Geo bringing an addition to our party of Corporal Hughes, private Marsh & Smith and 6 barrels of pork for the use of our party, only had occasion for 1% barrels, stored the
remainder. Heard the Vincennes would be off the Bar by the 1st of Aug. Obtained a Bowditch from Capt Varney. Mr. Smith[1] & wife attached to the American B. C. F. mission, who for some time had been staying here, removed on board the Thos. Perkins to take passage in her to the Sandwich Islands. Afterwards learned that during the last 8 years, American missionaries had frequently stopped here for weeks & months with their wives partaking of the Company's hospitality and attended by the Company's servants gratis. During the day measured the alt. of the high prairie land back of the fort and about 14 mile from the River upon which old Fort Vancouver[2] formerly stood originally selected on account of its commanding position, at a time when the surrounding Indians were hostile, but vacated when the latter became friendly and no longer required watching for the present location which possesses superior advantages on account of its nearer approximation to the River which is the great thoroughfare of the country. Found it 61 feet above the low bottom immediately skirting the River & the latter about 15 feet above the river water when at a low stage. Upon this first bottom stands a small lake well stored with fish. Much of it however is subject to inundation, when the Cos. crops are liable to suffer, that portion of it laying in a line with Mt Hood from the Fort being quite level. I measured a base nearly the whole length of it, 9220 feet for the purpose of obtaining some data for estimating the Alt. of the Peak, it being
- ↑ Rev. A. B. Smith, who had carried on missionary work among the Nez Perce Indians for about three years, and was leaving the country because of ill-health and local jealousies.
- ↑ See Wilkes' Narrative, Vol. IV, p. 358, for mention of this site, which is now occupied in part by the Washington State School for the Deaf. The Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. IV. p. 397, has a fine mention of this location.
