THE BAR OF THE COLUMBIA. 467 



is therefore full of perils for shipping. We may cite 

 the mouth of the Columbia river, on the north-west 

 coast of America, as a good instance of this kind; 

 we were once nearly wrecked in making the entrance 

 to this river : the vessel touched ground, the surf almost 

 engulfed it, and would have quickly destroyed it, 

 had she not floated off almost immediately, for though 

 there was very little wind, a heavy swell came in 

 from seaward. 



" Mere description," says Commodore Wilkes, U.S.N., 

 u can give little idea of the terrors of this bar. All 

 who have seen it have spoken of the wildness of the 

 scene, and the incessant roar of the waters, as one of 

 the most fearful sights that can possibly meet the eye 

 of a sailor." * In our time the only way was to 

 cross the breakers well toward the southward end of 

 the bar, and once these were safely passed, the noble 

 river affords a secure and commodious anchorage for 

 ships of the largest size, and is navigable by them 

 for about 100 miles, up to the Cascades. According 

 to a high authority, " The flood of the Columbia when 

 at its height presents a magnificent spectacle, gliding 

 past swiftly, but with majestic silence, bearing along 

 gigantic forest trees, whose immense trunks appear 

 as mere chips upon its waters." f All this is however 

 changed for a scene of wild confusion when the bar 

 is reached. Here a heavy swell from the almost bound- 

 less expanse of the Pacific Ocean, is nearly always 

 coming in, even during the finest weather, which when 

 met by the opposing current creates a commotion 

 that must be seen to be realized. 



* Imperial Gazetteer, Edited by S. W. Blackie, 1860, Vol. i., p. 726 

 (Article "Columbia River"). 

 t Ibid,, Vol. i., p. 333. 



