Adventures of the first Settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River: being a narrative of the expedition fitted out by J. J. Astor to establish the 'Pacific Fur Company'; with an account of some Indian Tribes on the coast of the Pacific

Preface

. Having been one of the first commercial adventurers to the Columbia River, and having spent fifteen years of my fife travelling among the savage tribes west of the Rocky Mountains, I was induced, from time to time, to note down such incidents and opinions, illustrative of savage life and manners, as appeared to me either new or interesting. To the characteristic details of Indian life, I have added that of personal adventure, the trials and mis fortunes which the first adventurers had to undergo among the Indians in that quarter ; connecting therewith an account of the trade and commerce of the country during the early days of that bold spirit which animated the first explorers of the Columbia. These different subjects have been arranged and

PREFACE.

. linked together in their natural order, so as to form one complete narrative, embodying the history of " the Pacific Fur Company." It is not an arm-chair narrative, derived from hearsay tales, but the result of practical experience on the spot. From beginning to end, I had per sonally to act my part in the scenes described ; they passed under my own eyes ; and' the account altogether may derive more value from being authentic than from any adventitious embellishment bestowed on it. While on this part of our subject, it may be •observed that there is an error which most travellers, especially those pioneers who first penetrate into •dark and remote regions, fall into : they generally run into the extreme, and spoil a simple story by colouring. Not content to leave nature in its simple garb, they must brighten or darken, magnify or diminish, everything they describe, until at last the real likeness of the thing is entirely effaced, and truth itself, by over-refinement, is thrown into the shade. What belongs to oneself is generally viewed with a partial eye ; and perhaps that partiality influences

PREFACE.

. V my own opinion as to the interest of the subject before us. In reference to this subject, however, others have written on it as well as myself. Let our readers, therefore, judge for themselves. In presenting the present work to the public, I have no very sanguine expectations. All I aim at is to lay before my readers a faithful and impartial statement of what took place, during my own times, in a quarter hitherto but little known. Freedom from imperfection is not to be expected ; yet, on the whole, I hope that this volume will prove to the calm inquirer, in all matters connected with the subject generally, a sure and satisfactory guide : allowance being made for any changes that may have taken place since this account was written — thirty years ago. Red River Settlement, Rupert's Land, Aug. I, 1846. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Introductory remarks— John Jacob Astor— Grasping views— Earlytraders of Canada— The Hudson's Bay Company— American fur companies— Astor's policy— Russian settlements— Coasting vessels —The Pacific Fur Company— Flattermg results— Oregon territory — New association — Mr. Hunt — Golden prospects — Proposals accepted—List of adventurers— Land party— Sea party— The ship Tonquin — Remarks — Opinion against opinion — Observations — Land expedition departs— Sea party set off for New York— Bark canoe— Spectators— Canadian voyageurs . . . page 1

Chapter II

The Tonquin sails— Quarrels on board— The captain's character — Accommodations— A sudden squall — Flying fish— The captain's harshness— Cape de Verd Islands —Alarm of fire— A suspicious sail —Crossing the Line— Springing a leak — Short allowance of water —Immense wave— The Falkland Islands— Rocky passage— Wild fowl — Port Egmont Bay— The party on shore— Mr. Farnham's gray goose — Old graves renewed— Epitaphs— Party left behind- New dangers— Mr. Robert Stuart's determined conduct— Feuds on board — Cape Horn doubled — The weather— Pilot fish— Trade winds— Rogues' mess— Little pilot— Mouna Roa— A man overboard—The mate in irons . . . • .13 CONTENTS. VIII

Chapter III

J Karakakooa Bay— The sailors desert— The captain's conduct-Productions of Owhyhee — Tocaigb Bay — Governor Young — Royal proclamation— Woahoo— Ourourah, the residence of Tammeatameah —Harbour fees— Excursion on shore— The Queens umbrella— The King's appearance— Royal palace and guards— Arsenal, or royal workshop— Royal dinner— His Majesty's fleet— Morais, or places of pubbc worship— Sacred or puranee ground tabooed — Storm — A sailor left to bis fate among the natives— Pairing visit from his Majesty— His meanness— Diving of the natives— Native proas: bow made — Clothing— Customs and peculiarities— Character of the women— White men at the Sandwich Islands— The King's disposition towards foreigners— Captain Cook— Pahooas, or war spears— A sham fight— Religion— Tammeatameah conqueror and king— Apparent happiness of the natives— Prophetic hint— Distressed situation of a boat . . . . . . p;ige 30

