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 THE NORTHWEST BOUNDARIES

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who delivered a letter written by Mr. David Thompson which is dated 8 August 28th 1811 at Yek-koy-ope Falls on the Columbia River. It informs me that this Gentleman accompanied by seven Canadians descended the Columbia River to the place where it entered the Pacific Ocean where they arrived on the 16th day of July. There they found a number of people employed in building a Fort for a company of Americans who denominated themselves as the Pacific Fur Company; he also writes that Mr. Alexander McKay and others have proceed Northward in the vessel that brought them there on a coasting trade. Mr. Thompson after having remained seven days with the American people set out on his return to his establishments which are near the source of the Columbia River." From this it would appear that Mr. Thompson hearing at his Establishment higher up the Columbia of the unexpected arrival of the Americans at the mouth of the River went down to reconnoitre their proceedings, was with them when they were erecting their Fort and then returned to his own Posts which had been established after his first visit to the Country from the East of the Mountains in 1803, herewith is sent a copy of Harmon's work and in pages 194, 196, 218, 224, 228, 237, 239, 240, 242, 245, 246, 9 will be found remarks relating to the establishments. in the service of Note: Mr. Alexander McKay has been the North-West Company for several years, was a British subject and was engaged by the Pacific Fur Company from the knowledge which he had acquired of the trade while in There were also the service of the North-West Company. Duncan McDougall, Donald McKenzie, David Stuart and several other British subjects who had all been previously in the service of the North-West Company attached to the crew and party sent out in the Tonquin and who built the American Fort on the South bank of the Columbia River. Q. When was the Name of McGillivray given to the River now bearing that name? Was its course or any considerable part of it explored by any person of that name being a subject of His Majesty in the service of the Company and was there any settlement or station formed by him or others acting with him on that River and about what time? A. In 1803 when Mr. Duncan McGillivray who died in 1807 set out on an Expedition with David Thompson from the NorthSix Indians have arrived from Eraser's Lake

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8 Ilth-koy-ape, or Kettle Falls, in the State of Washington; see "David Thomp' son's Narrative (Tyrrell) for verification of this. 9 Daniel Harmon was located at Lake Stuart in, British Columbia, many miles from the Columbia River.