第15章
Thecaptainwasnotamantorefuseassistancetoanyoneindistress，especiallywhenthere
wasa
womaninthecase；horseswereimmediatelydispatched，withanescort，toaidtheunfortunate
couple。Thenextdaytheymadetheirappearancewithalltheireffects；theman，astalwart
mountaineer，withapeculiarlygamelook；thewoman，ayoungBlackfootbeauty，arrayedinthetrappingsandtrinketryofafreetrapper”sbride。Findingthewomantobequick-wittedandcommunicative，CaptainBonnevilleenteredinto
conversationwithher，andobtainedfromhermanyparticularsconcerningthehabitsandcustoms
ofhertribe；especiallytheirwarsandhuntings。Theypridethemselvesuponbeingthe“bestlegs
of
themountains，“andhuntthebuffaloonfoot。Thisisdoneinspringtime，whenthefrostshave
thawedandthegroundissoft。Theheavybuffaloesthensinkovertheirhoofsateverystep，and
are
easilyovertakenbytheBlackfeet，whosefleetstepspresslightlyonthesurface。Itissaid，
however，
thatthebuffaloesonthePacificsideoftheRockyMountainsarefleeterandmoreactivethanon
the
Atlanticside；thoseupontheplainsoftheColumbiacanscarcelybeovertakenbyahorsethat
would
outstripthesameanimalintheneighborhoodofthePlatte，theusualhuntinggroundofthe
Blackfeet。
Inthecourseoffurtherconversation，CaptainBonnevilledrewfromtheIndianwomanherwhole
story；whichgaveapictureofsavagelife，andofthedrudgeryandhardshipstowhichanIndian
wifeissubject。“Iwasthewife，“saidshe，“ofaBlackfootwarrior，andIservedhimfaithfully。Whowasso
well
servedashe？Whoselodgewassowellprovided，orkeptsoclean？Ibroughtwoodinthe
morning，
andplacedwateralwaysathand。Iwatchedforhiscoming；andhefoundhismeatcookedand
ready。
Ifherosetogoforth，therewasnothingtodelayhim。Isearchedthethoughtthatwasinhisheart，
tosavehimthetroubleofspeaking。WhenIwentabroadonerrandsforhim，thechiefsand
warriors
smileduponme，andtheyoungbravesspokesoftthings，insecret；butmyfeetwereinthe
straightpath，andmyeyescouldseenothingbuthim。“Whenhewentouttohunt，ortowar，whoaidedtoequiphim，butI？Whenhereturned，I
methim
atthedoor；Itookhisgun；andheenteredwithoutfurtherthought。Whilehesatandsmoked，I
unloadedhishorses；tiedthemtothestakes，broughtintheirloads，andwasquicklyathisfeet。If
his
moccasinswerewetItookthemoffandputonotherswhichweredryandwarm。Idressedallthe
skinshehadtakeninthechase。Hecouldneversaytome，whyisitnotdone？Hehuntedthe
deer，
theantelope，andthebuffalo，andhewatchedfortheenemy。Everythingelsewasdonebyme。
When
ourpeoplemovedtheircamp，hemountedhishorseandrodeaway；freeasthoughhehadfallen
fromtheskies。Hehadnothingtodowiththelaborofthecamp；itwasIthatpacked
thehorsesand
ledthemonthejourney。Whenwehaltedintheevening，andhesatwiththeotherbravesand
smoked，itwasIthatpitchedhislodge；andwhenhecametoeatandsleep，hissupperandhis
bedwereready。“Iservedhimfaithfully；andwhatwasmyreward？Acloudwasalwaysonhisbrow，and
sharplightningonhistongue。Iwashisdog；andnothiswife。“Whowasitthatscarredandbruisedme？Itwashe。MybrothersawhowIwastreated。His
heart
wasbigforme。Hebeggedmetoleavemytyrantandfly。WherecouldIgo？Ifretaken，who
would
protectme？Mybrotherwasnotachief；hecouldnotsavemefromblowsandwounds，perhaps
death。AtlengthIwaspersuaded。Ifollowedmybrotherfromthevillage。Hepointedawayto
the
NezPerces，andbademegoandliveinpeaceamongthem。Weparted。OnthethirddayIsawthe
lodgesoftheNezPercesbeforeme。1pausedforamoment，andhadnohearttogoon；butmy
horse
neighed，andItookitasagoodsign，andsufferedhimtogallopforward。InalittlewhileIwasin
themidstofthelodges。AsIsatsilentonmyhorse，thepeoplegatheredroundme，andinquired
whenceIcame。Itoldmystory。Achiefnowwrappedhisblanketclosearoundhim，andbademe
