1825, JULY. JOURNEY TO THE PACIFIC 137 



(412) Hieracium sp. ; perennial ; abundant in the like situations as 

 the above ; flowers yellow. 



(413) Epilobium angustifolium ; edges of woods and rivers among 

 decayed vegetable and sandy soils. 



(414) (?) small plant, resembles Polygonum ; annual or 



perennial ; sandy shores of rivers ; abundant. 



(415) Gramineae, perennial ; a very fine silky grass ; abundant in all 

 meadows. 



(416) Gramineae, perennial; a strong beautiful grass; in similar 

 places as the former, banks of rivers. 



(417) Gramineae, perennial; in the like places; a fine grass; also 

 plentiful. 



(418) Syngenesia, perennial ; in all dry barren plains. 



July l^tk. Early in the morning I left my residence in a small canoe, 

 with one Canadian and two Indians, for a journey to the shores of the 

 ocean, principally for the purpose of searching for and inquiring after 

 the tuberous-rooted Cyperus mentioned by Pursh in his preface, the root 

 of which is said to afford the natives food something like potatos when 

 boiled. After a laborious route of twelve days along the shore north of 

 Cape Disappointment, I was obliged reluctantly to return without being 

 fortunate enough to meet with it. I observed several dead roots, washed 

 on the shore by the surge and agreeing exactly with the description given 

 by Lewis and Clarke, which I conjecture to be it. My guide, who is 

 tolerably conversant with many of the tongues spoken by the inhabitants 

 of the coast, learned that it is very abundant along the shore from Point 

 Adams, the southern entrance of the river, at no great distance. I am 

 for the present prevented from prosecuting my journey in that direction, 

 several of the tribes being at War with each other. I laboured under 

 very great disadvantage by the almost continual rain ; many of my 

 specimens I lost, and although I had several oilcloths, I was unable to 

 keep my plants and blanket dry or to preserve a single bird ; saw many 

 pelicans of one species, but could not obtain any, (I believe it to be the 

 same as one I killed in the Galapagos,) one albatross, some petrels which 

 did not come under my eye during my voyage out, one large brown gull, 

 and a smaller white with bluish wing on the upper side. This one I 

 have since seen on the sandbanks of the river as far up as the Great Rapids. 

 Now I have a little idea of travelling without the luxuries of life. Only 

 two nights were dry during my stay on the shore ; before I could lie down 

 to sleep my blanket drying generally occupied an hour. In the creeks I 

 caught plenty of a small trout and young salmon. With a basin of tea, 

 a small piece of biscuit, and now and then a duck, I managed to live very 

 well. On my return I visited Cockqua, the principal chief of the 

 Chenooks and Chochaliii tribes, who is exceedingly fond of all the chiefs 

 that come from King George words which they learn from Broughton, of 

 Vancouver expedition, and other commanders of English ships. Hia 



1 In another MS. : ' Chits.' 



