COLUMBIA RIVER. 355 



and fifteen girls, who claim the particular attention of Dr. M'Laugh- 

 lin and Mrs. Douglass. A teacher is employed for the boys, who 

 superintends them not only in school, but in the field and garden. 

 During my stay an examination took place, and although the pupils 

 did not prove very expert at their reading and writing, yet we 

 had sufficient evidence that they had made some improvement, and 

 were in a fair way to acquire the rudiments. Some allowance was to 

 be made for the boys, who had been constantly in the field under their 

 teacher for a few months past. Dr. M'Laughlin estimated the labour 

 of four of these small boys as equal to that of a man. It was an 

 interesting sight to see these poor little cast-away fellows, of all 

 shades of colour, from the pure Indian to that of the white, thus 

 snatched away from the vices and idleness of the savage. They ail 

 speak both English and French ; they are also instructed in religious 

 exercises, in which I thought they appeared more proficient than in 

 their other studies. These they are instructed in on Sunday, on which 

 day they attend divine worship twice. They were a ruddy set of 

 boys, and when at work had a busy appearance : they had planted and 

 raised six htmdred bushels of potatoes ; and from what Dr. M'Laughlin 

 said to me, fully maintain themselves. The girls are equally well 

 cared for, and are taught by a female, with whom they live and work. 



An opinion has gone abroad, I do not know how, that at this post 

 there is a total disregard of morality and religion, and that vice pre- 

 dominates. As far as my observations went, I feel myself obliged 

 to state, that every thing seems to prove the contrary, and to bear 

 testimony that the officers of the Company are exerting themselves 

 to check vice, and encourage morality and religion, in a very marked 

 manner ; and that I saw no instance in which vice was tolerated in 

 any degree. I have, indeed, reason to believe, from the discipline 

 and the example of the superiors, that the whole establishment is a 

 pattern of good order and correct deportment. 



This remark not only extends to this establishment, but as far as 

 our opportunities went (and all but two of their posts were visited), 

 the same good order prevails throughout the country. Wherever the 

 operations of the Company extend, they have opened the way to 

 future emigration, provided the means necessary for the success of 

 emigrants, and rendered its peaceful occupation an easy and cheap 

 task. 



The mode in which their trade is carried on, will give some idea of 

 the system pursued by the Company. All the imported goods are 



