They landed on a point of land under the guns of the fort, and formed their camp.

We invited these gentlemen to our quarters and learned from them the object of their visit.

They had come to await the arrival of the ship _Isaac Todd_, despatched from Canada by the Northwest Company, in October, 1811, with furs, and from England in March, 1812, with a cargo of suitable merchandise for the Indian trade.

They had orders to wait at the mouth of the Columbia till the month of July, and then to return, if the vessel did not make her appearance by that time.

They also informed us that the natives near Lewis river had shown them fowling-pieces, gun-flints, lead, and powder; and that they had communicated this news to Mr.M'Kenzie, presuming that the Indians had discovered and plundered his _cache_; which turned out afterward to be the case.
The month of May was occupied in preparations for our departure from the Columbia.