dismount。Iobeyed。Hetookmyhorsetoleadhimaway。Myheartgrewsmallwithinme。Ifelt，
on
partingwithmyhorse，asifmylastfriendwasgone。Ihadnowords，andmyeyesweredry。As
he
ledoffmyhorseayoungbravesteppedforward。”Areyouachiefofthepeople？”criedhe。”Dowe
listentoyouincouncil，andfollowyouinbattle？Behold！astrangerfliestoourcampfromthe
dogs
ofBlackfeet，andasksprotection。Letshamecoveryourface！Thestrangerisawoman，and
alone。
Ifshewereawarrior，orhadawarrioratherside，yourheartwouldnotbebigenoughtotakeher
horse。Butheisyours。Byrightofwaryoumayclaimhim；butlook！”-hisbowwasdrawn，and
the
arrowready！-”younevershallcrosshisback！”Thearrowpiercedtheheartofthehorse，andhe
felldead。“Anoldwomansaidshewouldbemymother。Sheledmetoherlodge；myheartwas
thawedbyher
kindness，andmyeyesburstforthwithtears；likethefrozenfountainsinspringtime。Shenever
changed；butasthedayspassedaway，wasstillamothertome。Thepeoplewereloudinpraise
oftheyoungbrave，andthechiefwasashamed。Ilivedinpeace。“Apartyoftrapperscametothevillage，andoneofthemtookmeforhiswife。This
ishe。Iamveryhappy；hetreatsmewithkindness，andIhavetaughthimthe
languageofmypeople。Asweweretravellingthisway，someoftheBlackfeet
warriorsbesetus，andcarriedoffthehorsesoftheparty。Wefollowed，andmy
husbandheldaparleywiththem。Thegunswerelaiddown，andthepipewaslighted；
butsomeofthewhitemenattemptedtoseizethehorsesbyforce，andthenabattle
began。Thesnowwasdeep，thewhitemensankintoitateverystep；buttheredmen，
withtheirsnow-shoes，passedoverthesurfacelikebirds，anddroveoffmanyofthe
horsesinsightoftheirowners。Withthosethatremainedweresumedourjourney。At
lengthwordstookplacebetweentheleaderofthepartyandmyhusband。Hetook
awayourhorses，whichhadescapedinthebattle，andturnedusfromhiscamp。My
husbandhadonegoodfriendamongthetrappers。Thatishe(pointingtothemanwho
hadaskedassistanceforthem)。Heisagoodman。Hisheartisbig。Whenhecamein
fromhunting，andfoundthatwehadbeendrivenaway，hegaveupallhiswages，and
followedus，thathemightspeakgoodwordsforustothewhitecaptain。”[ReturntoContents]Irving”sBonneville-Chapter49[ReturntoContents]WashingtonIrving”sTheAdventuresofCaptainBonnevilleChapter49RendezvousatWindRiver——CampaignofMonteroandhisbrigadeintheCrowcountry——
WarsbetweentheCrowsandBlackfeet——DeathofArapooishBlackfeetlurkers——Sagacityofthehorse——Dependenceofthehunteronhishorse——Returntothesettlements。ONthe22dofJuneCaptainBonnevilleraisedhiscamp，andmovedtotheforksofWind
River；the
appointedplaceofrendezvous。InafewdayshewasjoinedtherebythebrigadeofMontero，
which
hadbeensent，intheprecedingyear，tobeatuptheCrowcountry，andafterwardproceedtothe
Arkansas。Monterohadfollowedtheearlypartofhisinstructions；aftertrappinguponsomeof
the
upperstreams，heproceededtoPowderRiver。HerehefellinwiththeCrowvillagesorbands，
who
treatedhimwithunusualkindness，andprevaileduponhimtotakeuphiswinterquartersamongthem。TheCrowsatthattimewerestrugglingalmostforexistencewiththeiroldenemies，the
Blackfeet；
who，inthepastyear，hadpickedoffthefloweroftheirwarriorsinvariousengagements，and
among
therest，Arapooish，thefriendofthewhitemen。Thatsagaciousandmagnanimouschiefhad
beheld，
withgrief，theravageswhichwarwasmakinginhistribe，andthatitwasdeclininginforce，and
musteventuallybedestroyedunlesssomesignalblowcouldbestrucktoretrieveitsfortunes。In
a
pitchedbattleofthetwotribes，hemadeaspeechtohiswarriors，urgingthemtoseteverythingat
hazardinonefuriouscharge；whichdone，heledthewayintothethickestofthefoe。Hewas
soon
