1812.] MARCH OF HUNT AND HIS PARTY TO THE COLUMBIA. 299 



westward course to the Rocky Mountains, which they crossed in 

 September, 1811, near the head of the Yellowstone River. On 

 the western side of the ridge, they found a large stream, probably 

 the main branch of the Lewis, on which they embarked in canoes, 

 with the expectation of thus floating down to the Falls of the Colum- 

 bia ; but ere they had proceeded far in this way, they encountered 

 so many dangers and obstructions, from falls and rapids, that they 

 were forced to abandon the stream and resume their march. It 

 would be needless here to attempt to describe the many evils from 

 hunger, thirst, cold, and fatigue, which these men underwent during 

 their wanderings through that dreary wilderness of snow-clad moun- 

 tains, in the winter of 1811-12: suffice it to say, that, after several 

 of their number had perished from one or more of these causes, the 

 others reached Astoria in separate parties, in the first months of 

 1812, having spent more than a year in coming from St. Louis. 

 At the factory they found shelter, warmth, and rest ; but they had 

 little food, until the fish began to enter the river, when they obtained 

 abundant supplies of pilchards, of the most delicious flavor. 



On the 5th of May, 1812, the ship Beaver,* commanded by Cap- 

 tain Sowles, arrived in the Columbia, from New York, bringing 

 the third detachment of persons in the service of the Pacific Com- 

 pany, under the direction of Mr. Clarke, and twenty-six natives of 



* Ross Cox, who arrived at Astoria in the Beaver, in May, 1812, gives the follow- 

 ing account of the establishment as it then appeared : — 



" The spot selected for the fort [Astoria] was a handsome eminence, called Point 

 George, which commanded an extensive view of the majestic Columbia in front, 

 bounded by the bold and thickly-wooded northern shore. On the right, about three 

 miles distant, a long, high, and rocky peninsula, covered with timber, called Tongue 

 Point, extended a considerable distance into the river from the southern side, with 

 which it was connected by a narrow neck of land ; while, on the extreme left, Cape 

 Disappointment, with the bar and its terrific chain of breakers, were distinctly visible. 

 The buildings consisted of apartments for the proprietors and clerks, with a capacious 

 dining-hall for both ; extensive warehouses for the trading goods and furs, a provision 

 store, a trading shop, smith's forge, carpenter's shop, &c. ; the whole surrounded by 

 stockades, forming a square, and reaching about fifteen feet above the ground. A 

 gallery ran around the stockades, in which loopholes were pierced, sufficiently large 

 for musketry ; two strong bastions, built of logs, commanded the four sides of the 

 square ; each bastion had two stories, in which a number of chosen men slept every 

 night ; a six pounder was placed in the lower story of each, and they were both well 

 provided with small arms. Immediately in front of the fort was a gentle declivity, 

 sloping down to the river's side, which had been turned into an excellent kitchen 

 garden ; and, a few hundred rods to the left, a tolerable wharf had been run out, by 

 which bateaux and boats were enabled, at low water, to land their cargoes with- 

 out sustaining any damage. An impenetrable forest of gigantic pines rose in the 

 rear, and the ground was covered with a thick underwood of brier and whortleberry, 

 ■ntermingled with fern and honeysuckle." 



