, 1853-05-28

10 do so.
On the l3h May, Mr.. Anderson was
kind enough to present me with two bull
locks loI the crews, and quantity Of veSe-
tables, for which We felt ourselves much IN
debted. A large supply of milk was also
sent to us daily from the dairy, and many
other little kindnesses and attentions were
manifested.
To return Captain M'Niel's visit, ! went
on board the steamer, which is called the
Beaver. She is of one hundred and twenty
tons burden, and fitted with low pressure
engine, similar 10 those in use in the Eng
llsh boats. She was now very much out Of
repair, having been some years on this sta
ton. Her employment was to ply between
the northern posts with supplies, and bring
back the returns Of the seasons trade /; at
the same time trading at the different points
with the Indians. Captain M'Niel is ma
tive of Boston, and was extensively engaged
in the northwest trade. He proved to be
serious competitor with the Hudson Bay
Company in their business, and was in con.
sequence bought Off lie is now a trader
in the Company's service, owning stock,
and receiving a share of the divldends5 TO
qualify him for which, it became necessary
for him 10 become a naturalized British sub
ject.
The steamer is i'll adapted 10 the services
on which she is employed, for she consumes
large quantity of fuel, and has not sufh-
cient capacity 10 carry as much as is neces-
sary for her entire voyage. She is there.
fore obliged TO stop at intermediate places
to obtain a supply of wood, which must be
cut by her own crew She is fitted with a
suitable armament, barricades, and board
\ ing MEETINGS, which are deemed very essen
tal on the northern coast. where the savage
tribes are both hostile and numerous.
On the l7th, the boats left the ship under
Lieutenant Case, Messrs. Totten, Colvoco-
ressis, and May. had by this time sue
cecded in establishing the observatory, and
had ordered log house 10 be built 10 per,
form the pendulum experiments, and an
other for the purpose of drawing, &C.
Thesr purposed 10 use on my return from
tho Columbia river trip. Lieutenant Carr,
with Lieut.. Budd and Mr.. Ed, were lpfl in
charge of the duty connected with the OBJ
servatory, as well as of the ship.
The land expedition, under Lieut.. John
son, was finally ready. Few can imagine
the chafferings, delays, and vexations at
,endant upon the equipment Of land party
in this region the buying of horses from
the Indians the non'aIrival of guides the
various equipments necessary for loading
the horses, securing the loads to prevent in
jury to the horses backs, and the loss of
them, all consume much time, and need con-
tinual foresight. Through all these difficult
ties and perplrxites, which were of kind
that most tries the patience, Lieut.. johnson
struggled. An Indian is not slow in per-
ceiving your wants, and views the dilpmmas
in which you may be placed with bccom-
ing ng-froid. Mr. Anderson's kindness
had obviated many of these obstacles but
il was impossible 10 proceed without the aid
OF the Indians, who were always prone 10
recede from their bargains, under a feeling
that they had not received enough. After
the bargain was completed, and the price
agreed upon, under the form Of " potlatch''
or gill;" the equivalent was always to be
again treated for, and thus the price of the
article or service was often very much en-
enhanced. In dealing with these Indians,
it was always necessary to feign a great in
difference Of manner, in order TO obtain the
article, and also in closing the bargain aftof
the preliminaries are settled. They readi-
ly close when they think their customers in
different, for fear Of a competitor among
themselves, and are not in the habit Of form
ing combination, as they show little or no
confidence in each other, and are rather dis
posed 10 rivalry. As far as our observa-
lions went, the chiefs have little authority
among them.
Having seen the other parties all of, or
ready to start, our party for the Columbia
river also set out. II was a strange caval-
cade, for most Of us were but sorry horse
men, and we had every variety of accoutre-
ments, from the saddle and bride to the
bare back and halter. We were eight in
number: Messrs. Drayton, Waldron, and
myself, two servants, two Indians, and a
Canadian guide, with four pack horses. All
the hors"s and the guide were kindly fur
nished us by the gentlemen at the fort, to
carry US as far as Cowlitz Farms, about
sixty miles distant, where we intended tax
ing canoes.
Our Indians, though partially clothed in
worn-out European clothing, still showed
their free and easy carriage on horseback {:
the few ribands and cocks feathers that
were stuck in their caps gave them fiaunt-
ing kind Of air and they manifested spe-
cies of self esteem that was not unpleasing
and betokened an independence and want
OF care, in good keeping with their mode of
life. These savages should never be seen
but on horseback, in which position they
are really men, and inspire certain degree
of respect. When dismounted, all these
qualities vanish, and the Indian becomes
the lazy, lounging creature, insensible 10
any excitement but his low gambling pro-