Beside these feuds between the captain and the partners, there were
feuds between the partners themselves, occasioned, in some measure, by
jealousy of rank. M'Dougal and M'Kay began to draw plans for the fort,
and other buildings of the intended establishment. They agreed very well
as to the outline and dimensions, which were on a sufficiently grand
scale; but when they came to arrange the details, fierce disputes arose,
and they would quarrel by the hour about the distribution of the doors
and windows. Many were the hard words and hard names bandied between
them on these occasions, according to the captain's account. Each
accused the other of endeavoring to assume unwarrantable power, and take
the lead; upon which Mr. M'Dougal would vauntingly lay down Mr. Astor's
letter, constituting him his representative and proxy, a document not to
be disputed.

These wordy contests, though violent, were brief; "and within fifteen
minutes," says the captain, "they would be caressing each other like
children."

While all this petty anarchy was agitating the little world within the
Tonquin, the good ship prosperously pursued her course, doubled Cape
Horn on the 25th of December, careered across the bosom of the Pacific,
until, on the 11th of February, the snowy peaks of Owyhee were seen
brightening above the horizon.




CHAPTER VI.

Owyhee.--Sandwich Islanders--Their Nautical Talents.--