Chapter II: Preface: To the French Edition

When I was writing my journal on the vessel which carried me to the northwest coast of North America, or in the wild regions of this continent, I was far from thinking that it would be placed one day before the public eye. I had no other end in writing, but to procure to my family and my friends a more exact and more connected detail of what I had seen or learned in the course of my travels, than it would have been possible for me to give them in a _viva voce_ narration. Since my return to my native city, my manuscript has passed into various hands and has been read by different persons: several of my friends immediately advised me to print it; but it is only quite lately that I have allowed myself to be persuaded, that without being a learned naturalist, a skilful geographer, or a profound moralist, a traveller may yet interest by the faithful and succinct account of the situations in which he has found himself, the adventures which have happened to him, and the incidents of which he has been a witness; that if a simple ingenuous narrative, stripped of the merit of science and the graces of diction, must needs be less enjoyed by the man of letters or by the _savant_, it would have, in compensation, the advantage of being at the level of a greater number of readers; in fine, that the desire of affording an entertainment to his countrymen, according to his capacity, and without any mixture of the author's vanity or of pecuniary interest, would be a well-founded title to their indulgence. Whether I have done well or ill in yielding to these suggestions, which I am bound to regard as those of friendship, or of good-will, it belongs to the impartial and disinterested reader, to decide.

MONTREAL, 1819.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Departure from Montreal.--Arrival in New York.--Description of that City.--Names of the Persons engaged in the Expedition.

CHAPTER II.

Departure from New York.--Reflections of the Author.--Navigation, falling in with other Ships, and various Incidents, till the Vessel comes in Sight of the Falkland Isles.

CHAPTER III.

Arrival at the Falkland Isles.--Landing.--Perilous Situation of the Author and some of his Companions.--Portrait of Captain Thorn.--Cape Horn.--Navigation to the Sandwich Islands.

CHAPTER IV.

Accident.--View of the Coast.--Attempted Visit of the Natives.--Their Industry.--Bay of Karaka-koua.--Landing on the Island.--John Young, Governor of Owahee.

CHAPTER V.

Bay of Ohetity.--Tamehameha, King of the Island.--His Visit to the Ship.--His Capital.--His Naval Force.--His Authority.--Productions of the Country.--Manners and Customs.--Reflections.

CHAPTER VI.

Departure from Wahoo.--Storm.--Arrival at the Mouth of the Columbia.--Reckless Order of the Captain.--Difficulty of the Entrance.--Perilous Situation of the Ship.--Unhappy Fate of a Part of the Crew and People of the Expedition.

CHAPTER VII.

Regrets of the Author at the Loss of his Companions.--Obsequies of a Sandwich-Islander.--First Steps in the Formation of the intended Establishment.--New Alarm.--Encampment.

CHAPTER VIII.

Voyage up the River.--Description of the Country.--Meeting with strange Indians.

CHAPTER IX.

Departure of the Tonquin.--Indian Messengers.--Project of an Expedition to the Interior.--Arrival of Mr. Daniel Thompson.--Departure of the Expedition.--Designs upon us by the Natives.--Rumors of the Destruction of the Tonquin.--Scarcity of Provisions.--Narrative of a strange Indian.--Duplicity and Cunning of Comcomly.

CHAPTER X.

Occupation at Astoria.--Return of a Portion of the Men of the Expedition to the Interior.--New Expedition.--Excursion in Search of three Deserters.

CHAPTER XI.

Departure of Mr. R. Stuart for the Interior.--Occupations at Astoria.--Arrival of Messrs. Donald M'Kenzie and Robert M'Lellan.--Account of their Journey.--Arrival of Mr. Wilson P. Hunt.

CHAPTER XII.

Arrival of the Ship Beaver.--Unexpected Return of Messrs. D. Stuart, B. Stuart, M'Lelland, &c.--Cause of that Return.--Ship discharging.--New Expeditions.--Hostile Attitude of the Natives.--Departure of the Beaver.--Journeys of the Author.--His Occupations at the Establishment.

CHAPTER XIII.

