GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS. 263 



CCBS than the Columbia. It is even said, that tliere is not a good harbor ok 

 the coast of Oregon below lat. 46^^ north. Above this parallel there are 

 several, not only easy of access but secure of anchorage ; the principal of 

 which are tho^e of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the Gulf of Georgia. 

 The islands of Vancouvre and Queen Charlotte* also possess a number of 

 excellent harbors. 



These islands are large, well timbered, and' generally fertile. Though, 

 like the mainland, quite broken and hilly, they embrace many oeautifu" 

 plains and lovely valleys, abounding with game, and coursed by ample 

 streams of fresh water. Vancouvre's [sland is two hundred and sixty miles 

 long by fifty in width, and Queen Charlotte's one hundred and forty by 

 twenty-eight- In addition to the above named, there are a number of small- 

 er islands near tlie Straits of .Tuan de Fuca — more important on account 

 of their fisheries than the quality of their soil. 



The v;hole extent of the sea-coast, connected with the territory, (i. e. 

 from California to the Russian possessions,) is about one thousand miles, 

 besides that of its various islands. Reckoning from the above data, the 

 area included within its limits is not far from nine hundred and two thou- 

 sand, two hundred and fifty square miles. 



To speak of this vast country in Mo, we could give no general character 

 either in regard to its climate, soil, or productions, possessed, as it is, of 

 every diversity, from the piercing frosts of perpetual winter, to the smiling 

 verdancy of unfading spring — from the dwarfish herbage of the arctic re- 

 gions, to the generous fruits of warmer zones — and from the barren steri- 

 lity of a Iiybian desert, to the exuberant fecundity of earth's choicest gar- 

 den-spots. 



However, from the numerous peaks that rear their cloud-capped heads in 

 almost every direction, and the continuous ridges intersecting it from side 

 to side and trom end to end, we might with safety pronounce it mountainous. 



The Rocky Mountains, foi-ming its eastern boundary, branch ofFv/ester- 

 ly and northwesterly at various points, and, in connection v/ith other ridges, 

 beline the whole country. It is my present purpose merely to classify some 

 the more extensive of these ranges, and note their locality, as auxiliary to 

 a more accurate and comprehensive disposal of the leading subject before 

 the reader. 



The Blue Mountain chain commences not far from 46® 30' north Jati 

 tude, and bears a southerly course, till it passes into California and unites 

 with the intersecting ridges of that province. It runs nearly parallel with 

 the Rocky Mountains, at an interval varying from one hundred to one hun- 

 dred and fifty miUs, forming the Eastern Division of Oregon. 



The Cascade chain (before noticed, in connection with Cahfomia) com- 

 mences in the Russian po;^session«. and pursues a soiitherly course through 

 both countries, till it finally becomes lost in the sea-girt isthmus of the Lower .- 

 Province. It runs parallel with the coast, at a distance varying from oncfui 

 hundred to one hundred and fifty miles, and defines the Western and Mid- 

 dle Divisions of Oregon. 



t* By the terms of the pniposeil treaty, the islands of Vancouvre and Queen Char 

 ^lotte are transferred to Great Britain, leaving only a few diminutive and comparative- 

 ly valueless ports in the Straits of Juan de Fuca and in isleta south of Vaoeouvni 

 within tha liinita of th« IT. S. territory. 



