Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/411

DIARY OF ASAHEL MUNGER AND WIFE. 403 situated upon the Columbia river. Here is the point where we first 9 saw the river. Monday, we spent our time pleasantly in many respects from the time of our arrival until the present. Mr. Pomber, we understood by Mr. Ermitinger had concluded to give us an invitation to spend the winter with him and busy ourselves by teaching his children, and the like, if we dont find an opportunity to spend the winter with Dr. Whitman. This he has done for our accommodation and not for his convenience. This morning Mr. Smith and Mr. Rogers (missionaries) arrived and the man that helped us from the States. He told us that Mr. Griffin arrived at Dr. Whitman's on Wednesday last. He drove very fast in order to get there before we should. When he arrived he found the family were not at home, and only stayed 3 or 4 hours hired a pilot started for Mr. Spauldings with the intention of arriving there before they left. But it proved other- wise. Dr. Whitman and his wife, Mr. Hall the printer from Sandwich Islands and his wife arrived here soon after noon. They had been here but a few hours before the way was prepared for us to go home with them and spend the winter. They wanted joiner work, and such other things as I could do. Here I cannot help mentioning the providence of God in answering our prayer. We have prayed to God in our trouble that he would provide some place for us to spend the winter where we might be useful. I rejoice that we did not engage to go down to the Willamit for evidently the Lord has sent us here. Through all our trials I cannot say that I have ever regretted that we have undertaken this journey. Though I do regret that we started as we did, or in the way we did. I have always felt as I did before 10 starting; the consciousness that the Lord had sent us. Tuesday I this morning closed a bargain with Dr. Whitman and made arrange- ments to go home with him today. Mr. Ermitinger had a long talk with him and all the other missionaries, that were here. Brother Geger [Geiger]! & Mr. Johnsons called on Dr. Whitman (as they came on before us from Ft Hall) and helped to pave the way that led us to the harbor we are in this fall. Left the Fort in company with Dr. Whitman & his wife on horseback, (had two horses of Mr. Pomber) about one o'clock. We lingered along some when first setting out on account of Mrs. Hall, she is not able to ride on horse back having been diseased for years with a spinal affection, and came here for the purpose of recovering her health. 3 men took a canoe, and are going up the Walla Walla river with her. We rode on after leaving them tolerably fast arrived at home before sunset 25 miles. You can judge something of Eliza's health and strength if 1 William Geiger who became a permanent settler of Oregon. 2 D. G. Johnson who left soon for the Hawaiian Islands.