ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 173 



a week pasn This is said to indicate the near approach of the 

 rainy season, which usually sets in about the middle of October, 

 or even earlier. After this time, until December, there is very 

 little clear weather, showers or heavy clouds almost constantly 

 prevailing. 



On the 29th, Captain Wyeth, Mr. N., and myself, embai'ked 

 in the ship's boat for our exploring excursion. We had a good 

 crew of fine robust sailors, and the copper-colored islanders, — or 

 Kanakas, as they are called, — did their duty with great alacrity 

 and good will. 



At about five miles bolow the fort, we entered the upper mouth 

 of the Wallammet. This river is here about half the width of 

 the Columbia, a clear and beautiful stream, and navigable for 

 large vessels to the distance of twenty-five miles. It is covered 

 with numerous islands, the largest of vvhich is that called Wappatoo 

 Island, about twenty miles in length. The vegetation on the 

 main land is good, the timber generally pine and post oak, and 

 the river is margined in many places with a beautiful species of 

 willow with lai-ge ob-lanceolate leaves like those of the peach, 

 and white on their under surface. The timber on the islands is 

 chiefly oak, no pine growing there. At about 10 o'clock we 

 overtook three men whom Captain W. had sent ahead in a canoe 

 and we all landed soon after on the beach and dined on a mess 

 of salmon and peas which we had provided. We were under 

 way again in the afternoon, and encamped at about sunset. 

 We have as yet seen no suitable place for an establishment, and 

 to-morrow we proceed to the falls of the river, about fifteen miles 

 further. Almost all the land in the vicinity is excellent and well 

 calculated for cultivation, and several spots which we have 

 visited, would be admirably adapted to the captain's views, but 

 that there is not a sufficient extent unincumbered, or which could 

 be fitted for the purposes of tillage in a space of time short enough 



