Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/38

28 With these rather extended—and to many readers unnecessary—remarks, which are intended to avoid the use of footnotes, the document is now presented.—T. C. Elliott.

Narrative of the Expedition to the Kootanae @ Flat Bow Indian Countries, on the Sources of the Columbia River, Pacific Ocean, by D. Thompson on behalf of the N. w Company 1807.

May 10th Having built a large Canoe @ got all ready, being as well furnished with every Necessary, both for Trade @ Building as the upper Department of Fort des Prairies could supply—I sent off Mr. Finan McDonald @ 5 men in the Canoe, with orders to follow the River to the Kootenae Plain, where we would wait each other. One man with myself @ 2 half engaged Men going by Land @ taking in Charge 10 Horses belonging to the Company, carrying 300 lbs of Pemmican @ some Baggage. These Horses were for the Transportation of the merchandise &c across the Mountains, when the water Carriage should fail us. also 13 Horses belonging to the Men. On May 25 the Canoe arrived at the Kootenae Plain; the People had experienced much Danger @ Fatigue from the very strong Current; but as the water was very low, they were enabled to make use of the Line almost the whole of the way. I had picked out 2 very good new Lines at Kam @ yet they were found unequal to the rapidity of the Current, often breaking @ endangering the Men @ Property. The greatest Hardship of the People lay,in being continually wet up to the Waist, exposed to cold high winds, @ the water, coming direct from the Snows on the Mountains, was always so excessively cold as to deprive them of all feeling in their Limbs. On May 28th I sent the Canoe @ 6 Men down as far as the eastern Ridge of Mountains for the Goods we had placed there in the Winter; with which they arrived at the Kootenae Plain, all well the 2d June. On June 3d All the Horses @