General Science. 379 



but then the former had the addition of a straw petticoat, which descended 

 below the knee. The few who had European dresses seemed very uncom- 

 fortable in their new costume. 



From these people., however, no information could be obtained ; nor till 

 the afternoon of the same day, when a more intelligent visitor arrived, who 

 was one of the company's Canadian servants, with whom, on the follow- 

 ing day, they proceeded to Fort George, where they experienced every de- 

 gree of attention from the governor, Sir M'Lellan. Hence it was that Mr 

 Douglas made a voyage up the river to a new establishment, Fort Vancou- 

 ver, 80 miles from the sea. He was followed soon after by Mr Scouler, 

 together with a party from the Fort, consisting chiefly of French, Cana- 

 dians, and Iroquois, in the company's service, and occupying five canoes. 



They encamped the first night of the voyage upon a low marshy spot, 

 which is annually inundated by the river, and where a beautiful water- 

 snake was killed, a species of Hydrophis, in whose stomach was found a 

 large bull-frog, with the elytra of a fine species of Dytiscus. Every 

 where the banks of the river were tolerably thickly inhabited by a people 

 who never till the ground, and who subsist almost entirely by fishing. 



On the second day, the voyagers passed the famous Indian place of in- 

 terment, named by Captain Vancouver Mount Coffin, and by the Canadi- 

 ans Rochers des Marts. These rocks, from which the place derives its 

 name, appeared to be the cemetery, if one may so call it, of an extensive 

 district. Owing to the dread, as well as the respect, which the Indians en- 

 tertain for their deceased friends, they are accustomed to deposit them at a 

 considerable distance from their dwellings. Here their bodies were pla- 

 ced in canoes upon the rocks, covered by boards fixed down with cords, and 

 further secured by having great stones placed upon them. In the canoes 

 were lodged many articles belonging to the deceased, particularly domestic 

 utensils, as being their most valuable articles. 



Fort Vancouver they found to be situated in a fertile prairie, abounding 

 in many curious plants; and at this season (May) extensive tracts of coun- 

 try were almost covered with the blue flowers of the Phalangium cscu/en- 

 tum of Nuttall, called kamass by the natives, with whom it is a favourite 

 article of food. The plant a good deal resembles the common field hya- 

 cinth of our country. The root is about the same size, and, when roasted, 

 has an agreeable and sweet taste. In botanizing in this agreeable spot, 

 they were charmed with the little Calypso borealis, and the graceful Lin- 

 i,n u borealis, both of which are well known to be equally common in the 

 northern parts of the continent of Europe. After this excursion, Mr 

 Douglas made preparations for a journey into the interior as far as the 

 falls of the Columbia. 



In the month of June, Mr Scouler proceeded in the ship to the north- 

 ward, visiting Queen Charlotte's Island, as well as Observatory Inlet. The 

 Indians of these places speak a language totally different from that of the 

 Columbian tribes. As to person, they are much taller, and a more muscu- 

 lar race of men than any the party had previously seen, and were far supe- 

 rior to their brethren of the south, both in industry and intellect. Many 

 '.'I thin could Bpeak a little English, which they had learned by their in- 



