402 
TRAVELS IN OREGON, NO. 2 . 
which in some places produced a little herbage of a dull 
color, with a few dwarf trees. 
Sir Alexander McKensie passed from Canada over 
the waters and wildernesses of America to the height of 
land which separates the waters running into Hudson’s 
Bay from those flowing into the Pacific, one of the most 
arduous and difficult journeys ever performed by man. 
On the 12th of June, 1793, he left a small lake in lati¬ 
tude 54° 24' north, longitude 121° west, and crossed the 
ridge from this plain, through a pass between rocky pre¬ 
cipices of no more than 817 paces over to a lake, from 
whence its waters flowed to a branch of Frazer’s river. 
The canoe was carried over this portage, and then cross¬ 
ed overland to another lake. They embarked on the 
lake by a portage, over which was a growth of large fir 
and pine trees, and many fallen ones. Their progress 
then became slow and arduous ; the stream by which 
they descended was obstructed by terrific difficulties ; 
thev often had to cut a road through the thick forest and 
make their way over swamps in order to pass by the 
rocks, rapids, or other obstacles of the river, such as be¬ 
ing choked up by fallen trees, carried down by the 
floods. Their escapes seem almost marvellous. They 
were frequently in danger of wanting food, and lived on 
a limited allowance. The coolness and intrepidity of the 
leaders braved all physical dangers, and tempered the 
ferocity of unknown savages, until they finally reached 
the waters of the Pacific. On the 22d of July, in lati¬ 
tude 52° 21 h he painted his name and date with red ver¬ 
milion on a rock, and on the following day commenced 
his return homewards. Our limits will not permit us to 
follow Captain Wilkes into the detailed account of his 
surveys of the Columbia river and the Ocean near its 
•/ 
mouth, nor can we here notice the voyages made for 
purposes of discovery and exploration to the north-west 
coast by the Spaniards and other Europeans. We shall, 
