Astoria; Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains

Arrival of the Brig Pedler at Astoria.--Breaking Up of the Establishment.--Departure of Several of the Company.-- Tragical Story Told by the Squaw of Pierre Dorion.--Fate of Ree...

Opposition of the Missouri Fur Company.-Blackfeet Indians.-- Pierre Dorion, a Half-Breed Interpreter.--Old Dorion and His Hybrid Progeny--Family Quarrels.--Cross Purposes Betwee...

Route of Mr. Stuart--Dreary Wilds.--Thirsty Travelling.-A Grove and Streamlet.--The Blue Mountains.--A Fertile Plain With Rivulets.--Sulphur Spring--Route Along Snake River-- Ru...

Return of Spring.--Appearance of Snakes.--Great Flights of Wild Pigeons.--Renewal of the Voyage.--Night Encampments.-- Platte River.--Ceremonials on Passing It.--Signs of Indian...

Owyhee.--Sandwich Islanders--Their Nautical Talents.-- Tamaahmaah.--His Navy.--His Negotiations.--Views of Mr. Astor With Respect to the Sandwich Islands--Karakakooa.-- Royal Mo...

Fur Trade in the Pacific--American Coasting Voyages--Russian Enterprises.--Discovery of the Columbia River.--Carver’s Project to Found a Settlement There.--Mackenzie’s Expeditio...

Objects of American Enterprise.--Gold Hunting and Fur Trading.--Their Effect on Colonization.--Early French Canadian Settlers.--Ottawa and Huron Hunters.--An Indian Trading Camp...

Departure of Mr. Hunt in the Beaver--Precautions at the Factory.-Detachment to the Wollamut.--Gloomy Apprehensions.-- Arrival of M’Kenzie.--Affairs at the Shahaptan.--News of Wa...

Sailing of the Tonquin.--A Rigid Commander and a Reckless Crew.--Landsmen on Shipboard.--Fresh-Water Sailors at Sea.-- Lubber Nests.--Ship Fare.--A Labrador Veteran--Literary Cl...

Determination of the Party to Proceed on Foot.--Dreary Deserts Between Snake River and the Columbia.--Distribution of Effects Preparatory to a March--Division of the Party.-- Ru...

Departure From Snake River--Mountains to the North.--Wayworn Travellers--An Increase of the Dorion Family.--A Camp of Shoshonies.--A New-Year Festival Among the Snakes.--A Wintr...

Spring Arrangements at Astoria.--Various Expeditions Set Out.-The Long Narrows.--Pilfering Indians.--Thievish Tribe at Wish-ram.--Portage at the Falls--Portage by Moonlight.-- A...

Disquieting Rumors From the Interior.--Reconnoitring Party-- Preparations for a Trading Post.--An Unexpected Arrival--A Spy in the Camp.--Expedition Into the Interior--Shores of...

An Indian Horse Fair.--Love of the Indians for Horses-- Scenes in the Arickara Village.--Indian Hospitality.--Duties of Indian Women. Game Habits of the Men.--Their Indolence. -...

THE sailing of the Tonquin, and the departure of Mr. David Stuart and his detachment, had produced a striking effect on affairs at Astoria. The natives who had swarmed about the...

Camp Gossip.--Deserters.--Recruits.--Kentucky Hunters.--A Veteran Woodman.--Tidings of Mr. Henry.-Danger From the Blackfeet.--Alteration of Plans.--Scenery of the River.-- Buffa...

Features of the Wilderness--Herds of Buffalo.--Antelopes-- Their Varieties and Habits.--John Day.--His Hunting Strategy--Interview with Three Arickaras--Negotiations Between the...

Rumors of Danger From the Sioux Tetons.--Ruthless Character of Those Savages.--Pirates of the Missouri.--Their Affair with Crooks and M’Lellan.--A Trading Expedition Broken Up.-...

Ben Jones and a Grizzly Bear.--Rocky Heights--Mountain Torrents.--Traces of M’Lellan.--Volcanic Remains--Mineral Earths.--Peculiar Clay for Pottery.--Dismal Plight of M’Lellan.-...

Expedition by Land.--Wilson P. Hunt.--His Character.--Donald M’Kenzie.--Recruiting Service Among the Voyageurs.--A Bark Canoe.--Chapel of St. Anne.-Votive Offerings.--Pious Caro...

