326 COLUMBIA RIVER. 



Puget Sound, or Hood's Canal, that can in any way interrupt their 

 navigation by a seventy-four gun ship. I venture nothing in saying, 

 there is no country in the world that possesses waters equal to these. 



The anchorage off Nisqually is very contracted, in consequence of 

 the rapid shelving of the bank, that soon drops off into deep water. 

 The shore rises abruptly, to a height of about two hiuidred feet, and 

 on the top of the ascent is an extended plain, covered with pine, oak, 

 and ash trees, scattered here and there so as to form a park-like 

 scene. The hill-side is mounted by a well-constructed road, of easy 

 ascent. From the summit of the road the view is beautiful, over 

 the sound and its many islands, with Mount Olympus covered with 

 snow for a background. Fort Nisqually, with its out-buildings 

 and enclosure, stands back about half a mile from the edge of the 

 table-land. 



In the morning I found that the ship lay opposite to a small run 

 of water, and finding the situation an agreeable one, the Vincennes 

 was safely moored there, and the boats hoisted out. 



Having arranged my plans, I proceeded forthwith to put so much 

 of them as lay within my own means into execution : the Porpoise 

 and boats were prepared for surveying, and the land parties orga- 

 nized. Other parts of my proposed plans depended on the co-opera- 

 tion of the Peacock. My instructions, for this purpose, to Captain 

 Hudson had been prepared previous to our arrival. I had, also, been 

 informed that the Peacock and Flying-Fish had reached the Columbia 

 river in safety ; and this news, although it turned out to be untrue, 

 was for the moment a source of congratulation. 



The Porpoise, with two of the Vincennes' boats, under Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold, were directed to take up the survey of Admi- 

 ralty Inlet. The launch, first cutter, and two boats of the Vincennes 

 were placed under the command of Lieutenant Case, to survey 

 Hood's Canal.* The land party intended to explore the interior, 

 was placed under the command of Lieutenant Johnson, of the Por- 

 poise. With him were associated Dr. Pickering, Mr. W. Waldron, 

 of the Porpoise, Mr. Brackenridge, Sergeant Stearns, and two 

 men. Eighty days were allowed for the operations of this party, 

 which it was intended should cross the Cascade range of mountains, 

 towards the Columbia, proceed thence to Fort Colville, thence south 



* For orders, see Appendix XI. 



