SOUTHERN OREGON. 
225 
bank of the river opposite the fort, until between eight and nine o’clock. 
On the opposite side they perceived a fire, with some figures passing 
to and fro. By firing guns, and employing the stentorian voice of their 
guide, it was made known that our party was in want of two canoes 
t to cross the river. The person in charge of the fort, Mr. Gangriere, 
had suffered much alarm, until he recognised the voice of Boileau, 
their guide, which had served to quiet him, and he at once directed 
the canoes to cross over; while these were sought for, the horses were 
hobbled, and the accoutrements made up, ready for transportation. 
Fort Umpqua was, like all those built in this country, enclosed by a 
tall line of pickets, with bastions at diagonal corners ; it is about two 
hundred feet square, and is situated more than one hundred and fifty 
yards from the river, upon an extensive plain; it is garrisoned by five 
men, two women, and nine dogs, and contains a dwelling for the 
superintendent, as well as store-houses, and some smaller buildings for 
the officers and servants’ apartments. 
At the time of the visit, an unusual number of Indians of the Umpqua 
tribe had collected around; and Mr. Gangriere said, had shown a 
strong disposition to attack and burn the fort. He stated that hostility 
to the Company and the whites generally, arose from the losses they 
had met with from the small-pox, which they said had been introduced 
among them by the Company’s parties under Michel and M’Kay; and 
their anger was much increased by his refusal to supply them with 
ammunition. So critical did he consider the state of affairs, that he 
was about to despatch a messenger to Vancouver, to inform Dr. 
M’Laughlin of his situation ; he had not ventured to leave the fort for 
many days. 
Mr. Gangriere, besides entertaining Messrs. Emmons and Agate 
with tea, &c., gave them an account of the dangers they had to pass 
through. He informed them that he had long before heard of the 
intended journey, through the Indians, and that the news had passed 
on to all the tribes, who were collecting in vast numbers to oppose 
their passage, having sworn vengeance against all the whites, or those 
connected with them. He also stated that within a short time they 
had murdered two half-breeds who had been living peaceably among 
them, but who had been formerly employed by the Hudson Bay 
Company. By way of making his story more credible, he said that 
the Shaste Indians had sent him word that they were lying in wait for 
the whites when they should come. Large numbers of the Umpquas, 
according to him, had assembled at the usual crossing, to arrest the 
progress of the'party, and he advised Lieutenant Emmons to cross the 
vol. v. 29 
