158 
times in canoes, or on horseback, but far 
more generally on foot. The country is 
mountainous and very rugged, the rivers 
numerous, and there are not a few lakes 
of considerable extent. Perhaps I shall 
cross Mackenzie's track, at Fraser's River 
(called the Columbia by that great travel- 
ler) in about long. 122° West, and pro- 
ceed northward, among the mountains, as 
far as I can do so with safety, and with the 
prospect of effecting a return. The country 
is certainly frightful; nothing but prodi- 
gious mountains to be seen: not a deer 
comes, say the Indians, save once in a 
hundred years—the poor natives subsist 
on a few roots. My outfit is five pounds 
of tea, and the same quantity of coffee, 
twenty-five pounds of sugar, fifteen pounds 
of rice; and fifty pounds of biscuit: a gal- 
lon of wine, ten pounds of powder and as 
much of balls, a little shot, a small silk 
fishing-net, and some angling tackle, a 
tent, two blankets, two cotton and two 
flannel shirts, a handkerchief, vest, coat, 
and a pair of deer-skin trousers (not those 
kindly presented to me by Dr. Gillies, 
which, by repeated exposure to rain, 
unk so much that I was reluctantly 
obliged to give them away), two pairs of 
shoes, one of stockings, twelve pairs of 
mocassins, and a straw hat. These con- 
stitute the whole of-my personal effects ; 
also a ream and a-half of paper, and instru- 
ments of various kinds; my faithful ser- 
vants, several Indians, ten or twelve horses, 
8nd my old terrier, a most faithful, and 
. new, to judge from his long grey beard, 
venerable friend, who has guarded me 
. throughout all my journies, and whom, 
p should I live to return, I mean certainly 
~ to pension off, on four pennyworth of cat's- 
meat per day ! 
I am most anxious that you should know 
what I seeand do on this important journey, 
and as it m 
may so turn out that I shall never 
ET have the pleasure of meeting you more, I 
: intend, God willing, to commence writing 
. a little to you on the very first evening of 
my journey, which is fixed for the 18th, 
= and continue thus to condense, 
to time, the substance of my notes, putting 
MR. DOUGLAS’ SECOND VISIT TO THE COLUMBIA. 
from time bod 
down whatever may appear most ir 
and interesting to me. a 4j 
Fever still clings to the nati 
with great obstinacy, and not a few 
people of the Hudson's Bay C 
have suffered very severely from i 
three individuals out of one hund 
forty altogether escaped it, and I 
of that small number. Thank 
never was in better health, and 
but have a few moments with you, 
add, in excellent spirits. Even the 
ment of writing to you, tends to 
my mind. It is singular, that w 
left eye is become infinitely more 
and clear in its power of vision, 
of my right eye is utterly gone; and, 
der every circumstance, it is to 1 
dark as midnight.. If I look th 
scope or microscope, I generally see 
ing heat of California. ) 
gles to diminish the glare of the 
though most reluctantly, as every í 
plants and all, is thus render ma 
same colour. 
If you happen to be acque! 
birds for the College Museum. 
Woahoo, Sandwich 
May 6th, 1834. 
I am two letters in your debt : 
tumn, atthe Columbia River, p ; 
pleasure to receive, thro = 
Gairdner,’ a very long letter from 
. Wilson was, at this time, 
lishing his beantifal Zoological IiastratiOn® 
zealous Botanical 
g to 
Company's 
ments in the Hudson Bay 
