Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/194

 186 DOCUMENT ',''. The farm at Vancouver contains, at this time, about 3,000 acres of land, fenced and under cultivation, employing gener- ally 100 men chiefly Canadians and half-breed Iroquois; the mechanics are Europeans. These, with the factors, traders, clerks, and domestics, may be estimated at thirty. The laborers and mechanics live outside the fort in good log cabins two or three families generally under one roof; and as nearly every man has a wife, or lives with an Indian or half-breed woman, and as each family has from two to five slaves, the whole num- ber of persons about Vancouver may be estimated at 750 to 800 souls. The police of the establishment is as strict as in the best regulated military garrison. The men are engaged for the term of five years, at the rate of 17 to 15 per annum; but, as the exchange is reduced to currency at the rate of five shillings to the dollar, the pound sterling is valued at $4; hence, the price of labor is $5 66J to $6 66| per month. The ration consists of eight gallons of potatoes and eight salt salmon a week per man, in winter, and peas and tallow in summer ; no bread or meat allowed by the company at any time. Out of this ration, each man has to support himself and family, or make his Indian slaves hunt and fish for their support. The farm at Vancouver has produced this year, 8,000 bushels of wheat, 5,500 bushels of barley, 6,000 bushels of oats, 9,000 bushels of peas, 14,000 bushels of potatoes, besides large quantities of turnips, (rutabaga,) pumpkins, &c. About 6,000 bushels of wheat, of the old crop, remain on hand this year. Stock consists of about 1,000 head of neat cattle, 700 hogs, 200 sheep, 450 to 500 horses, and 40 yoke of working oxen. There is a large threshing machine, distillery, (not at present in operation,) and a grist-mill. In short, the farm is abundant- ly supplied with all the requisite utensils for a much larger establishment ; and it will be much increased the ensuing year. A thriving orchard is also planted ; the apple, quince, pears, and the grape grow well. Trades, &c. A large ship arrives annually from London, and discharges at Vancouver; cargo, chiefly coarse woollens, cloths, baizes, and blankets ; hardware, cutlery, calicoes, cottons ;