COLUMBIA RIVER. 



145 



whole territory, and, although it was considered by them as despotic, 

 they could not adduce any instance of the wrong application of his 

 power. He is notwithstanding extremely unpopular among all 

 classes of our countrymen, but for what reason it is difficult to 

 conceive. 



Dr. M'Laughlin obligingly favoured me with the heights of the 

 stopping-places, or encampments, on the route that is usually taken 

 by their parties crossing the Rocky Mountains : the results were 

 obtained by the boiling point of water. The journey was made 

 during the months of August, September, and October, 1839. 



WATER BOILS. HEIGHT DEDUCED. 



Sept 



22d, 





J-iUlIlLUlLUll, 



Jasper's House, 



tt 



29th, 



a 



Camp d'Origal, 



tt 



30th, 



EG 



Camp de Fusil, 



tt 



It 



it 



Punchbowl, 



tt 



tt 



tt 



Head of Grand Cote, 



Oct. 



1st, 



a 



Bottom of Grand Cote, 



a 



3d, 



St 



Boat Encampment, 



tt 



8th, 



a 



Colville, 



it 



14th, 



tt 



Wallawalla, 



207° 



2566 feet 



204-5 



3867 



203-5 



4391 



201 



5716 



198 



7324 



202 



5188 



204 



4131 



205 



3607 



208 



2049 



209-5 



1286 



This may be considered as a near approximation to the true height, 

 and at several of the places where the barometer has been also used, 

 there is a very close coincidence in the results. 



The instrument used for the experiment was one of Newman's 

 make, and exceedingly convenient for such purposes, offering great 

 facility in use, without the danger of accident from its size. 



The trade and operations of the Hudson Bay Company are 

 extensive, and the expense with which they are attended is very 

 great. I am inclined to think that it is hardly possible for any one to 

 form an exact estimate of the amount of profit they derive from their 

 business on the west side of the mountains. The stock of the Com- 

 pany certainly pays a large dividend ; and it is asserted that in addi- 

 tion a very considerable surplus has been accumulated to meet airy 

 emergency ; yet it may be questioned whether their trade in the 

 Oregon Territory yields any profit, although it is now conducted at 

 much less cost than formerly. This diminution of cost arises from 

 the fact, that a great part of the provisions are now raised in the 

 country by the labour of their own servants. 



The Puget Sound Company, although it has been in operation for 

 vol. v. 37 



