Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-23
OR ON.

Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean: butil
IS not SO well known what are the natural tea-
lures OF the country. In the Missionary Her.
aid Tor October. we find a very graphic and
Interesting account, by Mr.. Spaulding "a mis-.
slonary) of journey from Missouri to CD.
iumbla River, and OF the region west of tile
Rocky Mountains. And here. we would ,e-
mark, that the Missionary Herald acts asia
Journal of geographical discovery; for, as /.
contains the latest and most accurate accounts
troa1 all the countries Of the globe. some If
which have been before unvisiied, but, nov
travelled and closely observed BY the mission
aries Of Christianity. 1t is most valuable
work oftravels, from which all classes ofpeo.
pie may derive instruction and amusement
from the habits and manners of different ma.
| tons.
The territory of the United States on the
Pacific extends from aboct ititud 42o 10 lati.
tude Az, about 400 miles of coast. Within
this space empties the Columbia River. near
~ all OF which lies within the jurisdiction Of
the United States. This stream lsabout 1900
miles in length. having its head in the Rocky
Mountains On its banks the Hudson Bay
Company have several posts, and the British
are now the sole occupants. If the people of
the United States are so anxious to occupy
Texas, which is not their own, why do they
not occupy the mouth of the Columbia, and its
vicinity, which is their own? The induce
mants are really greater, though the journey
is moro difficult to make.
The following extracts will show the route
travelled by the missionaries, and tho climate,
and resources of the country around the month
of the Columbia River.
"Ihe communication from which the fol-
lowing extracts are taken was written soon
after Mr.. Spauding and his associates, inclu-
ding Mrs. S., Doctor and Mrs. Whitman, and
w. ii. Gray, left the frontiers Of the State of
Missouri about the first of May, 1886, in COM
pany with company of gentlemen engaged
in the fur trade. Their route, as did that of
Mr.. Parker the preceding year, generally lay
near the Missouri river, till they reached the
Platte, thence along that river to its fork, and
thence along the north fork, by the Black
Hills, to near It's source, thence to Green rIv-
er, one Of the head branches Of the western
Colorado, thence 10 the waters Of Bear river.
which empties tselfinto the great Salt Lake,
and thence to the head waters of LewIs's river,
the southern branch ofihe Columbia, on which,
or ON the streams which run into it, they pnr-
sued their course to Fort Wallawalla, one OF
the principal trading ports of the Hudson's
Bay Company, about three hundred miles from
the Pacific Ocean.
"lhe mission family took with thema small
wagon, which, however, they left behind them
when they had accomplished about half their
Journey. They preferred TO travel on horse
back, and nearly the whole disianc Of more
than 2000 was passed in that manner. As the
country is not inhabited. except by wandering
bands of Indians, when the supplies of provi-
sions with which he started shall be exhaust
ed, the traveller must depend for the means of
subsistence OH the game which may be taken
as nc proceeds. OF course he must confne
he will find that TO be scarce and OF bad quail
ty. Mrs. Spauding and Mrs. Whitman are
believed to be the first white women who have
crossed the Rocky Mountains. But though
subjected to many hardships and priyations,
and some perils, the health Of the whole par
ty was decidedly improved by the journey.
''Mentioning the inconvenience experien-
ced from the want of bread and vegetable food,
MIR. Spaulding remarks:.,-
'.Our friends must think of us sitting on
the burning sand with cup Of tea in one hand,
and piece Of dry, mouldy, and sour buffalo
meat in the other, and this for our breakfast,
dinner, and supper, for days and weeks togeth-
er. AS we drew near Wallawalla, we heard
of its beautiful cattle, its hogs, and other fruits
of civilized life; and be assured, the anticipa-
ton OF once more getting into my hand po-
tatoe or crust of bread, was no ways favorable
TO my sleep at night But on reaching this
desirable haven of rest, we were SO suddenly
transported from our former wild mode of lIv-
ing to that Of ciylizedif life, and SO kindly treat
ed by Mr. p, clerk oft the Hudson's Bay Com
pany, in charge Of this establishment, that we
were made almost to forget what we had been
going through for days, and weeks, and months
past. 1t seemed like dream. And even now
cannot realize that | have spent the last
spring and snmmer in passing the Rocky Noun.
talns; and that am really through the jour
ney, and that my eyes now actually behold
the waters of the beautiful Columbia.
sit was Of the highest importance before
we took single step to have an interview with
the chief factor Of the Company on the Column
bla in charge at fort Vancouver, for the pur-
pose Of presenting our letters from the United
States Secretary Of War, learning his feelings
our object to this country, and the
prospect of supplies. Mr.. p. very kindly Of
Tered to fitup boat and take US down. You
may very naturally suppose, that our ladies
were not much fatigued at the end oftheirjour-
ney, and that travelling had become almost Sc
sond nature to US, from the fact, that, arriving
At the fort Saturday in the forenoon, in the az
enoon we set about preparing for trip Of
Ihree hundred miles down the terrible Column
'ia to this place. We left Walawalla the 9Th
II September, in boat propelled by six oars
men. The usual time for passage down is
i've days. We were detained by head winds,
md did not arrive till the twelfth. Here we
we're again met with the warmest expressions
y Friendship by Doctor Mclaughlin, whocon-
lucted us Immediately to his house. After
'rlef interview he conducted us to his gardens,
ind, be assured, we were not little surprised