TRAVELS IN OREGON, NO. 2. 453 
having fewer inducements to err ; the Indians are found 
to be less quarrelsome, and pursue the chase more con¬ 
stantly; and the settlers have been uniformly prosper¬ 
ous. A brig came there with a cargo consisting prin¬ 
cipally of rum. The Dr. negotiated and succeeded 
in buying the whole cargo, simply to prevent the use of 
the rum, and promote the temperance cause. 
Although Dr. McLaughlin is a professed Roman Cath¬ 
olic, and has a priest of the same faith daily officiating at 
the chapel, he is in an eminent degree free from sectarian 
prejudices and illiberality. Religious toleration is allowed 
in its fullest extent, and several of the American and 
other missionaries make Vancouver for the most part 
their home, where the governor kindly receives and 
entertains them, at no expense to themselves. 
All the goods imported into Oregon are divided into 
three classes ; articles of gratuity, those of trade, and 
those intended to pay for small services, labor and pro¬ 
visions. The first consists of knives and tobacco ; the se¬ 
cond of blankets, guns, cloth, powder and shot; the third 
of shirts, handkerchiefs, ribands, beads, &c. These articles 
are bartered at seemingly great profits, and many per¬ 
sons imagine that large gain must be the result from the 
Indian trade; but this is seldom the case. The Indians 
and settlers fully understand the value of each article. 
The company make advances to all their trappers, if 
they wish to be sure of their services; and from such a 
reckless set there is little certainty of getting returns, 
even if the trapper has it in his power. In fact, he will 
not return with his season’s acquisition unless he is con¬ 
strained to pursue the same course of life for another 
year, when he requires a new advance. In order to 
avoid losses by the departure of their men, the parties, 
some thirty or forty in number, are placed under the 
charge of an officer, who has charge of the whole. 
These are allowed to take their wives, and even their 
