name of a weed growing on the west side of the Willamette River, opposite Champoeg. This information Dr. Bailey gave to Mr. Matthieu. While this is hearsay, based on hearsay, I believe it is true. Spelling the name Champooick is more in accordance with the origin of its name and its pronunciation by the Indians than Champoeg. It is difficult or impossible, with Roman letters, to spell Indian names as pronounced by the Indians. The use of "C" instead of "S" as the initial letter of the name was due to the French influence in the spelling of names and other words e. g., Willamette. Willamette is an Indian name, with French spelling and English pronunciation. French was largely used by the Hudson's Bay officers and employees, including voyageurs, the latter speaking French almost exclusively, as they were French-Canadians.
Champoeg is the most convenient natural place near French Prairie, to reach the Willamette River. It is a sandy place, on a prairie which extends to the river, and is above the ordinary freshets of the river. This led to its selection as a camping place by the Indians, and as a convenient point for them to cross the river. Its advantages also led to its selection by Dr. John McLoughlin as the site of a Hudson's Bay Company warehouse. It enabled the former Canadian-French employes of that Company, whom he had induced to settle at French Prairie, to deliver their wheat to the Company there. They could go to Champoeg with their heavy wooden carts, having log wheels, without cutting a road through a heavy belt of timber and digging out the stumps.
Mr. Matthieu, although nearly ninety-two years old, and almost blind, is still in good bodily health for a man of his age and retains his mental faculties, including a remarkable and accurate memory.
I trust I may be pardoned the digression in giving Mr. Matthieu's account of the voting on the formation of the Provisional Government, May 2, 1843. In my interview I asked him to tell me about the matter. He told in substance the following facts: When the result of the viva voce vote was
