lishment upon the north-west coast of America, nor in any of the islands adjacent, 
 to the north of 54 degrees and 40 minutes of north latitude ; and that, in the same 
 manner, there shall be none formed by Russian subjects, or under the authority of 
 Russia, soutA of the same parallel. 
 
 Art. 4. It is, nevertheless, understood that, during a term of ten years, counting 
 from the signature of the present convention, the ships of both powers, or which 
 belong to their citizens or subjects, respectively, may reciprocally frequent, without 
 any hmderance whatever, the interior seas, gulfs, harbors, and creeks, upon the coast 
 mentioned in the preceding article, for the purpose of fishing and trading with the 
 natives of the country. 
 
 Art. 6. All spirituous liquors, fire-arms, other arms, powder, and munitions of 
 war of every kind, are always excepted from this same commerce permitted by the 
 preceding article ; and the two powers engage, reciprocally, neither to sell, nor 
 suffer them to be sold, to the natives, by their respective citizens and subjects, nor 
 by any person who may be under their authority- It is likewise stipulated, that this 
 restriction shall never afford a pretext, nor be advanced, in any case, to authorize 
 either search or detention of the vessels, seizure of the merchandise, or, iri fine, any 
 measures of constraint whatever, towards the merchants or the crews who may 
 carry on this commerce; the high contracting powers reciprocally reserving to 
 themselves to determine upon the penalties to be incurred, and to inflict the pun- 
 ishments in case of the contravention of this article by their respective citizens or 
 subjects. 
 
 (No. 2 ) 
 
 THE FRENCH TITLE. 
 
 Extract from the Report of the Commillec on Military Affairs, made in Congress 
 
 in 1843. 
 
 The treaty of Utrecht was concluded in 1713. By the tenth article ii was agreed 
 between Groat Britain and France, to determine within one year, by commission- 
 en, the limits between the Hudson's Bay and the places appertaining to the French 
 
116 
 
 AFTEJUDIX. 
 
 m 
 
 The same commfssfoners were also authorized to settle, in like manner, (he bonn- 
 darics between the other British and French colonies in those parts. Commissioi>- 
 ers were accordingly appointed by the two Powers, and there is strong reason tc 
 believe they actually established the boundaries according to the terms of the treatyr 
 although no formal record of the fact now exists. The eTidence that the boundaries 
 were thus established is, first, " the fact of the appointment of the commissioners for 
 that express purpose ; and that two distinct lines may be found traced on the dif- 
 ferent maps published in the last century, each purporting to be the limit between 
 the Hudson's Bay territories on the north and the French possessions on the south, 
 fixed by commisstoners according to the treaty of Utrecht/' One of these lines " is 
 drawn irregularly from the Atlantic to a point in the 49th parallel of latitude, south 
 ef the southernmost part of the Hudson's Bay, and thence westward along that 
 parallel to Red River, and, in some maps, still further west. This line is generally 
 considered in the United States, and has been assumed by their government, as the 
 true boundary settled by the commissieners agreeabty to the treaty above mention- 
 ed." Thus we find Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, at Madrid, in I80&, writing tc 
 the Spanish minister as follows ; " In conformity with the tenth article of the first- 
 mentioned treaty, (treaty of Utrecht,) the boundary between Canada and Louisiana 
 on the one side, and the Hudson's Bay nnd Northwestern Companies on the other, 
 was established by commissioners by a Hne to commence at a cape or promontory 
 sn the ocean in S9 degrees 31 minntes north latitude ; to run thence southwest- 
 wardly to latitude 49 degrees north from the equator, and along that line indefinitely 
 westward." These extracts are taken from the Memoir of Mr. Greenhow, who, it 
 is proper to add, considers the opinion that these boundary lines were actually esta- 
 blished by the commissioners " at variance with the most accredited aathorities."' 
 In this opinion the committee does not concur ; so far from doing so, it is thought 
 the presumption that the 49th parallel was adopted by the commissioners under the 
 treaty of Utrecht, is strengthened by the line of demarcation subsequently agreed on 
 by the treaty of Versailles, in 1763, between France and (rreat Britain, and also' 
 by the treaty of peace of 1783, between the United States and Great Britain. By 
 the former, the " confines between the British and French possessions were irrevo- 
 cably fixed by a line drawn along the middle of the Mississippi, from its source to 
 the Iberville," etc. By the lattcr,'that part of the northera boundary of the United 
 States which is applicable to the sublet is described to be through the Lake-of>the- 
 Woods, "to the most northwestern point thereof, and from thence on a due west 
 course to the Mississippi river." The most northwestern point of the Lake-of-the- 
 Woods is perhaps a few nninutea north of the 49th parallel of latitude. By the con- 
 vention of (818, between the United States and Great Britain, in the second article, 
 it is agreed that a line drawn from the most northwestern point of the Lake-of-the- 
 Woods, along the 49>.h parallel of north latitude, or if the said point shall not lie in 
 (he 49th parallel of north latitude, then that a line drawn from the said point due 
 north or south, as the case may be, untii the said line shall intersect the said par- 
 allel of north latitude, and from the point of such intersection, due west, ak)ng and 
 with said parallel, shall be the Imi of demarcation between the territories of the 
 United States and those of his Britannic majesty ; and that the said line shall form 
 the northern' boundary ef the said territories of the United States, and the southern 
 boundary of the territory of his Britannic majesty, from the Lake-of-the- Woods to 
 the Stony Mountains." 
 
 This line, it will be observed, is a deviation from the boundary established by the 
 treaty of 178ft; for that was to extend due west from the northwestern point of the 
 Lake-of-the- Woods, without emij referente to its latitude. By this, we are in the 
 eontingency named>to run by the shortest line from the specified point on the Lake- 
 ef-the- Woods to the forty-ninth parallel of latitude. Whence, it may be asked, the 
 solicitude to- adopt this particular parallel, except as it corresponded with preexisting 
 arrangements, which could have been made under the provisions of the treaty of 
 Utrecht albne ! for under no other had any reference at that time b^en made to the 
 said forty-ninth degree. 
 
 This coincidence between the boundaries established by Great Britain and' France 
 in 1V63, and between Great Britain and the United States in 1783 and 1818, can 
 scarcely be accounted for on any other supposition, than that the said linu had been 
 previously established by the commissioners under the treaty of Utrecht. This 
 conclusion is strengthened by a further coincidence in the boundaries fixed in the 
 said treaties of 17C3 and 1783. In both, the Mississippi is ad( ted as the boundary. 
 One of the lines then (the Mississippi) previously established uetween Great Bri- 
 tain and France being thus, beyond all cavil, adopted between the United States 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 117 
 
 and Great Britain, mty it not he fairly inferred, in the absence of all proof to the 
 contrary, and with strong corroborating proof in favor of the inference, drawn from 
 the stipulations of treaties, lines of demarcation on old maps, etc., that the other 
 line, (forty-ninth parallel,) equally beyond cavil established by the United States 
 and Great Britain, was also the same one previously existing between Great Britain 
 and France 1 but such line had no existence, unless under the stipulations of the 
 treaty of Utrecht. For these reasons, the committee has adopted the opinion, that 
 the forty-ninth parallel of latitude was actually established by the commissioners 
 under that treaty. It may not be unimportant here to observe, that this forty-ninth 
 parallel is not a random line, arbitrarily selected, but the one to which France was 
 entitled upon the well-settled principle that the first discoverer of a river is entitled, 
 by virtue of that discovery, to all the unoccupied territory watered by that river and 
 its tributaries. 
 