Chapter IV

Departure from the Sandwich Islands— Bad weather— Live stock destroyed— Columbia River— A boat and crew lost— Captain's conduct towards Mr. Fox— Mouth of the river— Bar and breakers- Cape Disappointment— Point Adams— Narrow escape of the long boat— Sounding the bar— A boat and crew left to perish— The ship in the breakers— Critical situation— Melancholy narrative of Steven Weeks— Search made for the lost boat, and narrow escape— Long boat swamped— Fidelity of the natives— Preparations for leaving the ship— Captain Thorn— The voyage concluded . . 52

Chapter V

Preparations for landing— Site of the new emporium of the west— Astor's representative— Hard work— Huge trees— Natives— Comecomly— Mode of felling the trees— Danger— Trying scenes— Three CONTENTS. IX men killed— Three wounded— Party reduced by sickness—Disaffec tion—Conduct of the deputy— Desertion— Mr. Astor's policy- Climate — Indian rumours— Comecomly 's intrigues and policy — Trip to the cascades — Mr. M'Kay and north-west notions- Anecdote— Exploring party to the north— Several persons killed— Hostile threats of the Indians— Potatoes and other seeds planted- New building— Astoria— Departure of the ship— Dangerous situation of the whites— Great assemblage of Indians— People under arms— Blunderbuss accident— Alarming moment— Two strangers arrive— Mr. Thompson at Astoria— M'Dougall's policy— The two great functionaries ..... page 69

Chapter VI

The ten tribes— Number of warriors— Their laws— Chief's arbitrary power— Dress, games, and arms of the men— Dress of the women, slaves, and basket-making— Lewdness of the women — Food, ornaments—The salmon— Superstitious customs — Sturgeon— Fathom-fish— Roots and berries— Circulating medium— Econe, or Good Spirit— Ecutoch, or Bad Spirit— Etaminua, or priests— Keelalles, or doctors— War canoes— Diseases— Winter houses— Temporary, or Summer houses— Fleas— Practice of flattening the head— Colonization— Wallamitte— Cowlitz, or Puget's Sound— Conclusion 87

Chapter VII

First expedition into the mterior —Number of the party— Tongue Point — Canoe swamped — Sailing difficulties — Indian villages- Cedars — First night's encampment— Mount Coffin — Cowlitz— Wallamitte— Columbia Valley —Point Vancouver— Difficulties— The Cascades— Concourse of Indians— General appearance of the country—The portage— Description of the cascades— The roll of tobacco —Pilfering— Mr. Thompson— Exchange of men— The Long Narrows—Warlike appearance of the Indian cavalry— Button contract -Critical situation of the party— Camp of gamblers— The Narrows X CONTENTS. —Hard work at the carrying place— A day's work— Description of the portage— Number of Indians— Aspect of the country— The plains begin— End of the woods— Want of sleep— Demeanour of the Indians ...... page 112

Chapter VIII

Columbia Falls— A canoe swamped— Suspicious behaviour of the Indians— Stratagem— Umatallow— Walla-Walla— Great body of Indians— Harangues— Indian ceremonies— The great forks— Difference in the waters— Length of the forks— The British flag— Mr. Thompson's design— Indian ideas — Salmon— European articles— Tummatapam — Departure from the Forks — Indian honesty— Eyakema — Marl-hills — Dead children — Superstitions — Priest's Rapid— Rattlesnakes— Appearance of the country— Kewaugh-chen —Perilous situation of a canoe— The two sisters— The old Indian — Hunting party — Horses — The priest — Piss-cows — Sopa — Great assemblage of Indians — The comet — Oakinacken — Distance from Astoria— Indian council— Resolve to winter— Some account of the place— The stolen watch— The priest dismissed— Voyage concluded —The two strangers— First building — Division of the party- Lonely winter — The lost party — Indian trade — Mr. Stuart's adventures ....... 121

