bered that in a previous Journal (Or. Hist. Quar., Dec., 1909), under date of June 2nd, 1826, is recorded; "Proceeded but a short distance when we met a Snake; this Indian I saw last year on Bear's River." (In the foot-note to that entry the word probably might better have read possibly); and that Maj. Chittenden independently suggests Cache Valley through which the Bear river flows as the scene of Mr. Ogden's disaster in the spring of 1825. It would seem unusual for so enthusiastic and well equipped a trader as was Mr. Ogden that spring to neglect the inviting streams tributary to Bear river and the Salt Lake valley, when so near at hand. Yet it seems equally unexplainable that, although in the years 1826 and 1828 for months immediately to the north of Great Salt Lake on the Portneuf and other streams, he makes no mention at all in his Journals of Great Salt Lake itself. He refers often to Salt Lake, meaning the headquarters of the American traders on Utah lake, but never to Great Salt lake until this present year. The record of that first expedition, of 1824-5, must be available before the desired fact can be known with certainty; and the strong probability is that after the expedition of 1824-5 and until 1828-9, after the renewal of the treaty of joint convention between England and the United States, the operations of the Snake river party were studiously confined within the limits of the Old Oregon Country, that is to the streams draining into the Columbia river.

Ogden's Hole took its name without doubt in the same manner as did Jackson's Hole and Pierre's Hole and other similarly named mountain valleys of limited area frequented as rendezvous by the trappers. This Journal unfortunately contains no entry between January 17th, and March 29th, 1829, but a rude pen and ink map accompanying the Journal purports to show "Ogden's Track 1829," and this indicates that he followed the valley of Bear river very closely, but to the south of it, and this would have taken him into Cache valley and Ogden valley further to the southward and the stream known as Ogden river when the first settlers arrived in that

region; those settlers took the name from the Indians and the retired trappers who lived here and there along the streams. Local tradition has it that Mr. Ogden had trouble with the Indians when there and that one of his men named Weber was killed in the canyon now so named and through which the main line of the Union Pacific railroad is now built. There is no confirmation of this, however, and the name Weber is American rather than French-Canadian.

The flat valley where the city of Ogden is now located is more likely to have been the site of Ogden's Hole, in the general acceptance of that term. It is there that the Ogden river comes out of a beautiful canyon of the same namea canyon that was almost impassible until the river was put to commercial use and a fine boulevard constructed through it, connecting the city with the Ogden valley, eight or nine miles away. This canyon is now the pleasure resort of the citizens of Ogden and affords delightful opportunity for the entertainment of their guests. The Ogden valley is a stretch of meadow land rather narrow in width, but opening into other small valleys of the branch streams that form the Ogden river. The trail used by Indians and trappers in passing to and from this valley crossed a divide and followed a smaller and less precipitous canyon opening at North Ogden, a few miles from the city of Ogden, and the early settlers understood Ogden's Hole to mean this smaller canyon and divide.

It may also be remarked that the writer of H. H. Bancroft's History of Utah in a foot note mentions Ogden's Hole as the mountain resort of a noted desperado of that name.

The publication of these two Journals completes the set of four, which was begun in the Or. Hist. Quarterly for December, 1909. A sketch of the life and career of Mr. Ogden appears in the Quarterly for Sept., 1910. No one who has not seen the original of one of the Journals used by the trappers and traders when in the field can appreciate the difficulty in reading their contents. They were made of small sheets of beaver skin often indifferently cured and tied with a thong;

and the writing was done with a quill often under very uncertain conditions of weather or comfort. Unless conversant with the French language and with the names and terms common to the country and trade, it is practically impossible to decipher the writing at times, which covers margins and outside as well as inside of the sheets. The wonder is that these journals are so well preserved as to be deciphered at all, and blunders in the copying may well be overlooked, as it is quite often a question of interpretation, especially with proper

names.

JOURNAL OF PETER SKENE OGDEN; SNAKE
EXPEDITION, 1827-1828

(As copied by Miss Agnes C. Laut in 1905, from original in Hudson's Bay Compay House, London, England)

August 24.

Left Ft. Vancouver for the Snake Country with 28 trappers and hopes far from sanguine. 1st Sept. we reached Nez Perces,' on 5th Sept. set off.

Sept. 6, Friday.

left Mr. Black and overtook the party encamped on W. Walow River 12 miles from fort.

Tuesday 10th.

commenced crossing over the Blue Mtns; camped at 11 A. M. drenched in rain and fatigued from windfall. This is the best trail across the Blue Mtns. from the source of the Walla Walla.2

Friday 13th.

All hands employed making poles for leather tents.

Saturday 14th.

Reached Clay River3 or River de Grande Ronde wh. discharges in s. branch of Columbia 2 days march from Nez Perces. A Cayouse reported a party of American trappers are on the way to Nez Perces Fort.

Tuesday 17th.

Crossed over the Fork of Powder River and encamped on main branch.

Wednesday 18th.

encamped on River Brule.4

Saturday 21st.

Mr. McKay to explore sources of Sandwich Island River,5 with 11 men.

I Fort Nez Perces or Walla Walla at mouth of the Walla Walla river, Mr. Samuel Black in command.

2 Probably the trail from the forks of the Walla Walla river seven miles above Milton, Oregon, across to the Grand Ronde valley, afterward the regular toll gate road.

3 Not a very frequent designation for the Grand Ronde river.

4 Burnt river.

5Owyhee river, so named by Mr. Reed or Mr. Mackenzie of the Pac. Fur Company because some Islanders killed there.

Sunday 22nd.

Camped opposite Wayer's (Wazer's)1 River; commenced guarding our horses.

Wednesday 25th.

Trappers report traps of strangers set along this river. Shortly after an American by name Johnson appeared and informed us he and 5 others were on this stream. Their party consists of 40 men with a band of Nez Perces working in the direction Mr. McKay has taken. My sanguine hopes of beaver here are blasted. I shall send Sylvaille with 5 men to Payette's River; and proceed to Burnt and Day's River. Encamped in company with the Americans. The trappers were in every direction in quest of beaver. The Americans will not part with one.2

Saturday 28th.

Our traps gave but one otter. Before all were raised it was 10 A. M. Advanced south on the fork. The Americans informed me it was their intention to follow me to the Columbia. I informed them I could not offer them better terms than my own men had. With this they were satisfied.

Sunday 6th Oct.

Reached Reed's River. I have little hope as the American trappers are everywhere.

Thursday 10th Oct.

Only 8 beaver, consequently no longer necessary for us to remain. It was from Wazer's, Payette's and this river we expected our returns and they have produced only 140 beaver. I must now reach another quarter after junction with Mr. McKay. Course s. from Reed's River.

Sunday 13th Oct.

reached Prairie de Camasse, a fine stream discharging in Reed's River; course south. It is from near this point the

I The Weiser river.

2 Rather far west to find so many Amer. trappers and Mr. Ogden thinks of turning back in disgust, but decides finally to keep on.

3 Snake river.

4The Boise river, first called Reed's river after John Reed of the Pac. Fur Company.