248 DOUGLAS' JOUBNAL 



Country more mountainous and rugged, the timber smaller. Ten miles 

 from our camp, about eight o'clock a.m. passed Flathead River, a stream 

 not more than 30 yards broad at its entrance, but throws a large body of 

 water into the Columbia. The entrance is cascades, 9 or 10 feet high> 

 over which the water is dashed, which has a fine effect, issuing as it were 

 from a subterranean passage, both sides being high hills with large pines 

 overhanging the stream. The headwater of this stream was passed by 

 Lewis and Clarke in their tour across the continent. I am informed by 

 Mr. P. Sogden, who possesses more knowledge of the country south of the 

 Columbia than any other person, that its source is a small lake in the Rocky 

 Mountains, which discharges water to both oceans : from the east end is 

 the headwater of one of the branches of the Missouri, and one, as I have 

 observed, is a feeder of the Columbia. Took breakfast two miles and a 

 half above it on the opposite side at nine, where we stayed our usual time, 

 half an hour. From the high grounds on the bank of the river, as far as the 

 eye can behold, nothing is to be seen but huge mountains, ridge towering 

 above ridge in awful grandeur, their summits enwrapped in eternal snow, 

 destitute of timber, and no doubt afEording but a scanty verdure of any 

 sort. Lower down the scene is different : rugged perpendicular cHfEs of 

 granite and scattered fragments which from time to time have been hurled 

 from their beds in masses too large and weighty for anything to withstand. 

 At the foot the timber is larger. In addition to those seen yesterday, 

 one Pinus Larix i of small growth and a species of scrub pine which I saw 

 last year on the high grounds between Kettle Falls and Spokane with small 

 round cones, leaves short and in pairs. P. taxifolia 2 and P. resinosa 

 smaller, on the latter more of the eatable moss. Pinus Strobus abounds 

 and although very lofty I have not seen one exceed 2 feet in diameter. 

 Now that I see this I think the large species found on the Umpqua River 

 and south of it has considerable affinity to it, but at the same time still 

 specifically distinct. On the moist grounds in the valleys and shore of the 

 river, birch is seen of larger dimensions than any that has yet come under 

 my notice. The Pofulus is P. tremula, Corylus is seen as underwood to 

 Betula. Of herbaceous plants Ranunculus sp., Claytonia lanceolatafi and 

 Erythronium grandiflorum in flower ; a few of the latter I laid in. General 

 course of the river northerly ; scarcely a mile without a rapid. Camped 

 on the right at the foot of a high mountain remarkable for its being circular. 

 Morning cool ; noon clear, fine, and pleasant. Sky beautiful at sunset, 

 the snowy summits of the hills tinted with gold ; the parts secluded from 

 his rays are clothed with cloudy branches of the pine wearing a darker hue, 

 while the river at the base is steahng silently along in silvery brightness 

 or dashes through the dark recesses of a rocky Dalle. How glad should I 

 feel if I could do justice to my pencil (when you get home, begin to learn). 

 Last night I forgot to say, a small stream four miles below our last camp 

 falls into the river — called White Sheep River, from the antelopes . found 

 on its banks — a few miles back from the Columbia. Also I must observe 



1 Larix occidentalis, Mast., in Journ. R. Hort. Soc. xiv. p. 218. 



2 Pseudotsuga Douglasii, Mast., loc. cit., p. 245. 



^ Claytonia carolinia,na var. sessilifoUa, S. Wats. Bibl. Ind. N. Am. Bot. p. 117. 



