Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/85

EARLIEST TRAVELERS ON OREGON TRAIL 77 trade of the various posts of the upper river organized to best advantage and himself making a flying trip to the Snake coun- try, was to erect a Fort at the mouth of the Walla Walla river as a base for the Snake country trade. This was named Fort Nez Perces., but came to be more generally known as Fort Walla Walla (and the site is even now platted as such on the county records of Walla Walla County although a mere sand and gravel flat without improvement at the present day). This was in the summer of 1818. Not at all daunted by the lateness of the season, Mr. Mackenzie then organized his first Snake Country expedition. Quoting from Mr. Ross we are told that "the expedition was composed of fifty-five men of all denomi- nations, one hundred and ninety-five horses, and three hundred beaver traps, besides a considerable stock of merchandise ; but depending upon the chances of the chase, they set out without provisions or stores of any kind." * * * "The party took their departure at the end of September, in the full view and amid the cheers of all the natives. Turning his back, there- fore, upon the rest of his extensive charge, with all its ease and fruits of comfort, Mackenzie, without any second or friend in whom he could confide, placed himself at the head of this medley, to suffer new hardships and face new dangers, in the precarious adventure." This is the party which undoubtedly passed through the Powder River Valley in October of 1818 and began to break up into small parties and occasion the leader much trouble in this very vicinity. Mackenzie led the main party clear to Black Bear River as he called it and leav- ing them there himself returned to Fort Nez Perces, arriving after traveling six hundred miles on snow shoes in mid-winter, accompanied by only six companions. Here was a winter journey not yet awarded poetic recognition and illustrating the energy, tirelessness and leadership of this man ! On his return trip to the Portneuf that spring Mr. Macken- zie (desiring to know the practicability of transporting his furs by water route) accomplished a feat that seems to us remark- able in the light of present day navigation; he ascended the Snake river from the, mouth of the Clear water to the mouth of