PUGET SOUND AND OKONAGAN. 413 



lacerated from the sudden explosion of the gun. This accident put a 

 momentary stop to the hilarity of the occasion. Dr. Fox, who was 

 on the ground, thought that amputation of the arm above the elbow 

 would be necessary, but it was deemed better to delay it for a time. 

 The wound was dressed as well as it could be, and a litter was made. 

 on which he was at once sent, under charge of his messmates, to the 

 ship. Men-of-war's men are somewhat familiar with such scenes, and, 

 although this accident threw a temporary gloom over the party, the 

 impression did not last long, and the amusements of the morning were 

 now exchanged for the excitement of horse-racing, steeds having been 

 hired for the purpose from the Indians. This sport is always a favourite 

 with sailors on shore, and in pursuit of it they had not a few tumbles, 

 but fortunately none were seriously hurt. At sunset they all returned 

 on board, in the same good order they had landed. 



All the officers, together with Mr. Anderson, Captain M'Niel, and 

 Dr. Richmond, dined with me at the observatory, and we were in 

 hopes of having the company of Dr. M'Laughlin ; but, owing to his 

 having lost his way, he did not arrive until the following morning. He 

 was gladly welcomed, and it gave us all great pleasure to acknowledge 

 the attentions that had been heaped upon us by his order, and the 

 kindness of the officers of the fort. 



He paid me a visit on board, and felt greatly pleased with the ship, 

 which was the first man-of-war he had ever been on board of. On his 

 leaving the vessel, the yards were manned, and three hearty cheers 

 given him by the crew, who were aware of his kindness in ordering 

 them a supply of fresh provisions. He dined with us, and the next 

 morning returned to the Cowlitz Farm, on his way back to Van- 

 couver. 



After, the rejoicings were ended, the surveying party was again 

 despatched to complete the survey of Puget Sound. 



The height of Mount Rainier was obtained by measuring a base 

 line on the prairies, in which operation I was assisted by Lieutenant 

 Case, and the triangulation gave for its height, twelve thousand three 

 hundred and thirty feet. 



While engaged in these duties, I noticed from a point of the prairie., 

 the white cones of both Mount St. Helen's and Mount Hood very dis- 

 tinctly. These mountains all resemble each other closely, and appear 

 in some points of view as perfect cones. They give great interest and 

 grandeur to the scenery. Mount Rainier is at all times a very striking 

 object from the prairies about Nisqually, rising as it does almost im- 

 perceptibly from the plain, with a gradual slope, until the snow-line is 

 reached, when the ascent becomes more precipitous. 



2K2 