 We have seen that, by the treaty of 1783, the Mississippi, from its source, was 
 adopted as the line of demarcation between the British aud French possessions. 
 Louisiana then extended north as far fas that river reached ; in other words, it 
 stretched along the whole course of the Mississippi, from its source, in about lati- 
 tude forty-nine, to its mouth, in the gulf of Mexico, in latitude twenty-nine. By 
 the stipulations, then, of this treaty alone, without without calling in the aid of the 
 previous treaty of Utrecht, the northern boundary of Louisiana is clearly recognized as 
 a line drawn due west from the source of the Mississippi : we say due west, because 
 the ease line alone of the boundaries of Louisiana being specifically and in express 
 terms established by the treaty, her surface can only be ascertained by the extension 
 of that whole line in the direction in which her territory is admitted to lie. This 
 simple and only practicable process of giving to Louisiana any territory under the 
 treaty, fixes as the whole of her northern boundary, a line running due west from 
 the source of the Mississippi, which may, for the purpose of this argument, be 
 fairly assumed as the forty-nmth parallel, without injustice to any party. 
 
 Having thus ascertained the northern boundary of Louisiana, it becomes impor- 
 tant to inquire what were its western limits, as between Great Britain and France : 
 we say between Great Britain and France, because here another competitor ap- 
 peared, (we speak of 17fi3,) in the person of the king of Spain, upon whoso title 
 we shall insist, if we fail to establish that of Franco. 
 
 The treaty of 1V63 professing to establish and actually establishing lines of de- 
 marcation between the contiguous territories of the contracting parties, it cannot be 
 denied, except upon strong proof, that all the boundaries about which any dispute 
 then existed, or subsequent disputes could be anticipated, (that is, where their re- 
 spective territories touched each other,) were then definitely adjusted and settled. 
 These territories are known to have touched on the north and on the east ; and ac- 
 cordingly in those quarters wo find the lines clearly described. Is it not evident, 
 that had they touched in other points, had there been other quartess where questions 
 of conflicting claims might have arisen, the lines in those quarters also would have 
 been fixed with equal precision T But to the south and west there is no'allusion in 
 the treaty ; an omission conclusive of the fact that in those directions Great Britain 
 had no territory contiguous to Louisiana. But Louisiana extended, by the stipula- 
 tions of the treaty, west from the Mississii)pi ; and Great Britain, having no terri- 
 tory or claim to territory which could arrest her extension in that direction, is pre- 
 cluded from denying that the French title covered the whole country from that/iver 
 to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 The parties to the treaty of 1763 made partition of almost the whole continent of 
 North Atnerica, assigning to England the territory east of the Mississippi, and north 
 of the forty-ninth parallel of latitude. No claim was at that time advanced by 
 Great Britain to territory in any other quarter of this vast continent ; a very preg- 
 nant conclusion against the existence of any such claim. Her Government, ever 
 vigilant for the increase of her territory, with a view to the extension of her com- 
 merce, manifested upon the occasion of this treaty an avidity of acquisition which 
 the continent was scarcely-large enough to satisfy. Never very nice in scrutinizing 
 the foundation of her protonsions, nor over scrupulous in the selection of means to 
 enforce them, she was at this juncture in a position peculiarly auspicious to the 
 gratification of her absorbing passion of territorial aggrandizement. Conqueror at 
 every point, she dictated the terms of peace, and asserted successfully every claim 
 founded in the slif^htcst pretext of right. Still no title is either advanced or even 
 intimated, to possessions west of the Mississippi. 
 
 Mr. Gushing, of Massachusetts, in a report from the Committee on Foreign Re- 
 lations, to the House of Representulives, made January 4, 1839, has the following 
 
lis 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 sentences : " As between France and Great Britain, or Great Britain and the TJniteir 
 Slates, the successor of ail tlie rights of France, the question (of boundary) would 
 ■ccin to be concluded by the treaty of Versailles, already cited, in which Great 
 Britain relinquishes, irrevocably, all pretensions west of the Mississippi. On the 
 footing of the treaty of Utrecht, ratified by our convention, of 1818, England may 
 posssilily, by extension of contiguity, carry her possessions from Hudson's Bay 
 across to the Pacific, north of latitude 49° ; but by the treaty of Versailles we pos- 
 sess the same right, and an exclusive one, to carry our territory across the conti* 
 nent, south of that line, in the right of France." 
 
 It may, perhaps, be urged thai the limits of Louisiana, on the west, are confined 
 to the territory drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries ; the e&tent of her 
 claim, founded on the discovery of that river, being restricted to the ccuntry so 
 drained. The principle upon which this limitation is attempted may be safely ad- 
 mitted, without in any degree affecting the right for which we contend ; because, 
 first. Great Britain is precluded from asserting it by her admission, in 1763, that 
 Louisiana extended indefinitely west from the Mississippi ; and, second, becau8eth& 
 principle being of universal application, if the discovery of the Mississippi by the 
 French confine Louisiana to its waters east of the Rocky Mountains, the discovery 
 of the Columbia by the Americans will extend their claim to the whole country 
 watered by that great river, west of those mountains, and our true claim has this 
 extent. Yet, to avoid unprofitable disputes, and for the sake of peace, we have 
 expressed a willingness (met in no corresponding spirit, the committee is sorry t» 
 say,) to confine ourselves to much narrower limits. 
 
 (No. 3.) 
 
 Copy of ike Conmntion between his Britannic Majesty and the King ef Spain, com 
 manly called the Nnotka Treaty, of October, 1790. 
 
 •' Article 1. The buildings and tracts of land situated on tho north-west coast 
 of the Continent of North America, or on the islands adjacent to that Continent, oC 
 which the subjects of his Britannic majesty were dispossessed about the month of 
 April, 1789, by a Spanish ofEcer, shall be restored to the said British subjects. 
 
 " Art. 2. A just reparation shall be made according to the nature of the cate» 
 for all acts of violence and hostility which may have been committed subsequent to 
 the month of April, 1789, by the subjects of either of the contracting parties against 
 the subjects of the other ; and in case said respective subjects shall, since the same' 
 period, have been forcibly dispossessed' of their lands, bildings, vessels, merchandise,, 
 and oiher property whatever on the said Continent, or on the seas and isliands ad- 
 jacent, they shall be reestablished in the possession thereof, or a just compensatipa 
 shall be made to them for the losses which they have sustained. 
 
