io8 A History of the Pacific Northwest
ization, and a proud but distant government jealous of their legal rights; behind the other was a rapidly expanding nation, whose people would one day be prepared to follow the traders across the Rockies, and plant American colonies on the coasts of the South Sea.
Wanderings of Jedediah S. Smith. In 1826 General Ashley turned over his business to Jedediah S. Smith, David Jackson, and William L. Sublette. The first of these (Smith) immediately set out from their Rocky Mountain camp and with a few men crossed the desert and mountains to California, arriving at San Diego in October, 1826. He remained in the country during the winter, and the following summer returned to Salt Lake. In spite of severe sufferings on his first trip, Smith went back to California the same season, losing most of his men at the hands of the Mojave Indians. In California he got together a new party, and in 1828 crossed the mountains northward to Oregon. On the Umpqua River his company was attacked by the Indians and all except the leader and three others were killed. Smith also lost his entire catch of furs, his horses, and other property, so that when he arrived at Fort Vancouver (August, 1828) he was in desperate straits. Dr. McLoughlin received him kindly, supplied all his needs, and even sent men to the Umpqua to recover the furs stolen by the savages. Nearly all were secured, and these McLoughlin purchased at the market price, giving the American trader a draft on London for the amount, which he says was three thousand dollars. From Vancouver Smith went up the Columbia