Voyage of the Beaver to New Archangel.--A Russian Governor.-- Roystering Rule.--The Tyranny of the Table--Hard Drinking Bargainings.--Voyage to Kamtschatka.--Seal Catching Estab...

Wintry Storms.--A Halt and Council.--Cantonment for the Winter.--Fine Hunting Country.--Game of the Mountains and Plains.-Successful Hunting--Mr. Crooks and a Grizzly Bear.-- Th...

The Great Bend of the Missouri--Crooks and M’Lellan Meet With Two of Their Indian Opponents--Wanton Outrage of a White Man the Cause of Indian Hostility--Dangers and Precautions...

Travellers Unhorsed--Pedestrian Preparations--Prying Spies. --Bonfires of Baggage--A March on Foot.--Rafting a River--The Wounded Elk.--Indian Trails.--Willful Conduct of Mr. M’...

The Snake River Deserts.--Scanty Fare.--Bewildered Travellers--Prowling Indians--A Giant Crow Chief.--A Bully Rebuked--Indian Signals.--Smoke on the Mountains.--Mad River.--An A...

Departure From the Sandwich Islands.--Misunderstandings-- Miseries of a Suspicious Man.--Arrival at the Columbia-- Dangerous Service.--Gloomy Apprehensions--Bars and Breakers.--...

The Black Mountains.--Haunts of Predatory Indians.--Their Wild and Broken Appearance.--Superstitions Concerning Them-- Thunder Spirits.--Singular Noises in the Mountains--Secret...

Natives in the Neighborhood of Astoria--Their Persons and Characteristics.--Causes of Deformity--Their Dress.-- Their Contempt of Beards--Ornaments--Armor and Weapons.-Mode of F...

Two Expeditions Set on Foot.--The Tonquin and Her Crew.-- Captain Thorn, His Character.--The Partners and Clerks-- Canadian Voyageurs, Their Habits, Employments, Dress, Characte...

Active Operations at Astoria--Various Expeditions Fitted Out.--Robert Stuart and a Party Destined for New York-- Singular Conduct of John Day.--His Fate.--Piratical Pass and Haz...

Rough Wintry Travelling--Hills and Plains.--Snow and Ice.-- Disappearance of Game.--A Vast Dreary Plain.--A. Second Halt for the Winter.--Another Wigwam.--New Year’s Feast.--Buf...

Arrangements Among the Partners--Mr. Hunt Sails in the Albatross.--Arrives at the Marquesas--News of the Frigate Phoebe.--Mr. Hunt Proceeds to the Sandwich Islands.--Voyage of t...

The Village of Wish-ram.--Roguery of the Inhabitants.--Their Habitations.--Tidings of Astoria.--Of the Tonquin Massacre. --Thieves About the Camp.--A Band of Braggarts--Embarkat...

Banks of the Wallah-Wallah.--Departure of David Stuart for the Oakinagan.--Mr. Clarke’s Route Up Lewis River.-- Chipunnish, or Pierced-Nose Indians--Their Character, Appearance,...

Mountain Glens.--Wandering Band of Savages--Anecdotes of Shoshonies and Flatheads.--Root Diggers--Their Solitary Lurking Habits.--Gnomes of the Mountains.--Wind River.-- Scarcit...

Mr. Hunt Overtakes the Advance Party.--Pierre Dorion, and His Skeleton Horse.--A Shoshonie Camp.--A Justifiable Outrage.--Feasting on Horse Flesh.--Mr. Crooks Brought to the Cam...

A Consultation Whether to Proceed by Land or Water-- Preparations for Boat-Building.--An Exploring Party.--A Party of Trappers Detached.--Two Snake Visitors.--Their Report Conce...

Scanty Fare.--A Mendicant Snake.--Embarkation on Henry River--Joy of the Voyageurs.-Arrival at Snake River.--Rapids and Breakers.--Beginning of Misfortunes.--Snake Encampments.-...

St. Louis.--Its Situation.--Motley Population.--French Creole Traders and Their Dependants.--Missouri Fur Company-- Mr. Manuel Lisa.--Mississippi Boatmen.--Vagrant Indians. --Ke...