 " Art. 3". In order to strengthen the bonds of friendship, and to preserve in 
 future a perfect harmony and good understanding between the' two contracting par- 
 ties, it is agreed, that their respective subjects shall not be disturbed or molested,, 
 either in negotiating or carrying on their fisheries in the Pacific Ocean or in tho 
 South Seas, or in landing on the coast of these seas, in places not aliready occupied,, 
 for the purpose of carrying on their commerce with the natives of th? country, or of 
 making settlements there ; the whole subject, nevertheless, to the instructions 
 specified in these following articles. 
 
 " Art. 4. His Britannic majesty engages to take the most efJectual measures to 
 prevent the navigation, and the fishing of his subjects in the Pacific Ocean, or in the 
 South Seas, from being made a pretext for illicit trade with the Spanish settlements ; 
 and with this view, it is moreover, expressly stipulated, that British subjects shall 
 not navigate or carry on their fishery in the said seas, within the space of ten sea 
 leagues from any j-art of the coasts already occupied by Spain. 
 
 " Akt. 5. As well in the places which are to be restored to the British subject " 
 by virtue of the first Article, as in afl other parts of the north-westerrj coast of 
 America, or of the islands adjacent, situate to the north of the parts of the said 
 coast already occupied by Spain, wherever the subjects of the two powers shalf 
 have made settlements, since the month of April, 1789, qr shall hereafter make any» 
 the subjects of the other shall have free access, and shall carry on their trade with- 
 out any disturbance or molestation. 
 
 " Art. 6. With respect to the eastern and western coasts of South America^ 
 and to the islands adjacent, no settlement shall be formed hereafter by the respective 
 subjects in such part of those coasts as are situated to the south of those parts of 
 the same coasts, and of the islands adjacent, which are already occupied by Spain r„ 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 119 
 
 fravideJ, that the said respective subjects shall retain the liberty of landing on the 
 coasts and islands so situated, for the purposes of their fishery, and of erecting 
 thereon, huts and other temporary buildings, serving only for those purposes. 
 
 "Art. 7. In all cases of complaint, or infraction of the articles of the present con- 
 vention, the officers of either party, without permitting themselves previously to 
 commit any violence or acts of force, shall be bound to make an exact report of the 
 affair, and of its circumstances, to their respective courts who will terminate such 
 diflerences in an amicable manner. 
 
 Art. 8, The present convention shall be ratified and confirmed in the space of 
 six weeks, to be computed from the day of its signature, or sooner, if it can be done. 
 " In witness whereof, we, the undersigned, plenipotentiaries of their Britannic and 
 
 Catholic majesties, have in their names, and by virtue of respective fuU powers, 
 
 signed the present convention, and set thereto the seals of our Arms. Done at 
 
 the palace of St. Lawrence, the 28th of October, 1700. 
 
 [l. s.] " El Condk De Florida Banca. 
 
 f L. S.] " AlLEYNB FlTHZHEBBKT." 
 
 [No's 4 and 5 of the Appendix, consisting of a correspondence between Captains Gray and 
 Ingraham and the Spanish commissioner at Nootka in 1792, and an extract from Captain Gray's 
 log-book rev|>ecting the occurrences in the Columbia river on his first visit, though referred to 
 in the preceding pages, were deemed ta be of not enough importance to warrant any further 
 increase of this portion of the work.] 
 
 (No. fl.) 
 
 BRITISH STATEMENT, OF 1836.» 
 
 Thb government of Great Britain, in proposing to renew, for a further term 
 of years, the third article of the convention of 1818, respecting the territory on the 
 north-west coast of America, west of the Rocky Mountains, regrets that it has been 
 found impossible, in the present negotiation, to agree upon a line of boundary which 
 should separate those parts of that territory, which might henceforward be occupied 
 or settled by the subjects of Great Britain, from the parts which would remain open 
 to occupaiicy or settlement by the United States. 
 
 To establish such a boundary must be the ultimate object of both countries. With 
 this object in contemplation, and from a persuasion that a part of the difEculties 
 which have hitherto prevented its attainment is to be attributed to a misconception, 
 on the part of the United States, of the claims and views of Great Britain in regard 
 to the territory in question, the British plenipotentiaries deem it advisable to bring 
 under the notice of the American plenipotentiary a full and explicit exposition of those 
 claims and views. 
 
 As preliminary to this discussion, it is highly desirable to mark distinctly the broad 
 difference between the nature of the rights claimed by Great Britiin and those 
 asserted by the United States, in respect to thf" territory in question. 
 
 Over a large portion of that territory, nan ly, from the 42d degree to the 49th 
 degree of north latitude, the United States claim full and exclusive sovereignty. t 
 
 Great Britain claims no exclusive sovereignly over any 'portion of that territory. X 
 Her present claim, not in respect to any part, but to the whole, is limited to a right 
 of joint occupancy, in common with other states, leaving the right of exclusive 
 dominion in abeyance. 
 
 In other words, the pretensions of the United States tand to the ejection of all 
 othernations, and, among the rest, of Great Britain, from all right of settlement in 
 the district claimed by the United States (j 
 
 The pretensions of Great Britain, on the contrary, tend to the mere maintenance 
 of her own rights, in resistance to the exclusive character of the pretensions of the 
 United States. 
 
 Having thus stated the nature of the respective claims of the two parties, the 
 
 » This statement is here inserted in full, because it is a complete synopsis of all the pretensions 
 of Great Britain ; and being the groundwork of Iier claims, is particularly interesting as show- 
 ing the other side of the itory. 
 
 t At the period of this convention, the United States plenipotentiary was instructed to agree 
 io the extension of o\ir northern boundary line, westward from the Lake of the Woods, along 
 parallel 490, to the Pacific ; with the further instruction, that in case such compromise should 
 not be accepted, wo should feel ourselves entitled thereafter, to insist upon the full measure 
 of our rights. 
 
 \ She has exercised it nevertheless. 
 
 kj Truly so ; and this must always be the case between rightful owners and mere pretenders. 
 
120 
 
 J^PPINDIX. 
 
 British plenipotentiaries will now examine the grounds on which those claims arc 
 fouoded. 
 
 Tiio claims of the United States are urged upon three grounds : 
 
 Ist. As reBulting Irom their own proper right. 
 
 2dly. Am resulting from a right derived to them from Spain ; that power having 
 by the treaty of Florida, concluded with the United States in 1819, ceded to the 
 latter all their rights and claims on the western coast of America north of the 4Sd 
 degree. 
 
 3dly. As resulting from a right derived to them from France, to whom the United 
 States succeeded, by treaty, in possession of the province of Louisiana. 
 
 The first right, or right proper, of the United States, is founded on the alleged 
 discovery of the Columbia River by Mr. Gray, of Boston, who, in 1792, entered 
 that river, and explored it to some distance from its mouth. 
 
 To this are added the first exploration, by Lewis and Clarke, of a main branch of 
 the same river, from its source downwiirds, and also the alleged priority of settle- 
 jnent, by citizens of the United States, of the country in the vicinity of the same river. 
 
