Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-10-02

by this animal, is tina immense tract of
: wilderness lying between the Platte and
the American Falls or the Lewis River.
They head in immeni droves; and it is
said they are Of late u lrs found from one
to two hundred miles over on the west
Eof the mountains than formerly. 1t is well
known that they are ,"etreating from the
t Mississippi and Misso, !. Wherever the
Buffalo inhahits, wolvt ire found in abun,
+ dance. We met with Elk and Deer on
the mountains, and many Antelopes. We
saw but few other animals, except the
beaver, which forms the great attraction
10 this quarter.
After we entered the Buffalo country
we fed on the flesh Of that animal, some.
times fresh, and sometimes dried, and even
without salt, until we got to the middle or
lower part of the Lewis River. Here we
were supplied with Salmon by the Indians,
Tor which we gave 10 excnange avis, fish
hooks, beads, &c. have no complaint to
make; our living was very good. With IA
good appetite, any thing reishes well, and
especially when il is all one has. At one
time, it is true, we were compelled to dine
on the flesh of an old worn out horse, and
then for three or four days we subsisted
on raspherries only. In the latter part of
the season, how ever, the fuit W. were
enabled to procure aft d US the great
est luAurles. Occasionally we had black,
purple, red, and yellow eurrants. All
different from yours, and of excellent fla
vor. Service berries, resembling sugar
plums,) thorn plums, together with plent,I
OF raspberries-these were very acceptal
BILE when we had no other food.-But do
not understand that | Suffered from the
kind of food which we were enabled to
procure. nor from a want of it, at any
time. Such things can be got along with
much better than | imagined. The wal
ter on the route was usually good, though
not always in sufficient abundance. WI
sometimes made days march without
meeting with any.
A few mshaps have befallen me, which
however you may smile at as being trihes
yet 10 wilderness with but few convtI
niences and no means of obtaining SUI
ply when deficiencies occur, it is IA matter
OF some Importance. On one occasion 4
was absent from my horse few momens
to set trap; an Indian in the mean tine
stole my cloak-my old favorte wrappIr
which had kept me warm many a niglt.
| had reason to be thankful, however, th,t
the thief instead of taking my cloak only
did not take my horse and baggage wi
lit. The loss of the cloak was renedid
by buffalo robe had in the camp. Bit
the next morning one of the thieving rss-
Gals took my Ratchet. This loss was h.
Ireparable.
On my return to Fort Van Couver
from the ocean where picked up some
shells, dissolved all connexion with those
with whom came out; and next week |
intend to go to the Multnomah to work a
farm. eE I
Fort Van Couver is the general depot
ofthe Hudson's Bay Company, west the
mountains. An express arrives and de
parts from this place once a year, for
Hudson's Bay, and also for Montreal. A
ship arrives annually from England. Be
sides, they have three smaller vessels en-
ployed in trading along the coast, and in
carrying supplies to the posts. To the
north, along the coast, and also ARMAND
they have several posts. In short, their
Notwithstanding and trading for furs,
are extended from California; the Pole.
You are doubtless aware ofthe long stand
ing OF this company--its great wealth
and extended operations over region of
country but little known to any but them.
SELVES.
The gentlemen Of the company appear
generally intelligent, especially Mr.. Nc
Laughlin, who is the acting Governor.
Governor Simpson himself is at present at
Hudson's Bay. There is also residing
here a Mr.. Douglass, naturalist; but ap-
pretending they might be little Jealous
of imparting their hard earned inteli-
gence about this region of country, have
not felt myself free to make many inqui-
RIGS.
1t Is seven years since they commenced
an establishment here, and having found it
very expensive to furnish the number of
persons they employ with provisions from
England, or elsewhere, they have been
induced to 60 quite extensively into agri.
cultural pursuits. Mr.. Mclaughlin hav.
ing obtained few cattle from California,
has increased them to about 400. He
raised the last year about 1900 bushels of
wheat, barley, peas, Indian corn, potatoes
and garden vegetables. This year he is
extending his operations. Fruit trees have
been planted, among the rest the vine and
the peach. They have sheep and hogs.
Their horses they obtain from the Indians.
The pursuit of agriculture seems to nrns-