The Columbia River . But he waited one season too long. For,finding it late in the year 1810 when he had reachedthe sources of the Columbia, he decided to winterthere and descend the River in the spring. He se-lected a beautiful spot capable of defence on all sideson Lake Windermere and there built a rude fort, thetrench and mound of which still remain. In thespring of 1811 he went down the river (and this wasthe first party to traverse the entire course of the Colum-bia) full of hope that he might take possession forGreat Britain and the North-westers, only to find thatthe Astor party of Amer
The Columbia River . But he waited one season too long. For,finding it late in the year 1810 when he had reachedthe sources of the Columbia, he decided to winterthere and descend the River in the spring. He se-lected a beautiful spot capable of defence on all sideson Lake Windermere and there built a rude fort, thetrench and mound of which still remain. In thespring of 1811 he went down the river (and this wasthe first party to traverse the entire course of the Colum-bia) full of hope that he might take possession forGreat Britain and the North-westers, only to find thatthe Astor party of Americans had preceded them bythree months in effecting what might be called per-manent occupation. This was one of the important links in the historyof the control of the North-west. Doubt has beenraised as to the authenticity of this Windermerelocation, but there are certainly the remains of moundand trench, and the tradition has it that here was theplace of the Thompson party, the first White men onthe Upper In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies 293 An interesting character hves on the shore of LakeWindermere in the person of Baptiste is an elderly man, the son of a French father andan Indian mother. The father, Francis Morigeau,was born at Quebec in 1797, and came to the upperColumbia region as a free trapper in 1820. Hetrapped up and down the Columbia for many years,selling his catches to the Hudsons Bay Company,usually at Fort Colville. Baptiste was born atWindermere in 1842. Three years after that thefather with his numerous family went to Colville. Hehad a number of horses and cattle, a large supply ofvaluable furs, ammunition, and traps. He located atColville at just the right time. For, having takenup a large body of the rich land in that valley, hebegan raising hay and grain. His stock was surrounded with every species of rude plenty,and just at the most profitable time for him the golddiscoveries began in 1854, followed the next year b
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