296 THE ASTORIA ENTERPRISE BEGUN. [1811. 



other furs as the Russians might choose to ship for that port, on 

 their own account, provided that the Americans should visit no 

 other parts of the coast north of a certain latitude. 



The Tonquin passed around Cape Horn, and in February, 1811, 

 arrived at Owyhee, where Macdougal, who was to superintend the 

 affairs of the company on the Pacific and its coasts until the arrival 

 of Hunt, endeavored to conclude a treaty of amity and commerce 

 with King Tamahamaha : but that aged chief, whom experience had 

 rendered distrustful, refused to bind himself by any contract with 

 the white men ; and he would only promise to furnish the vessels of 

 the company with provisions on the same terms with other vessels 

 — namely, on payment of the value in Spanish dollars. Having 

 obtained the necessary supplies in this way, and taken on board a 

 dozen of the islanders, who were permitted by their sovereign to 

 engage in the service of the Pacific Company, Captain Thorne sailed 

 for the mouth of the Columbia, where he effected an entrance on 

 the 24th of March, with great danger and difficulty, after losing 

 three of hie. men, who attempted to reach the shore in a boat. 



The passengers immediately disembarked on the shore of Baker's 

 Bay, on the north «de of the Columbia, just within Cape Disappoint- 

 ment, where sheds wei« built for their temporary accommodation. A 

 few days afterwards, the partners set off in search of a place proper 

 for the establishment of a facWy ; an d they soon selected for that ob- 

 ject a spot on the south bank of th* r i ve r 5 distant about ten miles from 

 the ocean, which had received from B^ughton, in 1792, the name of 

 Point George. To this place the Tonqu*. n was removed ; and, her 

 goods and materials being landed, preparation*. were commenced for 

 the erection of a fort and other houses, and io* building a small 

 vessel, of which the frame had been brought out from T\[ew York. In 

 the course of two months, these works were so far acU^nced, that 

 the assistance of the ship's crew was no longer needed ; and Captain 

 Thorne accordingly sailed on the 5th of June for the northern coasts, 

 carrying with him Mr. Mackay who was to conduct the trade, and 

 to make arrangements with the Russians, Mr. Lewis one of the 

 clerks, and an Indian who spoke English, to serve as interpreter. 



During the ensuing summer, much progress was made in the 

 buildings for the factory, which, in honor of the head of the com- 

 pany, was named Astoria. A large piece of ground was cleared 

 and laid out as a garden, in which various vegetables were planted ; 

 the small vessel was finished and launched ; trade was carried on 

 with the neighboring Indians, and also with others from the higher 



