52 Mr Scouler's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 



the distribution of marine Zoophytes. While in lat. 43 N. E. 

 the sea was covered with immense fleets of the Medusa velella 

 of Gmelin, extending in every direction around us, a circum- 

 stance which did not occur during any other period of our 

 voyage; and the obstinacy with which these little animals 

 continue in the same situation, is well illustrated by the fact, 

 that they were seen by Captain Vancouver in the same latitude, 

 more than thirty years since.* 



3d April. — The sight of Cape Disappointment cheered us 

 with the anticipation that our voyage would speedily be at 

 an end, and the probability of coming to anchor before sunset 

 threw an air of cheerfulness over every individual. But the 

 object of our wishes was not yet to be gratified, and the gentle 

 breeze which had carried us on, soon augmented into a severe 

 gale, and we were obliged to give up the attempt, and wait for 

 a more favourable opportunity. After experiencing another 

 storm, in addition to the many we had already encountered, 

 our next attempt was more fortunate, and on the Sth April 

 we were securely anchored in Baker's Bay. On approaching 

 the coast, Cape Disappointment is the most remarkable ob- 

 ject, and its steep sides are seen at a great distance. On ad- 

 vancing nearer the shore, similar rocks are seen to line the 

 coast for a great way to the northward. The southern side of 

 the coast consists of the low sandy beach of Point Adams, and 

 is the usual residence of a tribe of Indians, distinguished for 

 their hostility to all visitors. 



9th. — Impatient to acquire some knowledge of the vegetable 

 productions of the country, which was for some months to be 

 the field of our labours, we proceeded to make a short ex- 

 cursion along the banks of che river, but as we had as yet 

 seen none of the natives, prudence required that we should 

 not wander too far. On leaping from the boat, the first ob- 

 ject which attracted our notice, was the Gualtheria shallon 

 growing in abundance among the rocks, and covered with its 

 beautiful roseate flowers. We then entered a forest of gigan- 

 tic pine trees, among a brushwood of Menziesiajerruginea and 



• Vancouver saw these Zoophytes about the same period of the year, in 

 lat. 35° 25' N., and we found them in the same parallel., but tfwy externa <1 

 as far north as lat. 43°. 



