Mr. Astor determined to begin his enterprize with

porium to an immense commerce; as a colony that | main establishment, and Mr. Hunt was the person first would form the germ of a wide civilization; that would, selected. in fact, carry the American population across the Rocky Mountains, and spread it along the shores of the Paci-two expeditions-one by sea, the other by land. The fie, as it already animated the shores of the Atlantic." former was to carry out every thing necessary for the A few words in relation to the North-west company. establishment of a fortified post at the mouth of the CoThis body, following out in part the suggestion of Sir lumbia. The latter, under the conduct of Mr. Hunt, Alexander Mackenzie, had already established a few was to proceed up the Missouri and across the Rocky trading posts on the coast of the Pacific, in a region ly-Mountains to the same point. In the course of this ing about two degrees north of the Columbia-thus over-land journey, the most practicable line of commuthrowing itself between the Russian and American ter-nication would be explored, and the best situations noritories. They would contend with Mr. Astor at anted for the location of trading rendezvous. Following immense disadvantage, of course. They had no good Mr. Irving in our brief summary of his narrative, we post for the receipt of supplies by sea; and must get will now give some account of the first of these expethem with great risk, trouble and expense, over land. ditions. Their peltries also would have to be taken home the same way-for they were not at liberty to interfere with the East India company's monopoly, by shipping them directly to China. Mr. Astor would therefore greatly undersell them in that, the principal market. Still, as any competition would prove detrimental to both parties, Mr. A. made known his plans to the North-west company, proposing to interest them one third in his undertaking. The British company, how-new associates in the firm. M'Dougal was empowered ever, had several reasons for declining the proposition not the least forcible of which, we presume, was their secret intention to push on a party forthwith, and forestall their rival in establishing a settlement at the mouth of the Columbia.

A ship was provided called the Tonquin, of two hundred and ninety tons, with ten guns, and twenty men. Lieutenant Jonathan Thorn of the United States navy, being on leave of absence, received the command. He was a man of courage, and had distinguished himself in the Tripolitan war. Four of the partners went in the ship-M'Kay and M'Dougal, of whom we have already spoken, and Messieurs David and Robert Stuart,

to act as the proxy of Mr. Astor in the absence of Mr. Hunt. Twelve clerks were also of the party. These were bound to the service of the company for five years, and were to receive one hundred dollars a year, payable at the expiration of the term, with an annual equipment In the meantime Mr. Astor did not remain idle. His of clothing to the amount of forty dollars. By promises first care was to procure proper coadjutors, and he was of future promotion, their interests were identified with induced to seek them principally from among such those of Mr. Astor. Thirteen Canadian voyageurs, elerks of the North-west company, as were dissatisfied and several artisans, completed the ship's company. with their situation in that body-having served out On the Sth of September, 1810, the Tonquin put to sea. their probationary term, and being still, through want Of her voyage to the mouth of the Columbia, Mr. Irof influence, without a prospect of speedy promotion. ving has given a somewhat ludicrous account. Thorn, From among these (generally men of capacity and ex- the stern, straight-forward officer of the navy, having perience in their particular business), Mr. A. obtained few ideas beyond those of duty and discipline, and the services of Mr. Alexander M'Kay (who had ac-looking with supreme contempt upon the motley "lubcompanied Sir Alexander Mackenzie in both of his ex-bers" who formed the greater part of his company, peditions), Mr. Donald M'Kenzie, and Mr. Duncan is painted with the easy yet spirited pencil of an artist M'Dougal. Mr. Wilson Price Hunt, a native citizen of New Jersey, and a gentleman of great worth, was afterwards selected by Mr. Astor as his chief agent, and as the representative of himself at the contemplated establishment. In June 1810, "articles of agreement were entered into between Mr. Astor and these four gentlemen, acting for themselves, and for the several persons who had already agreed to become, or should thereafter become, associated under the firm of "The Pacific Fur Company." This agreement stipulated that Mr. A. was to be the head of the company, to manage its affairs at New York, and to furnish every thing requisite" Within fifteen minutes," says Captain Thorn in a letfor the enterprize at first cost and charges, provided an advance of more than four hundred thousand dollars should not at any time be involved. The stock was to consist of a hundred shares, Mr. Astor taking fifty, the rest being divided among the other partners and their associates. A general meeting was to be held annually at Columbia river, where absent members might vote by proxy. The association was to continue twenty years but might be dissolved within the first five years, if found unprofitable. For these five years Mr. A. agreed to bear all the loss that might be incurred. An agent, appointed for a like term, was to reside at the

