Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/421

 Peter Skene Ogden Journal. 1828-1829 391 Monday 5th Jan. Truly glad to see the lost women with all the property. She blames herself for having gone astray. Day after she lost our tracks she fell in with 2 Indians who behaved most kindly towards her, defended her property from other Indians who attempted to molest her and rendered her every assistance. It is strange there should be beaver here as the Americans have been in this country for 4 years. I cannot ascertain if this stream 1 discharges in Salt Lake or in Bear River. 14 beaver. I omitted to assert that I sent 10 Indians to Snake River with a letter addressed to Mr. C. Grant intimat- ing I could not form a union with him owing to the low state of my horses recommending him to the South Branch, 2 send- ing this letter by a Snake Chief, but they inform me there are no traders in that quarter. So I suppose the York Factory 3 Snake expedition has been retarded; and the accounts they give of the Americans corresponds with the traders here — ■ they had all gone towards the Flat Head Country probably to the Blackfeet; no buffalo in the Snake River; but Blackfeet numerous. Monday 12th. A stormy night. Crossed over the height of land and camp- ed on the forks of Portneuf River. We must cross to the waters of Bear's River and if there be no Americans I expect to find buffalo. On the lower part of this river, the Snake camp is starving. Thursday 15th. We have commenced our 2nd thousand of beaver. I do not despair of completing 2 more before reaching Nez Perces. From Payette's party no accounts have come. Tuesday 17 Jan. The cold has not moderated for a month but on the increase : a sick man still complaining. I have given him all the purges 1 Probably the Malade river in Northern Utah. 2That is, Snake river. 3 See entry of Dec. 14th, 1827, in next previous journal.