 The second right, or right derived from Spain, ia founded on the alleged prior 
 discovery of the region in dispute by Spanish navigators, of whom the chief were, 
 1st, CHbrillo, who, in 1643, visited ihat coast as far as 44 degrees north latitude; 
 3d, De Fuca, who, as it is affirmed, in 1598, entered the straits known by his name 
 in latitude 49 degrees ; 3d, Guelli, who, in 1682, is said to have pushed his 
 researches as high as 57 degrees north latitude ; 4th, Perez and others, who, 
 between the years 1774 and 1792, visited Nootka Sound and the adjacent coasts. 
 
 The third right, derived from the cession of Louisiana to the United States, is 
 founded on the assumption that that province, its boundaries never having bdea 
 exactly defined longitudinally, may fairly be asserted to extend westward across the 
 Rocky Mountains, to the shore of the Pacific. 
 
 Before the merits of these respective claims are considered, it is necessary to 
 observe that one only ou*^ of the three can be valid. 
 
 They are, in fact, claims obviously incompatible the one with the other.* If, for 
 example, the title of Spain by first discovery, or the title of Franco as the original 
 possessor of Louisiana, bo valid, then must one or the other of those kingdoms have 
 been the lawful possessor of that territory, at the moment when the United States 
 claim to have discovered it. If, on the other hand, the Americans were the first 
 discoverers, there is necessarily an end of the Spanish claim ; and if priority of 
 discovery constitutes the title, that of France falls equally to the gj-ound. 
 
 Upon the question, how far prior discovery constitutes a legal claim to sover- 
 eignty, the law uf nations is somewhat vague and undefined. It is, however, 
 admitted by the most approved writers that mere accidental discovery, unattended 
 by exploration — by formally taking possession in the name of the discoverer's sove- 
 reign — by occupation and settlement, more or less permanent — by purchase of the 
 territory — or receiving the sovereignty from the natives — constitutes the lowest 
 degree of title, and that it is only in proportion as first discovery is followed by any 
 or all of these acts, that such title is strengthened and confirmed. 
 
 The rights conferred by discovery, therefore, must be discussed on their own 
 merits. . 
 
 But before the British plenipotentiaries proceed to compare the relative claims of 
 Great Britain and the United Slates, in this respect, it will be advisable to dispose 
 of the two other grounds of right, put forward by the United States. 
 
 The second ground of claim, advanced by the United States, is the cession made 
 by Spain to the United States, by the treaty of Florida, in 1819. 
 
 If the conflicting claims of Great Britain and Spain, in respect to all that part of 
 the coast of North America, had not been finally adjusted by the convention of 
 Nootka, in the year 1790, and if all the arguments and pretensions, whether resting 
 on priority of discovery, or derived from any other consideration, had not been 
 definitively set at rest by the signature of that convention, nothing would be more 
 easy than to demonstrate that the claims of Great Britain to that country, as 
 opposed to those of Spain, were so far from visionary, or arbitrarily assumed, that 
 they established more than a parity of title lo the possession of the country in 
 question, either as against Spain, or any other nation. 
 
 Whatever that title may have been, however, either on the part of Great Britain 
 
 *By no means! An eqnitahlo settlement might at one time have divided tlie territory 
 between tlie two first parties claimnnt ; and tlieir Joint release in favor of tlie United States, 
 wliile it makes absolutely against Great Britain, strengtliens the title ol the United States in 
 the same degree, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 121 
 
 or on the part of Spain, prior to the convention of 1790, it wai from thenceforward 
 no longer to be traced in vague narratives of diicoveries, aevernl of them admitted 
 to be apocryphal, but in the text and stipulations of that convention itself. 
 
 By that convention it was agreed that all parts of the north-western coast oi 
 America, not already occupied at that time by either of the contracting parties, 
 should thenceforward be equally open to the subjects of both, for all purposes of 
 commerce and settlement ; the sovereignty remaining in abeyance; 
 
 In this stipulation, as it has been already stated, all tracts of country claimed by 
 Spain and Groat Britain, or accruing to either, in whatever manner, were included. 
 
 The Tights of Spain on that coast were, by the treaty of Florida, in 1819, con- 
 veyed by Spam to the United States. With those rights the United States neces- 
 sarily succeeded to the limitations by which they were defined, and the obligations 
 uuder which they were to be exercised. Ttom those obligations and limitations, as 
 Ctntiacted towards Great Britain, Great Britain cannot be expected gratuitously to 
 release those countries, merely because the rights of the party originally bound have 
 been transferred to a third power. 
 
 The third ground of claim of the United States rests on the right supposed to be 
 derived from the cession to them of Louisiana by Franco. 
 
 In arguing this branch of the question, it will not be necessary to examine in 
 detail the very dubious point of the assumed extent of that province, since, by the 
 treaty between France and SpRin of 1763, the whole of that territory, defined or 
 undefined, real or ideal, was ceded by France to Spain, and, consequently, belonged 
 to Spain, not only in 1790, when the convention of Nootka was signed between 
 Great Britain and Spain, but also subsequently, in 1792, tho period of Gray's disco- 
 very of iht mouth of the Columbia. If, then, Louisiana embraced the country west 
 of the Rocky Mountains, to the south of the 49th parallel of latitude, it must have 
 embrac-d the Columbia itself, which that parallel intersects; and, consequently, 
 Gray's discovery must have been made in a country avowedly already appropriated 
 to Spain, and, if so appropriated, necessarily included, with all other Spanish posses- 
 sions and claims in that quarter, in the stipulations of the Nootka convention. 
 
 Even if it could be shown, therefore, that, the district west of the Rocky Moun- 
 tains was within the boundaries of Louisiana, that circumstance would in no way 
 assist the claim of the United States. 
 
 It may, nevertheless, be worth while to expose, in a few words, the futility of the 
 attempt to include that district within those boundaries. 
 
 For this purpose, it is only necessary to refer to the original grant of Louisiana 
 made to De Crozat by Louis XIV., shortly after its discovery by La Salle. That 
 province is therein expressly described as " the country drained by the waters en- 
 tering, directly or indirectly, into the Mississippi." Now, unless it can be shown 
 that any of the tributaries of the Mississippi cross the Rocky Mountains from 
 west to east, it is difficult to conceive how any part of Louisiana can bo found to 
 the west of that ridge. 
 
 There remains to be considered the first ground of claim advanced by the United 
 States to the territory in question, namely, that founded en their own proper right 
 as first discoverers and occupiers of territory. 
 
 If the discovery of the country in question, or rather the mere entrance into the 
 mouth of tho Columbia by a private American citizen, be, as the United States as- 
 sert, (although Great Britain is far from admitting the correctness of the assertion,) 
 a valid ground of national and exclusive claim lo al* the country situated between 
 the 42d and 49lh parallels of latitude, then must any preceding discovery of the 
 same country, by an individual of any other nation, invest such nation with a more 
 valid, because a prior, claim to thai country. 
 
