1825, AUGUST. MULTNOMAH RIVEK 141 



Tke beaver now is scarce ; none alive came under my notice. I was much 

 gratified in viewing the deserted lodges and dams of that wise economist. 

 Abundance of a species of deer (which probably may be the one spoken of by 

 Mr. Sabine in his description of the animals observed by Franklin's party) 

 are to be had. During my stay (ten days) seventeen were killed, both 

 males and females. It grieved me exceedingly I was so placed that only a 

 small one could be preserved : a young male, which I killed at 115 yards 

 with ball. The flesh is very fine, of a beautiful fine delicate white. Unfor- 

 tunately I lost my note of their proportions, colour, &c., but as I am very 

 shortly to make a second visit I shall not fail to preserve a pair ; horns 3 to 

 4, branched, short, about 15 inches long ; light brown, white on the belly, 

 young ones white spotted until six months old. Near my tent was a small 

 salt-marsh, to which in the morning they daily resorted. KiUed 2 females 

 and 3 males of a fine species of pigeon ; feet, legs, and part of the beak 

 yellow, a white ring round the neck. I was only able to skin one, a male, 

 and that is a miserable specimen ; female same colour except neck and 

 breast, which is of a darker hue. I was very fortunate having good 

 weather all the time, except one day. 



Collected the following plants and obtained seeds of several very 

 important plants already collected : 



(447) Nicotiana pulverulenta ^ (?) of Pursh, correctly supposed by 

 Nuttall to exist on the Columbia ; whether its original habitat is here 

 in the Rocky Mountains, or on the Missouri, I am unable to say, but 

 am inclined to think it must be in the mountains. I am informed by 

 the hunters it is more abundant towards them and particularly so among 

 the Snake Indians, who frequently visit the Indians inhabiting the 

 head-waters of the Missouri by whom it might be carried in both 

 directions. I have seen only one plant before, in the hand (ft an Indian 

 two months since at the Great Falls of the Columbia, and although I 

 offered him 2 ozs. of manufactured tobacco he would on no considera- 

 tion part with it. The natives cultivate it here, and although I made 

 diligent search for it, it never came under my notice until now. They 

 do not cultivate it near their camps or lodges, lest it should be taken 

 for use before maturity. An open place in the wood is chosen where there 

 is dead wood, which they burn, and sow the seed in the ashes. Fortunately 

 I met with one of the little plantations and supplied myself with seeds 

 and specimens without delay. On my way home I met the owner, who, 

 seeing it under my arm, appeared to be much displeased ; but by presenting 

 him with two finger-lengths of tobacco from Europe his wrath was appeased 

 and we became good friends. He then gave me the above description 

 of cultivating it. He told me that wood ashes made it grow very large. 

 I was much pleased with the idea of using Wood ashes. Thus we see that 

 even the savages on the Columbia know the good efiects produced on 

 vegetation by the use of carbon. His knowledge of plants and their uses 

 gained him another finger -length. When we smoked we were all in all. S. 



1 This must be a slip of Douglas's, as the only specific name in Nicotiana for which 

 Pursh is the authority is quadrivalvis, Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. i. p. 141. 