Chapter IX

Anxieties at Astoria— Indians depart— A schooner built— The Dolly's first trip— Criminal curiosity — The powder keg — The schooner condemned— Mr. Astor's cargoes— His policy— Remarks on the North-West coast— Unwelcome rumours — Calpo's statement — Rumours renewed— Hard cases— Joe Lapierre— Kasiascall's account of the Tonquin— Strange Indian— Kasiascall's conduct— His character— His design on Astoria— Remarks . . CONTENTS. XI

Chapter X

Land expedition— Hunt and M'Kenzie— Montreal recruits— La Chine — Devout farewell— Mackina in 1810— Fur traders of the South- Frolic parties— Comparison between the South and North— Arrival at St. Louis— Recruiting service— Yankees— Canoe-men— Delays at St. Louis— Difficulties— Mr. Miller— The Missouri— Canadian voyageurs — Winter quarters — Mr. Hunt revisits St. Louis — M'Kenzie — Mr. Astor's policy — The Yankees desert — Winter quarters broken up— Rocky Mountains— Pilot knobs— New scenes —Columbia River— The horses abandoned— Take to canoes — The canoes abandoned— Trappers— Mr. Miller— Party on foot— Hardships— Starvation— Conflicting councils— Gloomy prospects — Property en cache— The party divided— Three men perish— M'Kenzie 'a speech— He arrives at Astoria— Mr. Crooks and others left behind —Mr. Hunt's arrival at Astoria— Voyage concluded . page 109

Chapter XI

Doings at Astoria— Three parties on foot— Their object— M'Lellan's resolution— Hostile attack at the Long Narrows— Mr. Reed— Tvo Indians shot— Heroic conduct of M'Lellan— Difficulties adjusted- Advance of the party— Remarks— Arrival at Oakinacken— Departure again for Astoria— Scene at Umatallow— Mr. Crooks's adventures and suffering— Yeck-a-tap-am— Umatallow left— Merit rewarded —Arrival of the party at Astoria— The ship Beaver there also ........ 184

Chapter XII

General meeting of the partners— Resolutions passed— Departure of the parties for the interior — Mr. Clarke— The cascades— Wyampam, or the Long Narrows— Situation of the party— Loss of time— Mr. M'Kenzie— A stroll through the Indian camp— Mr. Clarke's alarms —Command transferred— Reed's rifle recovered— A robber in irons —The five shots— Yeck-a-tap-am rewarded— Mr. Stuart's departure CONTENTS. for St. Louis— Second division— Summer trip to She Whaps— Boullard and his squaw— Mr. Stuart's arrival at Oakinacken— Departure for She Whaps— Winter operations at Oakinacken — Visits —Travelling scenes— A night in the snow— Jacque and his powder-horn— Mr. Stuart's account of his journey— Arrival at Walla Walla ...... page 194

Chapter XIII

Mr. Clarke— Stragglers— Hard travelling— Cox's pilgrimage— Visit to Spokane— Trade— Mr. Pillet— Mr. Farnham— Cootanais and Flatheads— M'Lennan— Plunge in the lake— Adventures— Outposts— Catatouch chief— Curiosity — Fracas— Introduction of civilization- Commotion— M'Kenzie— Great Snake River— Caches robbed— Canadian wanderers — Character of the Shahaptains — Visit to Spokane — M'Tavish — Account of the war — Winter travels — M'Kenzie at Astoria— New resolves— M'Kenzie's return to his post— Indian chiefs— Bold enterprize— Property recovered— Chiefs and their horses— Stratagems— Indians outwitted— Plotting— Friendly Island —Conference— Marauding propensities —Treaty of peace— System changed — Plentiful market— The island abandoned— Arrival at Walla Walla— Commotions among the savages— Tummeatapam— Arrival at Astoria ...... 210