 Now, to set aside, for the present, Drake, Cook, and Vancouver, who all of them 
 either took possession of, or touched at, various points of the coast in question. 
 Great Britain can show that in 1788 — that is, four years before Gray entered the 
 mouth of the Columbia River— Mr. Meares, a lieutenant of the royal navy,* who 
 had been sent by the £ast India Company on a trading expedition to the north-west 
 coast of America, had already minutely explored that coast, from the 49ih degree 
 to the 45th degree north latitude ; had taken formal possession of the Straits of 
 De Fuca, in the name of his sovereign ; had purchased land, trafficked And formed 
 treaties^ with the natives ; and had actually entered the bay of the Columbia, to the 
 
 * Meares was o Portuguese hireling', and not in any branch of English service, and though 
 a speculating lialf-iiay lieutenant, was, to all intents an<l purposes, as much a private citizen as 
 Captain Gray. See Appendix, No. 10. 
 
 t The only treaty he formed, was an agreement With Maqulnna, the king of the surround- 
 
123 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 i 
 
 northern bend UnJ of which be gave ibe nime of Cape Diaappointmtnf-'t, name 
 which it bnar* to thit day. 
 
 Dixon, Scott, Duncan, Strange, and othor privatp Britiih traders, had also viaitnd 
 theae ihurea and countriea aavcrat yeara before Gray ; but the single example of 
 Meares auflices to qunah Gray'a claim to prior diacovery. To tho other navigators 
 above mentioned, therefore, it ia unnecessary to refer more particularly. 
 
 It may be worth while, however, to obaervc, with regard to Mcaios, that hit vc* 
 count of his voyaaes was publinhed in London in August, 1790 ; that is, two 
 yeara before Gray is even pretended to have entered tiie Columbia.f 
 
 To that account are appended, first, extracts from his log-book; secondly, maps 
 of the coasts and harbors which he visited, in which every part of tho coast in quet- 
 i\on,including the bay o^ the Columbia, {into which the log expressli/ at alea that Meares 
 entered,) is minutely laid down, its delineation tallying, in almoitt every particulari 
 with Vancouver's subsequent survey, and with the description found in all the best 
 maps of that part of the world, adopted at this moment ; thirdly, the account in quee- 
 tioii actually containa an engraving, dated in August, 1790, of the entrance of De 
 Fuca'fl Straits, executed after a design taken in June, 1788, by Meares himaelf.f 
 
 With theae physical evidencea of authenticity, it ia needless to contend for, as it 
 is impossible to controvert, the truth of Mearea's statement. 
 
 It wns only on the 17 th of September, 1788, that the Washington, commanded 
 by Mr. Gray, first made her appearance at Nootka. 
 
 If, therefore, any claim to these countries, as between Great Britain and the Uni- 
 ted States, is to be deduced from priority of the discovery, the above exposition of 
 dates and facts suffices to establish that claim in favor of Great Britain, on a basis 
 too firm to be shaken. 
 
 It mirst, indeed, be admitted that Mr. Gray, finding himself in the bay formed 
 by the discharge of the waters of the Columbia into tho Pacific, was the first to as- 
 certain that this bay formed the outlet of a great river — n discovery which had es- 
 caped Lieutenant Meares, when, in 1788, four years before he entered the very same 
 bay. 
 
 But can it be seriously urged that this single step in the progress of discovery not 
 only wholly supersedes the prior discoveries, both of the bay and ther.oa^t, by Lieu- 
 tenant Meares, but equally absorbs the subsequent exploration of thi' rtver by 
 Captain Vancouver, for near a hundred miles above the point to which lit Gray'e 
 ship had proceeded, the formal taking possession of it by that British navigator, in 
 the name of his sovereign, and also all the other discoveries, CAplorations, and tem- 
 porary posseasion and occupation of the ports and harbors on the coast, as well 
 of the Pacific as within the Straits of Do Fuca, up to the 49th parallel of latitude 1^ 
 
 This pretension, however, extraordinary as it is, does not embrace the whole 
 of the claim which the United States build upon the limited discovery of Mr. Gray, 
 namely, that the bay of which Cape Disappelntment is the northernmost headland, 
 is, in fact, the embrochure of a river. That ra*^re ascertainment, it is asserted, 
 confers on the United States a title, in exclusive sovereignty, to the whole extent 
 of country drained by such river, and by all its tributary streams. 
 
 In support of this very extraordinary pretentiion, the United States allege the 
 preoedcMt of grants) »nd charters accorded in former times to companies and indi- 
 viduals, by various European sovereigns, over several parts of the American conti- 
 nent. Among other instances are adduced the charters granted by Elizabeth, 
 James I., Charles II., and George II., to sundry British subjects and associations,!! 
 
 ing country, granting him leave to make n temporary building, on tho express condition, 
 that when he tinally left the coast, " the house and all tlie goods thereunto belonging" should 
 fell into that chiePs possession ; a condition, by the way, which Meares dishonestly failed to 
 fulfil, for tlic boards were struck oA', and taken on board one of his vessels, and the roof was 
 given to Captain Kundrick. 
 
 • " Cape Disappointment," because he failed to discover the river he sought. 
 
 t That is to say, he was " disappointed" two years before Captain Gray was satisfied. 
 
 \ It will be recollected it was " Meares himself" v/ho despatched word to England of the 
 wonderful discoveries of Captain Oray, in the Strait of Fuca. 
 
 ^ No ; we claim these latter, on the ground of other discoveries, and also on the score of Speun. 
 
 II This is a wilful perversion, to say the least of it. The United States, in proving the prin- 
 ciple, merely alluded io these latter charters as instances of Britain'.s recognition of the rule 
 with her own subjects, or in other words, when it ran in favor of heritlf While the correct- 
 ness and usage of the principle was otherwise indubitably proved, tho above instances were 
 merely brought forward as a conclusive rebuke to Britain's opposition to its ap])llcation to us. 
 It was on the ground of these charters, together with the application of their rule to the pre- 
 tended discovery of the Columbia river by Vancouver and Meares, that we felt warranted in 
 asserting uu the 31st page, that Great Britain Tdvauces the principle herself. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 •I nlao tho grant made by Loiii* XIV. to Do Crozat over tho tract of country 
 WHtcrcd by tho Mistissippi nnd ita tributHrien. 
 
 lint can •Mch chartur* bo convidcred an acknowledged part of thp law of nntioni«1 
 Wuro they any thing ninro, in fact, than a coiiion to tho (;rnntoe or graiiteps of| 
 whatever ri|jht« the gratitor might aiippoRo himaolf to posacai, to tho excluaion 
 of other Biil)joct8 of the lame rovrreignl — charters binding and restraining those 
 only who wure within tho jurisdiction of the grantor, and of no force or viilidity 
 against the subjects of other states, until recognized by treaty, and thereby becoming 
 a part of intornittional law. 
 
