SSSSzSETSJT" 1 - oregon. Fort m*m m 



the Galam tribe. They neenpy a few miserable 

 lodges on dm of the points, and are a nn.mt filthy 

 race, so much so indeed that to enter their lodges 

 if* absolutely disgusting. They aro ao more than a 

 f<-w rudely-cut slabs, covered in part by coarse 

 mats. 



We remained at Tort Discovery until 6th May, 

 during which time we wen* employed in surveying 

 the harbour and exploring the country. Our 

 botanists had a large and interesting held opened 

 to them, and there are few place* where the 

 variety ami beauty of tbo flora are so great an they 

 are here. The soil consists of a light-brown loam, 

 hut iw general character around Port Discovery Ls 

 a thin. Mack, vegetable mould, with a substratum 

 of wind and grave!. 



&ion after our arrival at Tort Discovery, I des- 

 patched an Indian with a letter to the fort of tlic 

 Hudson Ray Company at Nisipmlly, at the upper 

 fin t i.f Puget Sound, to request that a pilot migh) 

 bo sent me. My interview with tin- native whom 

 I employed for ibis purpose was amusing. He 

 appeared of a gay and lively disposition: the first 

 tiling he did, when brought into the cabin, was to 

 show dm a enws ami repeat his ave, which ho did 

 with great readiness and apparent devotion; but 

 he burst into loud laughter as soon as he had 

 finished repeating it. Ho and I made many efforts 

 to understand each other, hut without much suc- 

 cess, except so far as the transmission of the letter 

 to Port Nisquully, and the reward he was to re- 

 ceive on his return. 



On the b'th of May, finding that the messenger 

 whom J had despatched to Fort Nisuuully did not 

 return, I determined to proceed towards that place 

 without further delay. We therefore got under 

 way at half-past ten, and beat out of Port Dis- 

 covery: we then stood towards Point Wilson (of 

 Vancouver), which fornm one side of the entrance 

 into Admiralty Inlet. Turning the point, we 

 entered the inlet, and soon anchored in Port Towns- 

 end, on its northern side, in ten fathoms water. 



Port Towusend is a fine fdieet of water, three 

 miles ami a quarter in length, by one mile and 

 three-quarters in width. Opposite to our anchor- 

 age is an r\u n.sive table-land, free from wood, and 

 which would afford a good *ite for a town. 



The hay is free from dangers, and is well pro- 

 tected from the quarters whence stormy winds 

 blow. It has anchorage of a convenient depth; and 

 there is abundance of fresh water to he hail. Itt the 

 aft* moon, we landed and examined the table- laud 

 and bay. 



On tbe7lh|We had completed the survey ; but the 

 wiml coming up from the southward and eastward, 

 which was contrary to our intended course, we de- 

 termined to remain. At noon, there w.is a favour- 

 able change, when both vessels moved up about 

 eight miles, and anchored in what 1 called Port 

 Lawrence. This Ls just at the entrance of Hood's 

 Canal, and gave us a view both of it and Admiralty 

 Inlet. The weather was unpleasant, and the only 

 duty that could be performed was that of dredg- 

 ing' 



On the morning of the Hlh, we made the survey 

 of Port Lawrence, beginning at daylight. This 

 being completed, I took advantage of the tide 

 making to get under way with a fresh breeze, and 

 passed w ith both vessels as far as a small cove on 

 the west side of the inlet opposite to the south end 



of Whidhy's Island. Here we anchored before 

 sunset, and I named it Pilot's Cove, from the cir- 

 cumstance of having been here joined by the first 

 officer of the Hudson Bay Company's steamer, com- 

 manded by Captain M'Nicl, who on hearing of our 

 arrival, kindly sent him down to pilot up the 

 ship. 



We were under way soon after daylight, 

 taking advantage of the tide, and continued beat- 

 ing as long as it lasted. This was about two 

 hours, by which time wc reached another small 

 Cove. This was named Apple-Tree Cove, from 

 the numbers of that tree which were in blossom 

 around its shores. This covo answers well all 

 the purposes of a temporary anchorage. Before 

 the tide began to make in our favour, wo again 

 sailed, and at dark anchored under the west shorn, 

 near a fine bay; which the next day was surveyed, 

 and named Port Madison. This is an excellent 

 harbour, affording every possible- convenience for 

 shipping. 



The wind proved fair the same afternoon, and we 

 passed up Admiralty Inlet, taking the passage to 

 the right of Vashon's Island, and finally, towards 

 evening, anchored just below the narrows leading 

 into Pviget Sound, within a few yards of the -shore 

 and under a high perpendicular bank, in sixteen 

 fathoms. 



The shores of all these inlets and hays are re- 

 markably bold; so much so, that in many places a 

 ship's sides would strike the shore before the keel 

 would touch tin' ground. 



On the lltli of May, we again weighed our an- 

 chors, hut had great difficulty in getting beyond thi 

 reach of the eddy winds occasioned by the high 

 banks. The scenery about this pass becomes ven 

 fine : on all sides are high projecting bluffs of sand- 

 stone, rising almost perpendicularly from the water, 

 with a great variety of shrubs along their base. 

 The tide, which runs through the narrows with 

 great velocity, causes many eddies and whirlpools, 

 through which a ship is carried with extraordinary 

 rapidity, while the danger scorns to be imminent. 

 The Porpoise succeeded in tutoring the narrow.-, 

 first, and in a few minutes was lost sight of ; tlu 

 Vinceimcs entered, and seemed at first to be hurry- 

 ing to destruction, with her sails quite aback. We 

 wen' carried onward wholly by the force of the 

 tide, and had backed and filled only once bef.«re 

 we found ourselves in as spacious a sound as the 

 one we had just left. This narrow pass soema jus 

 if intended by its natural facilities to afford every 

 means for its perfect defence. 



Twelve miles more brought us to the anchorage 

 off Nisqually, where both vessels dropped their 

 anchors about eight o'clock. Here we found an 

 English steamer undergoing repairs. Soon after 

 we anchored, I hail the pleasure of a visit from 

 Mr. Anderson, who is in charge of the fort, and 

 Captain HP N tel. They gave me a warm welcome, 

 and offered every assistance in their jtowcr to aid 

 me in my operations. 



Nothing can exceed the beauty of these waters, 

 and their safety : not a shoal exists within the 

 Straits of Juan do Pura, Admiralty Inlet, Puget 

 Sound, or Hood's Canal, that can in any way 

 interrupt their navigation by a seventy-four gun 

 ship. 1 venture nothing itt saying, then- is n ■ 

 country in the world that possesses waters equal 

 t" these. 



