258 í GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. 
reaches a considerable altitude half the distance to the Straits de Fuca from opposite the head 
of the sound. The country generally, however, west of the Cascade mountains, is heavily 
timbered, and the prairie land is perhaps not one-third of the whole. Starting with the 
western coast, the principal points of interest are Shoalwater bay, an extensive body of water 
into which flow a number of considerable streams, and where abound shell-fish of all kinds, 
and especially oysters, for the San Francisco market; Gray’s harbor, into which flows the 
Chehalis river, whose valley is the most extensive and richest of the river valleys west of the 
Cascade mountains. The Chehalis has its source near to the Columbia river, runs nearly due 
north for thirty-five miles, and then taking a general direction north of west for forty miles 
flows into Gray’s harbor. It receives many tributaries: from the east, Newaukum and the 
Skookum-Chuck; and from the north, the Black river, the Satsop, the Wanoochee, and other 
streams. On these last-named rivers are extensive prairies and rich bottom lands. The whole 
country from the Chehalis to the head of the sound and the head of Hood’s Canal is remarkably 
well adapted to farming purposes. South of the Chehalis and separated from it by a narrow 
mountain spur is the Willopah river, having a course nearly parallel to that of the Chehalis, 
and which flows into Shoalwater bay. It has a rich river valley, which, though smaller than 
the valley of the Chehalis, is equally inviting. Those who have passed over the trail in the 
Willopah valley to the Cowlitz river speak of the wooded country as being arable and adapted 
to farming. Around both ShoalWater bay and Gray’s harbor there are extensive meadows and 
natural prairies, and the grass is green throughout the year. Perhaps in no month is the grass 
better adapted for fattening cattle than the months of February and March. North of Gray’s 
harbor, in which also flow quite a number of streams, making the whole country about it full 
of resource and full of inducement for settlement, are several other streams—the Quinaiutl 
river, which flows from a lake of the same name, where a particular kind of salmon abound, of 
a small size, and which is a favorite resort for Indians. Without going into further details of 
the country on the coast, it may be observed that the timber lands, which cover nearly the 
whole surface of the country west of the Coast range, are arable and rich. The Indian agents 
who have traversed the country have given very special attention to this question, and have 
made official reports in regard to it. 
Coming now to the Columbia river, there are several streams flowing into it from the 
north—Gray’s river, the Cowlitz river, the Cathlapootle, the Washougal, and the White 
Salmon, the latter being east of the Cascade mountains. The Cowlitz is worthy of mention 
because it furnishes a route used in passing from the river to Puget Sound, navigable for thirty 
miles for canoes to the Cowlitz Landing, with water enough for boats some miles further up to 
the Cowlitz farms. It is rather a remarkable river in that country; its bottom lands are 
exceedingly productive and the soil literally inexhaustible. It has several branches, all 
flowing from Mount Saint Adams. 
The Cathlapootle also flows from Mount Adams and the spur of the Cascades lying between 
it and Mount Saint Helen’s, having near its mouth much excellent land. This river, however, 
cannot be said to be a navigable stream for canoes, with the exception of its lower portion for 
a few miles. It will not be necessary to elaborate any further the rivers flowing into the 
Columbia, and we will now return to the rivers flowing into the sound. These are the Des 
Chutes river, flowing into Budd’s inlet, on which Olympia is situated; the Nisqually river, 
flowing into the sound at Nisqually; the Puyallup river, the Dwhamish, the Snohomish, the 
Skagit, the Lummi, the Neuksack, and other streams, all flowing in from the east. Of all 
