94 
7th my leg became violently híenied, and 
a large abscess formed on the knee-joint, 
which did not suppurate until the 16th. 
This unfortunate circumstance, occurring 
at the period when I wanted to be employ- 
ed in gathering seeds, gave me much un- 
easiness; but learning, on the 22nd of 
October, that the ship had been detained 
by contrary winds, and finding myself 
better, and being also very desirous of 
losing as little time as possible at this im- 
portant season, I left Fort Vancouver in a 
small canoe, with four Indians, for the pur- 
pose of visiting my old shipmates, on my 
way to Whitby's Harbour of Vancouver, 
or the mouth of the Cheeheelie River, in 
lat. 48° N., near which place grow some 
plants of which I had previously obtained 
but imperfect or no specimens, or of which 
I wished to collect the seeds. Among 
them was Helonias tenaz, a very desirable 
plant for cultivation. I camped at the 
junction of the Multnomak River with 
the Columbia, after having made a distance 
of twenty miles, when a strong westerly 
wind setting in from the sea obliged me to 
have my canoe examined, and new-gum- 
med before starting again; I had not pro- 
ceeded many miles when it struck against 
the stump of a tree, which split it from one 
end to the other, and compelled me to pad- 
. dle hastily to shore with the water rushing 
in upon me. During the time the Indians 
were employed in repairing the damage, I 
_ turned cook, made a basin of tea for myself 
and cooked some salmon for my com- 
. panions, after which we proceeded on our 
. route. About eight o'clock the same even- 
ing we put ashore at the village of Oak- 
point, to procure some food, when an 
Indian handed me a letter from Dr.Scouler, 
the surgeon of the ship, in which my 
friend informed me that they would not 
.. probably leave the bay for some days, and 
. as the vessel had been seen there that 
morning, I was desirous of writing to Mr. 
Sabine at the latest possible date. After 
obtaining a few dried salmon, and a wild 
take a little supper, hoping 
DOUGLAS’ SKETCH OF A JOURNEY TO THE 
‘missed her by just one single hour! 
before day-break the next morning to 
the sea, from whence we were still 
forty-five miles distant. At four ool 
in the morning a strong breeze set in f f 
the sea, which produced a very ar 
swell on the river, and obliged me- to c et 
along its shore (a measure indeed aln 
necessary under any state of wind, b eca 
my canoe was in so frail a condition). 
afterwards to haul our bark across a nar 
neck of land at Tongue Point, when unio 
natelya sudden change of wind enabling: 
ship in the bay to weigh her anchor 
was a severe disappointment, as b 
not seeing Dr. Scouler, I had my ke 
written all ready to hand on board. 
Leaving my canoe men to lie down 
sleep, I took my gun and knapsack, 
proceeded along the bay in search of se 
At dark I returned to the lodge of Maa 
* Thunder," one of the Chenook ch 
sod I found his brother, 7Aa-a-mà 
chief from thc Cheeheelie River, on 
by's Harbour, and as he was then g 
home I acceded to his request to accor 
pany me. The following morning t 
Comly, the chief of all the Chan 
the North side of the river, sent his c 
with twelve Indians to ferry us across 
skill, though a violent storm ove 
in the middle of the channel, by whi 
all the provision we had except some 
of chocolate, which I carried in my po 
This canoe was so much larger. and 
commodious than my own, fhat I 
succeeded in bargaining for the loan 
and I attribute our preservation tO 
strength of the boat and dexte 
the Indians; by which, though 
repeatedly broke over us, we reac 
shore in perfect safety, and encamP 
sunset near Knight's River, m 
Bay. In the evening I gave the tw9* 
a dram of sal niori rum, which 
nicious liquor they will, generally 
e any sacrifice to obtain. 
however, an exception in my new 
