SJcetch of the Life of Mr, David Douglas, 131 



lumbia. On the IGth when nearly ready for his journey to the 

 Blue mountains we have a very amusing account of a nocturnal 

 visit of rats (probably the Neotoma occidentalism) to his tent. 



" During the night I was annoyed by the visit of a herd of rats 

 " which devoured every particle of seed I had collected, ate clean 

 *' through a bundle of dried plants, and carried off my soap-brush, 

 " and razor ! As one was taking away my inkstand, which I had 

 " been using shortly before, and which lay close to my pillow, 

 " I raised my gun, which with my faithful dog, is always placed 

 " under my blanket by my side, with the muzzle to my feet, and 

 " hastily gave him the contents. When I saw how large and 

 " strong a creature this rat was, I ceased to wonder at the 

 " exploits of the herd in depriving me of my property. The 

 " body and tail together measured a foot and a half ; the back is 

 " brown, the belly white ; while the enormous ears are each three 

 " quarters of an inch long, with whiskers thi'ee inches in length, 

 " and jet black. 



His journey to the Blue Mountains, occupying nine or ten days, 

 did not turn out so productive as he had expected. He encoun- 

 tered tremendous thunder-storms, his guide refused to descend the 

 southern slopes, declaring that their horses would be stolen, and 

 that they themselves would fall victims to the hatred of the Shosh- 

 onies, or the Snake tribe, who are always on bad terms with the 

 Columbia Indians. Before retracing his steps, however, he had 

 the pleasure of plucking specimens of that magnificent plant, the 

 LiLpinaster macrocephalus of Pursh, and of adding many new- 

 species to the genera Liipinus^ Pedicidaris^ "^ Pentstemon and 

 Eriogonum. The TrifoUum altisshnum and T. plumosum were 

 also gathered, and last, though not least, the Pceonia Brownii now 

 adorned his Herbarium. 



On the 10th of July Mr. Douglas left Wallawalla, proceeding 

 down stream in a small canoe with Indians, Being unable to 

 procure any salmon from the natives, and his stock of provisions 

 entirely failing, he was for the first time reduced to the necessity 

 of trying Tartar fare, and had supped and breakfasted on horse- 

 steaks and Columbia water, when to his inexpressible joy he met, 

 below the Chutes, the loaded boats that were so far on their way for 

 the interior posts. The meeting is thus noticed. 



" Having halted at night below the Great Falls of the Columbia, 



" I saw smoke rising behind some rocks, and thinking it might be 



* Indians fishing, walked thither in quest of sabnon. Instead of 



