104 
me, though I am so doubtful whether my 
determination will meet with the approba- 
tion of my employers (though not doubt- 
ful of the integrity of my motives), that I 
will cheerfully labour this season without 
any remuneration, if I am only allowed a 
small sum of money to supply myself with 
clothing. Thus I hope my conduct will 
be pardoned, if not approved. Two con- 
siderations weigh much with me. Firstly, 
I involve the Society in little or no expense; 
and secondly, having been an invalid dur- 
ing the latter part of the seed-harvest, I 
have, of course, missed of procuring man 
things which it would be most desirable to 
possess, particularly of the vegetation of 
the Upper Country, towards the head-wa- 
ters of this river, and the boundless tracts 
that lie contiguous to the Rocky Mountains. 
I could have crossed the Continent this 
season to Montreal, and would most gladly 
have done so, but for the considerations 
just mentioned. Should circumstances 
forbid my accomplishing this desirable ob- 
ject in the spring of next year (1827), I 
shall, without further delay, embrace the 
earliest opportunity of returning to Eng- 
land by sea, but the length of time con- 
sumed by the voyage renders me unwilling 
to do this. The expected arrival in Sep- 
tember of George Simpson, Esq., Governor 
of the Western Districts, gives me hope 
that I shall not be subjected to this un- 
pleasant necessity. 
ing this spring and summer, there- 
fore, my head-quarters will be either Wal- 
la-wallah, the lowest, Spokan, the middle, 
or Kettle Falls, the highest, on the Co- 
lumbia and its branches. At each of these 
places I shall make such a stay as seems 
desirable, and the extreme distance not 
_ ed without difficulty. A vessel may shortly 
-be expected on this coast, and as I shall 
not return hither, probably, before No- 
vember, I mean to leave the whole of my 
collection ready packed, to be transmitted 
by her to England, reserving a package of 
seeds which it is my intention to carry 
across the country to Hudson’s Bay. 
DOUGLAS’ SUMMER EXCURSIONS 
March Ist to 20th. This time w 
voted to accomplishing the package. 
two boxes of the residue of my colle 
and making preparations for my jou 
into the Interior, and the continual 
which fell enabled me to work at this j 
the more assiduously. The kindne 
Mr. M‘Loughlin enabled me to take 
quires of paper, weighing 102 Ibs., whic 
with the rest of my other necessary 
cles, is far more than I could have ven 
to expect, considering the labour and 
culty which attend the transportation | 
luggage over the portages, &c. 
In company of John M‘Leod, Esq. 
gentleman going to Hudson's Bay, 
Mr. Francis Ermetinger, who was bow 
for the Interior, with two boats and 
teen men, I started from Fort Vanco 
on Monday, the 20th, at four o' 
noon. Owing to the rain and adverse 
and a strong current against us, it was t 
2. 
ral kinds, some of great magnitude, 
their lofty wide-spreading branches 40 
with snow ; while a rain-bow stretches 05 
the vapour formed by the agitated wate 
which rush with furious speed over 
shattered rocks and through the deep 
reflection of the snow. 
On Thursday the 23rd, we pr 
on our voyage with a strong westerly 
which enabled us to hoist a sail, and 
ed the lower part of the Great Falls 
dusk, where we camped in a small 
under a shelving rock. Fortunatel 
night was fine, and the moon bright, x 
was the more agreeable, as the wind We 
not allow of our tent being pitched. 
we were placed in a dangerous P 
ment, from the natives, who coll 
unusually large numbers, and show 
disposition to be troublesome, 9e 
did not receive so ample a suj 
E 
proc 