separatedfromhismen，andfellcoveredwithwounds，buthisself-devotionwasnotinvain。The
Blackfeetweredefeated；andfromthattimetheCrowspluckedupfreshheart，andwere
frequentlysuccessful。Monterohadnotbeenlongencampedamongthem，whenhediscoveredthattheBlackfeet
were
hoveringabouttheneighborhood。Onedaythehunterscamegallopingintothecamp，and
proclaimedthatabandoftheenemywasathand。TheCrowsflewtoarms，leapedontheir
horses，
anddashedoutinsquadronsinpursuit。Theyovertooktheretreatingenemyinthemidstofa
plain。
Adesperatefightensued。TheCrowshadtheadvantageofnumbers，andoffightingon
horseback。
ThegreaterpartoftheBlackfeetwereslain；theremnanttookshelterinaclosethicketof
willows，wherethehorsecouldnotenter；whencetheypliedtheirbowsvigorously。TheCrowsdrewoffoutofbow-shot，andendeavored，bytauntsandbravadoes，todrawthe
warriors
Outoftheirretreat。Afewofthebestmountedamongthemrodeapartfromtherest。Oneoftheir
numberthenadvancedalone，withthatmartialairandequestriangraceforwhichthetribeis
noted。
Whenwithinanarrow”sflightofthethicket，heloosenedhisrein，urgedhishorsetofullspeed，
threw
hisbodyontheoppositeside，soastohangbyoneleg，andpresentnomarktothefoe；inthis
way
hesweptalonginfrontofthethicket，launchinghisarrowsfromundertheneckofhissteed。
Then
regaininghisseatinthesaddle，hewheeledroundandreturnedwhoopingandscoffingtohiscompanions，whoreceivedhimwithyellsofapplause。Anotherandanotherhorsemanrepeatedthisexploit；buttheBlackfeetwerenottobe
tauntedoutof
theirsafeshelter。Thevictorsfearedtodrivedesperatementoextremities，sotheyforboreto
attempt
thethicket。Towardnighttheygaveovertheattack，andreturnedall-gloriouswiththescalpsof
the
slain。Thencameontheusualfeastsandtriumphs，thescalp-danceofwarriorsroundtheghastly
trophies，andalltheotherfiercerevelryofbarbarouswarfare。Whenthebraveshadfinishedwith
the
scalps，theywere，asusual，givenuptothewomenandchildren，andmadetheobjectsofnew
paradesanddances。Theywerethentreasuredupasinvaluabletrophiesanddecorationsbythebraveswhohadwonthem。Itisworthyofnote，thatthescalpofawhiteman，eitherthroughpolicyorfear，istreated
withmore
charitythanthatofanIndian。Thewarriorwhowonitisentitledtohistriumphifhedemandsit。
In
suchcase，thewarpartyalonedanceroundthescalp。Itisthentakendown，andtheshagged
frontletofabuffalosubstitutedinitsplace，andabandonedtothetriumphandinsultsofthemillion。Toavoidbeinginvolvedintheseguerillas，aswellastoescapefromtheextremelysocial
intercourse
oftheCrows，whichbegantobeoppressive，Monteromovedtothedistanceofseveralmiles
from
theircamps，andthereformedawintercantonmentofhuts。Henowmaintainedavigilantwatch
at
night。Theirhorses，whichwereturnedloosetograzeduringtheday，underheedfuleyes，were
broughtinatnight，andshutupinstrongpens，builtoflargelogsofcotton-wood。Thesnows，
during
aportionofthewinter，weresodeepthatthepooranimalscouldfindbutlittlesustenance。Here
and
thereatuftofgrasswouldpeerabovethesnow；buttheywereingeneraldriventobrowsethe
twigs
andtenderbranchesofthetrees。Whentheywereturnedoutinthemorning，thefirstmomentsof
freedomfromtheconfinementofthepenwerespentinfriskingandgambolling。Thisdone，they
wentsoberlyandsadlytowork，togleantheirscantysubsistencefortheday。Inthemeantimethe
menstrippedthebarkofthecotton-woodtreefortheeveningfodder。Asthepoorhorseswould
returntowardnight，withsluggishanddispiritedair，themomenttheysawtheirowners
approaching
themwithblanketsfilledwithcotton-woodbark，theirwholedemeanorunderwentachange。A
universalneighingandcaperingtookplace；theywouldrushforward，smelltotheblankets，paw
the
