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. 



