Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: The descent of the Fraser River, 1808. From a colour drawing by C. W. Jefferys.] PIONEERS OF THE PACIFIC COAST A Chronicle of Sea Rovers and Fur Hunters BY AGNES C. LAUT TORONTO GLASGOW, BROOK & COMPANY 1915 Copyright in all Countries subscribing to the Berne Convention {v} CONTENTS Page I. THE VOYAGE OF THE 'GOLDEN HIND' . . . . . . . . 1 II. VITUS BERING ON THE PACIFIC . . . . . . . . . . 11 III. THE OUTLAW HUNTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 IV. COOK AND VANCOUVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 V. 'ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, FROM CANADA, BY LAND' . . 71 VI. THE DESCENT OF THE FRASER RIVER . . . . . . . . 86 VII. THOMPSON AND THE ASTORIANS . . . . . . . . . . . 99 VIII. THE PASSING OF THE FUR LORDS . . . . . . . . . . 115 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 {vii} ILLUSTRATIONS THE DESCENT OF THE FRASER RIVER, 1808 _Frontispiece_ From a colour drawing by C. W. Jefferys. ROUTES OF EXPLORERS ON THE PACIFIC COAST . . . . . _Facing page_ 44 Map by Bartholomew. JAMES COOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 46 From the portrait by Dance in the Gallery of Greenwich Hospital. THE LAUNCH OF THE 'NORTH-WEST AMERICA' AT NOOTKA SOUND, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 58 From Meares's 'Voyages.' CALLICUM AND MAQUINNA, CHIEFS OF NOOTKA SOUND . . " " 68 From Meares's 'Voyages.' GEORGE VANCOUVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 70 From a painting in the National Portrait Gallery, London. SIMON FRASER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 90 After the portrait in the Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. {viii} JOHN M'LOUGHLIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 116 Photographed by Savannah from an original painting. FORT VANCOUVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 118 From a print in the John Ross Robertson Collection, Toronto Public Library. THE FORT OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, VICTORIA, B.C. " " 128 From a photograph by Savannah. {1} CHAPTER I THE VOYAGE OF THE _GOLDEN HIND_