128 
COLUMBIA RIVER. 
Having accomplished the object he had in view, Mr. Eld turned 
back, and soon reached the place where they had left the horses and 
articles, which they found all safe, under the charge of the slave, who, 
from appearances, had not moved from his position during the time of 
their absence, and was much relieved at their return. 
The next day they returned to their party on the Chickeeles, 
passing on their route some of the gigantic pine trees, so often to be 
met with in this territory. Some of these had been burnt, and had 
in consequence fallen; Mr. Eld thus had an opportunity of mea¬ 
suring them. One, that was not selected as the largest, for there 
were many of equal if not greater length and diameter, was mea¬ 
sured, and the part that lay in one piece was found to be two hundred 
feet long; another piece of the same tree was twenty-five feet long, 
and at the small end of the latter, it was still ten inches in diameter. 
Allowing twelve feet for the portion destroyed by fire, Mr. Eld 
thought twenty-five feet ought to be added for its top; which makes 
the whole length of the tree, when growing, two hundred and sixty 
feet. Others were believed to exceed this, both in height and diameter. 
During the time of Mr. Eld’s absence, Mr. Colvocoressis remained 
at the camp, and Mr. Brackenridge made short excursions to the 
south of the Chickeeles. The country on this side of the river is 
covered with a thick spruce forest, and the soil appears to differ much 
from that of the north, being poor, and composed of a mixture of sand 
and gravel, while on the north side it is an alluvial deposit, averaging 
from a half to two-thirds of a mile in width, well adapted to yield good 
crops of grain. From the marks on the trees, however, it is believed 
to be subject to an annual inundation of considerable depth. The 
weather continued dry and clear. 
Near this encampment were found some rudely carved painted 