indeed; while M'Dougal, the shrewd Scotch partner, bustling, yet pompous, and impressed with lofty notions of his own importance as proxy for Mr. Astor, is made as supremely ridiculous as possible, with as little apparent effort as can well be imagined;-the portraits, however, carry upon their faces the evidence of their own authenticity. The voyage is prosecuted amid a series of petty quarrels, and cross purposes, between the captain and his crew, and, occasionally, between Mr. M'Kay and Mr. M'Dougal. The contests between the two latter gentlemen were brief, it appears, although violent.

ter to Mr. Astor, "they would be caressing each other like children." The Tonquin doubled Cape Horn on Christmas day, arrived at Owhyhee on the eleventh of February, took on board fresh provisions, sailed again with twelve Sandwich islanders on the 28th, and on the 22d of March arrived at the mouth of the Columbia. In seeking a passage across the bar, a boat and nine men were lost among the breakers. On the way from Owhyhee a violent storm occurred; and the bickerings still continued between the partners and the captainthe latter, indeed, grievously suspecting the former of a design to depose him.

The Columbia for about forty miles from its mouth were divided into four tribes, of which the Chinooks is, strictly speaking, an estuary, varying in breadth from were the principal. Comcomly, a one-eyed Indian, was three to seven miles, and indented by deep bays, their chief. These tribes resembled each other in nearly Shoals and other obstructions render the navigation dan- every respect, and were, no doubt, of a common stock. gerous. Leaving this broad portion of the stream in They live chiefly by fishing-the Columbia and its trithe progress upwards, we find the mouth of the river butary streams abounding in fine salmon, and a vaproper-which is about half a mile wide. The en-riety of other fish. A trade in peltries, but to no trance to the estuary from sea is bounded on the south great amount, was immediately commenced and carby a long, low, and sandy beach stretching into the ried on. Much disquiet was occasioned at the post ocean, and called Point Adams. On the northern side by a rumor among the Indians that thirty white of the frith is Cape Disappointment, a steep promontory., men had appeared on the banks of the Columbia, and Immediately east of this cape is Baker's bay, and within were building houses at the second rapids. It was this the Tonquin came to anchor. feared that these were an advance party of the NorthJealousies still continued between the captain and west company endeavoring to seize upon the upper the worthy M'Dougal, who could come to no agree-parts of the river, and thus forestall Mr. Astor in the ment in regard to the proper location for the contem-trade of the surrounding country. Bloody feuds in this plated establishment. On April the fifth, without trou- case might be anticipated, such as had prevailed bebling himself farther with the opinions of his coadjutors, tween rival companies in former times. The intelliMr. Thorn landed in Baker's bay, and began operations. gence of the Indians proved true-the "North-west" At this summary proceeding, the partners were, of had erected a trading house on the Spokan river, which course, in high dudgeon, and an open quarrel seemed falls into the north branch of the Columbia. The Aslikely to ensue, to the serious detriment of the enter- torians could do little to oppose them in their present prize. These difficulties, however, were at length ar- reduced state as to numbers. It was resolved, however, ranged, and finally on the 12th of April, a settlement to advance a counter-check to the post on the Spokan, was commenced at a point of land called Point George, and Mr. David Stuart prepared to set out for this puron the southern shore of the frith. Here was a good pose with eight men and a small assortment of goods. harbor, where vessels of two hundred tons might an- On the fifteenth of July when this expedition was about chor within fifty yards of the shore. In honor of the starting, a canoe, manned with nine white men, and chief partner, the new post received the title of Astoria. bearing the British flag, entered the harbor. They After much delay, the portion of the cargo destined proved to be the party dispatched by the rival comfor the post was landed, and the Tonquin left free to pany to anticipate Mr. Astor in the settlement at the proceed on her voyage. She was to coast to the north, mouth of the river. Mr. David Thompson, their to trade for peltries at the different harbors, and to touch leader, announced himself as a partner of the "Northat Astoria on her return in the autumn. Mr. M'Kay west"-but otherwise gave a very peaceable account of went in her as supercargo, and a Mr. Lewis as ship's himself. It appears, however, from information subseclerk. On the morning of the 5th of June she stood quently derived from other sources, that he had hurried out to sea, the whole number of persons on board with a desperate haste across the mountains, calling at amounting to three and twenty. In one of the outer bays all the Indian villages in his march, presenting them Captain Thorn procured the services of an Indian named with British flags, and "proclaiming formally that he Lamazee, who had already made two voyages along took possession of the country for the North-west comthe coast, and who agreed to accompany him as inter-pany, and in the name of the king of Great Britain.” preter. In a few days the ship arrived at Vancouver's His plan was defeated, it seems, by the desertion of a island, and came to anchor in the harbor of Neweetee, much against the advice of the Indian, who warned Captain Thorn of the perfidious character of the natives. The result was the merciless butchery of the whole crew, with the exception of the interpreter and Mr. Lewis, the ship's clerk. The latter, finding himself mortally wounded and without companions, blew up the ship and perished with more than a hundred of the enemy. Lamazee, getting among the Indians, escaped, and was the means of bearing the news of the disaster to Astoria. In re- On the twenty-third of July, the party for the region lating at length the thrilling details of this catastrophe, of the Spokan set out, and after a voyage of much inMr. Irving takes occasion to comment on the headstrong, terest, succeeded in establishing the first interior trading although brave and strictly honorable character of Lieu-post of the company. It was situated on a point of tenant Thorn. The danger and folly, on the part of land about three miles long and two broad, formed by agents, in disobeying the matured instructions of those who deliberately plan extensive enterprizes such as that of Mr. Astor, is also justly and forcibly shown. The misfortune here spoken of, arose, altogether, from a disregard of Mr. A's often repeated advice-to admit but few Indians on board the Tonquin at one time. Her loss was a serious blow to the infant establishment at Astoria. To this post let us now return.

