328 NISQUALLY AND COLUMBIA RIVER. 



The shores of these islands are covered with trees, consisting of ash, 

 poplars, pines, and oaks, while the centre is generally prairie, and 

 lower than the banks : they are principally composed of sand. During 

 the rise of the river in May and June, the islands are covered with 

 water, that filters through the banks that are not overflowed. This 

 influx renders them unfit for grain crops, as the coldness of the water 

 invariably destroys every cultivated plant it touches. 



The Company's establishment at Vancouver is upon an extensive 

 scale, and is worthy of the vast interest of which it is the centre. The 

 residents mess at several tables : one for the chief factor and his clerks ; 

 one for their wives (it being against the regulations of the Company 

 for their officers and wives to take their meals together) ; another for 

 the missionaries ; and another for the sick and the Catholic mission- 

 aries. All is arranged in the best order, and I should think with great 

 economy. Every thing may be had within the fort : they have an ex- 

 tensive apothecary shop, a bakery, blacksmiths' and coopers' shops, 

 trade-offices for buying, others for selling, others again for keeping 

 accounts and transacting business; shops for retail, where English 

 manufactured articles may be purchased at as low a price, if not 

 cheaper, than in the United States, consisting of cotton and woollen 

 goods, ready-made clothing, ship-chandlery, earthen and iron ware, 

 and fancy articles ; in short, every thing, and of every kind and 

 description, including all sorts of groceries, at an advance of eighty 

 per cent, on the London prime cost. This is the established price at 

 Vancouver, but at the other posts it is one hundred per cent., to cover 

 the extra expenses of transportation. All these articles are of good 

 quality, and suitable for the servants, settlers and visiters. Of the 

 quantity on hand, some idea may be formed from the fact that all the 

 posts west of the Rocky Mountains get their annual supplies from this 

 depot. 



Vancouver is the head-quarters of the Northwest or Columbian 

 Department, which also includes New Caledonia ; all the returns of 

 furs are received here, and hither all accounts are transmitted for 

 settlement. These operations occasion a large mass of business to be 

 transacted at this establishment. Mr. Douglass, a chief factor, and the 

 associate of Dr. M'Laughlin, assists in this department, and takes sole 

 charge in his absence. 



Dr. M'Laughlin showed us our rooms, and told us that the bell was 

 the signal for meals. 



Towards sunset, tea-time arrived, and we obeyed the summons of 

 the bell, when we were introduced to several of the gentlemen of the 

 establishment : we met in a large hall, with a long table spread with 



