330 COLUMBIA RIVER. 



requisite quantity of agricultural products. A deraand was conse- 

 quently created for wheat, and all that could be raised in the Willa- 

 mette settlements was bought for six shillings (seventy-five cents) a 

 bushel, and paid for in drafts on their stores in goods, at fifty per cent, 

 advance on the first London cost. This gave an encouragement to the 

 small farmers, that was fated to meet with grievous disappointment 

 the next season ; for the Company was able not only to meet their 

 engagements, and their own wants, but had, besides, a surplus. The 

 prices consequently would be merely nominal, unless raised by the 

 influx of new settlers. Whether the latter cause had any efiect in 

 creating a market, I know not; but I understand that in 1842 some of 

 the settlers fed their horses upon their finest wheat. 



The scenery around Nisqually is very much enhanced in beauty 

 by the splendid appearance of Mount Rainier, which lies nearly east 

 of it ; and from some of the open prairies there are three of these 

 magnificent snow}^ peaks in sight. They are all nearly regular 

 cones, with cleft tops, as though they had a terminal crater on their 

 summit. I was exceedingly anxious to make the ascent of one of 

 these, Mount Hood ; but owing to the non-arrival and loss of the 

 Peacock, I found it impossible to do so. 



On the 13th May, Mr. Anderson was kind enough to present me 

 with two bullocks for the crews, and a quantity of vegetables, for 

 which we felt ourselves much indebted. A large supply of milk was 

 also sent to us daily from the dairy, and many other little kindnesses 

 and attentions were manifested. 



To return Captain M'Niel's visit, I went on board the steamer, 

 which is called the Beaver. She is of one hundred and twenty tons 

 burden, and fitted with a low-pressure engine, similar to those in use 

 in the English boats. She was now very much out of repair, having 

 been some years on this station. Her employment was to ply be- 

 tween the northern posts with supplies, and bring back the returns 

 of the season's trade; at the same time trading at the diflFerent 

 points with the Indians. Captain M'Niel is a native of Boston, and 

 was extensively engaged in the northwest trade. He proved to be a 

 serious competitor with the Hudson Bay Company in their business, 

 and was in consequence bought ofi". He is now a trader in the Com- 

 pany's service, owning stock, and receiving a share of the dividends; 

 to qualify him for which, it became necessary for him to become a 

 naturalized British subject. 



The steamer is ill adapted to the services on which she is em- 



