COLUMBIA RIVER. 



137 



power. He is notwithstanding extremely unpopular among all classes 

 of our countrymen, but for what reason it is difficult to conceive. 



Dr. M'Laughlin obligingly favoured me with the heights of the 

 stopping-places, or encampments, on the route that is usually taken by 

 their parties crossing the Rocky Mountains : the results were obtained 

 by the boiling point of water. The journey was made during the 

 months of August, September, and October, 1839. 



WATER BOILS. HEIGHT DEDUCED. 



August 29th, 



at 



Edmonton, 



September 22d, 



" 



Jasper's House, 



29th, 



11 



Camp d'Origal, 



30th, 



" 



Camp de Fusil, 



tt tt 



tt 



Punchbowl, 



tt tt 



" 



Head of Grand Cote, 



October 1st, 



" 



Bottom of Grand Cote, 



" 3d, 



" 



Boat Encampment, 



" 8th, 



tt 



Colville, 



" 14th, 



tt 



Wallawalla, 



207° 



2566 feet 



204-5 



3867 



203-5 



4391 



201 



5716 



198 



7324 



202 



5188 



204 



4131 



205 



3607 



208 



2049 



209-5 



1286 



This may be considered as a near approximation to the true height, 

 and at several of the places where the barometer has been also used, 

 there is a very close coincidence in the results. 



The instrument used for the experiment was one of Newman's make, 

 and exceedingly convenient for such purposes, offering great facility in 

 use, without the danger of accident from its size. 



The trade and operations of the Hudson Bay Company are exten- 

 sive, and the expense with which they are attended is very great. 

 I am inclined to think that it is hardly possible for any one to form an 

 exact estimate of the amount of profit they derive from their business 

 on the west side of the mountains. The stock of the Company cer- 

 tainly pays a large dividend ; and it is asserted that in addition a very 

 considerable surplus has been accumulated to meet any emergency ; 

 yet it may be questioned whether their trade in the Oregon Territory 

 yields any profit, although it is now conducted at much less cost than 

 formerly. This diminution of cost arises from the fact that a great 

 part of the provisions are now raised in the country by the labour of 

 their own servants. 



The Puget Sound Company, although it has been in operation for 

 several years, has made no dividends. The accumulation of their 

 live-stock may, however, be considered as an equivalent for moneyed 

 profits. In the event, however, of the country becoming the abode of 

 a civilized community, the farms and other land possessed by this 

 Company must become very valuable, as the posts occupy all the 

 points most favourably situated for trade, and the agricultural esta- 



VOL. V. M2 18 



