LOG OF THE COLUMBIA 309
between them to a fine river. Out pinnace and sent her in ahead and followed with the Ship under short sail, carried in from l /z three to 7 fm, and when over the bar had 10 fm. water, quite fresh. The River 129 extended to the NE. as far as eye cou'd reach, and water fit to drink 130 as far down as the Bars, at the entrance. We directed our course up this noble River in search of a Village. The beach was lin'd with Natives, who rang along shore following the Ship. Soon after, above 20 Canoes came off, and brought a good lot of Furs, and Salmon, which last they sold two for a board Nail. The furs we likewise bought cheap, for Copper and Cloth. They appear'd to view the Ship with the greatest astonishment and no doubt we was the first civilized people that they ever saw. We observ'd some of the same people we had before seen at Gray's harbour, and perhaps that was a branch of this same River. At length we arriv'd opposite to a large village, situate on the North side of the River, about 5 leagues from the en- trance. Came 131 to in 10 fm. sand, about }/\ mile from shore. The River at this place was about 4 miles over. We purchas'd 4 Otter Skins for a Sheet of Copper, Beaver Skins, 2 Spikes each, and other land furs, 1 Spike each.
129 The Columbia river (or Columbia's river, as named by Captain Gray), the existence of which had been the very positive belief of geographers, n.ivigators and explorers for nearly two hundred years. Its mouth had been associated with the fabled Straits of Anian, and the voyage of the Spanish navigator, Martin de Aguilar (1602). Its westward flow and watershed had been reported by Charle- voir and the French explorers in the Mississippi Valley and beyond during the first half of the fifteenth century under the broad designation River of the West. Its upper courses had been strangely confused with those of the upper Missouri by Major Robert Rogers in 1765, who then applied the name Ouragon. Its theoretical source had been blantantly placed in northern Minnesota by Jonathan Carver in 1778,. who called it the Oregon; and it's true source was not discovered until 1807 by David Thompson. In 1775 the Spanish navigator, Bruno Heceta, sailed up to its mouth, made an astronomical observation and bestowed names upon river, bay and the two capes, but these names did not become permanent. Thirteen years later Capt. John Meares, an Englishman, after similar examination, declared that no such river existed, and left the name Cape Disappointment to commemorate his warped or ignorant opinion. In April, 1 792, Capt. Geo. Van- couver examined the opening at longer range and recognized Cape Disappoint- ment and confirmed the opinion of Capt. Meares. Now Capt. Robert Gray con- firms the discovery by Heceta and actually sails into the long looked for river.
130 Explained by the fact that the river was then in flood with the spring freshets. In October of the same year Lieut. Broughton of the Chatham did not find this condition of fresh water, and did not find as much depth of .water on the sand bars further upstream. This accounts considerably for the criticisms by Broughton and Vancouver of the chart or sketch of the river given by Capt. Gray to Capt. Vancouver when at Nootka. That chart has never been found for reproduction, but the chart showing Lieut. Broughton's survey in October- November of this same year (1792) reprinted herewith.
131 This anchorage was a little southeast of the R R. station now known as McGowan's and a little southwest of Point Ellice on the north bank of the river. It is practically the tame as that of the Chatham on October aist. 1793, as indi- cated on the chart herewith.
