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CHAPTER II. 
EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1899 TO A. D. 1844. 
CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE, U. 8. A., EXPEDITION, 1832 To 1836.—DISCOVERY OF GREAT IRVING'S ASTORIA. ~ 
LIEUTENANT E. STERN, U. 8. A., MAP, 1835.—TOPOGRAPHICAL BUREAU, MAP OF WESTERN FRONTIER, 1837.—C. DIMMOCK, C. E., SURVEY, 
1838.—CAPTAIN W. HOOD, T. E, MEMOIR AND MAP, 1839 —TOoPOGRAPHICAL BUREAU, MAP OF OREGON, 1838 EY BOUNDARY, 
LOUISIANA AND TEXAS, 1840.—CoMMANDER WILKES, U. 8. N, MAP OF OREGON, 1841,—KENDALL'S SANTA FE EXPEDITION, 1841.— 
PROFESSOR NICOLLET’S EXPLORATION AND MAP, i —Loormusr J. €. FREMONT, T. E., EXPLORATION, 1842.—CAPTAIN ۰ 
BOONE, U. S. A, EXPEDITION, 1843.—ŪAPTAIN J. ALLEN, U. B. A., EXPEDITION, 1843.— TOPOGRAPHICAL BUREAU, MAP OF TEXAS, 1844.— 
GREGG’S COMMERCE OF THE 1844, 
BONNEVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO ROCKY MOUNTAINS, 1832—'33,-'34,-'35,-' 36. 
THE narrative I have perused is entitled ‘‘ The Rocky Mountains; or, Scenes, Incidents, and 
Adventures in the Far West; digested from the Journal of Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, of the 
army of the United States, and illustrated from various other sources. By Washington Irving. 
In two volumes. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard.—1837.’’ This is accompanied by two 
maps: one on a scale of twenty-three miles to an inch, showing the sources of the Missouri, Yellow- 
stone, Platte, Green, Bear, Snake, and Salmon rivers, and a portion of Lake Bonneville, (Great 
Salt lake;) the other, on a scale of fifty miles to an inch, giving the country from the Rocky 
mountains to the Pacific, between the parallels of 38° and 49° north latitude. 
Captain Bonneville’s explorations were made in prosecution of the fur trade, which was his 
principal object, and very great accuracy in the map is not, therefore, to be expected. His 
letter of instructions, from Major General Macomb, dated Washington, August 3, 1831, contains 
the following directions: ‘‘The leave of absence which you have asked, for the purpose of 
enabling you to carry into execution your design of exploring the country to the Rocky moun- 
tains and beyond, * * * * has been duly considered and submitted to the War Department 
for approval, and has been sanctioned. You are, therefore, authorized to be absent from the 
army till October, 1833. It is understood that the government is to be at no expense in 
reference to your proposed expedition, it having originated with yourself. * * * * You 
will, naturally, in preparing yourself for the expedition, provide suitable instruments." 
On the 1st of May, 1832, Captain Bonneville, with a train of wagons, took his departure 
from Fort Osage, and proceeded up the Missouri to the mouth of the Kansas. Crossing this 
stream, he followed very nearly the present travelled road to the Platte, thence along this 
river to the forks, and up the South Fork for two days. Here ferrying his party over, he struck 
across to the North Fork, followed it to the Sweetwater, and thence up that stream to its 
source in the South Pass. From this point he proceeded northwesterly to Green river, where 
he established his grand depot, near the mouth of Horse creek, and abandoned his wagons.* 
Having organized several hunting parties, he proceeded towards the northwest along the upper 
sources of Green and Snake rivers, until he reached Salmon river. The winter was passed on 
the upper portion of this stream and in travelling over the Great Lava plain or Shoshonee 
valley between it and the Snake river. In the spring a grand rendezvous was held at the 
۶ There were at this time two rival companies trading in this region—the American Fur Company and the Rocky Mount- 
ain Fur Oompany—both having their principal rendezvous at “ Pierre's Hole," in the valley of Pierre's river, an affluent of 
Snake or Lewis’ river. 