 Had the United States, thought proper to issue, in 1700, by virtue of their na- 
 tional authority, a charter granting to Mr. Gray the whole extent of country watered, 
 directly or indirectly, by the River Columbia,* such a chorter, would, no doubt, have 
 been valid in Mr. Giay'a favor, as against all other [citizens of the United States. 
 But can it be suppoacd that ii would have been acquiesced in by either of tho 
 powers. Great Britain and Spain, which, in that same year, were preparing to con- 
 test by arms the possession of the Tery country which would have been the subject 
 of such a grant? 
 
 If tho right of sovereignty over tho territory in question accrues to the United 
 States by Mr. Gray's discovery, how happens it that they never protested against 
 the violence dono to thai right by the two powers, who, by the convention of 1790, 
 regulated their respective rights in and over a district so belonging, as it is now as- 
 serted, to the United States ? 
 
 This claim of tho United States to the territory drained by tho Columbia and its 
 tributary streams, on the ground of one of their citizens having been the first to 
 discover the entrance of that river, has been here so far entered into, nut because 
 it is considered to be necessarily entitled to notice, sinco the whole country watered 
 by the Columbia falls within the provisions of the convention of 1700, But, because 
 the doctrine above alluded to has been put forward so broadly, and with such con- 
 fidence, by tho United States, that Great Britain considered it equally due to her- 
 self and to other powers to enter her protest against it, 
 
 The United States further pretend that iheir claim to the country in question is 
 strengthened and confirmed by tho discovery of the sourccd oi" the Columbia, and 
 by the exploration of its course to the spa by Lewis and Glarko, in ISO.'i-S. 
 
 In reply to this allegation. Great Britain affirms, and can distinctly prove, that, 
 if not before, at least in tho same and subsequent years, her North- Western Trad- 
 ing Company had, by means of their agent, Mr. Thomson, already established their 
 posts among the Flat-head and Kootanie tribes, on the head-waters of the northern 
 or main branch of the Columbia, and were gradually extending them down the 
 principal stream of that river ; thus giving to Great Britain, m this particular, 
 again, as in the discovery of the mouth of the river, a tillc to parity at least, if not 
 priority, of discovery, as opposed to the United States. It was from those posts, 
 that, having heard of the American establishment forming in 1811, at the mouth of 
 tho river, Mr Thomson hastened thither, descending the river, to ascertain the na- 
 ture of that establishment.! 
 
 Some stress having been laid by tho United States on tho restitution to them of 
 Fort George by the British, after the termination of tho last war, which restitution 
 they represent as conveying a virtual acknpwledgment by Great Britain of the title 
 of the United States to the country in which that post was situated — it is desirable 
 to stale, somewhat in detail, the circumstances attending that restitution. 
 
 In the year 1815, a demand for the restoration of Fort George was first made to 
 Great Britain, by the American government, on the plea that the first article of the 
 treaty of Ghent stipulated tho restitution to the U'iited States of all posts and 
 places whatsoever taken from them by the British during the war, in which descrip- 
 tion. Fort George, (Astoria,) was included. 
 
 For some time the British government demurred to comply with the demand of 
 the United States, because they entertained doubts how far it could be sustained 
 by the construction of the treaty. 
 
 In the first place, the trading post called Fort Astoria (or Fort George,) was not 
 a national possession ; in the second place, it was not a military post ; and, thirdly, 
 it was never captured from the Americans by the British. 
 
 It was, in fact, conveyed in regular commercial transfer, and accompanied by a 
 
 • These F.nglishmpn arc crazy— thn Columbia was not discovered by Captain Gray till 
 1793. If tlic above is intended as an illustration only, the instance is as weak as the previous 
 arguments are inconclusive. 
 
 t Wc have seen that Mr. Thomson came a year too late. 
 
134 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ' 
 
 bill of mle, for » Kum of mon«y, to (hit Dritiih company, who purchniod it, by (ho 
 American compnny, who loUi it of their own fret will. 
 
 It it trti« (hnt a Ilritiih Muop of war \\i\A, about that time, been tient to tnke pot- 
 ■eiaion •( (hnt post, but the arrived aiibacquoiitly to the traniaction above men- 
 tionnil, bfltwnrn the two companiet, and found the Uritiih company already m legal 
 occupation of their iielf acquired properti/. 
 
 In cniiie()ionce, however, of thiit Nhip having; been cent out with hnttile vinwi, 
 althou){h thoKe viowa were not carried into effect,* and in ordrr that not even a iha- 
 dow of a reflection might bo cast upon the good faith of tiie British Kovcrninont, 
 the latter determined to give the noost lllioral exter)tion to the terms of Iho treaty 
 of Ghent, and, in 1818, the purchase which tho Dritish company had made in 1813 
 was restored to the United States. 
 
 Particnjiir care, however, was taken, on thia occasion, to prevent any miHappre 
 henaion as to the rutefit of the concession made by Great DritHJn. 
 
 Viscount Castlereagh, in directing the Briti«h minister at Washington to intimate 
 the intention of the British government to Mr. Adams, then secretary of state, uses 
 these expressions, in a despatch dated 4th February, 1818:-— 
 
 " You will observe, that, whilst this government it not disposed to contest with 
 the American gouernment the point of |iossossion as it stood in tho Columbia 
 River at the moment of the rupture, theij are not prepared to admit the validitij of 
 the title of the government of the United States to this settlement. 
 
 "In signifying, therefore, to Mr. Adamt tho full ncquiescenco of your govern- 
 ment in the reoccupation of the limited position which the United States held in 
 that river at the breaking out of the war, you will at the tame time assert, in suita- 
 ble terms, the claim of Great Britain to that territory, upon which the American 
 settlement must be considered as an encroachment." 
 
 This instruction was executed verbally by the person to whom it was addressed. 
 
 The following is a transcript of tho act by which the fort was delivered up, by the 
 British, into tho hand of Mr. Piav«4t, the American agent: — 
 
 " In obedience to the command of H. R. H. the prince regent, .signified in a des- 
 patch from the right honorable the Earl Bathursl, addressed to tho partners or agents 
 of the North-West Company, bearing date the 27lli of January, 1818. and in obe- 
 dience 10 a subsequent order, dated tho 26th July, from VV. H. Sheriff, Esq., cap- 
 tain of H. M. ship Andromscho, We, tho undersigned, do, in conformity to the first 
 article of the treaty of Ghent, restore to the government of the United Slates, through 
 its agent, J. P. Provost, Esq., tho settlement of Fort George, on the Columbia river. 
 
 •'Given under our hands, in triplicate, at Fct George, (Columbia River,) this 
 €th day of October, 1818. 
 
 " F. HicKEY, Captain H. M. ship Blossom. 
 "J. Keith, o/MciV. W. Co." 
 
 The following is the despatch from Earl Bathurst tb the partners of the North- 
 West Company, referred to in tho above act of cession : — 
 
 DowNmo-STiiitcT, 27M January, 1818. 
 
