COLUMBIA RIVER. 139 



the mouth of the Sachap, and around Gray's Harbour, is of a poor 

 description for cultivation. The spruce forest extends down to the 

 water's edge, except in a few places around the harbour, where there 

 are patches of salt marsh, which produce coarse grasses and cat's-tail 

 (Typha). The salt creeks into which the tide flows are generally 

 very tortuous ; and the meadows are occasionally overflowed at 

 spring-tides. The only piece of land that appeared suitable for 

 cultivation, was immediately within the South Head ; but this is of 

 small extent. The coast, as far as Cape Shoalwater, is no more than 

 a smooth sandy beach, which rises in a gentle acclivity to a line of 

 low sand-hills. 



Mr. Brackenridge describes the coast vegetation as consisting' of 

 Oberonia, Neottia, Ambrosia, two species of Aster, several Grami- 

 nese, an Armeria, with a number of saline plants ; the Gaultheria 

 is found in great abundance, bearing a palatable berry, of which 

 the party had occasion to make use. For further information 

 respecting the plants of this section, I must refer to the Botanical 

 Report. 



Gray's Harbour seems to offer but few facilities for commercial 

 purposes. The entrance is narrow, the width being from one-half to 

 two-thirds of a mile, with dangerous breakers on both sides. The 

 depth of water is from five to seven fathoms. The space, after en- 

 tering, is extensive, but the greater part of it is filled up with mud- 

 flats, which are bare at low water, and confine the harbour suitable 

 for the anchorage of vessels to very small limits. The river Chic- 

 keeles, before entering into the harbour, increases in width to several 

 hundred feet, and is navigable for vessels drawing twelve feet water, 

 eight miles above its mouth. The harbour is only suitable for vessels 

 of from one to two hundred tons ; and there are places where such 

 vessels may find security between the mud shoals, some distance 

 within the capes. 



The tides here are irregular, and influenced by the winds and 

 weather ; the time of high water at full and change was found to be 

 11" 30 m . 



Fogs prevail very frequently during the summer season. Our 

 party remained at this place for twenty-three days, three-fourths of 

 which time it blew a strong gale from either the southwest or north- 

 west, accompanied with a dense fog, that rendered it impossible to 

 see farther than half a mile. 



