146 



COLUMBIA . 



saw him foaming at the mouth, uttering the 

 most incoherent expressions, and staggering 

 under the power of the intoxicating draught, 

 he immediately concluded that he was mad, and 

 exclaimed. 6 Let him be shot/ It was some 

 time before he could be pacified, which was 

 only effected in a measure by his being assured, 

 that he would see his son recovered from the 

 disorder of his faculties. And when the aged 

 Chief saw him again restored to his right mind, 

 and found him capable of conversing, he mani- 

 fested the greatest joy. 



The Columbia presents every advantage in 

 forming a settlement for the natives or others, 

 particularly so to the south of its entrance to the 

 sea, on the banks of the Willammette River. The 

 soil is excellent ; fish and wild fowl are found in 

 abundance, and a good supply of indigenous ani- 

 mals is met with from the praries, or natural mea- 

 dows. The summer months are very pleasant, 

 but those of winter are frequently rainy, and 

 subject to heavy fogs, which may occasionally 

 render it unhealthy. The Chinnook Indians 

 are six months in villages in the neighbourhood 

 of the Company's Post, Fort George, at the 

 mouth of the Columbia, and afford facilities, with 

 other surrounding tribes for the benevolent 

 attempt of introducing the knowledge of Chris- 



