342 WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 



glad to seek for higher ground to encamp on, for the purpose of 

 escaping them. 



The Willamette river is generally about one-fourth of a mile wide. 

 For the distance of four miles from its entrance into the Columbia its 

 banks are low, and during the rise of the latter are overflowed, its 

 waters being backed into the Willamette. There is little current to 

 contend with in this river during this season. After passing this low 

 ground, the banks become high and precipitous, and are in only a few 

 places susceptible of cultivation. 



We encamped on the island occupied by the young Americans, of 

 whom I spoke in the preceding chapter, and close to the place where 

 they were building their vessel. The group of which it is one, is called 

 the Oak Islands. 



On landing, we were introduced to them all. They had reached 

 the Oregon country by crossing the Rocky Mountains, a year before, 

 and worked on the Willamette, where they first proposed to settle 

 themselves ; but they found that that was out of the question, as there 

 was little or no prospect of their being contented, and they were 

 now bent upon leaving the country at all hazards. Every one with 

 whom I spoke gave them a good character, except one, and I found 

 that, shortly after my visit, he had been turned out of the partner- 

 ship. 



The vessel they were building was a small schooner. One of their 

 number having served a short time in a ship-yard in the United States, 

 the rest were employed as his assistants, cutting timber and preparing 

 the plank, which they procured from the cedar on the banks of the 

 river. 



I explained to them the cause of Dr. M'Laughlin's refusal to assist 

 them, which they denied most positively. I then told them it was 

 proper for them to deny having authorized any trick or deception, on 

 doing which I was sure they would receive any assistance that lay in 

 the power of Dr. M'Laughlin. This they subsequently did, and I was 

 informed that they then received all the aid he had it in his power to 

 give. 



I tried to dissuade these young men from making their voyage; for I 

 found, on conversing with them, that not one of them knew any thing 

 about the sailing of a vessel or navigation. I therefore knew how 

 great dangers they would experience on the voyage even to California, 

 whither they intended to go, with the intention of taking sea-otter by 

 the way on the coast of Oregon. After their arrival at San Francisco 

 it was their plan to sell their vessel and cargo, if they were fortu- 

 nate enough to obtain any, or if not, to go down the coast further, 



