140 COLUMBIA RIVER. 



The middle section is, on the contrary, exceedingly dry, and the 

 temperature more changeable, the variations being great and sudden. 

 The mercury has been known to fall as low as — 18° in the winter, and 

 to rise as high as 108° in the shade, in summer. In Appendix XIII., 

 Vol. IV., will be found a register of the temperature, kept at one of the 

 missionary stations, Lapwai, on the Kooskooskee. It may be said to 

 be on the eastern border of the middle section. 



The eastern section has an exceedingly variable climate : it fluctu- 

 ates from cold to hot in a few hours, ranging through fifty or sixty 

 degrees of temperature ; yet, from the accounts I have, from very 

 respectable authority, the cold is by no means severe for any length of 

 time. The Rev. Mr. Smith, who was two years there, assured me that 

 the cattle and horses required no other food than what they could pick 

 up, the natural hay before spoken of being sufficient for their support. 



The climate throughout Oregon is thought to be salubrious for the 

 white race ; and was considered so by the Indians, prior to the year 

 1830, when the ague and fever, or any disease resembling it, was not 

 known to exist. The Indians fully believe, to this day, that Captain 

 Dominis introduced the disease in 1830. Since that time, it has com- 

 mitted frightful ravages among them ; not so much, perhaps, from the 

 violence of the disease itself, as the manner in which they treat it. It 

 was not until quite lately that they were willing to be treated after our 

 mode, and they still in many cases prefer the incantations and practices 

 of the medicine-man. 



I satisfied myself that the accounts given of the depopulation of this 

 country are not exaggerated ; for places were pointed out to me where 

 dwelt whole tribes, that have been entirely swept off; and, during the 

 time of the greatest mortality, the shores of the river were strewed with 

 the dead and dying. This disease occurs, it is said, semi-annually, and 

 in the case of foreigners, it is more mild at each succeeding attack. 



Owing to the above causes, the population is much less than I 

 expected to find it. I made every exertion to obtain correct informa- 

 tion, and believe that at the time of our visit, the following was very 

 nearly the truth, viz. : 



Vancouver and Washington Island, ...... 5,000 



From latitude 50° to 54° N., on the main, 2,000 



Penn's Cove, Whidby's Island, including' the main land (Sachet 



tribe,) 650 



Hood's Canal (Suquamish and Toando tribes), .... 500 



Birch Bay, 300 



Fraser's River, . . . 500 



8,950 



