54 Mr Scolder's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 



skins of a species of marmot, (Arctomys) ill adapted either 

 for the purposes of comfort or decency, and a broad sugar-loaf 

 shaped hat, which protected their shoulders from the rain. In 

 addition to the skin robe, the women had petticoats made and 

 plaited, which reached to their knees. An old Indian, clothed 

 in a large blanket, and his wife, were permitted to come on 

 board. They were at much pains to give us some idea of 

 their consequence, and for this purpose, they had a few En- 

 glish words, which with them denoted every thing. They 

 were well provided with arms of different kinds ; and in addi- 

 tion to bows and arrows, every canoe possessed several fowl- 

 ing-pieces and daggers of different shapes. We regaled these 

 people with bread and molasses, with which they were highly 

 delighted ; and after remaining three hours, during which they 

 behaved in the most peaceable manner, they left us, and pro- 

 ceeded up the river. 



1 1th. — We landed this morning in Baker's Bay, with the in- 

 tention of travelling across Cape Disappointment to the ocean, 

 that we might have an opportunity of studying the marine 

 productions of the N. Pacific. 



In this journey, we experienced much difficulty, not only 

 from the steepness of the rocks, but also from the numerous 

 pools of fresh water, which, being too deep, obliged us to take 

 a most circuitous route. On arriving at the ocean, we found the 

 primary object of our enterprise defeated, as the coast con- 

 sisted of almost perpendicular rocks, against which the waves 

 beat with great violence, and scarcely afforded a sea- weed or shell. 

 In these rocks we saw many deep caverns, most of them filled by 

 the tide at high water. Here the eagle (Falco leucocephalus,) 

 takes up his retreat ; and the frequent appearance of these ani- 

 mals devouring their prey augments the wildness of this dreary 

 scene. Our excursion was not altogether useless, as we made 

 a very considerable collection of acotyledonous plants, and ob- 

 tained some curious species of land shells in the woods. From 

 the great abundance of Musci and Jungermannioe on the 

 north-west coast, we had been led to expect a corresponding 

 variety of new species, but in this we were disappointed, and 

 most of the species we found were common to Europe ; but, 

 from the moisture and mildness of the climate, they acquired 