Chapter XIV

Mr. Stuart— Snake River— Trappers— Joyous meeting— Trappers' resolution— Crow Indians' troubles— Horses change masters— Mr. Stuart on foot— M'Lellan left alone— Hardships of the party— Famine— Le Clerc's horrid proposition —The old bull— The old horse — Pilot-knobs — Winter quarters — Unwelcome visitors — Change of quarters— Spring— Travelling at random— An Otto- Indian— River Platte— Two traders— News of the war— The Missouri—The old horse given for an old canoe— St. Louis— Mr. Astor— Wallamitte— Falls— Scenery — Habits of the Col-lap-poh-yea-ass tribes — Concourse of savages — M'Dougall's letter — CONTENTS. XIII M'Kenzie's stratagem— Indian disappointment— The ship Beaver — Coasting voyage — Mr. Astor's policy — Captains— Their instructions—Mr. Hunt baulked in his plans— The Boston merchants — Mr. Astor's conduct— Difficulties of Mr. Hunt's situation— The ship Albatross— All the parties at head-quarters . page 227

Chapter XV

Meeting of the partners —Warm discussion— M'Kenzie — Eloquence of the times— Reasons for dissolving the company— Dissenting partners converted— Final resolve— The deputy's powers— Departure of the brigade— A canoe lost— A man's leg in jeopardy- Rumours at the narrows— Snake party— Rumours renewed — Tummeatapam's counsel— Hostile appearance at the forks— Number of Indians— Nez Perces' fleet— Fears of the whites— Indian visit- Strong guard— Mr. Clarke — Relic of the silver goblet— Mr. Hunt at Astoria— Face of affairs changed— Mr. Hunt departs from Astoria—North-West squadron— A great Eri duped— Bill of sale- Petty manoeuvring— Rumours of ships— The Astorians at their post —Bills signed— Astoria delivered up —North-West Company 243

Chapter XVI

Mr. Franchere— Comecomly's anxiety— His report of a sail— His attachment to the Americans — Laframboise, the interpreter— Mr. M'Dougall's visit— The Racoon sloop-ofwar— Comecomly grows partial to the British flag— North-West partners— British officers- Astoria changed to Fort George— Captain Black's character— Mr. Hunt's voyage— Commodore Porter— Mr. Hunt leaves the Marquesas—Arrival at the Sandwich Islands— Rumours— The ship Lark —Eight persons perish— Columbian affairs— The property delivered —No ice— The people assembled— Voyage— The Cascade banditti- Two North-West canoes— North-West affray at the cascades— Mr. Stuart wounded— Mr. Keith's conduct— Preparations for war— The great expedition— Conduct of the Cath-le-yach-e-yach Indians- Expedition fails— The effect— Remarks . . .255 CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII

Party to the Wallamitte— Hunt's voyage concluded— The brig Pedlar —M'Dougall suspected— His character vindicated— Mr. Hunt's remarks on the late concern— His liberality — His farewell address to the clerks— Final departure from Columbia— The party for Canada — Efforts and disappointments — Snake expedition — The melancholy story of Pierre Dorion's wife— Massacre of the Snake party — Remarks — A winter in the Blue Mountains — List of casualties — Astor's hopes disappointed — Comment on the late concern . ..... page 272 page 272

Chapter XVIII

Origin of the Oakinackens— Religion— Good Spirit— Evil Spirit- Ideas of a future state— Ceremonies— End of this world— Extent of country — Names and number of tribes — Warriors — Population — Royal family— The great chief, or Red Fox— Wild hemp— Long journeys — Barter— Emblem of royalty— Government— Indian ideas — Council of chiefs— Manners — Employments — Plurality of wives —Brawls— Dress and clothing— Stratagems— A savage in wolf's clothing— Painted faces and sleek hair . . . 286

Chapter XIX

Marriage contracts— National custom— Exchange of presents —Nocturnal visits— The object— Purchasing the bride— Customs on the occasion— Feuds and quarrels— Tla-quill-augh, or Indian doctor— His office— Precarious life— Mode of paying him— Manner of treating the sick— Customs and ceremonies on the occasion— Hard duty — Superstitions — Knowledge of roots and herbs — Curing wounds— Diseases, or general complaints— Gambling— Tsill-all-acome, or the national game— Manner of playing it— Bets— Gambling propensities— Hot baths— Manner of using them— On what occasions— Indian qualifications— Gymnastic exercise— Comparison —General remarks .... CONTENTS. XV

