SOUTHERN OREGON. 225 



hank 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 

 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 



