TJZk* OR FUCA'S STRAITS AND LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. "Hw,"." 1 " 2,,:> 



they reach the tributaries of the upper Columbia, 

 they are exceedingly exhausted, and have their 

 Imdies and headH uiueh disfigured and cut, and 

 their tails and fins worn out I v contact with the 

 rocks. Many of the salmon in consequence die : 

 these the Indians are in the habit of drying for 

 food, by hanging them on the limbs of trees. This 

 » to preserve them from the wolves, and to be 

 used m time of need, when they are devoured, 

 though rotten and full of maggot*. The fish of the 

 upper waters are said to be hardly edible, and, 

 compared with those caught at the mouth of the 

 Columbia, are totally different in flavour. The 

 latter are the richest and mofct delicious Hah I ever 

 recollect to have tasted: if any thing, they were 

 too fat to eat, and one can perceive a difference 

 even in these taken at the Willamette Fulls, which, 

 however, are the best kind for Falling. There are 

 four different kinds of salmon, which frequent thin 

 river in different months: the latest appears in 

 October, mid is the only kind that frequents the 

 Cowlitz river. The finest sort is a dark silvery 

 fifth, t.f large *iy.c, three or four feet long, and weigh- 

 ing forty or fifty pounds. 



One of the most remarkable places upon the 

 Columbia is called the Dalles, The river is here 

 compressed into a narrow channel, throe bundrcd 

 feet wide, and half a mile long ; the walls are 

 perpendicular, tint at the top, and composed of 

 basalt; the river form* an elbow, being Mtuau-d in 



an amphitheatre, extending several miles to the 

 north west, and closed in by a high basaltic wall. 

 From apjtettranccs?, one is led to conclude that in 

 former limes the river made a straight cour>e ov. r 

 tho whole; but, having the channel deeper, is now 

 confined within the present limits, Mr. Drayton, 

 on inquiry of an old Indian, through Mr. Ogdi<n, 

 learned that he believed that in the time of hia 

 forefathers they went up straight in their canoes. 



The country about the Dalles is broken, and the 

 mbsionories report that this is the caw for some 

 miles around. There are, however, also some 

 plains and table-lands, which arc considered as 

 very valuable, being well watered with springs and 

 small streams ; excellent for gra/.iitg, and well 

 supplied with limber— oak and pine. The Boil 

 varies in quality, and portions of it are very rich. 

 Garden vegetables succeed, but require irrigation. 

 Potatoes also must be watered, by which modi- nf 

 culture they succeed well. Cora and peas can be 

 raised in sufficient quantities. Wheat produces 

 about twenty-five bushels to the acre : this is not, 

 however, on the best laud. They sow in October 

 nod March, and horv, >t begins toward* the <-nd of 

 June. 



I now returned to Nisqually, and found that 

 news had been received from the various surveying 

 ,uid exploring parties, all of which it waw reported 

 were advancing rapidly in the execution or their 

 duties. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



DE FUCA'S STRAITS AND LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 

 FCAfta for TnE rr.ArocK— operation! of tite porpoise— fort orchard— pkxn's covk— wuii>ry'i hland— 



MfllET TRI It- — PORT OARDKEB— PUMBMIOH SOUMD— BELUXOKIM HAT— POIXT RODEETi— PR A«KR'b RIVER— 

 EDAT f XPKDITIOB FITTl-O OPT — PRCKiREil OF THE TORVEYl-WE AH II ARROUR— CLAttRT IKDIAKI— DK PeCA'» 

 P1M.AR— IAPE OIIAFFOJSTMFXT— FARTlrl'LABII OF THR LOS* OF THE rKALOCR— HEW BllfOJITlOK OF THE 

 lUeABRO.V— THR VIXCEKXES SAILS fOR »AK FEAXClRCB. 



It would Ik- difficult to give tho reader an idea 

 of iho anxieties that beset me when I joined the 

 Vine< nries once more on the Khli dune, 1841. Day 

 after day had passed in tho anxious expectation of 

 receiving news of the Peacock and Flying-Fish, 

 until a conviction became genera), with both offi- 

 cers and crew, that Home serious accident had oc- 

 curred to one or both of them, among the danger- 

 ous coral reefs and islands they had been sent to 

 explore. They were now three months later than 

 the time appointed for their arrival at the Colum- 

 bia river. 



For my own part, after reviewing the whole of 

 the duties assigned to Captain Hudson in my in- 

 htructiuDS, and again estimating the time necessary 

 to fulfil them, I could not but apprehend, from the 

 length to which bin voyage was protracted, that 

 , disaster had occurred. In this state of feeling, the 

 officers of the Vincenncs showed a highly com. 

 rnendable spirit, and aware that additional labours 

 wire ili us to be thrown upon them, strained every 

 nerve to avoid any further Iors of time. The offi- 

 cers of the Porpoise, as 1 was informed by Lieu- 



tenant - Commandant Ringgold, manifested an 

 equally praiseworthy spirit. 



With the aid nf both wind and tide, we succeeded 

 in getting through the pax* at the Narrows before 

 dark, and when this was effected, I anchored under 

 Vushon's Island for the night. 



The next day wo made but little progress, owing 

 to light winds, and a strong tide against us. 



On the 20th we came to anchor in New Dnnge- 

 ness Roads, where we were joined by the Porpoise 

 agreeable to instructions. I shall therefore revert 

 to the surveying operations of the crew of that 

 vessel. 



On the 15lh of May, the Poqsiise left Nisqually, 

 and anchored the first night near the point where 

 tho surveys were to begin, but outside of the Nar- 

 rows. 



The first bay at the bottom of Admiralty Sound 

 was termed Commencement Bay. Into this, the 

 Puyallup falls, a small river, ten or twelve miles 

 from. Nisqually. Commencement Hay affords 

 anchorage, and a supply of wood and water may 

 be obtained. The Puyallup forms a delta, and 



