tinued. She offers interesting detail of life of this important center of trade and civilization in the entire Pacific northwest. It is noticeable that no mention is made of her companion, Mrs. Spalding. These two women remained at Vancouver until November 2nd. The service and courtesies rendered by the officials of the Hudson's Bay Company to the entire missionary party serve to disprove criticisms of the company by W. H. Gray, in his so-called History of Oregon, published in 1879.
"12th Breakfasted at the sawmill five miles from Vancouver & made preparations for entering it. You may be surprised to hear of a saw Mill here when I said there was no timber on the Columbia. Since we passed the Cascades the scene is changed & we are told there is timber all the way to the Coast, above the Cascades we saw none. Eve. we are now in Vancouver. The New York of the Pacific Ocean. Our first sight as we approached the Fort were two Ships, lying in the harbour, one of which, the Neriade, Capt. Royal had just arrived from London. The Columbia Capt Darby came last May & has since been to the Sandwich Islands & returned. On landing we first met Mr Townsend[1] whom we saw at W W but did not then say who he was. He is from Phillidelphia, has been in the mountains two years, He is sent here by a Society to collect the different species of bipeds & Quadrupeds peculiar to this country. We brought a parcel of letters to him the first he has received since he left home, Mr Townsend led us into the Fort. But before we reached the house of the Chief Factor Doct McLaughlin, were met by several gentlemen, who came to give us a welcome. Mr Douglas Doct Tolmie & Doct McLaughlin of the Hudson Bay Company who invited us in & seated us on the Sofa. Soon after we were Introduced to Mrs McLaughlin & Mrs Douglas, both natives of the country (half breed) After chatting a little we were invited to a walk in the garden. And what a delightful place this. What a contrast this to the barren sand plains through which we had so recently passed. Here
we find fruit of every discription. Apples peaches grapes. Pear
- ↑ John Kirk Townsend. Evidently his letters had been in care of Mr. Spalding. He wrote Narrative of a Journey across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River, 1839.
