Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/353

 THE NORTHWEST BOUNDARIES

335

the Northern or Southern portion of that district principally? A. The Trade of the Columbia district is yet in its infancy and the countries to the Northward and Southward produce about an equal quantity of Furs amounting together in value to between 30 and 40,000 pr. annum.

Q. 5. Have the Americans any Post or trapping parties on the Columbia or to the West of the Rocky Mountains in that direction

?

The Americans have not had a Post on the West side of the Rocky Mountains since the year 1813, and I am not aware that they ever had any Trapping parties on the West side of the Mountains until last year when the Hudson's Bay ComA.

pany's Snake Country Expedition fell in with five Americans who had straggled across the sources of the Missouri. 2 Q. 6. Is the Country Northward of the Columbia favour-

Land and Water communication? The Country to the Northward of the Columbia

able for

A.

is not favourable for water communication with the Coast on account of the impetuosity of the current at particular Seasons in the different rivers and frequent chains of rapids and dangerous falls, and the Communication with the Coast by Land is quite impracticable on account of the mountainous character of the Country which is covered with almost impenetrable forests. Q. 7. For what extent of Country does the Columbia River furnish an outlet for Trade? Specify this exactly and according to the latest and most accurate accounts? A. The Columbia is the only navigable river to the interior from the Coast we are acquainted with, it is therefore the only certain outlet for the Company's Trade west of the Mountains 3 comprehending that of thirteen Establishments now occupied

Vancouver.

1.

Ft.

2.

Nez

3.

Okanagan.

4.

Colville

5.

6.

Perce.

House

Flat Head Kootenais.

7.

Kilmany.

8.

Eraser's Lake.

9.

Ft. St.

McLeod's Fort.

11.

Chilcotin Fort. Thompson's Fort.

12.

13.

James.

10.

Alexandria Fort

Q. 8. What time is required for communication between Hudson's Bay (York Fort) and Fort Vancouver? A. I was last year occupied 84 days traveling from York These were Jedediah Smith and others. See Or. Hist. Quar., Vol. Also see The Ashley-Smith Explorations (Dale), page 97. Note 17 at page 33, Vol. 20, Or. Hist. Quar. See 3

a 385.

14,

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