CHAPTER IY. 



COLUMBIA RIVER. 

 1841. 



The Vincennes having sailed, I at once set about preparing for the 

 survey of the river. I found that, agreeably to my first instructions, 

 Captain Hudson had lost no time in despatching the parties for 

 the interior, but the orders I had sent by Mr. Waldron, arrested 

 their progress. I issued these orders, because I anticipated that it 

 would be necessary to make some change in the route they were to 

 pursue ; and in the mean time they would have more opportunity to 

 prepare themselves for the journey. 



Finding that Mr. Dana had not set out for the interior, I now saw 

 and regretted the necessity of countermanding the orders for the 

 party that was destined for the Rocky Mountains. 



The boats of the Peacock were ordered to be fully manned and 

 fitted out with all the requisites for surveying duties, and officers 

 attached to each. 



On the morning of the 9th, we began the survey. Some time 

 had been before spent in taking a few angles and soundings, but with 

 so little success, that- 1 rejected the whole. The weather proved 

 unfavourable for any of our operations, except that of putting up 

 signals. We encamped at night on the small sandy island in the 

 centre of the bay, where we were very uncomfortable, for the sand 

 flew about and covered every thing. In the morning we had a thick 

 fog, when I determined to go to Baker's Bay, where we could obtain 

 water ; for that of the Columbia is not fresh as low down as this 

 point. 



We found the tide exceedingly strong, and having some apprehen- 



