Thursday 23rd. Continued. Captain Morice of the Harpooner also up and the party remained till a late hour.

Friday 24th. Smoky. Rode* to Steilacoom this morning in company with Major Hathaway, and Captain Hill in order that they might judge for themselves as to whether Steilacoom, or Sequallitchew95 would form the best winter quarters for the troops. Steilacoom received the preference on account of the number of buildings already erected there. On our return, Major Hathaway accompanied by Mr. Lattie went on board the Harpooner, and in the afternoon she dropped down towards Steilacoom. Snietlam the Scadjet chief engaged to convoy Major Hathaway on his exploring trip, the party to start from on board the Harpooner tomorrow morning. Mr. Thornton's account arranged, preparatory to his starting for Cowlitz tomorrow morning. Captain Morice of the Harpooner accompanied Mr. Thornton, he being accused of having smuggled goods and sold liquor to Indians, while in the Columbia River.

Saturday 25th. Smokey. Mr. Thornton signed an account today of 421 dollars 26 cents for Indian Presents and one of 20 Dollars for Traveling Expenses, both against Govr. Lane, as Indian Agent. I afterwards signed both accounts as correct, and forwarded them by Mr. Thornton under cover to Mr. C. Factor Ogden." Messrs. Thornton and Morice started in the afternoon. Mr. Tod and I97 rode out to Steilacoom to see how the Officers were getting on and whether they required any assistance.

96

Sunday 26th. Smokey. Had a visit from Mr. Wright chief officer of the Harpooner. In the forenoon arrived from Victoria Mr. R. Finlayson accompanied by Mr. Mowatt chief officer of the "Mary Dare" and Mr. Joseph Mackay"s of Victoria with some engaged men and a number of Indians all in persuit of 8 seamen and one Canadian (Champagne) runaways from the Steamer Beaver and Mary Dare. [Page 33.] Mr. Finlayson and companions started in the afternoon with fresh crews of Indians for Newmarket. Mr. Ross who had just arrived, returning thither on horseback accompanied by Mr. Mowatt.

94 Dr. Tolmie.

95 The Military believed that the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Agricultural Companies would shortly remove and the site be given over to the army. The small buildings used by the Company at Mr. Heath's hardly warranted the expense in fixing over, and most of the quarters were built outright in the course of a few days. In the exploration tour down the Sound the site held most in favor was Dungeness, where Major Hathaway thought a fort might be built which would serve the Americans as Fort Victoria served the British.

96 Chief Factor Peter Skene Ogden, now at Fort Vancouver.

97 Dr. Tolmie.

99 Chief Factor Joseph William McKay, recently of Fort Simpson, soon to become famous because of his discovery of coal at Nanaimo.

Monday 27th. Still Smokey. News was sent from Mr. John Ross that four men supposed to be white men were seen prowling about his place. Mr. Finlayson, accompanied by Messrs. Mowatt & Mackay & myself99 started off on horseback in search, but with no better success than before.

Wednesday 29th. Still Smoky, caused by a large fire in the wood between Steilacoom and Kitson's 100 Island. Mr. Finlayson & party left for Victoria. Cowie & gang employed about new slaughter house, Slocum at the head of Indians gleaning wheat fields two horses carting in oats & wheat.

Thursday 30th. Work as yesterday. News having heard of the runaways being at Steilacoom Dr. Tolmie accompanied by Mr. Tod started off in a canoe with a crew of Indians to see them, and try by reasoning to persuade them to return to their duty, the Doctor returned later, saw some trace of them, but no men. Major Hathaway & Mr. Lattie returned from their trip down the sound not much satisfied as to capability of finding a fitting site for a dock yard or a town.101 [Page 34.]

Friday 31st. Smoke not so dense, finished gleaning. Cowie & his gang employed as before.

September, 1849

Saturday 1st. Mornings very cool, frosty rather in the evenings on the potatoes & vegetables. All the grain safely housed. Harvesting gang after sweeping off the fort were paid off. News of the Snoqualmies coming and making a settlement with the Bostons" 102 for the affair of the 1st May last.

Sunday 2nd. Weather as yesterday, some Snowqualmies (Hatikynum) arrived they say that Patykynum & his gang will be here in a day or two.

Monday 3rd. Cowie, Slocum, & the others repairing flooring of new barn. Lowe & Beinston killed an ox for beef for the Soldiers. A large gang of Sinahomish traded a quantity of mats, Salmon &c. Patynum arrived with his gang, Sending 80 3pt Blankets to Steilacoom to used as circumstances may require, at the time of the settlement for the Snoqualmie affair.

Tuesday 4th. Fine. Smoke pretty near cleared off. Cowie, Keave &

99 Mr. Walter Ross.

100 Ketron Island.

101 See ante, note 95.

103 Boston, a Chinook Jargon term applied to Americans because Americans first came from Boston. The English were called in the same tongue King George men.

Slocum sick off duty, with severe colds, Kalama & Squally planeing boards for lining Mr. Forrests room. A good trade done with the Snowqualmies in the way of Salmon, Baskets & a few skins. [Page 35.] Wednesday 5th. Fine. Kalama & Keave lining Mr. Forrests room. All our engaged Indians off to Steilacoom to be present at the making up of the business with the Snowqualmies, which came off today. Dr. Tolmie & Mr. Todd present, it ended in 6 of the worst being seized and confined, the names of 6 are "Whyeek" "Qullawout" "Copass" "Tahawai" "Tatam & [ 103 all of the Snowqualmich. 80 Blankets were

paid out to the different chiefs of the tribe.

