COLUMBIA RIVER. 151 



skulls for our collection. We anchored the same evening off the 

 Cowlitz. 



Early the next morning, I proceeded up the Cowlitz in my gig, in 

 order to finish the survey of that stream and examine the strata of 

 coal said to exist there. After entering it, it was with difficulty that 

 I recognised the river ; for there is a greater difference than even in 

 the Columbia, between its high and low states. After passing up the 

 Cowlitz several miles, I encountered rapids, through which it was 

 necessary to drag the boat by a line. I found, after great exertion 

 and fatigue, we could not ascend beyond thirteen miles ; for it had 

 become so shallow that the boat would not float, and we had not 

 strength enough to force her over the wide bars of gravel and sand, 

 that had apparently accumulated during the last spring. After 

 securing some specimens of lignite that were found embedded in the 

 alluvial banks, and taking observations for time, I turned back ; and 

 feeling anxious to reach the brig at an early hour, I ventured to shoot 

 one of the rapids. In doing this, we all had a narrow escape ; and 

 particularly two of the boat's crew, who were in great danger of their 

 lives. We fortunately escaped, but with considerable damage to the 

 boat and a few bruises, the whole of which was the work of an in- 

 stant. This taught me not to venture upon such an experiment 

 again, and I felt thankful to escape as we did. The Cowlitz is not 

 navigable, except at high water during the spring and fall ; and even 

 then it is difficult to ascend, on account of the strength of its current. 



We had now overtaken the sounding parties, and, aided by the 

 boats of the brig, were enabled to push the work towards a close. 

 Having reached the influence of the tide below, Oak Point, all fears 

 of the ague and fever vanished : we had indeed been extremely for- 

 tunate in exemption from this disease, and only those suffered from its 

 attacks who had been before exposed. Those affected belonged chiefly 

 to the Peacock, and the larger portion were Sandwich Islanders. The 

 crew of the Porpoise were generally exempt from it : all recovered 

 from the slight attacks under a simple treatment. I felt not a little 

 satisfaction at disappointing the knowing ones, who had prognosticated 

 the certainty of my having all hands sick and dying by attempting 

 the survey in the unhealthy season. When we reached Astoria, we 

 had nearly all hands on duty. 



On the 26th, we had again reached Katalamet Point, the lower 

 end of Puget Island. The brig passed down the usual channel on 



