582 Companion to the Botanical Magazine. 



pair of wooden pincers, and suspend it on the wrist of the right hand. Farther 

 testimony of their intention was unnecessary. To save myself by flight was im- 

 possible, so without hesitation I stepped back about five paces, cocked my gun, 

 drew one of the pistols out of my belt, and holding it in my left hand, and the 

 gun in my right, shewed myself determined to fight for my life. As much as 

 possible I endeavoured to preserve my coolness ; and thus we stood looking at 

 one another without making any movement or uttering a word for perhaps ten 

 minutes, when at last one who seemed the leader gave a sign that they wished for 

 some tobacco : this I signified they should have if they fetched me a quantity of 

 cones. They went off immediately in search of them ; and no sooner were they 

 all out of sight, than I picked up my three cones and some twigs of the trees, 

 and made the quickest possible retreat, hurrying back to my camp, which I 

 reached before dusk. Of my three cones, one measures 14£ inches, and the 

 two others are respectively half an inch and an inch shorter, all full of fine seed." 

 — No. cxx. p. 130. 



On the 20th of March 1827, Mr Douglas started from the Columbia for Eng- 

 land, by way of Hudson's Bay, traversing in his route the Rocky Mountains, the 

 " Grand Dividing Ridge" of the mighty Continent of North America, at the 

 height of 16,000 or 17,000 feet above the level of the sea. At the Company's 

 settlements he had the happiness to meet Sir J. Franklin, Dr Richardson, and 

 Mr Drummond, and arrived in England on the 11th of September. About the 

 beginning of October 1829, he again set out, under the patronage, partly of the 

 Horticultural Society, and partly of the Government, for North America, and ar- 

 rived at the Columbia on the 3d of June 1830. Our limits will not permit us 

 to follow him in his important botanical researches, and in perilous incidents 

 which would have shaken the courage of the most stout-hearted. Suffice it to 

 say, that after having again visited North California, he made an excursion to 

 the Sandwich Islands. One or two short extracts must close this notice. While 

 in California he says, — 



" Early as was my arrival on this coast (Dec. 22,) spring had already com- 

 menced. The first plant I took in my hand was Ribes speciosum, Pursh (Bot. 

 Mag. t. 3530 ; Bot. Reg. t 1557,) remarkable for the length and crimson splen- 

 dour of its stamens ; a flower not surpassed in beauty by the finest Fuchsia ; and 

 for the original discovery of which we are indebted to the good Mr Arch. Men- 

 zies in 1779. The same day I added to my list Nemophile insignis (Bot. Reg. 

 t. 1713; Bot. Mag. t. 3485,) a humble but lovely plant, the harbinger of Cali- 

 fornian spring, which forms, as it were, a carpet of the tenderest azure hue. 

 What a relief does this charming flower afford to the eye from the effect of the 

 sun's reflection on the micaceous sand where it grows." — P. 149. 



In the island of Hawaii, one of the Sandwich group, he " visited the summit 

 of Mouna Roa, the Big or Long Mountain, which afforded me inexpressible 

 delight. This mountain, with an elevation of 13,517 feet, is one of the most 

 interesting in the world The journey (to the top) took me seventeen days. On 

 the summit is a volcano, nearly 24 miles in circumference, and at present in 

 terrific activity. You must not confound this with the one situated on the 

 flanks of Mouna Roa, and spoken of by the missionaries and Lord Byron, and 

 which I visited also. It is difficult to attempt describing such an immense 

 place. The spectator is lost in terror and admiration at beholding an enormous 

 sunken pit, (for it differs from all our notions of volcanoes, as possessing cone- 