 " Intelligence having been received that the United States sloop of war Ontario 
 has been sent by tho American government to establish a settlement on the Colum- 
 bia river, which was held by that state, on the breaking out of the last war, I am to 
 acquaint you, that it is the prince regent's pleasure, {without, however, admitting the 
 right of that government to the possession in yuestion) that, in pursuance of the first 
 article of the treaty of Ghent, duo facility should be given to the reoccupatio* of 
 the said settlement by the officers of the United States ; and I am to desire that 
 you would contribute as much as lies in your power to the execution of his royal 
 highnesses commands. 
 
 •' I have, &c. &;c., 
 
 " Bathufst. 
 " To the Partners or Agents of the North- West Company, 
 residing on the Columbia river." 
 
 The above documents put the case of the restoration of Fort Astoria in too clear 
 a light to require further observation. 
 
 * Those views were carried into fffect. The place was regularly taken possossion of in 
 the king's name en the 1st December, 1813, and the British flag was run up with all ,the for- 
 malities of conciucst, in place of tho American staudiird 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 135 
 
 Tho cflie, (hen of drrat Britain, in reipect to tho country wcit of the Rucky 
 Moiiiitnini, ii •tuirtly thm ; — , 
 
 Admitting thnt ihn Unitfil Stntai have acquired nil tho rights which Spain poa- 
 iciiod, ui) to tha trnaty of Florida, either in virtue of divcovery, or, na ii' pretended, 
 in right liOuiainnR, Oreat Uritnin maintaina that the nature and extent of thoao 
 right*, aa well na ul tlid ri|{hta of Great Britain, are fixed and defined liy tho con- 
 vention of Noolka ; thnt thcic righta are equal for both |/artina ; and that, in aucceed- 
 ing to tho rights ol i^pnw), undnr that convention, the (jnitod Ntates must also have 
 succerdi'ii to the ubii. itions which it imposed. 
 
 Admitting, further, (ho discovery of Mr. Gray, to tho extent already stated, Great 
 Britain, taking tho wholo line of the coiiat in question, with its straits, hnrhors, and 
 bays, haa stronger claims, on tho ground of prior diarovary, attended with acta of 
 occuoancy and settlement, than the United Statca. 
 
 Whether, therefore, tho United Statea rest their claima upon the title of Spain, 
 or upon that of prior discovery, or upon both. Groat Britain la entitled to placo her 
 claim* It least upon a parity with those of the United States. 
 
 It is a fact, admitted by thu United States, that, with tho exception of the Colum- 
 bia river, there is no river which opens far into the interior, on the whole western 
 coast of the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 In the interior of the territory in question, the subjects of Great Britain have had, 
 for many years, numerous settlements and trading posts— several of these posts on 
 the tributHry streams of the Columbia, several upon the Columbia itself, some to the 
 northward, and othcra to the southward, of that river ; and they navigate the Colum* 
 bia as the sole channel for tho conveyance uf their produce to the British station! 
 nearest the sea, and for the shipment of it from thence to Great Britain. It is also 
 by the Columbia and its tributary streams that these posts and settlements receive 
 their annual supplies from Great Britain."* 
 
 In the whole of the territory in question, the citizens of the United States have 
 not a single settlement or trading post. They do not use that river, either .u: the 
 purpose of transmitting or receiving any produce of their own, to or from other parte 
 of the world. 
 
 In this state of tho relative rights of the two countries, and of the relative exer- 
 cise of those rights, the United States claim the exclusive posaessioo of both banko 
 of the Columbia, and, consequently, that of the river itself; offering, it ia true, to 
 concede to British subjects a conditional participation in that navigation, but subjecti 
 in any case, to the exclusive jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States. 
 
 Groat Britain, on her part, offers to make tho river the boundary ; each country 
 retaining the bank of the river contiguous to its own territories, and the navigation 
 of it remaining forever free, and upon a footing of perfect equality to both nations. 
 
 To carry into effect this proposal, on our part, Great Britain would have to give 
 up posts and settlements south of the Columbia. On the part of the United States, 
 there could be no reciprocal withdrawing from actual occupation, aa there is not, and 
 never has been, a single American citizen settled north of the Columbia. 
 
 The United States decline to accede to this proposal, even when Great Britain 
 haa added to it the further offer of a most excellent harbor, and an extensive tract of 
 country on tho Straits of De Fuca — a sacrifice tendered in the spirit of accommoda- 
 tion, and for tho sake of a final adjustment of all differences, but which, having been 
 made in this spirit, is not to be considered aa in any degree recognizing a claim on 
 the part of the United States, or as at all impairing the existing right of Great Bri* 
 tain over the post and territory in question. 
 
 Such being the result of thn recent negotiation, it only remains for Great Britain 
 to maintain and uphold tho qualified rights which she now possesses over the whole 
 of the territory in question. These rights are recorded and defined in the convene 
 tion of Nootka. They embrace the right to navigate the waters of those countries, 
 the right to settle in and over any part of them, and the right freely to trade with the 
 inhabitants and occupiers of the same. 
 
 These rights have been peaceably exerci.^ed ever since the date of that conven- 
 tion ; that is, for a period of near forty years. Under that convention, valuable 
 British interests have grown up in those countries. It is fully admitted that the 
 United States possess the same rights, although they have been exercised by them 
 
 * Hero ia an assertion that Great Britain has been accruing title, through the operations of 
 her Hudson's Bay Company, ever lincc the treaty of 1818. This gives an additional 8igni&< 
 cance to her praiit of the civil and criminal jurisdiction of tho territory, to that incorporation. 
 It will be well for our renders here to recollect tho declaration of our Oovernment made in 
 1833, that thenceforth no portion of the American Continents were to be considered as snbjects 
 for liluropean Colonizatfon. 
 
126 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I 
 
 If, I 
 
 only in a single instance, nnd have not, since the year 1813, been exercised at all. 
 But beyond these rights they possess none. 
 
 To the interests and establishments which British industry and enterprise have 
 created, Great Britain owes protection. That protection will be given, both as re- 
 gards settlement and freedom of trade and navigation, with every attention not to 
 infringe the coordinate rights of the United States ; it being the earnest desire of 
 the British government, so long as the joint occupancy continues, to regulate its 
 own obligations by the same rule which governs the obligations of any other occu- 
 pying party. 
 
 Fully sensible, at the same time, of the desirableness of a more definite settlement, 
 as between Great Britain and the United States, the British governnient will be 
 ready, at any time, to terminate the present state of joint occupancy by an agree- 
 ment of delimitation ; but such arrangement only can be admitted as shall not dero- 
 gate from the rights of Great Britain, as acknowledged by treaty, nor prejudice the 
 advantages which British subjects, under the same sanction, now enjoy in that part 
 of the world. 
 
 (No. 7.) 
 
 Convenlion between the United States and Graet Britain, signed at London, Octo- 
 ber 20th, 1818. 
 
