Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/397

 Peter Skene Ogden Journal, 1827-1828 367 the same severe weather exists he will have to remain quiet till April and so lose the hunt. The hunters killed 12 buffalo, the greater part of the meat being left for the wolves and starving Snakes. The Snake camp 12 miles off laying up buffalo meat. Have never seen buffalo so numerous. Thursday 20 Dec. At mid-day 2 Americans of a party of 7 arrived and in- formed me two days since they separated from Mr. McKay and party in Day's Defile with perhaps 500 beaver. He can- not cross the mts. owing to the snow and the weak state of his horses. These Americans traded 49 horses from the Nez Perces at an extravagant rate averaging $50. They lost 19 crossing the plains from Day's Defile. They were obliged to eat 6. The Americans had 10 stolen by the Snakes ; one Ameri- can remained with Mr. McKay. They had commenced trap- ping Sandwich Island River when Mr. McKay joined them. Friday 21st. The Americans left to join the camp at Blackfoot Hill. Monday 24 Dec. Snow again last night. At an early hour, we were in motion ascending Snake River 2 miles and camped. The American party of 6 joined us, their leader a man named Tulloch 1 a decent fellow. He informed me his company would readily enter into an agreement regarding deserters. He informed me the conduct of Gardner's at our meeting 4 yrs. 2 since has not been approved. Tulloch speaks highly of the treatment he received from McKay. I shd. certainly be shocked if any man of principle approved of such conduct as Gardner's. Tuesday 25 Dec. Arrival of one of our men from Sickly River relieves me of anxiety. He reports they have 100 beavers and are not far. Our total number of beaver exceeds my expectations. 1 Samuel Tulloch; mentioned by Chittenden, but little known of him. 2Refers to expedition of 1824-5, concerning which see Or. Hist. Quar. for December, 1909; the Mr. Gardner may have been Johnson Gardner, who is men- tioned by Chittenden.