The advanced state of geographical science
shows that no new countries remain to be explored. In North
America the animals are slowly decreasing, from the persevering
efforts and the indiscriminate slaughter practiced by the
hunters, and by the appropriation to the uses of man of those
forests and rivers which have afforded them food and protection.
They recede with the aborigines, before the tide of civilization;
but a diminished supply will remain in the mountains and
uncultivated tracts of this and other countries, if the avidity
of the hunter can be restrained within proper limitations.
* An animal called the stoat, a kind of ermine, is said to be
found in North America, but very inferior to the European and
Asiatic.
* * The finest fur and the darkest color are most esteemed; and
whether the difference arises from the age of the animal, or from
some peculiarity of location, is not known. They do not vary more
from the common marten than the Arabian horse from the shaggy
Canadian.
Height of the Rocky Mountains.
VARIOUS estimates have been made of the height of the Rocky
Mountains, but it is doubtful whether any have, as yet, done
justice to their real altitude, which promises to place them only
second to the highest mountains of the known world. Their height
has been diminished to the eye by the great elevation of the
plains from which they rise. They consist, according to Long, of
ridges, knobs, and peaks, variously disposed. The more elevated
parts are covered with perpetual snows, which contribute to give
them a luminous, and, at a great distance, even a brilliant
appearance; whence they derive, among some of the first
discoverers, the name of the Shining Mountains.
James's Peak has generally been cited as the highest of the
chain; and its elevation above the common level has been
ascertained, by a trigonometrical measurement, to be about eight
thousand five hundred feet. Mr. Long, however, judged, from the
position of the snow near the summits of other peaks and ridges
at no great distance from it, that they were much higher. Having
heard Professor Renwick, of New York, express an opinion of the
altitude of these mountains far beyond what had usually been
ascribed to them, we applied to him for the authority on which he
grounded his observation, and here subjoin his reply:
Columbia College, New York, February 23, 1836.
Dear Sir, - In compliance with your request, I have to
communicate some facts in relation to the heights of the Rocky
Mountains, and the sources whence I obtained the information.
In conversation with Simon M'Gillivray, Esq., a partner of the
Northwest Company, he stated to me his impression, that the
mountains in the vicinity of the route pursued by the traders of
that company were nearly as high as the Himalayas. He had himself
crossed by this route, seen the snowy summits of the peaks, and
experienced a degree of cold which required a spirit thermometer
to indicate it. His authority for the estimate of the heights was
a gentleman who had been employed for several years as surveyor
of that company. This conversation occurred about sixteen years
since.
A year or two afterwards, I had the pleasure of dining, at Major
Delafield's with Mr. Thompson, the gentleman referred to by Mr.
M'Gillivray. I inquired of him in relation to the circumstances
mentioned by Mr. M'Gillivray, and he stated that, by the joint
means of the barometric and trigonometric measurement, he had
ascertained the height of one of the peaks to be about twenty-
five thousand feet, and there were others of nearly the same
height in the vicinity.
I am, dear sir,
To W. Irving, Esq.
Yours truly,
JAMES RENWICK.
Suggestions with respect to the Indian tribes, and the protection
of our Trade.
IN the course of this work, a few general remarks have been
hazarded respecting the Indian tribes of the prairies, and the
dangers to be apprehended from them in future times to our trade
beyond the Rocky Mountains and with the Spanish frontiers. Since
writing those remarks, we have met with some excellent
observations and suggestions, in manuscript, on the same subject,
written by Captain Bonneville, of the United States army, who had
lately returned from a long residence among the tribes of the
Rocky Mountains. Captain B. approves highly of the plan recently
adopted by the United States government for the organization of a
regiment of dragoons for the protection of our western frontier,
and the trade across the prairies. "No other species of military
force," he observes, "is at all competent to cope with these
restless and wandering hordes, who require to be opposed with
swiftness quite as much as with strength; and the consciousness
that a troop, uniting these qualifications, is always on the
alert to avenge their outrages upon the settlers and traders,
will go very far towards restraining them from the perpetration
of those thefts and murders which they have heretofore committed
with impunity, whenever stratagem or superiority of force has
given them the advantage. Their interest already has done
something towards their pacification with our countrymen. From
the traders among them, they receive their supplies in the
greatest abundance, and upon very equitable terms; and when it is
remembered that a very considerable amount of property is yearly
distributed among them by the government, as presents, it will
readily be perceived that they are greatly dependent upon us for
their most valued resources. If, superadded to this inducement, a
frequent display of military power be made in their territories,
there can be little doubt that the desired security and peace
will be speedily afforded to our own people. But the idea of
establishing a permanent amity and concord amongst the various
east and west tribes themselves, seems to me, if not wholly
impracticable, at least infinitely more difficult than many
excellent philanthropists have hoped and believed.
