AND OTHER HUNTING ADVENTURES. 43 



nre, would supply all the wants of a large population. 

 No part of the world affords finer islands, sounds, 

 or a greater number of harbors than are found within 

 these waters. They are capable of receiving the 

 largest class of vessels, and are without a single hid- 

 den danger. From the rise and fall of the tide (18 

 feet), every facility is afforded for the erection of 

 works for a great maritime nation. The rivers also 

 furnish hundreds of sites for water-power for manu- 

 facturing purposes. On this Sound are already situ- 

 ated many thriving towns and cities, besides those 

 already mentioned, bidding for the commerce of the 

 world. 



The flora of the Sound region is varied and inter- 

 esting. A saturated atmosphere, constantly in con- 

 tact with the Coast Range system of upheaval, to- 

 gether with the warm temperature, induces a growth 

 of vegetation almost tropical in its luxuriance. On 

 the better soils, the shot-clay hills and uplands, and 

 on the alluvial plains and river bottoms, grow the 

 great trees, already mentioned, and many other 

 species of almost equal beauty, though of no commer- 

 cial value. 



"The characteristic shrubs are the cornels and the 

 spiraeas, many species. These, with the low thickets 

 ofsalal(Gaultheria shallon), Oregon grape (berries), 

 and fern (chiefly pteris, which is the most abundant), 

 and the tangle of the trailing blackberry (Rubus 

 pedatus) make the forests almost impenetrable save 

 where the ax or the wild beast or the wilder fire have 

 left their trails. 



"The dense shade of the forest gives little oppor- 

 tunity for the. growth of the more lowly herbs. 



