Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/279

 Peter Skene Ogden, Fur Trader. 257 it bore when I left it. I was exceedingly amused with the voyageurs of the brigade, who were to be seen lounging about in groups, decked in gay feathers, ribands, &c, full of conceit, and with the flaunting air of those who consider them- selves the beau-ideal of grace and beauty ; full of frolic and fun, and seeming to have nothing to do but to attend to the decorations of their persons and seek for pleasure; looking down with contempt upon/ those who are employed about the fort, whose sombre cast of countenance and business em- ployments form a strong contrast to these jovial fellows. "Mr. Ogden has been thirty-two (twenty-three) years in this country, and consequently possesses much information re- specting it; having travelled nearly all over it. He resides at Fort St. James, on Stuart's Lake, and has six posts under his care. "The northern section of the country he represents as not susceptible of cultivation, on account of the proximity of the snowy mountains, which cause sudden changes, even in the heat of summer, that would destroy the crops. "His posts are amply supplied with salmon from the neigh- boring waters, that empty themselves into the sounds on the coast. These fish are dried, and form the greatest part of the food of those employed by the Company during the whole year. Their small-stores of flour, &c, are all carried from Colville and Vancouver. Furs are very plenty in the northern region, and are purchased at low prices from the Indians : his return, this year was valued at one hundred thousand dollars, and this, he informed me, was much less than the usual amount. * * * "The day before I left the fort, Mr. Ogden informed me that he had made arrangements to take me as far as the Cowlitz Farm in his boat, on my way to Nisqually, and desired that I would allow Mr. Drayton to accompany him up the river as far as Wallawalla. To both of these arrangements I readily assented. "About ten o'clock, we were all summoned to the great din- ing-hall by Dr. M'Laughlin, to take the parting cup customary in this country. When all were assembled, wine was poured out, and we drank to each other's welfare, prosperity, &c. This was truly a cup of good-fellowship and kind feeling. This hanging to old Scotch customs in the way it was done here is pleasant, and carries with it pleasing recollections, especially when there is that warmth of feeling with it, that