earth，snort，whinnyandpranceroundwithheadandtailerect，untiltheblanketswereopened，
and
thewelcomeprovenderspreadbeforethem。Theseevidencesofintelligenceandgladnesswerefrequentlyrecountedbythetrappersasprovingthesagacityoftheanimal。Theseveteranroversofthemountainslookupontheirhorsesasinsomerespectsgiftedwith
almost
humanintellect。Anoldandexperiencedtrapper，whenmountingguarduponthecampindark
nights
andtimesofperil，givesheedfulattentiontoallthesoundsandsignsofthehorses。Noenemy
enters
norapproachesthecampwithoutattractingtheirnotice，andtheirmovementsnotonlygivea
vague
alarm，butitissaid，willevenindicatetotheknowingtrappertheveryquarterwhencethedangerthreatens。Inthedaytime，too，whileahunterisengagedontheprairie，cuttingupthedeerorbuffalo
hehas
slain，hedependsuponhisfaithfulhorseasasentinel。Thesagaciousanimalseesandsmellsall
roundhim，andbyhisstartingandwhinnying，givesnoticeoftheapproachofstrangers。There
seems
tobeadumbcommunionandfellowship，asortoffraternalsympathybetweenthehunterandhis
horse。Theymutuallyrelyuponeachotherforcompanyandprotection；andnothingismore
difficult，
itissaid，thantosurpriseanexperiencedhunterontheprairiewhilehisoldandfavoritesteedis
athisside。MonterohadnotlongremovedhiscampfromthevicinityoftheCrows，andfixedhimself
inhisnew
quarters，whentheBlackfeetmaraudersdiscoveredhiscantonment，andbegantohauntthe
vicinity，
Hekeptupavigilantwatch，however，andfoiledeveryattemptoftheenemy，who，atlength，
seemed
tohavegivenupindespair，andabandonedtheneighborhood。Thetrappersrelaxedtheir
vigilance，
therefore，andonenight，afteradayofseverelabor，noguardswereposted，andthewholecamp
was
soonasleep。Towardmidnight，however，thelightestsleeperswererousedbythetramplingof
hoofs；
and，givingthealarm，thewholepartywereimmediatelyontheirlegsandhastenedtothepens。
The
barsweredown；butnoenemywastoheseenorheard，andthehorsesbeingallfoundhardby，it
was
supposedthebarshadbeenleftdownthroughnegligence。Allwereoncemoreasleep，when，in
about
anhourtherewasasecondalarm，anditwasdiscoveredthatseveralhorsesweremissing。The
rest
weremounted，andsospiritedapursuittookplace，thateighteenofthenumbercarriedoffwere
regained，andbutthreeremainedinpossessionoftheenemy。Trapsforwolves，hadbeenset
about
thecamptheprecedingday。InthemorningitwasdiscoveredthataBlackfootwasentrappedby
one
ofthem，buthadsucceededindraggingitoff。Histrailwasfollowedforalongdistancewhichhe
musthavelimpedalone。Atlengthheappearedtohavefalleninwithsomeofhiscomrades，who
hadrelievedhimfromhispainfulencumbrance。TheseweretheleadingincidentsofMontero”scampaignintheCrowcountry。Theunited
partiesnow
celebratedthe4thofJuly，inroughhunters”style，withheartyconviviality；afterwhichCaptain
Bonnevillemadehisfinalarrangements。LeavingMonterowithabrigadeoftrapperstoopen
anothercampaign，heputhimselfattheheadoftheresidueofhismen，andsetoffonhisreturn
to
civilizedlife。WeshallnotdetailhisjourneyalongthecourseoftheNebraska，andso，frompoint
topointofthewilderness，untilheandhisbandreachedthefrontiersettlementsonthe22dofAugust。Here，accordingtohisownaccount，hiscavalcademighthavebeentakenforaprocessionof
tatterdemalionsavages；forthemenwereraggedalmosttonakedness，andhadcontracteda
wildness
ofaspectduringthreeyearsofwanderinginthewilderness。Afewhoursinapopuloustown，
however，producedamagicalmetamorphosis。Hatsofthemostamplebrimandlongestnap；
coats
withbuttonsthatshonelikemirrors，andpantaloonsofthemostampleplenitude，tookplaceof
the
