Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/90

 74 Charles Henry Carey Fri. 24. This morning our Captain is making a stir to start up the river, but soon a canoe is seen coming toward us ; he is persuaded to wait until its arrival. To our great joy it proves to be Mr Birnie. He informed our Captain of the unfavorable state of the tide and, consequently, we wait a while. As the land is near us, the Captain has some of his men take a boat and take himself and Mr Birnie, Mrs Gary and myself on shore. Here we spend an hour or two and here we are walking on land in Oregon. Vegetation is in a very flourishing state, everything indicates a very strong soil. We return to our vessel and in a favorable state of the tide make an effort to go up the river. Fort Vancouver is about one hundred miles up the river. For vessels to pass up the river it is necessary to move in low tide, then if she strikes the bars, when the tide rises she will float. We spent the day in trying to get up the river and with all care and toil and until twilight. We passed perhaps eight miles. Being about two miles below Fort George, our Captain went home with Mr Birnie. Sat. 25. Our mate and men, being desirous to show their competency easily hoisted anchor and before the arrival of the Captain and Mr Birnie, spread their sail and made an effort to go up the river ; and very soon we are snugly on a sand bar. The Captain and Mr Birnie came and finding the vessel so fast on the bar, our cannon is again fired as a signal to a vessel at anchor at Fort George, for aid. Captain Scarborough 4 and five of his men come to our aid. About ten A. M. our vessel is afloat again. The Captain and his men remain with us all day and we ascend the river perhaps two miles, so we are near Fort George. Last night Mrs Roberts was very sick. She suffered very much during the night. We had some fear as to the results. She is some better today although the noise and tumult about our vessel is
 * Capt. James Scarborough, of the Hudson's Bay Company's vessel,