great portion of his followers, and it was thought probable that he now merely descended the river with a view of reconnoitering. M'Dougal treated the gentlemen with great kindness, and supplied them with goods and provisions for their journey back across the mountains-this much against the wishes of Mr. David Stuart, "who did not think the object of their visit entitled them to any favor." A letter for Mr. Astor was entrusted to Thompson.

the junction of the Oakinagan with the Columbia. In the meantime the Indians near Astoria began to evince a hostile disposition, and a reason for this altered demeanor was soon after found in the report of the loss of the Tonquin. Early in August the settlers received intelligence of her fate. They now found themselves in a perilous situation, a mere handful of men, on a savage coast, and surrounded by barbarous enemies. The natives inhabiting the borders of the estuary From their dilemma they were relieved, for the present,

Company, and been engaged in private trading adventures among the various tribes of the Missouri. Mr. Crooks represented, in forcible terms, the dangers to be apprehended from the Indians-especially the Blackfeet and Sioux-and it was agreed to increase the number of the party to sixty upon arriving at St. Louis. Thirty was its strength upon leaving Mackinaw. This occurred on the twelfth of August. The expedition pursued the usual route of the fur-trader-by Green bay, Fox and Wisconsin rivers, to Prairie du Chien, and thence down the Mississippi to St. Louis, where they landed on the third of September. Here, Mr. Hunt met with some opposition from an association called the Missouri Fur Company, and especially from its leading partner, a Mr. Manuel Lisa. This company had a capital of about forty thousand dollars, and employed about two hundred and fifty men. Its object was to establish posts along the upper part of the river and monopolize the trade. Mr. H. proceeded to strengthen himself against competition. He secured to Mr. Astor the services of Mr. Joseph Miller. This gentleman had been an officer of the United States' Army, but had resigned on being refused a furlough, and taken to trading with the Indians. He joined the association as a partner; and, on account of his experience and general acquirements, Mr. Hunt considered him a valuable coadjutor. Several boatmen and hunt

