The description which he gave us of the interior of the country was not calculated to give us a very favorable idea of it, and did not perfectly accord with that of our two Indian guests.

We persevered, however, in the resolution we had taken, of sending an expedition thither; and, on the 23d Mr.D.Stuart set out, accompanied by Messrs.

Pillet, Boss, M'Clellan and de Montigny, with four Canadian _voyageurs_, and the two Indian women, and in company with Mr.Thompson and his crew.

The wind being favorable, the little flotilla hoisted sail, and was soon out of our sight.[J] [Footnote J: Mr.Thompson had no doubt been sent by the agents of the Northwest Company, to take possession of an eligible spot at the mouth of the Columbia, with a view of forestalling the plan of Mr.Astor.

He would have been there before us, no doubt, but for the desertion of his men.