The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-01-14
Fer the IDAHO WoaLD1
Historical and Biographical Notes
Exploration and Settlement of the
Columbia and it's Tributaries

| NO. II.
For the present let US consider this country
as it existed while exclusively occupied by
the aborigines, and the Hudson Bay Compa-
ny. The policy adopted by this Company, in
dealing with the Indians, was so successful
that its members were enabled to pass and
pass over the country, and travel IN all
directions without molestation. The regula
tions governing this Company were very strict,
and justice was melted out without distraction.
The laws were enforced with impartialty,
without regard to race, rank or color. Cap
ital punishment was occasionally inflicted,
for deeds of crime, upon both whites and In
dians. Justice was rendered to the innocent,
and punishment inflicted upon the guilty.
This policy was sufficient to secure harmony
and peace between the whites and Indians.
Actually, the Hudson Bay Company control
led the whole country. The fortresses OF
the Company were established, north and
south, east and west. These forts were not
citadels, manned by large garri-
sons; they were places sufficiently provided
for the exigencies of the times, and to ac-
complish the purposes of the Company. They
were places of rendezvous, where the Indians
came to exchange their furs, and where the
employees of the Company met to render
their accounts to their BOURGEOIS. The prin-
cipal station was Vancouver, known at this
time as Victoria Vancouver was also called
Quadra Vancouver, deriving its name from the
meeting of four captains of vessels at that
point in the year 1892. These were Captain
Van Cover, OF the British ship Discovery,
Captain Ingraham, of the English brig Hope,
Captain Gray, of the ship Columbia, and, we
believe, Captain Meares of a vessel name un-
known.
The Columbia River was first discovered
by Capt Gray, in 1892, who named it after
his ship, which was called Columbia. This
vessel had been fitted out by some merchants
of Boston, for trade on the Northwest Coast.
While sailing along the Coast, Capt. Gray
discovered an apparent break in the line OF
the Coast mountains in latitude 46 deg. l6
min, from which a strong current poured in
to the sea. He attempted to enter, and strug
ged against the current for nine days, but
failed to ascend. He then proceeded to Van
couver's Island, returning soon after to the
Columbia, and renewed his attempt to ascend
the stream-this time successfully, reaching
Tongue Point on the goth May, 1892. He
named the southern point, at the entrance,
Point Adams, the north point Cape Hancock.
The north point has since assumed the orig
inal name given it by Meares in 1888, and is
now known as Cape Disappointment.
The second principal station of the Hudson
Bay Company was at Fort George, at the
mouth of THE Columbia River. The third
station was at Fort Vancouver on the CoIum
bia, six miles above the mouth of the Will
lamette. We may remark here incidentally
that the photography of the name of this
river was WALLAMET. The termination
:" cite, us of later date. The meaning of the
word in tie Indian tongue was " confluence, =
or the meeting of the waters. This third
station, at Vancouver was named from the
Capt Van Couver, previously referred to as
lone of the QUADRA Captains. The fourth
station was in Rogue River Valley, from
which the excursions of the employees of the
Company were extended over Alta, or North
ern California.
Besides these stations, there were other
trading-posts, one of which was Fort Alex
ander on Fraser River. For the Shicotines,
still further north towards Carriboo, Fort
Neuf. For the center, Fort Wallula. For
! Colyille, Fort Colville. Further sonth near
the junction of the Boise and Snake rivers,
Fort Boise, and further eastward, Fort Hall
The derivation of Wallulla is from the Indian
meaning, junction of rivers; of Boise, from
the French, WOODY; and Fort Hall from the
name of one of the Company who located the
Mace. All these various forts and posts were
occupied by about one thousand men, a large
norton whom were engaged in hunting and
explorations. These parties engaged in
bunting were generally composed of from
fifteen to twenty men. They travelled along
~ r;rors hv means IF barges built of bark