242 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



have made a tin box for as large a portion of the seeds as I could think of 

 carrying on my back across the mountains ; in this one will go my journals. 

 Three boxes packed by the 17th, and should any occur in the interim, Mr. 

 McLoughhn wiU cause an additional one to be made. Left room in one 

 for my plants that were omitted to be sent down in the autumn. Had 

 my very small clothing made ready, paid my debts, and received a copy 

 of the amount. Weather fine until the 17th. My old friend Mr. McLeod 

 and party returned from the south as they were obliged to relinquish their 

 journey owing to the heavy rains. He informs me that several streams 

 fall into the ocean beyond his survey in the beginning of winter when I 

 was with him, but the famous river so much spoken of by the natives for 

 its size is by no means so large as represented. About 300 yards wide,, 

 bold rocky banks, deep and very clean, navigable for small vessels thirty 

 miles from the sea ; has a sand-bar at its mouth. Found the natives 

 hostile, one of his party being killed by them. 



Tuesday, 2,0th. — Showery all day. Preparations being made for the 

 annual express across the continent ; by five o'clock in the afternoon I left 

 Fort Vancouver in company with Mr. Edward Ermatinger for Hudson's. 

 Bay, Messrs. McLoughhn, McLeod, -An nance, and Pambrun for the 

 interior. We were accompanied to the riverside by the few remaining 

 individuals who constituted my little society during the winter, where we 

 wished each other a long farewell — I glad that the time was come when 

 my steps should once more be bent towards England. I cannot forbear 

 expressing my sincere thanks for the assistance, hospitahty, and strict 

 attention to my comfort which I uniformly enjoyed during my stay 

 with them — in a particular manner to Mr. McLoughlin (Chief Factor). 

 Camped at sundown four miles above the estabhshment. 



Wednesday, 2\st. — Morning cold and raw. Started at 4 a.m. and 

 breakfasted at nine on Point Vancouver ; continued our route at ten. 

 Camped on the Cascade portage at dusk. Purchased a fine salmon-trout, 

 weighing about 15 lb. Drizzly rain in the evening ; nothing particular 

 occurred during the day. 



Thursday, ^2nd. — Heavy rain at daybreak and showery until noon. 

 Finished the portage and took breakfast by ten. Camped halt-way 

 between the Grand Rapids and Dalles, on a sandy blufE. High wind during 

 the night. 



Friday, 22,rd. — Morning cloudy and cool; noon fine, clear, and pleasant. 

 Breakfasted at Thomson's portage, where I found several species of 

 Vmbelliferae in blossom ; Lilium pudicum ^ ; Cruciferae, annual, seed-vessel 

 nearly orbicular, three to four seeded, maculate on one side ; leaves radi- 

 cal, hastate, smooth ; flowers faint white and red ; on moist ground, near 

 springs ; rare. This is the only plant I had not seen before. Made the 

 portage over the Lower Dalles by three o'clock, and the Upper or 

 Little Dalles by five, and lest we should be annoyed by the Indians on 

 the Falls, four miles higher up, we camped on the gravelly beach of the 

 river. Wood, being scarce, wherewith to boil our kettle, was purchased. 

 Watched all night. 



* Fritillaria -pudica. Baker, in Journ. Linn. Soc. xiv. p. 267. 



