Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/49



JOURNAL OF DAVID THOMPSON 41

mile, that his instruments were limited in number and in size, and were not in accurate adjustment at times, and that it was very difficult to estimate distances during the extreme high water stage of the river in July, 1811. Taking the first day's travel as an example, he records sixty-four miles between the foot of Kettle Falls and the mouth of the Sans Foil river, while Lieut. Symons found it to be eighty-eight miles, but at a much lower stage of the water. On shorter distances, such as from Tongue Point to Astoria, Mr. Thompson's distances are nearly correct. His observations of latitude are also generally correct.

As to the text of the journal, Mr. Tyrrell states that "David Thompson's manuscript is written almost without stops and without capitals except at the beginning of important nouns, so that it is often difficult to say where his sentences end." For example, the journal may read thus: Co S 30 W }/2 m S 40 W 1 m S 5 E 1-1/3 m -|- 1 m. It may be understood, therefore, that all punctuations, capitalization and signs have been added by the writer of these notes for the purpose of interpretation. It has also seemed wise to omit many of the tables giving astronomical calculations, only a part of which are inserted in the copy and the other part being unintelligible if possible to produce in print ; also to note doubtful words and expressions with brackets.

Mr. Thompson's use of the word "gone" is peculiar; for in- stance: "S. R. 1/3 gone the Spokane river falls in on the left about 60 yards wide," means that he passed the mouth of the Spokane river at one-third of the course. S. R. means "strong rapids"; V. S. C. would mean "very strong current." Fm. means "fathom" and Gartg. means "gartering," which was an article of trade. This manuscript must be the complete journal written from an original notebook, and not the note- book itself ; the text indicates this in several places.

A sketch of David Thompson's career appears in the earlier number of the Quarterly already cited, but for the sake of continuity as to his movements during the year 1811, it may be stated here that after three months' enforced encampment