GENERAL REPORT ON WESTERN DIVISION. 201 



both as to its situation and its facilities for perfect defence, by permanent works, entitle it to 

 consideration. Il seems to be fully adapted to the purpose of a great naval establishment. 



The country through which we passed to the east of the Cascade range may be described as 

 generally barren and unfit for agriculture, and poor for grazing purposes. There are two small 

 tnicls which are exceptions to this rule ; but I know of none which would be considered good in 

 our western States. The yellow pine on the slopes of the mountains may be carried down the 

 principal streams into the Columbia, and thence rafted or &quot; run&quot; to the head of navigation; the 

 larch, between the Okinakane and Colville, can lie hauled to the streams of the same names, and 

 rafted to the Columbia ; the building-stones in the vicinity of the Pisquouse will some day be 

 available ibr the market ; but labor must become more cheap and abundant, capital more plenty, 

 before these can become important interests. The Indians are harmless and peaceable; with the 

 exception of the Yakimas, they are very poor. Their Ibod consists of salmon, berries, and 

 potatoes. The entire absence of game renders it difficult ibr them to obtain good clothing; during 

 the whole trip I did riot see a single deer, elk, or bear nothing larger than a wolf. Wolves, 

 badgers, squirrels, and a few gray marmots, were the only quadrupeds. The blue and ruffled 

 grouse, prairie chicken, and sage-lbwl, abounded. To the west of the mountains the country is 

 covered with dense fir timber, interspersed with prairies or lakes. The only good land I have 

 seen is in the valleys of the Columbia and Cowlitz, and of some of that string of prairies which 

 skirt the mountains from the Columbia at least as far as the Skywhamish. The Willopah and 

 Chehalis have also good land upon them. The prairies near the sound are uniformly of gravel, 

 barren and worthless. Lumber and the fisheries must constitute the great interests of this portion 

 of the Territory. 



The Indian names of these streams, lakes, prairies, &c., were carefully obtained bv Mr. Gibbs 

 during the trip. They have been adopted in the map and the reports as preferable to any 

 names we could give them; partly for the purpose of endeavoring to perpetuate them, and partly 

 for the reason that they will be of service to persons travelling through the country. 



During the exploration the astronomical observations were principally taken by Lieutenant 

 Duncan; they are as accurate as the instruments at our disposal would permit. The only astro 

 nomical phenomenon worthy of note was the existence of a comet, seen from Wenass, on the 21st, 

 22d, and 23d of August. It was visible but for a short time after dark, and was so low that the 

 altitude could not betaken. The tail was 53 10&quot; in length. At 8h. 56m. 59s. (mean time) 

 on the 21st, its bearing by compass was north 75 west, the variation of the needle being 17 30 ; 

 its observed distance from Ursa; Majores at 9/*. 6m. 6.7s. (mean time) was 67 54 35&quot;. On the 

 22d its bearing by compass at S/t. 3m. 09.5s. (mean time) was north 84 west, variation of the 

 needle as before ; its distance from Jupiter at 8h. l 3)n. 17s. was 9 41 35&quot;; from Arcturus at 

 8h. 18m. 25.9s., was 36 29 05&quot;. 



For geographical purposes but little additional information is needed concerning the eastern slope 

 of the mountains. A somewhat closer examination of the Pisquouse, Chelan and Millekitekwu, 

 as well as astronomical observations with better instruments than were at my disposal, would be 

 interesting. With regard to the western slope, much additional information is still desirable as 

 to the courses of the streams, of which but little is known. The accompanying map will be 

 found more accurate than any which has preceded it. It is believed that no important stream 

 on the western slope is omitted; when none of the party have crossed or followed them, they 

 are given from the best Indian and other information. From Bellingham bay and the vicinity of 

 MacDonough s island we saw the direction of many of these valleys, and learned where they 

 headed, with reference to streams on the eastern slope, the number and position of the branches, 

 &c.; the streams as given will be found, I think, not to differ very materially from the truth. The 

 map will, at least, serve as a basis of operations for any future survey. In the event of any de 

 tailed examination of the country in the future, the work should be performed by several very 

 small parties, each the smallest in number that can use the necessary instruments. On the east- 

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