COLUMBIA RIVER. 313 



the ocean the appearance of being covered with cinders. They were 

 quite as numerous as described by Vancouver, and continued to be 

 seen in large quantities for the distance of six hundred miles. 



On the 23d April, I changed my course again, to avoid running 

 over that portion of sea vs'hich had been already traversed by others, 

 and on that day we saw several flocks of small birds, like snipe in 

 appearance. The wind favoured us, and carried us forward at a 

 rapid rate. 



In latitude 42° N., longitude 149° W., we lost sight of all the vil- 

 lula, and the thermometer fell to 51°. At night we had a heavy dew, 

 and the temperature was as low as 46°. We now experienced a strong 

 current setting to the southward and eastward. Petrels and alba- 

 trosses were seen in abundance. 



On the 28th of April, at 6 a. m., we made Cape Disappointment, 

 which we soon came up with. A heavy sea, caused by the strong 

 winds that had prevailed for several days, was running. I, notwith- 

 standing, stood for the bar of the Columbia river, after making every 

 preparation to cross it; but, on approaching nearer, I found breakers 

 extending from Cape Disappointment to Point Adams, in one un- 

 broken line. 



I am at a loss to conceive how any doubt should ever have 

 existed, that here was the mouth of the mighty river, whose existence 

 was reported so long before the actvial place of its discharge was 

 known, or how the inquiring mind and talent of observation of Van- 

 couver could have allowed him to hesitate, when he must have seen 

 the evidence of a powerful flood of fresh water contending with the 

 tides of the ocean, in a bar turbulent with breakers, in turbid waters 

 extending several miles beyond the line of the shore, and in the 

 marked line of separation between the sea and river water. Such 

 appearances must be constant, and if seen, the inferences could 

 hardly be questionable, that the great river of the west poured itself 

 into the ocean at this point. 



Mere description can give little idea of the terrors of the bar of the 

 Columbia : all who have seen it have spoken of the wildness of the 

 scene, and the incessant roar of the waters, representing it as one of 

 the most fearful sights that can possibly meet the eye of the sailor. 

 The difficulty of its channel, the distance of the leading sailing-marks, 

 their uncertainty to one unacquainted with them, the want of know- 

 ledge of the strength and direction of the currents, with the necessity 



VOL. IV. 79 



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