Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/404

 374 Peter Skene Ogden Journal, 1827-1828 hope one horse can escape, though covered with robes each night. It will be difficult to reach Nez Perce's without them. The distance from this place to Burnt River is 400 miles, with the exception of 80 the navigation is good and with time we could pack our property over this distance. Saturday 16th. The 2 Americans arrived this afternoon accompanied by one of their traders 1 and 2 men they met on Portneuf River near the source. They report a fight with the Blackfeet and old Pierre the Iroquois who deserted from me 4 yrs. ago was killed and cut in pieces. Pierre owes a debt to the company but as we have a mortgage on his property in Canada we shall recover. Their traders from St. Louis did not arrive last tall owing to the severe weather in Salt Lake region. All except the freemen of the Flat Heads reached the depot safely. The loss in horses by Blackfeet has been 60. It was a novel sight in this part of the world to see a party arrive with dogs and sleds; for seldom are 2 in. of snow to be found here. They informed me His Royal Highness the Duke of York was dead, and ofi course the old story that we shall soon be obliged to leave the Columbia. At all events tho' they have later news than I have, the treaty 2 does not expire before November. Then we shall know what to expect. Monday 18th. By the arrival of the Americans we have a new stock of cards in camp, eight packs. Some of the American trappers have already lost upwards of $400 equal to 200 beavers, or to the Americans 800 beavers. Old Goddin who left me in the fall is in a fair way of going to St. Louis having sold his 8 horses and 10 traps for $1500. He has his fall and spring hunt equal to 600 more wh. makes him an independent man. In the H. _l>. service with the strictest economy barring acci- dents in the course of 10 years he might collect that sum. Is 1 Robert Campbell; see entry of Feb. 19th infra and Hist, of Amer. Fur Trade, p. 260. 2The treaty of Joint Occupation between England and the U. S. agreed to in November, 18 18. Mr. Ogden did not know that it had already been renewed.