They were mistaken, however, for Mr.Hunt arrived on the 15th February, with thirty men, one woman, and two children, having left Mr.Crooks, with five men, among the _Snakes_.

They might have reached Astoria almost as soon as Mr.M'Kenzie, but they had passed from eight to ten days in the midst of a plain, among some friendly Indians, as well to recruit their strength, as to make search for two of the party, who had been lost in the woods.

Not finding them, they had resumed their journey, and struck the banks of the Columbia a little lower down than the mouth of Lewis river, where Mr.M'Kenzie had come out.
The arrival of so great a number of persons would have embarrassed us, had it taken place a month sooner.

Happily, at this time, the natives were bringing in fresh fish in abundance.

Until the 30th of March, we were occupied in preparing triplicates of letters and other necessary papers, in order to send Mr.Astor the news of our arrival, and of the reunion of the two expeditions.