Gloom at Astoria--An Ingenious Stratagem.--The Small-Pox Chief.--Launching of the Dolly.-An Arrival.--A Canadian Trapper.-A Freeman of the Forest--An Iroquois Hunter.-- Winter o...

Mouth of the Columbia.--The Native Tribes.--Their Fishing.-- Their Canoes.--Bold Navigators--Equestrian Indians and Piscatory Indians, Difference in Their Physical Organization....

Spanish River Scenery.--Trail of Crow Indians.--A Snow- Storm.--A Rousing Fire and a Buffalo Feast.--A Plain of Salt.--Climbing a Mountain.--Volcanic Summit.--Extinguished Crate...

MR. HUNT and his companions encamped upon the borders of the Caldron Linn, and held gloomy counsel as to their future course. The recent wreck had dismayed even the voyageurs, a...

Region of the Crow Indians--Scouts on the Lookout--Visit From a Crew of Hard Riders.--A Crow Camp.--Presents to the Crow Chief.-Bargaining.-Crow Bullies.-Rose Among His Indian F...

Summer Weather of the Prairies.--Purity of the Atmosphere-- Canadians on the March.--Sickness in the Camp.--Big River.-- Vulgar Nomenclature.--Suggestions About the Original Ind...

Wilderness of the Far West.--Great American Desert--Parched Seasons.--Black Hills.--Rocky Mountains.--Wandering and Predatory Hordes.--Speculations on What May Be the Future Pop...

Scanty Fare During the Winter.--A Poor Hunting Ground.--The Return of the Fishing Season.--The Uthlecan or Smelt.--Its Qualities.--Vast Shoals of it.--Sturgeon.--Indian Modes of...

Rise of the Mackinaw Company.--Attempt of the American Government to Counteract Foreign Influence Over the Indian Tribes.--John Jacob Astor.--His Birth-Place.--His Arrival in th...

An Unexpected Meeting.--Navigation in a Skin Canoe.-Strange Fears of Suffering Men.-Hardships of Mr. Crooks and His Comrades.--Tidings of M’Lellan.--A Retrograde March.--A Willo...

Indian Trail.--Rough Mountain Travelling.--Sufferings From Hunger and Thirst--Powder River.--Game in Abundance.-A Hunter’s Paradise.--Mountain Peak Seen at a Great Distance.-- O...

ON the 2d of October, about five weeks after Mr. Hunt had sailed in the Albatross from Astoria, Mr. M’Kenzie set off with two canoes, and twelve men, for the posts of Messrs. St...

Substitute for Fuel on the Prairies.--Fossil Trees.-- Fierceness of the Buffaloes When in Heat.--Three Hunters Missing.--Signal Fires and Smokes.--Uneasiness Concerning the Lost...

ON the morning of the 30th of November, a sail was descried doubling Cape Disappointment. It came to anchor in Baker’s Bay, and proved to be a ship of war. Of what nation? was n...

Comprehensive Views.--To Supply the Russian Fur Establishment.--An Agent Sent to Russia.--Project of an Annual Ship.--The Beaver Fitted Out.--Her Equipment and Crew.--Instructio...

Agreement Between Mr. Astor and the Russian Fur Company--War Between the United States and Great Britain.--Instructions to Captain Sowle of the Beaver--Fitting Out of the Lark.-...

FROM the report made by the two exploring partners, it was determined that Point George should be the site of the trading house. These gentlemen, it is true, were not perfectly...

The Partners Displeased With M’Dougal.--Equivocal Conduct of That Gentleman--Partners Agree to Abandon Astoria.--Sale of Goods to M’Tavish.--Arrangements for the Year.--Manifest...

Affairs of State at Astoria.--M’Dougal Proposes for the Hand of An Indian Princess--Matrimonial Embassy to Comcomly.-- Matrimonial Notions Among the Chinooks.--Settlements and P...

FIVE days were passed by Mr. Hunt and his companions in the fresh meadows watered by the bright little mountain stream. The hunters made great havoc among the buffaloes, and bro...

New Distribution of Horses--Secret Information of Treason in the Camp.--Rose the Interpreter--His Perfidious Character-- His Plots.--Anecdotes of the Crow Indians.--Notorious Ho...

Anxieties of Mr. Astor.--Memorial of the Northwest Company-- Tidings of a British Naval Expedition Against Astoria.--Mr. Astor Applies to Government for Protection.--The Frigate...