CHAPTER X. 



WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 

 1841. 



On the 3d of June, we had made arrangements for leaving Van- 

 couver, and proceeding tip the Willamette ; but the weather was so 

 stormy, that we deferred our departure until the following day. 



Dr. M'Laughlin had kindly furnished us with a large boat, and, 

 although we had provided ourselves with provisions, we found in 

 her a large basket filled with every thing that travellers could need, 

 or kindness susfgest. 



The barge in which we embarked was one that usually carried 

 freight ; but it had been fitted up with seats for our use, so that we 

 found ourselves extremely comfortable, and our jaunt was much more 

 pleasant than if we had been confined to a small canoe. These flat- 

 bottom boats are capable of carrying three hundred bushels of wheat, 

 and have but a small draft of water ; when well manned, they ai'e as 

 fast as the canoes, and are exceedingly well adapted to the navigation 

 of the river : they are also provided with large tarpawlings to protect 

 their cargo from the weather. 



From Vancouver we floated down with the current to the upper 

 mouth of the Willamette, which we entered, and before night passed 

 the encampment of the Rev. Jason Lee, principal of the Methodist 

 Mission in Oregon, who was on his way to Clatsop, at the mouth of 

 the Columbia. We stopped with him for an hour. He was accom- 

 panied by his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Whitwell, and two or three children. 

 Their encampment was close to the river, and consisted of two small 

 tents. Mr. Lee gave us a warm invitation to visit the settlement on 

 the Willamette, thus forestalling our intentions to do so. 



The musquitoes and sand-flies were so annoying, that we were 

 VOL. IV, 92 



