COLUMBIA RIVER. 131 



sick, and were able to do but little work. On the 13th, Lieutenant De 

 Haven, whom I had sent over, arrived, and relieved them; and on his 

 return to Baker's Bay, twenty days' provisions were sent with a party 

 of Kanakas, under the guidance of Boileau, a Canadian. 



This supply reached them on the 19th August, from which time they 

 proceeded rapidly with the survey, when the weather would permit. 

 Previous to the arrival of Lieutenant De Haven, Mr. Eld and his party 

 had parted with their own clothing and blankets, for the purpose of 

 effecting the purchase of a large canoe to carry on their work. The 

 Indians refused to deliver it, except for actual pay ; for they had not 

 yet learned to value the small pieces of paper, or orders on the Com- 

 pany's store, so much prized in the upper country, and which are there 

 usually preferred to the articles themselves. The threat to stop trading 

 for powder, Mr. Eld found was a strong inducement to accomplish any 

 object with the Indians, for they prize this and tobacco beyond any 

 other articles, always excepting rum. 



Mr. Eld, in one instance, treated one of the Indians to a pipe and 

 tobacco, which affected him so much that they thought he was going 

 into a fit, and created considerable alarm. This effect arises from their 

 mode of using the pipe, for they invariably swallow the smoke, and 

 retain the greatest part of it in the stomach and lungs. 



On the 24th, the survey was finished, and they prepared for their 

 departure. The tract of land bordering on the Chickeeles, below the 

 mouth of the Sachap, and around Gray's Harbour, is of a poor descrip- 

 tion for cultivation. The spruce forest extends down to the water's 

 edge, except in a few places around the harbour, where there are 

 patches of salt marsh, which produce coarse grasses and cat's-tail 

 (Typha). The salt creeks into which the tide flows are generally very 

 tortuous ; and the meadows are occasionally overflowed at spring-tides. 

 The only piece of land that appeared suitable for cultivation, was 

 immediately within the South Head ; but this is of small extent. The 

 coast, as far as Cape Shoalwater, is no more than a smooth sandy 

 beach, which rises in a gentle acclivity to a line of low sand-hills. 



Mr. Brackenridge describes the coast vegetation as consisting of 

 Oberonia, Neottia, Ambrosia, two species of Aster, several Graminese, 

 an Armeria, with a number of saline plants ; the Gaultheria is found in 

 great abundance, bearing a palatable berry, of which the party had 

 occasion to make use. For further information respecting the plants 

 of this section, I must refer to the Botanical Report. 



Gray's Harbour seems to offer but few facilities for commercial 

 purposes. The entrance is narrow, the width being from one-half to 