by the ingenuity of M'Dougal. The natives had a great dread of the small-pox, which had appeared among them a few years before, sweeping off entire tribes. They believed it an evil either inflicted upon them by the Great Spirit, or brought among them by the white men. Seizing upon this latter idea, M'Dougal assembled several of the chieftains whom he believed to be inimical, and informing them that he had heard of the treachery of their northern brethren in regard to the Tonquin, produced from his pocket a small bottle. “The white men among you," said he, "are few in number, it is true, but they are mighty in medicine. See here! In this bottle I hold the small-pox safely corked up; I have but to draw the cork and let loose the pestilence, to sweep man, woman and child from the face of the earth!" The chiefs were dismayed. They represented to the "Great Small-Pox Chief" that they were the firmest friends of the white men, that they had nothing to do with the villains who murdered the crew of the Tonquin, and that it would be unjust, in uncorking the bottle, to destroy the innocent with the guilty. M'Dougal was convinced. He promised not to uncork it until some overt act should compel him to do so. In this manner tranquillity was restored to the settlement. A large house was now built, and the frame of a schooner put together. She was named the Dolly, and was the first American vessel launched on the coast. But our limits will not permit us to follow too minutely the de-ers were also now enlisted, but not until after a delay tails of the enterprize. The adventurers kept up their of several weeks. This delay, and the previous diffispirits, sending out occasional foraging parties in the culties at Montreal and Mackinaw, had thrown Mr. Dolly, and looking forward to the arrival of Mr. Hunt. H. much behind his original calculations, so that he So wore away the year 1811 at the little post of Asto- found it would be impossible to effect his voyage up ria. We now come to speak of the expedition by land. the Missouri during the present season. There was This, it will be remembered, was to be conducted by every likelihood that the river would be closed before Mr. Wilson Price Hunt, a native of New Jersey. He the party could reach its upper waters. To winter, is represented as scrupulously upright, of amiable dis- however, at St. Louis would be expensive. Mr. H. position, and agreeable manners. He had never been therefore, determined to push up on his way as far as in the heart of the wilderness, but having been for some possible, to some point where game might be found in time engaged in commerce at St. Louis, furnishing abundance, and there take up his quarters until spring. Indian traders with goods, he had acquired much On the twenty-first of October he set out. The party knowledge of the trade at second hand. Mr. Donald were distributed in three boats-two large Schenectady M'Kenzie, another partner, was associated with him. barges and a keel boat. By the sixteenth of November He had been ten years in the interior, in the service they reached the mouth of the Nodowa, a distance of of the North-west Company, and had much practical four hundred and fifty miles, where they set up their experience in all Indian concerns. In July 1810, the winter quarters. Here, Mr. Robert M'Lellan, at the two gentlemen repaired to Montreal, where every thing invitation of Mr. Hunt, joined the association as a requisite to the expedition could be procured. Here partner. He was a man of vigorous frame, of restless they met with many difficulties-some of which and impetuous temper, and had distinguished himself were thrown in their way by their rivals. Hav- as a partisan under General Wayne. John Day also ing succeeded, however, in laying in a supply of joined the company at this place-a tall and athletic ammunition, provisions, and Indian goods, they em-hunter from the backwoods of Virginia. Leaving the barked all on board a large boat, and with a very main body at Nodowa, Mr. Hunt now returned to St. inefficient crew, the best to be procured, took their Louis for a reinforcement. He was again impeded by departure from St. Ann's, near the extremity of the the machinations of the Missouri Fur Company, but island of Montreal. Their course lay up the Ottawa, finally succeeded in enlisting one hunter, some voyaand along a range of small lakes and rivers. On the geurs, and a Sioux interpreter, Pierre Dorion. With twenty-second of July, they arrived at Mackinaw, these, after much difficulty, he got back to the encampsituated on Mackinaw island, at the confluence of Lakes ment on the seventeenth of April. Soon after this peHuron and Michigan. Here it was necessary to remain riod the voyage up the river was resumed. The party some time to complete the assortment of Indian goods, now consisted of nearly sixty persons-five partners, and engage more voyageurs. While waiting to accom-Hunt, Crooks, M'Kenzie, Miller, and M'Lellan; one plish these objects, Mr. Hunt was joined by Mr. Ram-clerk, John Reed; forty Canadian voyageurs; and say Crooks, a gentleman whom he had invited, by let- several hunters. They embarked in four boats, one ter, to engage as a partner in the expedition. He was of which, of a large size, mounted a swivel and two a native of Scotland, had served under the North-west howitzers.

