COLUMBIA RIVER. 
131 
sick, and were able to do but little work. On the 13th, Lieutenant De 
Haven, whom I had sent over, arrived, and relieved them; and on his 
return to Baker’s Bay, twenty days’ provisions were sent with a party 
of Kanakas, under the guidance of Boileau, a Canadian. 
This supply reached them on the 19th August, from which time they 
proceeded rapidly with the survey, when the weather would permit. 
Previous to the arrival of Lieutenant De Haven, Mr. Eld and his party 
had parted with their own clothing and blankets, for the purpose of 
effecting the purchase of a large canoe to carry on their work. The 
Indians refused to deliver it, except for actual pay; for they had not 
yet learned to value the small pieces of paper, or orders on the Com¬ 
pany’s store, so much prized in the upper country, and which are there 
usually preferred to the articles themselves. The threat to stop trading 
for powder, Mr. Eld found w r as a strong inducement to accomplish any 
object with the Indians, for they prize this and tobacco beyond any 
other articles, always excepting rum. 
Mr. Eld, in one instance, treated one of the Indians to a pipe and 
tobacco, which affected him so much that they thought he was going 
into a fit, and created considerable alarm. This effect arises from their 
mode of using the pipe, for they invariably swallow the smoke, and 
retain the greatest part of it in the stomach and lungs. 
On the 24th, the survey was finished, and they prepared for their 
departure. The tract of land bordering on the Chickeeles, below the 
mouth of the Sachap, and around Gray’s Harbour, is of a poor descrip¬ 
tion 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 flow's 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 Graminese, 
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 
