256 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



other places being covered with snow. Nothing different as to country. 

 Observed the following plants : Salix, male and female, in flower, 6 to 10 

 feet high, on the margins of the creeks ; flowering being covered with snow, 

 took specimens of it. Juniperus Sabina, var. procumbens, on dry spots in 

 conjunction with Arbutus Uva-ursi?- Betula nana, and Ledum, in the high 

 tufts of grass in the marshes. Pyrola secunda, P. media, and P. umbellata 2 

 with Lycopodium alpinum on the dead stumps, and on the ground, growing 

 luxuriantly on decayed leaves. Berberis Aquifolium is seen of diminutive 

 size in the shady wood ; B. nervosa seems a stranger. Observed dead stems 

 of what I took to be Helonias at Kettle Falls and the Ribes with slender 

 spiny shoots found at the same place inhabiting edges of springs and 

 streams, also small. The Vaccinium with large amber-coloured berries, 

 frequenting the Blue and Cascade Mountains, strong and vigorous. A low 

 spiny-stemmed rose is seen, but rare. The timber is Pinus Banksiana, 

 P. Strobus, P. rubra? P. taxifolia,* P. canadensis, 5 and Thuya, neither re- 

 markable for size. Camped on the west side of the middle branch of the 

 Columbia at two o'clock; progress nine miles. Of animals saw a small 

 Bunting, the whole body of a uniform light brown, except the wings, 

 which were a dirty-white ; beak short, thick, white. Also the Blue- 

 crested Jay, so common on the coast. Saw two Squirrels about the size of 

 the English one, of a light chocolate colour, feeding on the seeds of the 

 pines. A large Wolverene visited our camp in the evening, but escaped 

 before a shot could be put his way. To-day is a scene of some curiosity 

 even to myself, and I can hardly imagine what a stranger would think to see 

 nine men, each with his load on his back (food and clothing), his snow- 

 shoes in his hand, starting on a journey over such an inhospitable country : 

 one falling, a second helping him up, a third lagging and far behind, a 

 fourth resting smoking his pipe, and so on. Mr. Ermatinger handsomely 

 offered that all my articles should be carried and I to go light. This I 

 could not accept seeing him with his load, and although I was perfectly 

 satisfied as to their safety, yet I could not but carry what has already 

 cost me some labour and anxiety. I therefore took all the seeds in the 

 tin-box and journals, secured in an oilcloth, weighing 43 lb., my wardrobe 

 and blanket carried by one of the men. Somewhat tired, my shoulders 

 painful from the straps. Evening fine. 



Sunday, 29<A. Morning clear, minimum heat 23, maximum 43. 

 Started at four, being refreshed by a sound sleep, in an easterly course for 

 six miles, in the course of which made seven traverses across the river from 

 one point to another on the channel, which is from three to five miles broad, 

 and at high water during the summer forms an inland sea covering the 

 whole valley from the foot of the mountains. Turned to the north-east 

 four and a half miles over the same sort of ground, making seven more 

 fords ; water in several 2 J to 3| feet deep, current swift and strong, but not 

 rapid. Did not require snowshoes, the snow being hard with a strong 



1 Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, A. Gray, Syn. Fl. N. Am. ii. i. p. 27. 



2 Chimaphila umbellata, A. Gray, loc. cit., p. 45. 



3 ? Picea rubra, Veitch, Man. Conif., ed. 2, p. 450. 



4 Pseudotsuga Douglasii, Mast, in Journ. R. Hort. Soc. xiv. p. 245. 

 8 Tsuga canadensis, Mast., loc. cit., p. 255. 