well-worntrapper”sequipments；andthehappywearersmightbeseenstrollingaboutinalldirections，scatteringtheirsilverlikesailorsjustfromacruise。Theworthycaptain，however，seemsbynomeanstohavesharedtheexcitementofhismen，
on
findinghimselfoncemoreinthethrongedresortsofcivilizedlife，but，onthecontrary，tohave
lookedbacktothewildernesswithregret。“Thoughtheprospect，“sayshe，“ofoncemoretasting
the
blessingsofpeacefulsociety，andpassingdaysandnightsunderthecalmguardianshipofthe
laws，
wasnotwithoutitsattractions；yettothoseofuswhosewholeliveshadbeenspentinthestirring
excitementandperpetualwatchfulnessofadventuresinthewilderness，thechangewasfarfrom
promisinganincreaseofthatcontentmentandinwardsatisfactionmostconducivetohappiness。
He
who，likemyself，hasrovedalmostfromboyhoodamongthechildrenoftheforest，andoverthe
unfurrowedplainsandruggedheightsofthewesternwastes，willnotbestartledtolearn，that
notwithstandingallthefascinationsoftheworldonthiscivilizedsideofthemountains，Iwould
fain
makemybowtothesplendorsandgayetiesofthemetropolis，andplungeagainamidstthe
hardshipsandperilsofthewilderness。”WehaveOnlytoaddthattheaffairsofthecaptainhavebeensatisfactorilyarrangedwiththe
War
Department，andthatheisactuallyinserviceatFortGibson，onourwesternfrontier，wherewe
hope
hemaymeetwithfurtheropportunitiesofindulginghispeculiartastes，andofcollectinggraphic
and
characteristicdetailsofthegreatwesternwildsandtheirmotleyinhabitants——
WeherecloseourpicturingsoftheRockyMountainsandtheirwildinhabitants，andofthe
wildlife
thatprevailsthere；whichwehavebeenanxioustofixonrecord，becauseweareawarethatthis
singularstateofthingsisfullofmutation，andmustsoonundergogreatchanges，ifnotentirely
pass
away。Thefurtradeitself，whichhasgivenlifetoallthisportraiture，isessentiallyevanescent。
Rival
partiesoftrapperssoonexhaustthestreams，especiallywhencompetitionrendersthemheedless
and
wastefulofthebeaver。Thefurbearinganimalsextinct，acompletechangewillcomeoverthe
scene；
thegayfreetrapperandhissteed，deckedoutinwildarray，andtinklingwithbellsandtrinketry；
the
savagewarchief，plumedandpaintedandeverontheprowl；thetraders”cavalcade，winding
through
defilesorovernakedplains，withthestealthywarpartylurkingonitstrail；thebuffalochase，the
huntingcamp，themadcarouseinthemidstofdanger，thenightattack，thestampede，the
scamper，
thefierceskirmishamongrocksandcliffs——allthisromanceofsavagelife，whichyetexists
among
themountains，willthenexistbutinfrontierstory，andseemlikethefictionsofchivalryorfairytale。Somenewsystemofthings，orrathersomenewmodification，willsucceedamongthe
rovingpeople
ofthisvastwilderness；butjustasopposite，perhaps，totheinhabitantsofcivilization。Thegreat
Chippewyanchainofmountains，andthesandyandvolcanicplainswhichextendoneitherside，
are
representedasincapableofcultivation。Thepasturagewhichprevailsthereduringacertain
portion
oftheyear，soonwithersunderthearidityoftheatmosphere，andleavesnothingbutdreary
wastes。
Animmensebeltofrockymountainsandvolcanicplains，severalhundredmilesinwidth，must
ever
remainanirreclaimablewilderness，interveningbetweentheabodesofcivilization，andaffording
alastrefugetotheIndian。Hererovingtribesofhunters，livingintentsorlodges，andfollowing
the
migrationsofthegame，mayleadalifeofsavageindependence，wherethereisnothingtotempt
the
cupidityofthewhiteman。Theamalgamationofvarioustribes，andofwhitemenofeverynation，
willintimeproducehybridraceslikethemountainTartarsoftheCaucasus。Possessedasthey
are
ofimmensedrovesofhorsesshouldtheycontinuetheirpresentpredatoryandwarlikehabits，
they
