NORTH CALIFORNIA. 
and the same sorts as on the Columbia. 
On the summit are only low shrubs, small 
oaks, and a species of Castanea. This fine 
species I first took for a Shepherdia, as it 
was only shrubby in growth, but I shortly 
found it on the mountains, growing sixty 
to one hundred feet high, and with a dia- 
meter of three to five feet. The leaves of 
this tree, (Castanea chrysophylla) give 
quite a peculiar and lovely tint to the land- 
scape. The fruit seems extremely rare, as 
I only saw it on a single tree, and that 
growing on the very summit of the moun- 
tain. Under its shade is a fine evergreen 
shrub, new to me, apparently a Clethra. 
Here, too, Pinus resinosa grows immensely 
large, two hundred and fifty feet high, and 
fifty-five feet in circumference. Arbutus 
Menziesii and laurifolia are abundant, but 
their fruit is almost all taken away by the 
bears. Two species of Caprifolium, that 
I never saw before, grew here. My feet are 
very sore with walking over the burnt and 
decayed stumps, and struggling through the 
thick under-growth of Pteris Aquilina and 
Rubus suberectus, which are bound together 
With several decayed species of Vicia. 
Friday the 13th to Monday the 16th.— 
For the last few days our progress has been 
much retarded by rain and heavy fog. The 
difficulty of proceeding becomes greater 
greater in consequence, for the poor 
horses slip their footing continually and 
get bad falls; and to ensure the safety of 
my collections, I carry them on my back, 
ina Bear's skin. We have passed 
three ridges of mountains, about two thou- 
sand seven hundred feet high, Mr. M‘Leod 
= I taking the lead, and chopping off, 
à the help of Baptiste M‘Kay and two 
. Indians, the branches of trees which im- 
Pede our Progress, The numerous trunks 
of Pines are of almost incredible 
, UN, du measuring two hundred and fifty 
tree, apparently belonging to 
: Myrtaceae, struck me much: its leaves, 
_ Wood, fruit, and bark, are all aromatic, 
Sneezing like pepper. The fruit is 
a globular, and covered with a fine 
green skin, enveloping a small nut 
197 
with an insipid kernel, which appears to be 
the favourite food of squirrels. I trust this 
fine tree will ere long become an inmate of 
English gardens, and may even be useful 
in medicine, and afford a perfume. It is 
Laurus regia. 
Want of food, and the difficulty of mak- 
ing our way along, renders this journey 
most exhausting. We were somewhat 
cheered at seeing the Umptqua River roll- 
ing along below us, when we reached the 
summit of a weary ridge of mountains to- 
day. The stock of food being quite done, 
Mr. M‘Leod and M‘Kay went out to shoot, 
while I employed myself in chopping wood, 
kindling the fire, and fórming our encamp- 
ment; and after twilight refreshed myself 
by bathing in the Umptqua. Our distance 
from the ocean could not exceed thirty or 
thirty-five miles, as I observed Menziesia 
ferruginea (Bot. Mag. t. 1571) and Pinus 
Canadensis, both of which always keep 
along the skirts of the sea. The poor 
horses are so fatigued that it is found im- 
practicable to bring them up to-night, and 
mine being among the laggards, I cannot 
lie down, as I have nothing whatever to 
stretch beneath me, my blanket and bear- 
skin being among the luggage on the 
horse's back. Mr. M‘Leod returned un- 
successful so that we were supperless; 
but he hopes that a large doe, which though 
wounded, yet managed to elude his search 
at night, may still be found to-morrow 
morning. 
Tuesday the 17th. Last night sat by 
the fire till two o'clock, when Mr. M‘Leod 
most kindly insisted on giving me his own 
blanket and buffalo robe to lie down upon, 
while he took a turn of sitting up, wrapped 
in a great coat. We all three went out to 
seek for the wounded doe, and found her 
with a ball that had pierced both shoulders; 
still, another shot was necessary to despatch 
her. M'Kay having also brought down a 
fine buck, weighing 1901bs, we returned 
to the camp in high spirits, and made a 
comfortable meal on the excellent venison 
these animals afforded. Our horses did 
not arrive till four o'clock, and in a very 
exhausted condition. The luggage which 
