442 
TRAVELS IN OREGON, NO. 1. 
There are two or three other magnificent snowy peaks, 
all nearly regular cones, with summits indicating extinct 
volcanoes. Captain Wilkes proceeded from Nisqually 
to Cowlitz Fort, over a country of which he says, the 
park-like scenery increased in beauty until they were 
scarcely able to realize that they were in a savage and 
wild country, and that nature, not art, had perfected the 
landscape. Beautiful lakes, with greensward growing to 
the water’s edge, with deer feeding fearlessly on their 
margins, and every tint of flower, many of which were 
not new to our gardens at home, strewn in profusion 
around ; they could hardly, in galloping along, but expect 
to see some beautiful mansion as a fit accompaniment to 
such scenery. On the banks of the rivers, strawberries 
were abundant, so tempting as to induce them to dis¬ 
mount and feast upon them ; and the red honeysuckle in 
full bloom, combined with other familiar plants, to remind 
them forcibly of home. 
The company’s farm at the Cowlitz river comprises six 
or seven hundred acres under skilful cultivation, with se¬ 
veral large granaries, a large farm-house, and numerous 
out buildings to accommodate the dairy, workmen, cat¬ 
tle, &c The fields were covered with a luxuriant crop 
of wheat. The company had provided little or no de- 
fence against Indians, these being too dependent for 
food and every necessary upon the company to permit 
them to quarrel except among themselves. The com¬ 
pany’s agent took no notice whatever of their disputes. 
The number of wolves prowling about made it neces¬ 
sary to bring the cattle in at night, and sometimes to 
protect them by a guard in the day time. 
The superintendant of the Cowlitz farm procured for 
Captain Wilkes a guide and pilot to carry him down the 
Cowlitz to the Columbia river and Astoria. This man 
proved to be the same who had held the post of coxswain 
of General Cass’s canoe, when that able and enterprising 
