COLUMBIA RIVER. 
135 
or no regard for the promises they made, or the engagements they 
entered into. This feature of character proceeds both from a desire 
to obtain more money, and a want of stability of purpose. Many 
difficulties were encountered by him in consequence of the change 
of his route to California, which many of those who were to have 
accompanied him were unwilling to undertake. These were the 
very best men we had engaged. Every kind of embarrassment 
seemed to come upon him at once: delays and disappointments oc¬ 
curred every day; sickness overtook the party; rumours were cir¬ 
culated of danger from the Indians, who it was said were determined 
to oppose the party and cut it off. Some of the settlers refused to 
re-engage, because their crops required attention, and their harvest 
might be lost; others said that they could not leave their families for 
so long a time ; and amidst these various sources of delay, the animals 
strayed away, or were carried off. The whole, finally, resolved itself 
into a demand for higher wages. 
Lieutenant Emmons, though exceedingly annoyed by all these 
difficulties, showed himself fully equal to them, and by patience and 
perseverance overcame them all. Mr. Rodgers, whom I had desig¬ 
nated as the provider of the party, and in whom I was told great 
reliance could be placed, was not exactly suited to such a task, being 
connected more or less with the inhabitants of the valley, and about 
to become one of the residents ; he also was soon unable to attend to 
business on account of sickness : before the organization of the second 
party, therefore, he was discharged and paid off. At this point I shall 
leave the narrative of the operations of the over-land party, until I 
come down to the date when they again joined me at San Francisco. 
The observations and surveys in the neighbourhood of Vancouver 
being finished, we prepared for our departure. The weather during 
our stay had been delightful, and we enjoyed ourselves very much in 
the company of Dr. M’Laughlin, Mr. Douglass, and the officers of the 
Hudson Bay Company. 
I have before spoken of their attentions, but I feel that my expres¬ 
sions are few in comparison with the numerous kindnesses we all 
received. Even Billy Bruce the gardener made us his debtor, by 
sending us repeatedly some of the fine fruit and vegetables grown 
under his care. I have endeavoured to repay him, by sending him 
seeds; but the route is so long and circuitous, that it is questionable 
whether they ever arrive, and when they come to hand, if I shall 
not be classed by him with those who have sent “trash” to Van¬ 
couver, for him to waste his time and experience on, in attempting to 
cultivate. 