mayintimebecomeascourgetothecivilizedfrontiersoneithersideofthemountains，asthey
areatpresentaterrortothetravellerandtrader。Thefactsdisclosedinthepresentworkclearlymanifestthepolicyofestablishingmilitary
postsand
amountedforcetoprotectourtradersintheirjourneysacrossthegreatwesternwilds，andof
pushingtheoutpostsintotheveryheartofthesingularwildernesswehavelaidopen，soasto
maintainsomedegreeofswayoverthecountry，andtoputanendtothekindof“blackmail，“
levied
onalloccasionsbythesavage“chivalryofthemountains。”[ReturntoContents]Irving”sBonneville-Appendix[ReturntoContents]WashingtonIrving”sTheAdventuresofCaptainBonnevilleAppendixNathanielJ。Wyeth，andtheTradeoftheFarWestWEHAVEBROUGHTCaptainBonnevilletotheendofhiswesterncampaigning；yetwecannotclosethisworkwithoutsubjoiningsomeparticularsconcerningthefortunesofhiscontemporary，Mr。Wyeth；anecdotesofwhoseenterprisehave，occasionally，beeninterwovenintheparty-coloredwebofournarrative。WyetheffectedhisintentionofestablishingatradingpostonthePortneuf，whichhenamedFortHall。Here，forthefirsttime，theAmericanflagwasunfurledtothebreezethatsweepsthegreatnakedwastesofthecentralwilderness。Leavingtwelvemenhere，withastockofgoods，totradewiththeneighboringtribes，heprosecutedhisjourneytotheColumbia；whereheestablishedanotherpost，calledFortWilliams，onWappatooIsland，atthemouthoftheWallamut。Thiswastobetheheadfactoryofhiscompany；whencetheyweretocarryontheirfishingandtrappingoperations，andtheirtradewiththeinterior；andwheretheyweretoreceiveanddispatchtheirannualship。
TheplanofMr。Wyethappearstohavebeenwellconcerted。HehadobservedthattheRockyMountainFurCompany，thebandsoffreetrappers，aswellastheIndianswestofthemountains，dependedfortheirsuppliesupongoodsbroughtfromSt。Louis；
which，inconsequenceoftheexpensesandrisksofalonglandcarriage，werefurnishedthematanimmenseadvanceonfirstcost。HehadanideathattheymightbemuchmorecheaplysuppliedfromthePacificside。HorseswouldcostmuchlessonthebordersoftheColumbiathanatSt。Louis：thetransportationbylandwasmuchshorter；
andthroughacountrymuchmoresafefromthehostilityofsavagetribes；which，ontheroutefromandtoSt。Louis，annuallycostthelivesofmanymen。Onthisidea，hegroundedhisplan。Hecombinedthesalmonfisherywiththefurtrade。AfortifiedtradingpostwastobeestablishedontheColumbia，tocarryonatradewiththenativesforsalmonandpeltries，andtofishandtrapontheirownaccount。Onceayear，ashipwastocomefromtheUnitedStates，tobringoutgoodsfortheinteriortrade，andtotakehomethesalmonandfurswhichhadbeencollected。Partofthegoods，thusbroughtout，weretobedispatchedtothemountains，tosupplythetrappingcompaniesandtheIndiantribes，inexchangefortheirfurs；whichweretobebroughtdowntotheColumbia，tobesenthomeinthenextannualship：andthusanannualroundwastobekeptup。Theprofitsonthesalmon，itwasexpected，wouldcoveralltheexpensesoftheship；sothatthegoodsbroughtout，andthefurscarriedhome，wouldcostnothingastofreight。
Hisenterprisewasprosecutedwithaspirit，intelligence，andperseverance，thatmeritedsuccess。Allthedetailsthatwehavemetwith，provehimtobenoordinaryman。Heappearstohavethemindtoconceive，andtheenergytoexecuteextensiveandstrikingplans。HehadoncemorerearedtheAmericanflaginthelostdomainsofAstoria；andhadhebeenenabledtomaintainthefootinghehadsogallantlyeffected，hemighthaveregainedforhiscountrytheopulenttradeoftheColumbia，ofwhichourstatesmenhavenegligentlysufferedustobedispossessed。
