Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/191



LAST PHASE OF OREGON BOUNDARY 181

might be taken unless they had taken out a mining license costing five dollars per month; two dollars head-money must be paid to the Company for each passenger ; all vessels should be owned and commanded by British subjects. The require- ment as to nationality was a dead letter; it was probably in- cluded so that it might be used if it should serve the purpose of the Company to enforce it. The provision requiring all passengers to have a mining license was particularly irksome, as many used the boats who did not intend to mine. In addi- tion to these charges the Port Collector took twelve dollars a trip for the necessary sufferance. Evasion was not easy, for a ship under command of a lieutenant of the British navy was stationed at the mouth of the river to enforce pay- ment. No distinction was made here between "Company" and government taxes.

"If the passengers were so unfortunate as not to have means to pay mining license, head-money, and sufferance tax, their watches, pistols, knives, or other personal ef- fects were held in pledge for payment. In the absence of such personal effects, bags of flour, beans and coffee, hams, and other provisions were retained, and I have been assured that the deck of the brig was covered with those articles." 11

It is pleasant to note that the disagreeable duty was not carried out in a harsh spirit. Mr. Nugent tells us:

"It is but just to add that the officers immediately charged with the performance of this unpleasant service acted with all gentleness and humanity compatible with their orders, and that they endeavored, by every means in their power, to mitigate the rigor of these amerce- ments."

There remained another impost ; to license fee. head-tax, and sufferance tax was added an import duty of ten per cent. Did this go to the government or to the Company? In answer- ing this question it must be remembered that there was no organized government of the mainland of British North Amer- ica other than that exercised by the Company as an incidental accompaniment of its trading operations. As the Company