TRIP THROUGH NACHES PASS, 1841 



of Pierre Charles, 1 he was at once sent for ; but I did 

 not think it worth while to detain the party until his 

 arrival, as he could easily overtake it. Lieutenant 

 Johnson, therefore, was directed to hurry his departure, 

 and to set out, which he did on the I9th May, at noon, 

 and proceeded to the prairie about two miles distant, 

 where the party encamped. 



There is little danger on these expeditions of having 

 too few articles : the great difficulty is to avoid having 

 too many. It turned out as I had anticipated. The 

 first night passed in their tent fully satisfied them of 

 this, and taught them to dispense with all other bedding 

 save blankets. 



Mr. Anderson rode to the encampment before night, 

 bringing the news of the arrival of Pierre Charles at the 

 fort ; whereupon Lieutenant Johnson returned to make 

 an agreement with him and his companion. This 

 was done, although, as is to be supposed, their demands 

 were exorbitant, in consequence of the belief that their 

 services were indispensable. 



Pierre Charles's companion was a young man, named 

 Peter Bercier, (a connexion of Plumondon) 2 who spoke 

 English, and all the languages of the country. 



On the morning of the 2Oth, they obtained an acces- 

 sion to their horses, and set out on their route towards 

 the mountains. Although the possibility of crossing 

 them was doubted, yet I felt satisfied if exertion and 

 perseverance could effect the object, the officer who had 

 charge of the party would succeed. This day, they 

 made but five miles ; after which they encamped, at the 

 recommendation of Pierre Charles, in order that the 

 horses might not be over-fatigued, and be able to get 

 good pasture and water. Here a number of natives 

 visited the camp. Pine trees were in large numbers, 

 many of them upwards of one hundred and thirty feet 



1 Pierre Charles, French Canadian, had been an employee of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company. 



2 Simon Plomondon was an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, who re- 

 tired and settled in the Cowlitz Valley. 



IS 



