[howay] the raison D'ETRE OF FORTS YALE AND HOPE 57 



munication thence depending necessarily falls to the ground. The 

 prudence, not to say possibility, of extending our horse transport 

 beyond that point has this year been fully tested and needs no com- 

 ment on my part. 



"As regards the question of navigation my opinions have under- 

 gone some change, for though, as before, I think it practicable to 

 bring up Columbia boats by making the necessary portages, further 

 examination teaches me that it must be by very arduous degrees at 

 the higher stages of the water and therefore unadvisable. At low 

 water, however, the rapids have been proved to be safely navigable 

 with loaded bateaux one portage only intervening. These points 

 admitted I am still constrained reluctantly to withdraw the proposal 

 of navigation formerly advanced by me. My recent experience of 

 the pass in question convinces me that no portage on a large scale 

 could with prudence be effected there during the summer season, after 

 the hosts of barbarians amongst whom we have recently passed are 

 engaged at their fisheries. 



"The risks of sacrificing both life and property (for it is needless 

 to attempt to cloak the matter) under circumstances where neither 

 courage nor precaution could avail to resist surprise or guard against 

 treachery are alone sufficient to deter us from the attempt. The 

 losses by theft, in themselves no wise contemptible, which have 

 already taken place are but the prelude to future depredations on a 

 larger scale should the present system of operations be unfortunately 

 persisted in — depredations which it is to be feared will be difficult 

 either to discover in time or prevent effectually." ^^ 



This one trial trip satisfied Douglas that such a road with its 

 requirements of ferrying and its dangers not only of the route itself, 

 but also of the natives, was quite impracticable and he reluctantly, 

 it would appear, fell back upon a route via the Coquahalla. In the 

 summer of 1847 Mr. Yale had sent Mr. Peers to examine that region 

 once more. By making some alterations in the line as explored and 

 recommended by Mr. Anderson in 1846 he had found that the snow, 

 which was the one adverse factor, was not so formidable as had been 

 anticipated. Mr. Anderson strongly advocated the adoption of this 

 route for the brigade of 1849. 



In the fall of 1848, Douglas finally gave orders for the erection of 

 Fort Hope at the mouth of the Coquahalla and for the opening of a 

 trail up that river and across the Cascade Mountains. Those letters 

 are so important that they are appended hereto. They show the 

 circumspection with which the com pany always moved ; if the attempt 

 ^^Anderson's report, copy in the Archives of British Columbia. 



