CHAPTER II.
Continuation of the Account of the First Settlements on the River Columbia.—A Party sent over-land from Boston to form an Establishment.—Arrival of the Beaver: Plan of the Natives to take the Vessel frustated by an Indian Woman.—Trading Voyage of the Beaver to Norfolk Sound: collects a valuable Cargo of Furs: arrival at China.—Loss of the Lark of Boston off the Sandwich Islands.—The Northwest Company obtain possession of the Settlement.—Voyage, &c. of the Isaac Todd from London.—Melancholy Death of Mr. McTavish and four others.—Voyage of the Columbia, in which the author was chief Officer.—Alarming Mutiny: Arrival at the Columbia.
The next attempt to form a settlement on the Columbia was made by John Jacob Astor, who sent a party over-land from Boston,[1] under the command of Mr. Hunt. They endured many hardships in crossing the stony mountains, and lost several of their number; but at length reached their destination, the Columbia, after the destruction of the Tonquin. The next vessel Mr. Astor sent out was the Beaver, a ship command-
- ↑ The narrator is in error in naming Boston as the place of departure both of sea and land expeditions. New York was the headquarters, and the Beaver left that port Oct. 10, 1811.[Ed.]
