160 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



ninety miles, is seen a ridge of high snowy mountains which run from 

 north-east to south-west and terminate near the ocean, about 300 miles 

 south of the Columbia ; this place will afford very likely most of the 

 plants found in the chain of the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Black has very 

 kindly made arrangements for my journey early in June, which will at 

 least occupy 15 to 20 days. The course of the river from this place to the 

 ocean is south-west, many places are very rapid, not more than 50 to 70 

 yards, which renders it very dangerous. 



Early on Thursday morning the 30th proceeded on our route. As the 

 whole country was an extensive plain, I walked on the north side the 

 river till ten o'clock, when we stopped for breakfast, opposite to Lewis 

 and Clarke's Eiver, a stream of considerable magnitude, 100 to 150 yards 

 wide at many parts and likewise rapid. Salmon, I learn, are caught in 

 great abundance as far up as the Falls, and on some of its branches in the 

 immediate vicinity of the Rocky Mountains, passing through a tract of 

 country not less than 1500 miles. The day being fine and clear, I wrote a 

 note to Mrs. Atkinson and resumed my walking in the cool of the evening, 

 picking anything on my way. Camped on a low grassy island forty miles 

 above the establishment. This part of the country is entirely destitute 

 of timber ; soil, light brown earth, sandy and gravelly on the banks of 

 the rivers, and blown in some places into hills or mounds 50 to 60 feet 

 high. In such places I observed several species of Lupinus, Oenothera, 

 some very singular bulbous plants, with some shrubby species of Artemisia 

 and other Syngenesia, and the beautiful Tigarea, 1 the vegetable of the 

 greatest growth on the plains. Keen north wind. 



Friday, 31st. Country the same as yesterday ; clear weather, fine sky 

 in the evening. 



April 1st. Here it becomes mountainous, of white clay, with 

 scarcely a vestige of herbage or verdure to be seen, except in the valleys. 

 The river here is much broader than lower down and makes a great 

 bend running due east-south, parallel with the coast, and south-east. 

 Camped on the Priest Rapids at seven o'clock in the evening. The 

 river here is narrow, divided into two channels, with a narrow dall 2 

 through the small rocky island in an oblique direction. The rocks are 

 very rugged, of limestone, and this is considered one of the most dangerous 

 parts of the whole river. During the time of making the portage of 

 nine miles I wrote to my old companion, Mr. Scouler of Glasgow. 



April 2nd to the 6th. Without delay continued to pursue our journey, 

 always a little before day, camping at dusk. Arrived at the establishments 

 on the Okanagan River, one of the northern branches of the Columbia, at 

 eight in the evening, where we were very cordially received by Mr. Annance, 

 the person in charge. From the Priest Rapids to this place the banks 

 are steep, high granite and sandstone rocks, and on the moist places and 

 valleys a species of Pimis (P. rubra ? 3 ), of immense size. I On some parts the 



1 Purshia tridentata, S. Wats. Bibl. Ind. N. Am. Bot. p. 309. 



2 A word of French origin referring to the rocks through which the river flows, 

 and causing rapids. ED. 



3 Picea rubra, Kew Hand-List, Conif., ed. 2, p. 87. 



