114 SANDFOEI) FLEMING ON 



George was open to some objections, and another site was finally selected on the northern 

 bank of the river, about a hundred miles from the mouth. At this point a new central 

 post was established, in 1825, on a large and permanent scale, called in honour of the 

 famous navigator, Fort Vancouver. The new headquarters of the company were placed 

 on the northern bank of the river, in order that it might be indisputably on British soil ; 

 there was no probability at that date of the international boundary being established to 

 the north of the Columbia. 



In March, 1826, Mr. McLeod left Fort Vancouver to proceed eastward. He was 

 accompanied by Mr. Edward Ermatinger and Mr. Douglas, the distinguished botanist. 

 The crew consisted of sixteen men, two of whom were Sandwich Islanders. Their route 

 took them to Okanagan and Spokane. They ascended the Columbia to Boat Encamp- 

 ment, the river at the time being much obstructed by ice. The motintaius were crossed 

 by the Athabasca pass, then covered with deep snow, and, with much difB.culty and 

 some danger, the party reached Jaspar House on May 5th. Here he was detained 

 owing to the confinement of his wife, which had taken place in February, the family 

 having proceeded thither the previous October. On horses being sent forward from 

 Edmonton, they continued their journey, and reached that station on May l*7th. 

 From Edmonton they embarked in the spring brigade of boats to follow the river Sas- 

 katchewan and the chain of waters to Hudson Bay. They reached York Factory in July, 

 having crossed the continent in three months and twenty days. Mr. McLeod was in 

 the service of the Hudson's Bay Company when he died, in 1849, at the age of sixty-one. 



(10) Expedition of Sir George Simpson, 1828. 



The expedition of Sir Greorge Simpson, in 1828, is remarkable in every point of view. 

 As resident governor of the Hudson's Bay Company he made frequent visits to the 

 territory of Rupert's Land and the Northwest, in order to examine into the condition of 

 the several posts, and superintend the affairs of the company over which he presided. 

 On this occasion he resolved to travel from Hudson Bay to the Strait of Greorgia. 



Leaving York Factory, he ascended Hayes River, passing through what was known 

 as the boat route to Lake Winnipeg, at the northern end of which is Norway House. 

 Skirting the north shore of the lake, he passed to the Saskatchewan, which he ascended 

 to Cumberland House. From this point he went northward through the chain of lakes 

 and streams until he reached Churchill River, which he followed to the height of land, 

 Methye Portage. By Clearwater River, he entered the Athabasca, following its waters 

 to Athabasca Lake and Peace River. He ascended Peace River, i^assing through the main 

 Rocky Mountain chain and, with the aid of horses, he crossed the plateau, a distance ot 

 eighty-three miles, to Fort St. James, on the east of Stuart Lake. Sir George Simpson 

 was careful on all occasions to enter the forts he visited with his men, clean and dressed 

 in their best. He carried with him a piper, who also acted as his servant. In this instance 

 the same ceremony was observed ; a gun was fired, the bugle sounded, and the piper led 

 the march. There was a meeting to be held here of the chief officers, among whom Mr., 

 afterwards Sir, James Douglas, the first Governor of British Columbia, was present, and, 

 amid a discharge of small arms, Mr. Douglas went out to meet Sir George. Mr. Conolly, 

 the chief factor of the Pacific department, was also expected. He had not arrived. Shortly, 