Chapter XX

Social habits —Winter habitations— Economy of the winter— Summer employments — Collecting of food — Fish barriers — Salmon — Division of labour— Roots and henries— Scenes at the fish camp— Mode of catching the deer— Preparation of food— Furnaces or ovens— Implements of warfare— Spampt, how made— Pine moss— Bread, how prepared— Great war-dance— Manner of fighting— Treaties of peace — Scalps — Slaves — Funeral ceremonies — Mode of interment— Graves — Superstitions— Emblems— Customs— Mourning— Punishments— Sedate habits and docile dispositions . . page 313

Chapter XXI

Calculation of time— Singular manner of naming children— Peculiar modes of address — Anecdote of an Indian chief — Indian forbearance —Conduct of the whites in Indian countries— Comparison of crime between Indians and whites— Manner of swaddling infants— Hardships during infancy — Savage customs— Indian constitution— Chief cause of scanty population— A day's journey— Calculation of distance -Rough roads— Indian ideas— Social habits— Some remarks on the system adopted for converting Indians to the Christian faith ....... 324

Appendix

. 342 Chinook Vocabulary Table of the Weather at the Mouth of the Columbia ERRATA. Page 4, line 6 from bottom, omit " to.'' — 22, — 10 from bottom, for " Volverine" read "Wolverine." — 103, lines 8 and 9, for " dollars each" read " pounds weight." ADYENTUEES OF THE FIRST SEITLEES ON THE COLUMBIA EITEE.

Chapter I

Introductory remarks— John Jacob Astor— Grasping views— Early traders of Canada— The Hudson's Bay Company— American fur companies — Astor's policy — Russian settlements— Coasting vessels —The Pacific Fur Company— Flattering results— Oregon territory- New association — Mr. Hunt — Golden prospects — Proposals accepted—List of adventurers— Land party— Sea party— The ship Tonquin — Remarks — Opinion against opinion — Observations — Land expedition departs— Sea party set off for New York— Bark «anoe— Spectators— Canadian voyageurs. When I first conceived the idea of writing the following narrative, my design was to begin with a brief outline of the discoveries already made on the coast of the Pacific, from Drake in 1579 to Vancouver in 1792 ; or, rather, down to the present time ; but, on second thoughts, I felt convinced that enough had been done already in that branch of c JOHN JACOB ASTOR. inquiry; or, at least, that the further prosecution of it might be better left to those who aspire to literary fame.

Mine is an humbler ambition — not to figure as an author, but to record faithfully, as a trader, the events in which I bore a part ; and, in so doing, to gratify a desire kindled by an acquaint ance with strange scenes and new fields of action, in a remote country which is still but little known. The progress of discovery contributes not a little to the enlightenment of mankind ; for mercantile interest stimulates curiosity and adventure, and combines with them to enlarge the circle of know ledge. To the spirit of enterprise developed in the service of commercial speculation, civilized nations owe not only wealth and territorial acquisitions, but also their acquaintance with the earth and its pro ductions. The illustration of these remarks will be found in the following pages. Mr. Astor of New York, a German by birth, but a citizen of the United States, raised himself, by his adventurous and enterprising spirit, from small be ginnings to be one of the wealthiest and most emi nent merchants in America.

Soon after his arrival in the United States, about the year 1784, he com menced his commercial career in the traffic of furs : at first on a very narrow scale, but gradually expand ing as his means increased. In this way he made visits to Canada, purchasing furs in that country, and shipping them from thence to the London market : THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. 3 and it is supposed that at this period his buoyant and aspiring mind conceived the vast project of grasping in his own hands, at some future day, the whole fur trade of North America. The valuable furs and peltries scattered in former days over the extensive forests, lakes, and rivers of the Canadas, like the rich mines of Potosi and Mexico, invited many adventurers. The French, for some time after settling there, carried on an irregular but lucrative traffic in furs and peltries, with very little opposition, until the year 1670, when the Hudson's Bay Company, established by royal charter, took possession of the territory now called " Rupert's Land," or Hudson's Bay.

