TRAVELS IN OREGON, NO. 1. 
447 
Bay Company, as jovial a set resided here as ever was 
met together. In point of situation, few places will vie with 
Astoria. It is situated on the south side of the Columbia 
river, eleven miles from Cape Disappointment in a direct 
line. It commands a fine view of the high promontory 
of Cape Disappointment and the ocean bounding it on 
the west; the Chinook Hills and Point Ellice, with its 
rugged peak, on the north ; Tongue Point and Katalamet 
Range on the east; and a high background bristling 
with lofty pines on the south. The ground rises gradu¬ 
ally from the river to the top of a ridge five hundred 
feet in elevation. This was originally covered with a 
thick forest of pines; that part reclaimed by the first 
occupants is again growing up in brushwood. From all 
parts of the ground the broad surface of the river is in 
view. The stillness is remarkable, and makes it evident 
that one is vet far more removed from civilized life ; the 
distant, though distinct roar of the ocean is the only 
sound that is heard. This, however, is almost incessant; 
for the stream though rushing onwards in silence to meet 
the ocean keeps up an eternal war with it on the bar, 
producing at times scenes of great grandeur, but which 
renders the bar wholly impassible for days together. 
The members of the Exploring Expedition saw many 
things to remind them of home, among which was a 
sward of white clover in full blossom, and numerous 
other plants that had found their way there. The trees 
were also familiar and truly American. They felt that 
the land belonged to their own country, that they were 
not strangers on its soil, and they could not but take 
great interest in relation to its destiny, in the prospect 
of its one day becoming the abode of their friends and 
relatives. 
Captain Wilkes left one party of his men at Astoria 
to await the arrival of one of his vessels, while with 
another party he embarked on the Columbia to ascend 