We do not intend, of course, to proceed with our travellers throughout the vast series of adventure encountered in their passage through the wilderness. To the curious in these particulars we recommend the book itself. No details more intensely exciting are to be found in any work of travels within our knowledge. At times full of life and enjoying the whole luxury to be found in the career of the hunter-at times suffering every extremity of fatigue, hunger, thirst, anxiety, terror, and despair-Mr. Hunt still persisted in his journey, and finally brought it to a successful termination. A bare outline of the route pursued is all we can attempt.

against the whites, on account of the death of one of their men by the hands of Captain Lewis. Robinson advised a more southerly route. This would carry them over the mountains about where the head waters of the Platte and the Yellowstone take their rise, a much more practicable pass than that of Lewis and Clarke. To this counsel Mr. Hunt agreed, and resolved to leave the Missouri at the village of the Arickaras, at which they would arrive in a few days. On the first of June, they reached "the great bend" of the river, which here winds for about thirty miles round a circular peninsula, the neck of which is not above two thouProceeding up the river, our party arrived, on the sand yards across. On the morning of June the third, twenty-eighth of April, at the mouth of the Nebraska, the party were overtaken by Lisa, much to their disor Platte, the largest tributary of the Missouri, and satisfaction. The meeting was, of course, far from about six hundred miles above its junction with the cordial, but an outward appearance of civility was Mississippi. They now halted for two days, to sup- maintained for two days. On the third, a quarrel took ply themselves with oars and poles from the tough place, which was near terminating seriously. It was, wood of the ash, which is not to be found higher however, partially adjusted, and the rival parties coastup the river. Upon the second of May, two of the ed along opposite sides of the river, in sight of each hunters insisted upon abandoning the expedition, and other. On the twelfth of June, they reached the vilreturning to St. Louis. On the tenth, the party lage of the Arickaras, between the forty-sixth and reached the Omaha village, and encamped in its vi- forty-seventh parallels of north latitude, and about cinity. This village is about eight hundred and thirty fourteen hundred and thirty miles above the mouth of miles above St. Louis, and on the west bank of the the Missouri. In accomplishing thus much of his jourstream. Three men here deserted, but their place ney, Mr. Hunt had not failed to meet with a crowd of was luckily supplied by three others, who were pre-difficulties, at which we have not even hinted. He vailed upon, by liberal promises, to enlist. On the was frequently in extreme peril from large bodies of fifteenth, Mr. Hunt left Omaha, and proceeded. Not the Sioux, and, at one time, it was a mere accident long afterwards, a canoe was descried navigated by two alone which prevented the massacre of the whole party. white men. They proved to be two adventurers who, At the Arickara village our adventurers were to for some years past, had been hunting and trapping near abandon their boats, and proceed westward across the the head of the Missouri. Their names were Jones wilderness. Horses were to be purchased from the and Carson. They were now on their way to St. Louis, Indians; who could not, however, furnish them in suffibut readily abandoned their voyage, and turned their cient numbers. In this dilemma, Lisa offered to purfaces again toward the Rocky Mountains. On the chase the boats, now no longer of use, and to pay for twenty-third Mr. Hunt received, by a special messen- them in horses, to be obtained at a fort belonging to the ger, a letter from Mr. Manuel Lisa, the leading partner Missouri Fur Company, and situated at the Mandan of the Missouri Fur Company, and the gentleman who villages, about a hundred and fifty miles further up the rendered him so many disservices at St. Louis. He river. A bargain was made, and Messieurs Lisa and had left that place, with a large party, three weeks Crooks went for the horses, returning with them in after Mr. H., and, having heard rumors of hostile in-about a fortnight. At the Arickara village, if we untentions on the part of the Sioux, a much dreaded tribe of Indians, made great exertions to overtake him, that they might pass through the dangerous part of the river together. Mr. H., however, was justly suspicious of the Spaniard, and pushed on. At the village of the Poncas, about a league south of the river Quicourt, he stopped only long enough to procure a supply of dried buffalo meat. On the morning of the twenty-fifth, it was discovered that Jones and Carson had deserted. They were pursued, but in vain. The next day three white men were observed, in two canoes, descending the river. They proved to be three Kentucky hunters— Edward Robinson, John Hoback, and Jacob Rizner. They also had passed several years in the upper wilder- To avoid the Blackfeet Indians, a ferocious and imness, and were now on their way home, but willingly placable tribe of which we have before spoken, the party turned back with the expedition. Information derived kept a south-western direction. This route took them from these recruits induced Mr. Hunt to alter his route. across some of the tributary streams of the Missouri, and Hitherto he had intended to follow the course pursued through immense prairies bounded only by the horizon. by Messieurs. Lewis and Clarke-ascending the Mis-Their progress was at first slow, and, Mr. Crooks fallsouri to its forks, and thence, by land, across the mountains. He was informed, however, that, in so doing, he would have to pass through the country of the Blackfeet, a savage tribe of Indians, exasperated