The Canada, or as it was more generally called, the North-West Company, was formed in 1787 ; and these soon became the two great rival companies of the north, as we shall have occasion to notice more fully hereafter. Next on the theatre of action appeared the Mackina Company, which swept the warm regions of the south, as the two others did those of the wintry north, until the American Fur Company, established by Mr. Astor in 1809, commenced operations; but he, finding the Mackina fur traders somewhat in his way, bought out that Company, and added its territorial re sources in 1811 to those of the American Fur Company. This body corporate was entitled the South-West, in contradistinction to the North-West Company. Mr. Astor now saw himself at the head of all the B MR. ASTOR'S POLICY. 4 fur trade of the south, and his intention was to pene trate through the barriers of the Northern Company, so as eventually to come into possession of all the fur trade east of the Rocky Mountains.

With this plan still before him, he now turned his views to the trade on the coast of the Pacific, or that new field lying west of the Rocky Mountains, and which forms the subject of our present narrative. In this quarter the Russians alone had regular trading ports, opposite to Kamtschatka, where they still carry on a considerable trade in furs and seal skins, sending them across the Pacific direct to China. Their capital is limited, and their hunting grounds almost entirely confined to the sea -coast and islands around their establishments. The American coasting vessels also frequent this quarter, collecting vast quantities of valuable furs, which they convey to the Chinese market. This casual traffic by coasters, yielded to their owners in former days, by means of the returning cargo, an average clear gain of a thousand per cent, every second year ; but these vessels are not so numerous of late, nor are the profits thus made so great as formerly.

The comprehensive mind of Mr. Astor could not but see these things in their true fight, and to per ceive that if such limited and desultory traffic pro duced such immense profits, what might not be expected from a well-regulated trade, supported by capital and prosecuted with system: at all events, the Russian trader woidd then be confined within THE PACIFIC FUR COMPANY. his own limits, and the coasting vessels must soon disappear altogether. Towards the accomplishment of the great plan which he had in view, Mr. Astor now set about opening a new branch of the fur trade on the Pacific, under the appellation of the " Pacific Fur Company," the grand central depot of which was to be at the mouth of the Columbia River, the " Oregon of the Spaniards." By this means he contemplated carrying off the furs of all the countries west of the Rocky Mountains ; at the same time forming a chain of trading posts across the Continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, along the waters of the great Missouri : connecting by this chain the operations of the South- West Company on the east, with that of the Pacific Fur Company on the west side of the dividing ridge.

This grand commercial scheme, appearing now plain and practicable, at least to men of sanguine disposition, gave much satisfaction to the American public, who, from the results contemplated, became deeply interested in its success ; for all the rich cargoes of furs and peltries thus to be collected annually over the vast expanse were to be shipped in Ame rican vessels for the great China mart, there to be sold, and the proceeds invested in a return cargo of teas, silks, beads, and nankeens, and other articles of high demand in the United States ; which would not only prevent to some extent the American specie from going out of the Union for such articles, but also turn the barren wilds of the north and far THE OREGON TERRITORY. west into a source of national wealth. Some, how ever, of the more sagacious and influential among the Americans themselves observed to Mr. Astor at the time, that his plan would be likely to give umbrage to the British, and arouse them to assert more speedily their claims of prior discovery to the Oregon quarter, and that such a step would operate against him.

To these suggestions Mr. Astor simply observed, "that he had thought of that, but intended chiefly to em ploy in his undertaking British subjects, and that he should on that account give less offence ; besides," added he, " the claims of prior discovery and territorial right are claims to be settled by Government only, and not by an individual." Mr. Astor's plans, hitherto known only to a few, now began to develope themselves more publicly. On the first intimation of the scheme, the North- Westerns took the alarm ; for having already, in the prosecution of their trade, penetrated to the west side of the Rocky Mountahis, in the direction of New Caledonia and the north branch of the Columbia, where they expected to reap a rich harvest, they viewed Astor's expedition to that quarter with a jealous eye, according to the old adage that " two of a trade seldom agree ;" but others again extolled the brilliant project, as the brightest gem in the American Union, and particularly many of the retired partners of the North-West Company, who, not being provided for in some late arrangements, had left that concern in disgust, and therefore were the most likely NEW ASSOCIATION. to oppose with effect the ambitious views of their former coadjutors.

