14 | Miscellaneous Facts. 
places, as evidently mica slate, or granite or sandstone, as though it 
had not equally strong marks of ignition. Did not the whole undergo. 
this change from heat, when under water? May not a country under- 
go a baking or hardening, the gases escaping through crevices and 
fissures, without forming craters. 
As to streams and springs, we often met with brooks of a size to 
carry a flour mill, coming out of the cavernous rock ; they were of the 
usual temperature of the water at the same season in the rivers, and 
except along one creek, we saw but few springs, that were remarkably 
warm. On this they were very abundant, gushing out of the cav- 
ernous bluffs, at the temperature of 100°, and in sufficient quantity 
to warm the water of a creek forty yards wide, so as to render it 
unpleasant to drink—I saw no jetting springs, or those Wittiars 
m gas. 
The whole country over which we travelled,? for more than a 
thousand miles before reaching the ocean, presents these appearan- 
ces of ignition, with the exception, perhaps, of one eighth part of 
the rocks. The soil was in most places barren, till you approach 
the ocean, for there is*not a sufficient quantity of water retained 
near the surface to promote vegetation, the soil being porous, and 
the supply of rain is small. 
Cultivation of Land—Departure. 
In March of 1833, having no opportunity to leave the country, 
except by recrossing the mountains, and not knowing what might oc- 
cur in the course of six months, I procured seeds, implements, &c. of 
the Hudson Bay Company, went up the Multnomah river about fifty 
miles from the fort, where some of the Canadian French, and_ half 
breeds had commenced farming, and with the help of one American 
and an Indian, enclosed some prairie ground, built a log house and 
raised a crop of wheat—and would have remained in that country 
could I have had.a few good neighbors: as associates, for I did not 
feel inclined to fall into the customs of the country and become 
identified with the natives. Therefore on application to the Com- 
pany, about to send a ship to the Sandwich Islands, in the ensuing 
October, I obtained a passage—for the company were, in this, and 
in —— thing, polite and accommodating. Of the twelve who reach- 
ed the Columbia, one died, three re-crossed the mountains, the oth- 
ers, except myself, went tosea in the Pacific, or into the —— 
of the Company. 
MR a eee 
