treal, and would most gladly have done so, but for the considerations just mentioned. Should circumstances forbid my accomplishing this desirable object in the spring of next year (1827), I shall without further delay, embrace the earliest opportunity of returning to England by sea, but the length of time consumed by the voyage renders me unwilling to do this. The expected arrival in September of George Simpson, Esq., Governor of the Western Districts, gives me hope that I shall not be subjected to this unpleasant necessity.
During this spring and summer, therefore, my headquarters will be either Walla-wallah, the lowest, Spokan, the middle, or Kettle Falls, the highest, on the Columbia and its branches. At each of these places I shall make such a stay as seems desirable, and the extreme distance not much exceeding five hundred miles, frequent journeys between them can be effected without difficulty. A vessel may shortly be expected on this coast, and as I shall not return hither, probably before November, I mean to leave the whole of my collection ready packed, to be transmitted by her to England, reserving a package of seeds, which it is my intention to carry across the country to Hudson Bay.
March 1st to 20th.—This time was devoted to accomplishing the package into two boxes of the residue of my collection, and making preparations for my journey into the interior, and the continual rains which fell enabled me to work at this job the more assiduously. The kindness of Mr. McLoughlin enabled me to take thirty quires of paper, weighing 102 pounds, which with the rest of my other necessary articles, is far more than I could have ventured to expect, considering the labour and difficulty which attend the transportation of luggage over the portages, etc.
In company of John McLeod, Esq., a gentleman going