These were just the men Mr. Astor had in his eye ; men of influence and experience among savages, and who from their earlier days had been brought up in, and habituated to, the hard ships of the Indian trade. To several of these persons Mr. Astor disclosed his plans and made proposals, whereupon Messrs. M'Kay, M'Kenzie, M'Dougall, and Stuart, entered into his views, and became partners in the new concern. The former of these gen tlemen had accompanied Sir Alexander M'Kenzie in his voyages of discovery to the North Polar Sea in 1789, and to the Pacific in 1793, the narratives of which are before the public ; and most of the others had equal experience, and were all of them in some way or other related to the great men at the head of the North-West Company. Articles of association and co-partnership were therefore entered into and concluded at New York, in the spring of 1810, between those gentlemen and Mr. Astor, establishing the firm of the Pacific Fur Company, as already noticed ; to which firm five other partners, namely, Messrs. Hunt, Crooks, Miller, M'Lellan, and Clarke, were soon afterwards added.

The association was not a joint-stock concern; Mr. Astor alone furnished the capital, amounting to 200,000 dollars, divided into 100 shares of 2000 dollars each, with power to increase the capital to 500,000 dollars. The association was formed for a period of twenty MR. HUNT. years, but with this proviso, that it was to be dis solved if it proved either unprofitable or imprac ticable, after a trial of five years ; during which trial, however, Mr. Astor, as stock-holder, was alone to bear all expenses and losses, the other partners giving only their time and labour. Of the above shares, Mr. Astor held fifty in his own hands ; Mr. Hunt, as his representative and chief manager of the business, five ; while the other partners, who were to carry on the trade with the Indians, were to have four each, in the event of the business succeeding.

The remaining shares were reserved for the clerks, who joined the concern as adventurers, without any other remuneration than their chance of success at the end of the five years' trial. The only exceptions were Mi-. Robert Stuart and myself, who were to have our promotion at the end of the third year. From the proportion of interest, or number of shares in the hands of the stockholder and his representative, it will appear evident that the other partners, however unanimous they might be, could never have gained a majority of votes in any case over those which might have been by proxy appointed to represent Astor. At the head depot, or general rendezvous, was to be stationed Mr. Astor's representative. The person appointed to this important trust was Wilson Price Hunt, a gentleman from New Jersey, who alone, of the whole party, had never been engaged in the Indian trade; yet his active habits, perseverance, and enterprise, soon made good his want of expe- GOLDEN PROSPECTS. rience, and enabled him to discharge the duties of his station.

In him was also vested the chief authority, or, in his absence, in M'Dougall. It was therefore to either or to both of these gentlemen that all Mr. Astor's measures were made known, and all his cargoes consigned. At the time when these novel schemes were first agitated, I was in Upper Canada; and the first intimation I had of them was in a letter from Mr. M'Kay, the senior partner, requesting an interview with me at Montreal. To Montreal I accordingly went in the month of May ; and there, for the first time, I saw the gilded prospectus of the new Com pany, ancL, accepting the proposals made to me by Mr. Astor, was the first to join the expedition; — and who at the time would not have joined it, for, although the North- Westerns tried to throw all the cold water of the St. Lawrence on the project, yet they could not extinguish the flame it had spread abroad.

The flattering hopes and golden prospects held out to adventurers, so influenced the public mind, that the wonder-stricken believers flocked in from all quarters to share in the wonderful riches of the far west. It need not be wondered at, if, under the influence of such extravagant expectations, many applicants appeared ; but in accordance with Astor's plan, that the business should be carried on only by persons of well-tested merit and experience, for on their habits of perseverance and enterprise alone rested all hopes LIST OF ADVENTURERS. of ultimate success, his assistants were selected with more than ordinary care, every poor fellow that engaged beingled to believe that his fortune was already made. Here Messrs. Franchere, Pillet, M'Gillis, Farnham, and M'Lennan, besides Mr. Stuart and myself, joined the adventurers ; besides five tradesmen or mechanics, and twenty-four canoe men, the best that coidd be found of their classes.