364 WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 



occupied the evening in getting my usual observations for latitude and 

 time. 



Mr. Drayton desiring to stay a longer time at the falls, to procure 

 as many specimens of fish as he could, and make drawings, I deter- 

 mined to return to Vancouver without him ; which I did by the 

 following day at sunset. On the way I stopped at the boat-builders' 

 camp, v.'ho I found had made great progress in their undertaking, and 

 appeared to work with great unanimity. 



At Vancouver, I was again kindly made welcome by Dr. M'Laughlin, 

 Mr. Douglass, and the officers of the establishment. During my ab- 

 sence, Mr. Peter Ogden, chief factor of the northern district, had arrived 

 with his brigade. The fort had, in consequence, a very different ap- 

 pearance from the one it bore when I left it. I was exceedingly amused 

 with the voyageurs of the brigade, who were to be seen lounging about 

 in groups, decked in gay feathers, ribands, &c, full of conceit, and 

 with the flaunting air of those who consider themselves the beau-ideal 

 of grace and beauty; full of frolic and fun, and seeming to have 

 nothing to do but to attend to the decorations of their persons and seek 

 for pleasure ; looking down with contempt upon those who are em- 

 ployed about the fort, whose sombre cast of countenance and business 

 employments form a strong contrast to these jovial fellows. 



Mr. Ogden has been thirty-two years in this country, and conse- 

 quently possesses much information respecting it ; having travelled 

 nearly all over it. He resides at Fort St. James, on Stuart's Lake, 

 and has six posts under his care. 



The northern section of the country he represents as not susceptible 

 of cultivation, on account of the proximity of the snowy mountains, 

 which cause sudden changes, even in the heat of summer, that, would 

 destroy the crops. 



His posts are amply supplied with salmon from the neighbouring 

 waters, that empty themselves into the sounds on the coast. These 

 fish are dried, and form the greatest part of the food of those employed 

 by the Company during the whole year. Their small-stores of flour, 

 &c, are all carried from Colville and Vancouver. Furs are very 

 plenty in the northern region, and are purchased at low prices from 

 the Indians : his return, this year, was valued at one hundred thousand 

 dollars, and this, he informed me, was much less than the usual amount. 



On the other hand, the southern section of this country, I was here 

 informed, was scarcely worth the expense of an outlay for a party of 

 trappers. 



This southern country, as will be seen from what has been already 

 stated, is very well adapted to the raising of cattle and sheep : of the 



