GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. 291 
range. It has an altitude of 12° 33/.* It stands in about 469 40’ north latitude, and 121° 27’ 
west longitude, and seems to form the southern pillar and landmark of a large section of the 
Cascade range, which begins in the north with Mount Baker and branches out from this knot 
in several branches. 
The main range makes here an angle and turns to the southwest to Mount St. Helens. It 
stands at a distance of about fifty miles from the southern parts of Admiralty land and Puget 
Sound; but it is visible from all parts of these waters, and may be said to be their landmark 
for taking bearings. 
The mountain was first discovered by Vancouver in the beginning of May, (about the 7th,) 
of 1792, from Port Townsend. He named itin honor of his friend, Rear Admiral Rainier. 
POSSESSION SOUND AND WHIDBY'S ISLAND, FROM 47° 08' T) 48° 26” NORTH LATITUDE, 122° 35 WEST 
LONGITUDE 
Possession sound and the waters which form its continuation constitute quite a separate part 
of Admiralty Inlet, or rather an intermediate section of water between Admiralty Inlet and 
Rosario strait. These waters begin iu the north in Deception Passage, and stretch down from 
there nearly forty miles in a north and south direction, which seems to be a straight continua- 
tion of the main body of Admiralty Inlet. They are to the west separated from De Fuca strait 
and Admiralty Entrance by Whidby's island. 
Whidby's island is the largest island of this whole region. It is about 30 nautical miles 
from north to south, and about two to five miles broad from east to west. It has a very 
irregular form, two broad ends, and a very narrow main body. It is separated on the north 
by Deception Passage from Fidalgo island; on the west it faces De Fuca strait, of which it 
forms the eastern shore, and to the west-southwest it forms the eastern shore of Admiralty 
Entrance; to the east it forms ihe western shore of Possession sound and Port Gardner, and 
has here various headlands and inlets. 
The island is occupied by a numerous tribe of Indians, the Skagits, who have many villages 
init. It presents in many parts a delightful prospect, spacious meadows, beautiful pastures 
adorned with clumps of trees, principally oak. The island was, of course, first seen by the 
Spaniards Quimper and Elisa, but was not recognized as an island. 
Vancouver's officer, Whidby, explored all the surrounding waters of the island, and by 
circumnavigating it proved it to be an island, (May and June, 1792.) Vancouver, therefore, 
called it after him. It has ever since retained his name. 
The waters to the east of Whidby’s island, for which, as forming an independent section, we 
ought to have a general name, and which I may designate with the name given to an essential 
part of them, Possession sound, branch out in their central part into two principal branches, 
of which the western is called Port Gardner, and the eastern Port Susan. These two branches 
surround a large island called Caamano island. They show, consequently, the greatest expan- 
sion in their central parts. They contract as well to the north as to the south, and have 
communication with other channels, by Deception Passage with the northern, by the more 
particularly so called Possession sound with the southern waters. 
The Spaniards appear never to have entered these waters, though they observed the 
© After Wilkes. 
+ Vancouver, vol. 1, p. 235. 
northern 
