116 COLUMBIA RIVER. 



of these was to visit the primeval forest of pines in the rear of Astoria, a 

 sight well worth seeing. Mr. Drayton took a camera lucida drawing of 

 one of the largest trees, which the opposite plate is engraved from. It 

 conveys a good idea of the thick growth of the trees, and is quite cha- 

 racteristic of this forest. The soil on which this timber grows is rich 

 and fertile, but the obstacles to the agriculturist are almost insuperable. 

 The largest tree of the sketch was thirty-nine feet six inches in circum- 

 ference, eight feet above the ground, and had a bark eleven inches thick. 

 The height could not be ascertained, but it was thought to be upwards 

 of two hundred and fifty feet, and the tree was perfectly straight. 



It was the season of the fishery when the Peacock was wrecked, and 

 the Kilamukes, Clatsops, and Chinooks, were collected in the neighbour- 

 hood. Many of these came with their families, and took up their abode 

 near Astoria; for it costs them little trouble to move all their worldly 

 goods. They generally had for sale salmon, venison, sturgeon, moc- 

 casins, and mats. 



When the crew first landed, eight or ten salmon might be bought for 

 a cotton shirt, or its value in red or green baize; but the Indians soon 

 found that higher prices might be obtained for the asking, and before 

 our departure from the Columbia river, the price was enhanced 

 one-half. 



The vicious propensities of the Indians were seen here, as they appear 

 around all the posts of the Hudson Bay Company, or where strangers 

 are encamped : gambling is the vice to which they are most prone. 

 Both sexes are equally filthy, and I am inclined to believe will continue 

 so ; for their habits are inveterate, and from all the accounts I could 

 gather from different sources, there is reason to believe that they have 

 not improved or been benefited by their constant intercourse with the 

 w-hites, except in a very few cases. It is indeed probable that the 

 whole race will be extinguished ere long, from the natural effects of 

 their mode of life, even if no pestilential disease should come among 

 them to sweep them off in a single season. 



I saw more of their gambling here, and the lengths to which they 

 carry it, than in any other place, in consequence of having occasion 

 to come oftener in contact with them. The game most practised was 

 played by one of them concealing two small sticks in the hand so 

 adroitly as to elude scrutiny, while the others guessed which hand 

 contained them. Two parties play at this, sitting upon different sides 

 of a large board; and whilst the concealment of the stick is going on, 

 they keep up a kind of chaunt and beating with the sticks, to produce 

 confusion and noise, in order to distract the attention of the players. 

 The air they sing is — 