Uneasiness respecting the "Beaver."--News of the Declaration of War between Great Britain and the United States.--Consequences of that Intelligence.--Different Occurrences.--Arrival of two Canoes of the Northwest Company.--Preparations for abandoning the Country.--Postponement of Departure.--Arrangement-with Mr. J.G. M'Tavish.

CHAPTER XIV.

Arrival of the Ship "Albatross."--Reasons for the Non-Appearance of the Beaver at Astoria.--Fruitless Attempt of Captain Smith on a Former Occasion.--Astonishment and Regret of Mr. Hunt at the Resolution of the Partners.--His Departure.--Narrative of the Destruction of the Tonquin.--Causes of that Disaster.--Reflections.

CHAPTER XV.

Arrival of a Number of Canoes of the Northwest Company.--Sale of the Establishment at Astoria to that Company.--Canadian News.--Arrival of the British Sloop-of-War "Raccoon."--Accident on Board that Vessel.--The Captain takes Formal Possession of Astoria.--Surprise and Discontent of the Officers And Crew.--Departure of the "Raccoon."

CHAPTER XVI.

Expeditions to the Interior.--Return of Messrs. John Stuart and D. M'Kenzie.--Theft committed by the Natives.--War Party against the Thieves.

CHAPTER XVII.

Description of Tongue Point.--A Trip to the _Willamet_.--Arrival of W. Hunt in the Brig Pedlar.--Narrative of the Loss of the Ship Lark.--Preparations for crossing the Continent.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Situation of the Columbia River.--Qualities of its Soil.--Climate, &c.--Vegetable and Animal Productions of the Country.

CHAPTER XIX.

Manners, Customs, Occupations, &c., of the Natives on the River Columbia.

CHAPTER XX.

Manners and Customs of the Natives continued.--Their Wars.--Their Marriages.--Medicine Men.--Funeral Ceremonies.--Religious Notions.--Language.

CHAPTER XXI.

Departure from Astoria Or Fort George.--Accident.--Passage of the Dalles or Narrows.--Great Columbian Desert.--Aspect of the Country.--Wallawalla and Sha-aptin Rivers.--Rattlesnakes.--Some Details regarding the Natives of the Upper Columbia.

CHAPTER XXII.

Meeting with the Widow of a Hunter.--Her Narrative.--Reflections of the Author.--Priest's Rapid.--River Okenakan.--Kettle Falls.--Pine Moss.--Scarcity of Food.--Rivers, Lakes, &c.--Accident.--A Rencontre.--First View of the Rocky Mountains.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Course of the Columbian River.--Canoe River.--Foot-march toward the Rocky Mountains.--Passage of the Mountains.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Arrival at the Fort of the Mountains.--Description of this Post.--Some Details in Regard to the Rocky Mountains.--Mountain Sheep, &c.--Continuation of the Journey.--Unhappy Accident.--Reflections.--News from Canada.--Hunter's Lodge.--Pembina and Red Deer Rivers.

CHAPTER XXV.

Red Deer Lake.--Antoine Déjarlais.--Beaver River.--N. Nadeau.--Moose River.--Bridge Lake.--Saskatchawine River.--Fort Vermilion.--Mr. Hallet.--Trading-Houses.--Beautiful Country.--Reflections.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Fort Montée.--Cumberland House.--Lake Bourbon.--Great Winipeg Rapids.--Lake Winipeg.--Trading-House.--Lake of the Woods.--Rainy Lake House, &c.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Arrival at Fort William.--Description of that Post--News from the River Columbia.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Departure from Fort William.--Navigation on Lake Superior.--Michipicoton Bay.--Meeting a Canoe.--Batchawainon Bay.--Arrival at Saut Ste. Marie.--Occurrences there.--Departure.--Lake Huron.--French River.--Lake Nipissing.--Ottawa River.--Kettle Falls.--Rideau River.--Long-Saut.--Arrival in Montreal.--Conclusion.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Present State of the Countries visited by the Author.--Correction of Mr. Irving's Statements respecting St. Louis.

APPENDIX.

Mr. Seton's Adventures.--Survivors of the Expedition in 1851.--Author's Protest against some Expressions in Mr. Irving's "Astoria."--Editor's Note.