A part of his people, however, had deserted him on the eastern side, and returned with the goods to the nearest Northwest post.

He had persisted in crossing the mountains with eight men, who remained true to him.

They had traversed the higher regions, and ventured near the source of the Columbia, where, in the spring, they had constructed a cedar canoe, the same in which they had reached Astoria.
This, in fact, was the party despatched by the Northwest Company to anticipate Mr.Astor in his intention of effecting a settlement at the mouth of the Columbia River.

It appears, from information subsequently derived from other sources, that Mr.Thompson had pushed on his course with great haste, calling at all the Indian villages in his march, presenting them with British flags, and even planting them at the forks of the rivers, proclaiming formally that he took possession of the country in the name of the king of Great Britain for the Northwest Company.

As his original plan was defeated by the desertion of his people, it is probable that he descended the river simply to reconnoitre, and ascertain whether an American settlement had been commenced.
Mr.Thompson was, no doubt, the first white man who descended the northern branch of the Columbia from so near its source.