 Article. 2 — Tt is agreed that a line drawn from the most north-western point of 
 the Lake of the ^iV^oods, along the 49th parallel of north latitude, or, if the said point 
 shall not be in the 49lh parallel of north latitude, then^that a line drawn from the 
 said point due north or south, as the case may be, until the said line shall intersect 
 the said parallel of north latitude, and from the point of such intersection due west 
 along and,with the said parallel, shall be the line ofdemarkation between the territories 
 oi the United States and those of bis Britannic majesty ; and that the said line shall 
 form the northern boundary of the said territories of the United States, and the south- 
 ern boundary of the territories of his Britannic Majesty, from the Lake of the Woods 
 to the Stony Mountains. 
 
 Art. 3. — It is agreed that any country that may be claimed by either party on the 
 north-west coast of America, westward of the Stony Mountains, shall, together with 
 its harbors, bays, and creeks, and the navigation of all rivers within the same, be free 
 and open for the term of ■■ en years from the date of the signature of the present con- 
 vention, to the vessels, citizens, and subjects, of the two powers ; it being well un- 
 derstood that this agreement is not to be construed to the prejudice of any claim 
 which either of the two high contracting parties' may have to any part of the said 
 country, nor shall it be taken to affect the claims of any other power or state to any 
 part of the said country ; the only object of the high contracting parties, in that re- 
 spect, being to prevent disputes and diiTerences among themselves. 
 
 (No. 8.) 
 
 The Florida Treaty, signed at Washington, February ZZd, 1819. 
 
 Article 3. — The boundary line between the two countries west of the Mississippi 
 shall begin on the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the River Sabine, in the sea, 
 continuing north, along the western bank of that river, to the 32d degree of latitude ; 
 thence, by a line due north, to the degree of Utiiude where it strikes the Kio Roxo 
 of Natchitoches, or Red River ; then, following the course of the Rio Roxo west- 
 ward, to the degree of longitude 100 west from London and 23 from Washington ; 
 then crossing the said Red River, and running thence, by a line due north, to the 
 River Arkansas ; '^ence following the course of the southern bank of the Arkansas, 
 to its source in latitude 42 north ; and thence, by that parallel of latitude, to the 
 South Sea; the whole being as laid down in Melish's map of the United States, 
 published at Philadelphia, improved to the 1st of January, 1818. But, if the source 
 of the Arkansas River shall be found to fall north or south of latitude 42, then the 
 Une shall run from the said source due south or north, as the case may be, till it meets 
 the said parallel of latitude 42, and thence, along the said parallel, to the South Sea ; 
 all the inlands in the Sabine, and the said Red and Arkansas Rivers, throughout 
 the course thus described, to belong ts the United States ; but the use of the wa- 
 ters and the navigation of the^Sabine to the sea, and of the said Rivers Roxo and 
 Arkansas, throughout the axtent of the said boundary, on their respective banks, 
 shall be common to the respective inhabitants of both nations. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 127 
 
 The two high contracting parties agree to cede and renounce all their rights, 
 claims, and pretensions, to the territories described by the said, line ; that is to say, 
 the United States hereby rede to his Catholic Majesty, and renounce forever, all 
 their rights, claims, and pretensions, to the territories lying west and south of the 
 above-described line ; and, in like manner, his Catholic Majesty ceeds to the said 
 United States all his rights, claims, and pretensions, to any territories east and north 
 of the said line ; and for himself, his heirs, and successors, renounces all claim to 
 the said territories forever. 
 
 (No. 9.) 
 
 Convention hcttceen the United States and Great Britain, signed at London, 
 
 August 6th, 1827. 
 
 Article 1. All the provisions of the third article of the convention concluded 
 between the United States of America and his majesty the king of the United 
 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on the 20th of October, 1818, shall be, and 
 they are hereby, further indefinitely extended and continued in force, in the same 
 manner as if all the provisions of the said article were herein specifically recited. 
 
 Art. 2. It shall be competent, however, to either of the contracting parties, in 
 case either should think fit, at any time after the 20th of October, 1828, on giving 
 due notice of twelve months to the other contracting party, to annul and abrogate 
 this convention ; and it shall, in such case, be accordingly entirely annulled and 
 abrogated, after the expiration of the said term of notice. 
 
 Art. 3. Nothing contained in this convention, or in the third article of the 
 convention of the 20th October, 1818, hereby continued in force, shall be construed 
 to impair, or in any manner afTect, the claims which either of the contracting parties 
 may have to any part of the country westward of the Stony or Rocky Mountains. 
 
 (No. 10.) 
 
 The Instructions of the Merchant Proprietors, to John Meares : 
 
 ««»♦*♦ 
 
 Should you, in the course of your voyage, meet with any Russian, 
 English, or Spanish vessels, you will treat them with civility and friendship, and 
 allow them, if authorized, to examine your papers, which will show the object of 
 your voyage. But you must, at the same time, guard against surprise. Should 
 (h^y attempt to seize you, or even carry you out of your way, you will prevent it by 
 every means in your power, and repel force by force. You will on your arrival in 
 the first port, protest before a proper ofBcer against such illegal procedure ; and 
 ascertain as nearly as you can the value of your vessel and cargo, sending such 
 protest, with a full account of the transaction to us at China. Should you in such 
 conflict have the superiority, you will then take possession of the vessel that attacked 
 you, as also her cargo, and bring both, with the officers and crew to China, that they 
 may be condemned as legal prizes and their crews punished as pirates. Wishing 
 you a prosperous voyage, etc. 
 
 (Signed) " "The Merchant Proprietors." 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 From the haste with which the foregoing work has been hurried through the press 
 to meet the demand of the pubhc, a number of errors have been overlooked, which, 
 in the present edition can be corrected in no other way than by this final notice. 
 The erroneous dates resulted chiefly from want of sufficient time to refer to the 
 MSS., in reading the proof-sheets, and the occasional mistakes of expression are 
 chargeable entirely to the haste of composition. 
 
 For the words, " while she dared not openly deny to Spain the rights of her Pacific 
 discoveries," commencing on the 12th line of the 8th page, read — in flagrant viola' 
 lion of the laws of humanity ami of the rights of Spain to her Pacific discoveries. 
 
 For the date " 1587," occurring twice on the 20th line of the 10th page, read — 1592. 
 
 For the words, " returned to Mexico," on the 27th line of the 10th page, read — 
 sailed again into the Pacific at its northern outlet iri 51", and then returned to Mexico. 
 
 For " 1780," on the 7th lino of the 13th page, read— 1789. 
 
 For " 1775," occurring twice on line 24th of page 17, read — 1795. 
 
 For " 61°" on the 14th line of page 18, read— 51°. 
 
 For the word " Canada," on the 28th line of the 22d page, read — British America. 
 
 For "the whole territory," on the 7th line of page 23, read — the greater portion of 
 the territory. 
 
 For the word " all," on the 5th line of the 34th page, read — most of them. 
 
n 
 
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 THE MYSTERIES OF BERLIN, 
 
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