Active Operations at Astoria—­Various Expeditions Fitted
     Out.—­Robert Stuart and a Party Destined for New York—­
     Singular Conduct of John Day.—­His Fate.—­Piratical Pass and
     Hazardous Portage.-Rattlesnakes.—­Their Abhorrence of
     Tobacco.—­Arrival Among the Wallah-Wallahs.—­Purchase of
     Horses—­Departure of Stuart and His Band for the Mountains.

The arrival of the Beaver with a reinforcement and supplies, gave new life and vigor to affairs at Astoria.  These were means for extending the operations of the establishment, and founding interior trading posts.  Two parties were immediately set on foot to proceed severally under the command of Messrs. M’Kenzie and Clarke, and establish posts above the forks of the Columbia, at points where most rivalry and opposition were apprehended from the Northwest Company.

A third party, headed by Mr. David Stuart, was to repair with supplies to the post of that gentleman on the Oakinagan.  In addition to these expeditions, a fourth was necessary to convey despatches to Mr. Astor, at New York, in place of those unfortunately lost by John Reed.  The safe conveyance of these despatches was highly important, as by them Mr. Astor would receive an account of the state of the factory, and regulate his reinforcements and supplies accordingly.  The mission was one of peril and hardship and required a man of nerve and vigor.  It was confided to Robert Stuart, who, though he had never been across the mountains, and a very young man, had given proofs of his competency to the task.  Four trusty and well-tried men, who had come overland in Mr. Hunt’s expedition, were given as his guides and hunters.  These were Ben Jones and John Day, the Kentuckians, and Andri Vallar and Francis Le Clerc, Canadians.  Mr. M’Lellan again expressed his determination to take this opportunity of returning to the Atlantic States.  In this he was joined by Mr. Crooks,—­who, notwithstanding all that he had suffered in the dismal journey of the preceding winter, was ready to retrace his steps and brave every danger and hardship, rather than remain at Astoria.  This little handful of adventurous men we propose to accompany in its long and perilous peregrinations.

The several parties we have mentioned all set off in company on the 29th of June, under a salute of cannon from the fort.  They were to keep together for mutual protection through the piratical passes of the river, and to separate, on their different destinations, at the forks of the Columbia.  Their number, collectively, was nearly sixty, consisting of partners and clerks, Canadian voyageurs, Sandwich Islanders, and American hunters; and they embarked in two barges and ten canoes.

They had scarcely got under way, when John Day, the Kentucky hunter, became restless and uneasy, and extremely wayward in his deportment.  This caused surprise, for in general he was remarkable for his cheerful, manly deportment.  It was supposed that the recollection of past sufferings might harass his mind in undertaking to retrace the scenes where they had been experienced.  As the expedition advanced, however, his agitation increased.  He began to talk wildly and incoherently, and to show manifest symptoms of derangement.