LOG OF THE COLUMBIA 311
much clear ground, fit for cultivation, and the woods mostly clear from underbrush. None of the Natives come near us.
18. Shifted the Ship's berth to her Old Station abreast the Village Chinook, command'd by a chief named Polack. 136 Vast many canoes, full of Indians, from different parts of the River were constantly along side. Capt. Gray named this river Columbia's, and the North entrance Cape Hancock, and the South Point, Adams. 137 This River in my opinion, wou'd be a fine place for to set up a Factory. The Indians are very numerous, and appear'd very civil (not even offering to steal). During our short stay we collected 150 Otter, 300 Beaver, and twice the Number of other land furs. The river abounds with excellent Salmon, and most other River fish, and the Woods with plenty of Moose and Deer, the skins of which was brought us in great plenty, and the Banks produces a ground Nut, which is an excellent substitute for either bread or Potatoes. We found plenty of Oak, Ash, and Walnut trees, and clear ground in plenty, which with little labour might be made fit to raise such seeds as is necessary for the sustenance of inhabitants, and in short a factory set up here, and another at Hancock's River, in the Queen Charlotte Isles, wou'd engross the whole trade of the NW. Coast (with the help [of] a few small coast- ing vessells).
20. This day 138 left Columbia's River, and stood clear of the bars, and bore off to the Northward. The Men, at Co- lumbia's River, are strait limb'd, fine looking fellows, and the Women are very pretty. They are all in a state of Nature, except the females, who wear a leaf Apron (perhaps 't was a fig leaf. But some of our gentlemen, that examin'd them pretty close, and near, both within and without reported, that
1 36 Evidently a predecessor of Comcomly , the one-eyed potentate of the Chinook Indians during so many years of the fur trade period, whose daughters were given in marriage to some of the traders.
i .17 This name is still officially recognized, but the name given to the northern cape did not become permanent. Captain Heceta named the southern point Cabo Frondoso because of the trees and brush which then grew down to the edge of the beach. Astoria, on the southern bank fifteen miles inland, was the first trading post on the lower river and Fort Vancouver, one hundred miles inland and on the north bank, became the first Factory, meaning thereby The residence and headquarters of the Chief Factors, who managed the business of the district
138 Now the two accounts, Capt Gray's and Boil's, synchronize. The date* given by Capt Gray are official and take precedence, and it is still correct to say that the Columbia river was first entered by white men on May nth. 179*. A similar divergence of one day appears in the narrative of Capt. Vancouver the following October.
