e.

[2] The overland party suffered the greatest hardship and some loss of
life, and did not arrive at Astoria till January 1812.

{115}

CHAPTER VIII

THE PASSING OF THE FUR LORDS

When Astoria passed to the Nor'westers, with it came, as we shall see,
an opportunity of acquiring for Great Britain the whole of the vast
region west of the Rockies, including California and Alaska. Gray's
feat in finding the mouth of the Columbia, and the explorations of
Lewis and Clark overland to the same river, gave the United States
possession of a part of this territory by right of discovery; but this
possession was practically superseded by the transfer of Astor's fort
to the British-Canadian Company. Yet, to-day, we find Britain not in
possession of California, not in possession of the region round the
mouth of the Columbia, not in possession of Alaska. The reason for
this will appear presently.

The Treaty of Ghent which closed the War of 1812 made no mention of the
boundaries of Oregon, but it provided that any territory captured by
either nation in the course of the {116} war should be restored to the
original owner. The question then arose: did this clause in the treaty
apply to Astoria? Was the taking over of the fur-post by the British
company in reality an act of war? The United States said Yes; Great
Britain said No; and both nations claimed sovereignty over Oregon. In
1818 a provisional agreement was reached, under which either nation
might trade and establish settlements in the disputed territory. But
it was now utterly impossible for Astor to prosecute the fur trade on
the Pacific. The 'Bostonnais' had lost prestige with the Indians when
the _Tonquin_ sank off Clayoquot, and the more experienced British and
Canadian traders were in control of the field. At this time the
Hudson's Bay Company and the Nor'westers were waging the trade war that
terminated in their union in 1820-1821; and when the united companies
came to assign officers to the different districts, John M'Loughlin,
who had been a partner in the North-West Company, was sent overland to
rule Oregon.

[Illustration: John M'Loughlin. Photographed by Savannah from an
original painting.]

What did Oregon comprise? At that time no man knew; but within ten
years after his arrival in 1824 M'Loughlin had sent out hunting
brigades, consisting of two or {117} three hundred horsemen, in all
directions: east, under Alexander Ross, as far as Mon