CHAPTER IV. 



COLUMBIA RIVER. 

 1841. 



The Vincennes having sailed, I at once set about preparing for the 

 survey of the river. I found that, agreeably to my first instructions, 

 Captain Hudson had lost no time in despatching the parties for the 

 interior, but the orders I had sent by Mr. Waldron, arrested their pro- 

 gress. I issued these orders because I anticipated that it would be 

 necessary to make some change in the route they were to pursue ; and 

 in the mean time they would have more opportunity to prepare them- 

 selves for the journey. 



Finding that Mr. Dana had not set out for the interior, I now saw 

 and regretted the necessity of countermanding the orders for the party 

 that was destined for the Rocky Mountains. 



The boats of the Peacock were ordered to be fully manned and 

 fitted out with all the requisites for surveying duties, and officers 

 attached to each. 



On the morning of the 9th, we began the survey. Some time had 

 been before spent in taking a few angles and soundings, but with so 

 little success, that I rejected the whole. The weather proved unfa- 

 vourable for any of our operations, except that of putting up signals. 

 We encamped at night on the small sandy island in the centre of the 

 bay, where we were very uncomfortable, for the sand flew about and 

 covered every thing. In the morning we had a thick fog, when I 

 determined to go to Baker's Bay, where we could obtain water ; for 

 that of the Columbia is not fresh as low down as this point. 



We found the tide exceedingly strong, and having some apprehen- 

 sions that the boats might lose their way, I thought it better for us 

 to make for the Chinook shore, and follow it until we reached the 



vol. v, K2 15 (" 3 ) 