Kalama & Kiave

Thursday 6th. Weather still continues smoky. employed as yesterday. Beinston, Steilacoom, Bill and 1 or 2 others thrashing wheat with flails. Kahannui sent out to Steilacoom with a gang of Indians to cut the wheat there. Cowlitz Jack who accompanied Major Hathaway returned from Cowlitz. He reports of having seen the Victoria runaways at the "Skokoom Chuck104 on their way to Cowlitz, they were provided with horses.

Friday 7th. Sultry. Kalama & Kiave and David repairing a broken horse cart, the rest as before.

Saturday 8th. Cloudy most part of the day. Work much as before. Beinston cleaned his two days thrashing. Eight bushels. [Page 36.] Sunday 9th. Cloudy & Cool. Morice of the Harpooner returned from Willamette.

Monday 10th. Fine, but still smoky. Kiave & Kalama repairing horse carts. Cowie and Gohome splitting Shingles. Commenced taking up potatoes, of which we will have but a poor crop this year.

Tuesday 11th. Fine. C. Jack with the Indian women taking up potatoes at Tyrrells lake, which turns out pretty well. Lowe sent with the beef cart to Steilacoom. Kiave & Kalama also sent there to assist Lahannui to cut the wheat; Capt. Morice gave in 11 thousand dollars for different debts.

Wednesday 12th. Cloudy, latter part of the day light drops of rain. Cowie Gohome, and Steilacoom splitting Shingles for new house. Beinston again installed in kitchen in place of Cooper who removed to Cow

103 In the official account of the trial the Indians mentioned are: Kassas, Quallawort, Stulharrier, Tattau, Wyesk and Quatthlinkyne. See Sen. Doc., 31 Cong., 2nd Ses., Doc. 1, E, Serial No. 587.

104 The Skookumchuck, a tributary of the Chehalis at Centralia, from the Chinook Jargon words "skookum, big, wild or rough, and "chuck" water. Compare Pilchuck "red water" and Saltchuck "Puget Sound."

litz.

coom.

A large number of Snowqualmies said to have arrived at Steila

Thursday 13th. Rainy all the day. Steilacoom, Squally, Neopalu & Lowe thrashing oats with flails. Cowie & Gohome planeing boards preparatory to lining Mr. Todds rooms. Snowqualmies made a good trade in Dry Salmon, Baskets, & Mats. They are going to camp at Steilacoom till it is understood what is to be done with the Indian prisioners. [Page 37.]

Friday 14 Fair, but cloudy. Jack and his gang taking up potatoes at Mallard Hollow which turns well, potatoes pretty numerous & large. The other hands employed as yesterday. 80 bus White. M. Hollow. Saturday 15th. Weather fair & clear of smoke. Work as before. The three Kanakas returned from Steilacoom.

Sunday 16th. Cloudy but fair. Thlekatats 105 arrived at Steilacoom. Monday 17th. Cloudy. Cowie, Keave, Kalama and three Indians setting up slaughter house. Kahannui sent off to Steilacoom with 5 or 6 Indians to bind the wheat. Mr. Tallmadge106 the Quartermaster consented to take it as oats for fodder. C. Jack and his gang taking up potatoes in garden, which are of a superior kind & plentifull. Tolmie accompanied by Mr. Todd visited Newmarket. Tuesday 18th. Fine & clear. Work as before. Potat quality of S. potatoes taken up in garden are 70 bush. large & 15 bush. Small, exclusive of what used for mess. Dr. Tolmie returned accompanied by

Mr. Chambers.

Dr.

108 Klikitat, a Shahaptian tribe living on the headwaters of the Cowlitz, Lewis, White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers.

100 Grier Tallmadge, acting assistant quartermaster at Steilacoom.

[To be continued]

The North West Company. By GORDON CHARLES DAVIDSON, Ph. D. (Berkeley: University of California Press. 1918. Pp. 349.)

This is the most important book, so far as the Pacific Northwest is concerned, yet published by the University of California Press. In giving expression to his grateful acknowledgements, the author includes the Order of the Native Sons of the Golden West, "whose generosity made possible his year of study in England." The book shows that he made good use of that year, and now the rest of us must also be grateful to those generous Native Sons. The editors of the series, in which this volume is VII., Professors H. Morse Stephens and Herbert E. Bolton, add a note to the effect that while the book was in press Dr. Davidson was in service as a lieutenant in the First Canadian Mounted Rifles, saying: "This absolves him from responsibility for any shortcomings of editorial supervision which the book may show."

The author says: "A complete history of the North West Company is lacking. Chapters concerning its activities have appeared in books dealing with the Hudson's Bay Company and in similar publications. Interest has been evinced chiefly in connection with the work of a few explorers like Alexander Mackenzie, with the Astoria incident, and, above all, with the events arising from the settlement commenced by Lord Selkirk on the Red River in territory which now forms part of the province of Manitoba." He hopes his book will help on the study. "But the final word," says he, "will not be said until the business papers of the company come to light, providing they are still in existence." He was unable to find those papers. He thinks there may be some of those papers in the archives of the Hudson's Bay Company in London, but he "was unable to obtain permission to enter those preserves."

The North West Company was organized in the winter of 17831784, and was merged with the older Hudson's Bay Company in 1821. In those years it reached northward to the Arctic and westward to the Pacific. Its fur hunters and traders were alert, aggressive and successful. Its geographers and officers were courageous and efficient.

Careless writers have frequently referred to the work of these men as if they were of the Hudson's Bay Company. One reason for this is the fact that the missionaries and first settlers came subsequent to 1821, and after the name of the North West Company had been