340 C O L U M B I A R I V E R. 



passed the east fork of the Cowlitz, which is smaller and not navigable 

 even for canoes. We also passed the mouths of several small streams 

 on the west side. Plumondon pointed out that side of the river to me 

 as good trapping-ground, and amused me by the narration of many of 

 the difficulties he had to encounter in taking his game. About noon, 

 we reached the Columbia. 



The Cowlitz river takes its rise in the Cascade Range, near Mount 

 Rainier, and has many short turns in it. Its banks are tolerably 

 high, until it approaches the Columbia. It is only at high water, in 

 the spring and fall, that the river can be used for boating, at which 

 time the supplies from Vancouver are sent, and the grains, &c., 

 returned, in large flat barges. The soil along the river appears to be 

 of a good quality, a clayey loam with vegetable mould, over trap rock 

 and sandstone. The prevalent trees were poplars, soft maples, ash, 

 fir, pine, and cedar, with some laurel, where the prairies are so low as 

 to be flooded in the month of May. 



On this river it was reported that coal of a good quality existed, 

 but I examined all the places that indicated it, and only found lignite. 

 This exists in several places, but the largest quantity lies above the 

 East Fork : several specimens of it were obtained. 



In the month of September following, I examined the Cowlitz, and 

 found it exhibiting a very diff"erent character. A few miles above its 

 mouth there was not water enough to float even a boat, and it was 

 beside filled with rapids. It is not navigable for barges more than 

 three months in a year. The distance we passed down the Cowlitz 

 did not exceed twenty-six miles, although we had been told that it 

 was more than forty. 



The route by the way of the Cowlitz wiW in all probability be that 

 which will hereafter be pursued to the northern waters and sounds. 

 Although there are many difficulties in crossing the rivers, &c., yet 

 it is believed to be the most feasible course. 



On our way we met with many canoes passing up, loaded with 

 salmon and trout, which had been taken at the Willamette Falls, and 

 which they were then carrying to trade with the Indians for the 

 cam mass-root. We obtained some of the fish as a supply for our 

 Indians. 



On entering the Columbia, our Indians required some rest, and 

 said they were hungry ; we therefore concluded to stop for a short time 

 on its banks. If I were to j udge of the whole Cowlitz tribe from the 



