We also are becoming more intimately acquaintely with Mr. Ogden himself and his views of life; and with the vicissitudes of a fur trader's career.
The reader is referred to the Oregon Historical Quarterly for December, 1909 (Vol. 10, No. 4) for previous notes about Mr. Ogden and these journals.
JOURNAL OF PETER SKENE OGDEN: SNAKE EXPEDITION, 1826-7.
(As copied by Miss Agnes C. Laut in 1905 from Original In Hudson's Bay Company House, London, England.)
Monday, 12th Sept. (1826).
Took my departure (from Fort Vancouver) 2 boats 12 men bound for Snake Country and reached main Falls of Columbia 100 miles from Ft. Vancouver 4th day early. Found Mr. McKay and party with 100 odd horses waiting my arrival. The natives had already succeeded in stealing one prime horse. 1 sent back boats under La Framboise and 5 men and wrote Jno. McLoughlin. 17 and 18 employed giving horses to men with their loads. Sent off Mr. Black's[1] men with 1100 salmon as far as falls whence they will proceed in canoes to Nez Perces Ft.
19th.
Gave call to collect horses and raise camp. 35 men in all assisted by Mr. McKay, who discovered an Indian stealing 2 (horses) which he secured. Followed banks of Columbia for 2 miles and bade it adieu. God grant we reach it again in safety. Course from Columbia S. E. 6 miles.[2] Many horses are wild and throw their loads. Indians are moving in all directions. Strict watch is kept day and night. The natives are already starving.
