132 
COLUMBIA RIVER. 
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 
ll h 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 northwest, 
accompanied with a dense fog, that rendered it impossible to see 
farther than half a mile. 
The Indians in this portion of the country are not numerous. The 
region at the head of Puget Sound is inhabited by a tribe called the 
Toandos, whose number Mr. Eld was unable to learn. The Sachals 
are about forty in number: they reside about the lake of the same 
name, and along the river Chickeeles: they appear to be a kind 
and inoffensive tribe. The Sachap tribe numbers about sixty : they 
are not as well off for clothing as the former, and few of them were 
supplied with fire-arms; they reside on the borders of the Sachap 
river. The Chickeeles tribe number from one hundred and fifty to 
two hundred, and inhabit the country around Gray’s Harbour: their 
principal place of abode is on the north point of Gray’s Harbour, 
which is generally occupied by those passing to and fro, and where 
they await fine weather. Mr. Eld found this tribe supplied with good 
muskets, blankets, and knives: they paint their faces, and have alto¬ 
gether a warlike appearance. At one time during the stay of the 
party they were disposed to be troublesome, but the men being con¬ 
stantly on the watch, to protect themselves, remained unmolested, 
though occasionally annoyed at the disposition evinced to take advan¬ 
tage of any oversight. The chief of this tribe is spoken of by the 
party in very high terms, for his kindness to them. He seemed 
mortified at the events which occurred, and took much pains to keep 
his people in order. In this, notwithstanding he possessed little au- 
