Page:A History of the Pacific Northwest.djvu/47



24 -^ History of the Pacific Northwest

Vancouver's map represents Bronghton's survey but retains Gray's name for the river.

Vancouver's map was published in 1798. Three years later appeared Mackenzie's map of the w^estern parts of North America, which was constructed by combining with Vancouver's map certain features which Mackenzie himself had discovered, or supposed he had discovered. The result, so far as the Columbia is concerned, is very striking.

Rivalry of the Northwest and Hudson Bay Companies. Alexander Mackenzie was a partner of the Northwest Company, the Montreal concern which as early as 1784-5 projected an exploring expedition having the Pacific Ocean as its objective. This company was a bitter rival of the old chartered Hudson Bay Company, and it was seeking ways of hedging that company about. Arthur Dobbs, in 1744, complained of the Hudson Bay Company's want of exploring or even trading enterprise; that they merely allowed certain tribes of the natives to come down the rivers to their forts to trade but did not deign to go among them or send agents to develop commerce with tribes not yet reached. Later, however, the company became more active and the great journey of Samuel Hearne to Coppermine River, 1769-72, had added enormously to their trading field in the far Northwest.

Exploration of Mackenzie River, 1789. But the Northwest Company had an establishment called Fort Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca, which was favourably located with reference to explorations either to the