140 
COLUMBIA RIVER. 
The middle section is, on the contrary, exceedingly dry, and the 
temperature more changeable, the variations being great and sudden. 
The mercury has been known to fall as low as — 18° in the winter, and 
to rise as high as 108° in the shade, in summer. In Appendix XIII., 
Vol. IV., will be found a register of the temperature, kept at one of the 
missionary stations, Lapwai, on the Kooskooskee. It may be said to 
be on the eastern border of the middle section. 
The eastern section has an exceedingly variable climate: it fluctu¬ 
ates from cold to hot in a few hours, ranging through fifty or sixty 
degrees of temperature; yet, from the accounts I have, from very 
respectable authority, the cold is by no means severe for any length of 
time. The Rev. Mr. Smith, who was two years there, assured me that 
the cattle and horses required no other food than what they could pick 
up, the natural hay before spoken of being sufficient for their support. 
The climate throughout Oregon is thought to be salubrious for the 
white race; and was considered so by the Indians, prior to the year 
1830, when the ague and fever, or any disease resembling it, was not 
known to exist. The Indians fully believe, to this day, that Captain 
Dominis introduced the disease in 1830. Since that time, it has com¬ 
mitted frightful ravages among them; not so much, perhaps, from the 
violence of the disease itself, as the manner in which they treat it. It 
was not until quite lately that they were willing to be treated after our 
mode, and they still in many cases prefer the incantations and practices 
of the medicine-man. 
I satisfied myself that the accounts given of the depopulation of this 
country are not exaggerated ; for places were pointed out to me where 
dwelt whole tribes, that have been entirely swept off; and, during the 
time of the greatest mortality, the shores of the river were strewed with 
the dead and dying. This disease occurs, it is said, semi-annually, and 
in the case of foreigners, it is more mild at each succeeding attack. 
Owing to the above causes, the population is much less than I 
expected to find it. I made every exertion to obtain correct informa¬ 
tion, and believe that at the time of our visit, the following was very 
nearly the truth, viz.: 
Vancouver and Washington Island, . 
From latitude 50° to 54° N., on the main,. 
Penn’s Cove, Whidby’s Island, including the main land (Sachet 
tribe,) . 
Hood’s Canal (Suquamish and Toando tribes), .... 
Birch Bay, . 
Fraser’s River, . 
8,950 
5,000 
2,000 
650 
500 
300 
500 
