. NORTH CALIFORNIA, 
. phyla and circinnata, Berberis Aquifo- 
lium, &c.; and laid in specimens of Pinus 
taxifolia, with fine cones. I also obtained 
a few sections of the various woods, gums, 
and specimens of the bark of those timber 
trees which compose the forest in this 
vicinity. I consulted Mr. M‘Loughlin on 
the practicability of visiting the country 
south of the Columbia, on the Multnomak 
and Umptqua rivers. It had been my in- 
tention toaccompany Jean Baptiste Mackay, 
one of the hunters, who often visits this 
district, but he had unfortunately started 
just previous to my arrival, and knowing 
nothing of the country myself, I feared it 
would be impracticable to follow and over- 
take him. Mr. M‘Loughlin, however, in- 
forms me that a party will be despatched 
in a few days in that direction, under the 
superintendence of Mr. A. R. M‘Leod, who 
has formerly showed me much civility, and 
that there will be nothing to prevent my 
Joining him. So favourable an opportunity 
1$ not to be lost. 
Friday, 15th.—Mr. M‘Leod set off first, 
to go by land to M‘Kay’s abandoned 
establishment on the Multnomak, fifty-six 
miles above its junction with the Columbia: 
there he will remain till the rest of the 
coast, I indulge myself with two 
195 
blankets and a tent. Mr. M‘Loughlin has 
most generously and considerately sent 
forward, to wait for me on the Multnomak 
River, one of his finest and most powerful 
horses. It will serve either for riding or 
carrying my baggage, as may be required. 
th Wednesday.—Left Fort Vancouver 
in company with Mr. Manson, and a party 
of twelve men, in à boat containing hunt- 
ing implements, and arrived on the third 
day (Friday, the 22nd), at Mr. M‘Leod’s 
encampment. 
23rd to 27th.— Little progress made, 
because of our horses having strayed to 
considerable distances; but I spent my 
time in botanizing, and found two species 
of Rosa, a new Ribes, and some other 
things. We took our course due West, 
towards the coast, passing over a pleasant 
undulating country, with rich soil, and 
beautiful solitary oaks and pines, scattered 
here and there. The ground, however, 
being burned up; not a single blade of 
grass, except on the margins of rivulets, is 
to be seen. 
28th.—Mr. M‘Leod joined us here, and 
"brought an Indian guide from the coast, 
South of the country inhabited by the 
Killeemucks. Our hunters were very un- 
fortunate in the chase, and, though nine 
deer were seen in one groupe, the animals 
were so shy, and kept so close in the 
thicket, that no fresh meat could be pro- 
cured. The next day (Thursday) one was 
killed by a hunter with his rifle, two 
hundred yards distant. The ball entered 
the left shoulder, and passed through the 
neck on the opposite side, yet the animal 
ran nearly a quarter of a mile before she 
Lx 
= 
— 
ell. 
Proceeded in the same kind of way, 
seeing little worthy of note for two or 
three days. Deer were scarce, and the 
custom of burning the soil is highly unfa- 
yourable to botanizing. This plan prevails 
every where, though the natives vary in 
their accounts of the reason for which it is 
done, some saying that it is in order to 
compel the deer to feed in the unburnt 
spots, where they are easily detected and 
killed; others, that the object is, to enable 
