Generally, however, when their time expires, they find themselves in debt, and are obliged to serve an extra time to pay it; and not unfrequently, at the expiration of their engagement, they have become attached or married to some Indian woman, or half-breed, and have children, on which account they find themselves unable to leave, and continue attached to the company's service, and in all respects under the same management as before. If they desire to remain and cultivate land, they are assigned a certain portion, but are still dependent on the company for many necessaries of life, clothing, &c.

This causes them to become a sort of vassal, and compels them to execute the will of the company. In this way, however, order and decorum are preserved, together with steady habits, for few can in any way long withstand this silent influence. The consequence is that few communities are to be found more orderly than that which is formed of the persons who have retired from the company's service. This power, exercised by the officers of the company is much complained of, but it appears to be used for good purposes, as far at least as the morals of the settlers and servants are concerned. Dr. McLaughlin, who is at the head of affairs in this region, is of Scotch origin, but by birth a Canadian, enthusiastic in disposition, possessing great energy of character, and extremely well suited for the situation he occupies, which requires great talent and industry. Through his influence the use of ardent spirits has been almost entirely done away with. Large quantities of spirituous liquors are stored in the magazines of Fort Vancouver, which the company have refused to make an article of trade, and none is now used by them in the territory for that purpose. They have found the rule highly beneficial to their business in many respects; more furs are taken in consequence of those engaged

having fewer inducements to err; the Indians are found to be less quarrelsome, and pursue the chase more constantly; and the settlers have been uniformly prosper ous. A brig came there with a cargo consisting principally of rum. The Dr. negotiated and succeeded in buying the whole cargo, simply to prevent the use of the rum, and promote the temperance cause.

Although Dr. McLaughlin is a professed Roman Catholic, and has a priest of the same faith daily officiating at the chapel, he is in an eminent degree free from sectarian prejudices and illiberality. Religious toleration is allowed in its fullest extent, and several of the American and other missionaries make Vancouver for the most part their home, where the governor kindly receives and entertains them, at no expense to themselves.

All the goods imported into Oregon are divided into three classes; articles of gratuity, those of trade, and those intended to pay for small services, labor and provisions. The first consists of knives and tobacco; the second of blankets, guns, cloth, powder and shot; the third of shirts, handkerchiefs, ribands, beads, &c. These articles are bartered at seemingly great profits, and many persons imagine that large gain must be the result from the Indian trade; but this is seldom the case. The Indians and settlers fully understand the value of each article. The company make advances to all their trappers, if they wish to be sure of their services; and from such a reckless set there is little certainty of getting returns, even if the trapper has it in his power. In fact, he will not return with his season's acquisition unless he is constrained to pursue the same course of life for another year, when he requires a new advance. In order to avoid losses by the departure of their men, the parties, some thirty or forty in number, are placed under the charge of an officer, who has charge of the whole. These are allowed to take their wives, and even their

families with them, and places where they are to trap during the season, on some favorable ground, are assigned to them. These parties leave Vancouver in October and return in May or June. They usually trap on shares, and the portion they are to receive is defined by an agreement, the conditions of which depend very much upon their skill. All the profits of the company depend upon economical management; for the quantity of pelfry in this section of the country, and indeed it may be said the fur trade on this side of the mountains, has fallen off fifty per cent. within the last few years. It is reported that the business at present is hardly worth pursuing.

The number of posts occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company in this territory, is twenty-five. These are located at the best points for trade, and so as to secure the usual resorts of the Indians, without interfering with their usual habits. The accompanying view of one of these establishments, Fort Glossop, will serve to give a general idea of their arrangement and appearance. It may be questioned whether the trade of the Hudson's Bay Company in Oregon yields any profit at present; but the Puget Sound Company, by the accumulation of live stock, which is very rapid, is augmenting its wealth; and, in the event of the country becoming settled at a future day, the farms and other land possessed by the company must become very valuable, as the posts occupy all the points most favorably situated for trade, and the agricultural establishments have been placed in many of the best positions for farming operations. The utmost economy is practised in every department, and great exertions are made to push the operations of the com- . panies over a larger field of action. By means of their credit and capital, they have established mercantile houses at the Sandwich Islands and San Francisco, where articles of every description imported in the vessels of the company may be purchased.