TRAVELS IN OREGON, No. 2. 
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Vancouver is the head-quarters of the North-west or 
Columbia Department of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s 
territories. All the returns of furs are received here, 
and hither all accounts are transmitted for settlement. 
These operations occasion a large mass of business to be 
transacted at this establishment, which is upon an ex¬ 
tensive scale, worthy of the vast interest of which it is 
the centre. Every thing is arranged in the best order, 
and apparently with great economy. The situation is 
favorable for agricultural purposes, and it may be said 
to be the head of navigation for sea-going vessels. A 
vessel of fourteen feet draught of water may reach it in 
the lowest state of the river. It is a large manufactur¬ 
ing, agricultural and commercial depot, and there are 
few, if any idlers, except the sick. Although there is no 
obvious reason for it, every body seems to be in a hurry. 
The people of Fort Vancouver make frequent com¬ 
plaints of the quantity and quality of the food issued by 
the company to its servants. Many of the servants 
complain that they had to spend a great part of the mo¬ 
ney they received to buy food. This is £17 a year, 
out of which they have to furnish themselves with 
clothes. They are engaged for five years, and after 
their time has expired, the company are obliged to send 
them back to England or Canada if they desire it. 