derstand, Mr. Hunt engaged the services of one Edward Rose. He enlisted as interpreter when the expedition should reach the country of the Upsarokas or Crow Indians, among whom he had formerly resided. On the eighteenth of July the party took up their line of march. They were still insufficiently provided with horses. The cavalcade consisted of eighty-two, most of them heavily laden with Indian goods, beaver traps, ammunition, and provisions. Each of the partners was mounted. As they took leave of Aricara, the veterans of Lisa's company, as well as Lisa himself, predicted the total destruction of our adventurers amid the innumerable perils of the wilderness.

ing sick, it was necessary to make a litter for him between two horses. On the twenty-third of the month, they encamped on the banks of a little stream nicknamed Big River, where they remained several days,

meeting with a variety of adventures. Among other | On the eighteenth, abandoning its main course, they things they were enabled to complete their supply of took a north-westerly direction for eight miles, and horses from a band of the Cheyenne Indians. On the reached one of its little tributaries issuing from the bosixth of August the journey was resumed, and they som of the mountains, and running through green measoon left the hostile region of the Sioux behind them.dows abounding in buffalo. Here they encamped for About this period a plot was discovered on the part of several days, a little repose being necessary for both the interpreter, Edward Rose. This villain had been men and horses. On the twenty-fourth the journey tampering with the men, and proposed, upon arriving was resumed. Fifteen miles brought them to a stream among his old acquaintances the Crows, to desert to the about fifty feet wide, which was recognized as one of savages with as much booty as could be carried off. the head waters of the Columbia. They kept along it The matter was adjusted, however, and Mr. Rose, for two days, during which it gradually swelled into a through the ingenuity of Mr. Hunt, quietly dismissed. river of some size. At length it was joined by another On the thirteenth Mr. H. varied his course to the west-current, and both united swept off in an unimpeded ward, a route which soon brought him to a fork of the stream, which from its rapidity and turbulence had reLittle Missouri, and upon the skirts of the Black Moun-ceived the appellation of Mad river. Down this they tains. These are an extensive chain, lying about a hun-anticipated an uninterrupted voyage, in canoes, to the dred miles east of the Rocky Mountains, stretching point of their ultimate destination-but their hopes north-easterly from the south fork of the river Platte were very far from being realized. to the great north bend of the Missouri, and dividing the waters of the Missouri from those of the Mississippi and Arkansas. The travellers here supposed themselves to be about two hundred and fifty miles from the village of the Arickaras. Their more serious troubles now commenced. Hunger and thirst, with the minor difficulties of grizzly bears, beset them at every turn, as they attempted to force a passage through the rugged barriers in their path. At length they emerged upon a stream of clear water, one of the forks of Powder river, and once more beheld wide meadows and plenty of buffalo. They ascended this stream about eighteen miles, directing their march towards a lofty mountain which had been in sight since the seventeenth. They reached the base of this mountain, which proved to be a spur of the Rocky chain, on the thirtieth, having now come about four hundred miles since leaving Ariekara.

