420 rivers. [1841. 



52d parallel of north latitude, at an elevation of near four 

 thousand feet above the level of the sea. Pursuing a south- 

 erly course, amid the lofty mountains, in the basins formed 

 between which it sometimes expands into lakes, and con- 

 stantly increasing its volume by the admission of numerous 

 tributaries, it descends to Fort Colville, in about 48° 30' N. 

 latitude, where its bed is still over two thousand feet above 

 the ocean. From hence it pursues a circuitous westerly and 

 southerly course till it unites with Lewis river just above the 

 46th parallel ; the latter having already traversed a distance 

 of five hundred and twenty miles from its distant source near 

 the South Pass. Just below the junction of the two main 

 branches, the Columbia turns to the westward and descends 

 over twelve hundred feet in its passage to the ocean. In 

 passing through the Cascade Range it forms a series of pic- 

 turesque falls and cascades — from which the neighboring 

 mountains derive their name — that are entirely impassable 

 even in the highest stages of water. Below the cascades 

 the channel is unobstructed for forty miles, where there aro 

 other rapids that interrupt the navigation ; but from thence 

 to the ocean, there is a long reach of one hundred and twenty 

 miles, in the course of which the waters of the AVillamette 

 come in from the south, navigable for vessels drawing twelve 

 feet of water. 



Small vessels can ascend the Willamette, which runs nearly 

 parallel with the coast, from south to north, to within three 

 miles of the falls, though that stream, as well as the Columbia, 

 are obstructed by the sand bars constantly forming, which are 

 difficult to pass except at high-tide. Near the southern boun- 

 dary of Oregon is the Klamet, or Too-too-tut-na river, which 

 rises in the Klamet range, and pursues a westerly course to 

 the ocean. A short distance north of the 43d parallel is the 

 Umpqua river, running in the same direction with the Kla- 

 met, which has its rise at the foot of the Cascade Range near 

 the headwaters of the Willamette. There are numerous 

 other minor stfer.ms south of th« Columbia, all which, like 



