COLUMBIA RIVER. 129 



pany, as the inspector of all the departments, and to report upon the 

 state of the trading posts ; this leaves him free to act without pre- 

 judice. 



The mode of apportioning the profits of the Company is as follows : 

 after a certain per centage is paid to the stockholders who own the 

 capital, the surplus is divided among the active partners, including 

 the chief factor, traders, &c, who are thus all interested in the profits 

 arising from their own exertions. In order that Sir George Simpson 

 may be impartial in adjusting and reporting on the affairs, he re- 

 ceives a salary of two thousand pounds a year. Sir George has been 

 lately knighted, for projecting and superintending the outfits of the 

 voyage of his nephew, who completed the discoveries in the north, 

 and the history of whose melancholy end has become so well known 

 to all interested in Arctic discoveries. 



Captain Hudson, the officers, and myself were invited to partake 

 of a formal dinner at Vancouver : on this occasion, all the functionaries 

 of the Company were present, and each individual seemed to have his 

 place assigned him. It reminded me of the description of a feast of 

 feudal times, for there were many " below the salt." 



Like all great dinners, it was stiff and formal. Sir George Simpson 

 occupied the head of the table, and there were none but men present. 

 Their wives seem to be little thought of, but for what reason I 

 could not imagine, as many of them were highly worthy of notice. 

 Their frequent exertions in protecting the settlements and their 

 husbands, show a devotion to them and their interests, that is highly 

 commendable ; and why they should not be treated as their equals, I 

 am at a loss to conceive. They will bear an advantageous comparison 

 with any others who have had so few opportunities. Those whom I 

 saw exhibited both propriety of behaviour and modesty of deport- 

 ment. It may perhaps be, that their seclusion from mixed society 

 is their own choice ; but such a regulation cannot but tend to prevent 

 improvement, and retard advancement in civilization. 



The Columbia river was now very different in appearance from 

 what it had been in the month of June. The stream was confined 

 within its narrowest limits, and was nineteen feet below high-water 

 mark. 



The Indians were now encamped on the strands, over which the 

 volume of water had rushed, in its swollen state, with irresistible 

 force. Vancouver exhibited the aspect of an extensive farming esta- 



vol. v. 33 