Itisneedlesstogointoadetailofthevarietyofaccidentsandcross-purposes，whichcausedthefailureofhisscheme。Theyweresuchasallundertakingsofthekind，involvingcombinedoperationsbyseaandland，areliableto。Whathemostwanted，wassufficientcapitaltoenablehimtoendureincipientobstaclesandlosses；andtoholdonuntilsuccesshadtimetospringupfromthemidstofdisastrousexperiments。
ItiswithextremeregretwelearnthathehasrecentlybeencompelledtodisposeofhisestablishmentatWappatooIsland，totheHudson”sBayCompany；who，itisbutjusticetosay，have，accordingtohisownaccount，treatedhimthroughoutthewholeofhisenterprise，withgreatfairness，friendship，andliberality。Thatcompany，therefore，stillmaintainsanunrivalledswayoverthewholecountrywashedbytheColumbiaanditstributaries。Ithas，infact，asfarasitscharteredpowerspermit，followedoutthesplendidschemecontemplatedbyMr。Astor，whenhefoundedhisestablishmentatthemouthoftheColumbia。FromtheiremporiumofVancouver，companiesaresentforthineverydirection，tosupplytheinteriorposts，totradewiththenatives，andtotrapuponthevariousstreams。Thesethreadtherivers，traversetheplains，penetratetotheheartofthemountains，extendtheirenterprisesnorthward，totheRussianpossessions，andsouthward，totheconfinesofCalifornia。Theiryearlysuppliesarereceivedbysea，atVancouver；andthencetheirfursandpeltriesareshippedtoLondon。Theylikewisemaintainaconsiderablecommerce，inwheatandlumber，withthePacificislands，andtothenorth，withtheRussiansettlements。
Thoughthecompany，bytreaty，havearighttoaparticipationonly，inthetradeoftheseregions，andare，infact，buttenantsonsufferance；yethavetheyquietlyavailedthemselvesoftheoriginaloversight，andsubsequentsupinenessoftheAmericangovernment，toestablishamonopolyofthetradeoftheriveranditsdependencies；andareadroitlyproceedingtofortifythemselvesintheirusurpation，bysecuringallthestrongpointsofthecountry。
FortGeorge，originallyAstoria，whichwasabandonedontheremovalofthemainfactorytoVancouver，wasrenewedin1830；andisnowkeptupasafortifiedpostandtradinghouse。Alltheplacesaccessibletoshippinghavebeentakenpossessionof，andpostsrecentlyestablishedatthembythecompany。
Thegreatcapitalofthisassociation；theirlongestablishedsystem；theirhereditaryinfluenceovertheIndiantribes；theirinternalorganization，whichmakeseverythinggoonwiththeregularityofamachine；andthelowwagesoftheirpeople，whoaremostlyCanadians，givethemgreatadvantagesovertheAmericantraders：norisitlikelythelatterwilleverbeabletomaintainanyfootingintheland，untilthequestionofterritorialrightisadjustedbetweenthetwocountries。Thesoonerthattakesplace，thebetter。Itisaquestiontooserioustonationalpride，ifnottonationalinterests，tobeslurredover；
andeveryyearisaddingtothedifficultieswhichenvironit。
Thefurtrade，whichisnowthemainobjectofenterprisewestoftheRockyMountains，formsbutapartoftherealresourcesofthecountry。BesidethesalmonfisheryoftheColumbia，whichiscapableofbeingrenderedaconsiderablesourceofprofit；thegreatvalleysofthelowercountry，belowtheelevatedvolcanicplateau，arecalculatedtogivesustenancetocountlessflocksandherds，andtosustainagreatpopulationofgraziersandagriculturists。
Such，forinstance，isthebeautifulvalleyoftheWallamut；fromwhichtheestablishmentatVancouverdrawsmostofitssupplies。Here，thecompanyholdsmillsandfarms；andhasprovidedforsomeofitssuperannuatedofficersandservants。Thisvalley，abovethefalls，isaboutfiftymileswide，andextendsagreatdistancetothesouth。Theclimateismild，beingshelteredbylateralrangesofmountains；whilethesoil，forrichness，hasbeenequalledtothebestoftheMissourilands。ThevalleyoftheriverDesChutes，isalsoadmirablycalculatedforagreatgrazingcountry。Allthebesthorsesusedbythecompanyforthemountainsareraisedthere。Thevalleyisofsuchhappytemperature，thatgrassgrowstherethroughouttheyear，andcattlemaybeleftouttopastureduringthewinter。
