68 VOYAGE TO THE 



which more recent travellers have derived from the 

 establishment of inland depots by the American fur 

 companies. One of these depots, we were informed 

 by a gentleman belonging to the establishment, whom 

 we met at Monterey in 18'27, is situated on the 

 western side of the rocky mountains on a fork of the 

 Columbia called Lewis River, near the source of a 

 stream supposed to be the Colorado. 



The trade of Upper California at present consists in 

 the exportation of hides, tallow, manteca, horses to 

 the Sandwich Islands, grain for the Russian establish- 

 ments at Sitka and Kodiak, and in the disposal of 

 provisions to whale-ships and other vessels which 

 touch upon the coast, — perhaps a few furs and dollars 

 are sent to China. The importations are dry goods, 

 furniture, wearing-apparel, agricultural implements, 

 deal-boards, and salt; and silks and fireworks from 

 China for the decoration of the churches and celebra- 

 tion of the saints' days. In 1827 almost all these 

 articles bore high prices : the former in consequence 

 of the increased demand for them ; and the latter, 

 partly from the necessity of meeting the expenses of 

 the purchase of a return cargo, and partly on account 

 of the navigation act. 



The missions and the inhabitants in general com- 

 plained loudly of these prices, not considering that 

 the fault was in a great measure their own, and that 

 they were purchasing some articles which had been 

 brought several thousand miles, when they might have 

 procured them in their own country with moderate 

 labour only. For example, they were actually living 

 upon the sea-coast and amongst forests of pine, and 

 yet were suffering themselves to buy salt and deal 

 boards at exorbitant prices. 