The partners held a consultation. The three hunters who had hitherto acted as guides, knew nothing of the region to the west of the Rocky Mountains. It was doubtful whether Mad river could be navigated, and they could hardly resolve to abandon their horses upon an uncertainty. The vote, nevertheless, was for embarkation, and they proceeded to build the necessary vessels. In the meantime Mr. Hunt, having now reached the head waters of the Columbia, reputed to abound in beaver, turned his thoughts to the main object of the expedition. Four men, Alexander Carson, Louis St. Michel, Pierre Detayé and Pierre Delaunay, were detached from the expedition, to remain and trap beaver by themselves in the wilderness. Having collected a sufficient quantity of peltries, they were to bring them to the depot at the mouth of the Columbia, or to some intermediate post to be established by the company. These trappers had just departed, when two Snake Indians wandered into the camp, and declared the river to be unnavigable. Scouts sent out by Mr. Hunt finally

For one or two days they endeavored in vain to find a defile in the mountains. On the third of September they made an attempt to force a passage to the west ward, but soon became entangled among rocks and pre-confirmed this report. On the fourth of October, therecipices, which set all their efforts at defiance. They fore, the encampment was broken up, and the party prowere now too in the region of the terrible Upsarokas, ceeded to search for a post in possession of the Missouri and encountered them at every step. They met also Fur company, and said to be somewhere in the neighwith friendly bands of Shoshonies and Flatheads. After borhood, upon the banks of another branch of the Coa thousand troubles, they made some way upon their lumbia. This post they found without much difficulty. journey. On the ninth they reached Wind river, a It was deserted-and our travellers gladly took possesstream which gives its name to a range of mountains sion of the rude buildings. The stream here found was consisting of three parallel chains, eighty miles long and upwards of a hundred yards wide. Canoes were conabout twenty-five broad. "One of its peaks," says our structed with all despatch. In the meantime another author, "is probably fifteen thousand feet above the detachment of trappers was cast loose in the wilderness. level of the sea." For five days Mr. Hunt followed up These were Robinson, Rezner, Hoback, Carr, and Mr. the course of Wind river, crossing and recrossing it. Joseph Miller. This latter, it will be remembered, was He had been assured by the three hunters who advised one of the partners--he threw up his share in the exhim to strike through the wilderness, that by going on uppedition, however, for a life of more perilous adventure. the river, and crossing a single mountain ridge, he would On the eighteenth of the month (October) fifteen cacome upon the head waters of the Columbia. The noes being completed, the voyagers embarked, leaving scarcity of game, however, determined him to pursue a their horses in charge of the two Snake Indians, who different course. In the course of the day after coming were still in company. to this resolve, they perceived three mountain peaks, white with snow, and which were recognized by the hunters as rising just above a fork of the Columbia. These peaks were named the Pilot Knobs by Mr. Hunt. The travellers continued their course for about forty miles to the south-west, and at length found a river flowing to the west. This proved to be a branch of the Colorado. They followed its current for fifteen miles.

In the course of the day the party arrived at the junction of the stream upon which they floated, with Mad river. Here Snake river commences-the scene of a thousand disasters. After proceeding about four hundred miles, by means of frequent portages, and beset with innumerable difficulties of every kind, the adventurers were brought to a halt by a series of frightful cataracts, raging, as far as the eye could reach, between VOL. III.-9