WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 375 



estimated at between four and five hundred, including all tribes, 

 sexes, and ages. The district under Mr. Bachelet's superintendence 

 takes in about fifty square miles, including the Willamette Valley, 

 Faulitz, and Yam-Hill Plains, and extending below the Willamette 

 Falls as far as the Klackamus river. The number of white residents, 

 including the missionaries of both denominations, is thought to be 

 about sixty. 



Mr. Drayton, Michael, and myself, dined with Mr. Bachelet, on 

 oatmeal porridge, venison, strawberries, and cream. This hospitality 

 was tendered with good and kind feelings, and with a gentlemanly 

 deportment that spoke much in his favour, and made us regret to 

 leave his company so soon. 



When we reached Michael's house, he left us, finding there was no 

 further need for his services, as we were now accompanied by Plu- 

 mondon, Johnson, George Gay, and one or two other guides, with 

 horses. 



We soon after came to some American and English settlers, and 

 then entered on the grounds of the Methodist Mission. One of the 

 first sights that caught my eye was a patent threshing machine in 

 the middle of the road, that seemed to have been there for a length 

 of time totally neglected. 



We rode on to the log houses which the Messrs. Lee built when 

 they first settled here. In the neighbourhood are the wheelright's and 

 blacksmith's, together with their work-shops, belonging to the mission, 

 and, about a mile to the east, the hospital, built by Dr. White, who 

 was formerly attached to this mission. I was informed by many of 

 the settlers that this gentleman had rendered very essential service to 

 this district. His connexion with the mission was dissolved when he 

 returned to the United States.* 



The hospital is now used for dwellings by some of the missionaries. 

 It is, perhaps, the best building in Oregon, and accommodates at 

 present four families : it is a well-built frame edifice, with a double 

 piazza in front. Mr. Abernethy and his wife entertained us kindly. 

 He is the secular agent of the mission. Order and neatness prevail 

 in their nice apartments, where they made us very comfortable, and 

 gave us such hospitality as we should receive at home. It seemed an 

 out-of-the-way place to find persons of delicate habits, struggling with 



* Dr. White has since returned to Oregon, in the capacity of Indian Agent. 