Thesevalleysmustformthegrandpointsofcommencementofthefuturesettlementofthecountry；buttheremustbemanysuch，enfoldedintheembracesoftheselowerrangesofmountains；which，thoughatpresenttheyliewasteanduninhabited，andtotheeyeofthetraderandtrapper，presentbutbarrenwastes，would，inthehandsofskilfulagriculturistsandhusbandmen，soonassumeadifferentaspect，andteemwithwavingcrops，orbecoveredwithflocksandherds。
Theresourcesofthecountry，too，whileinthehandsofacompanyrestrictedinitstrade，canbebutpartiallycalledforth；butinthehandsofAmericans，enjoyingadirecttradewiththeEastIndies，wouldbebroughtintoquickeningactivity；andmightsoonrealizethedreamofMr。Astor，ingivingrisetoaflourishingcommercialempire。WreckofaJapaneseJunkontheNorthwestCoastTHEFOLLOWINGEXTRACTofaletterwhichwereceived，lately，fromMr。Wyeth，maybeinteresting，asthrowingsomelightuponthequestionastothemannerinwhichAmericahasbeenpeopled。“Areyouawareofthefact，thatinthewinterof1833，aJapanesejunkwaswreckedonthenorthwestcoast，intheneighborhoodofQueenCharlotte”sIsland；andthatallbuttwoofthecrew，thenmuchreducedbystarvationanddisease，duringalongdriftacrossthePacific，werekilledbythenatives？ThetwofellintothehandsoftheHudson”sBayCompany，andweresenttoEngland。Isawthem，onmyarrivalatVancouver，in1834。”InstructionstoCaptainBonnevillefromtheMajor-GeneralCommandingtheArmyoftheUnitedStates。
CopyHeadQuartersoftheArmy。
Washington29thJuly1831。
Sir，TheleaveofabsencewhichyouhaveaskedforthepurposeofenablingyoutocarryintoexecutionyourdesignsofexploringthecountrytotheRockyMountains，andbeyondwithaviewofassertainingthenatureandcharacterofthevarioustribesofIndiansinhabitingthoseregions；thetradewhichmightbeprofitablycarriedonwiththem，thequalityofthesoil，theproductions，theminerals，thenaturalhistory，theclimate，theGeography，andTopography，aswellasGeologyofthevariouspartsoftheCountrywithinthelimitsoftheTerritoriesbelongingtotheUnitedStates，betweenourfrontier，andthePacific；——hasbeendulyconsidered，andsubmittedtotheWarDepartment，forapproval，andhasbeensanctioned。
YouarethereforeauthorisedtobeabsentfromtheArmyuntillOctober1833。
ItisunderstoodthattheGovernmentistobeatnoexpence，inreferencetoyourproposedexpedition，ithavingoriginatedwithyourself，andallthatyourequiredwasthepermissionfromtheproperauthoritytoundertaketheenterprise。Youwillnaturallyinprovidingyourselffortheexpedition，providesuitableinstruments，andespeciallythebestMapsoftheinteriortobefound。ItisdesirablebesideswhatisenumeratedastheobjectofenterprisethatyounoteparticularlythenumberofWarriorsthatmaybelongtoeachtribe，ornationthatyoumaymeetwith：theirallianceswithothertribesandtheirrelativepositionastoastateofpeaceorwar，andwhethertheirfriendlyorwarlikedispositionstowardseachotherarerecentoroflongstanding。YouwillgratifyusbydescribingthemanneroftheirmakingWar，ofthemodeofsubsistingthemselvesduringastateofwar，andastateofpeace，theirArms，andtheeffectofthem，whethertheyactonfootoronhorseback，detailingthediscipline，andmanuversofthewarparties，thepoweroftheirhorses，sizeandgeneraldiscription；inshortanyinformationwhichyoumayconceivewouldbeusefultotheGovernment。Youwillavailyourselfofeveryopportunityofinformingusofyourpositionandprogress，andattheexpirationofyourleaveofabsencewilljoinyourproperstation。
IhavethehonortobeSir，YourOtSt(Signed)AlexrMacombMajGenlComgToCap：B。LEBonneville7thRegtInfantryNewYork[ReturntoContents]