COUNTRY ON COLUMBIA.—BOOK I. 
vs 
CHAPTER VIL 
View of the country on the Columbia. 
BUT little is yet known of this extensive section of our con¬ 
tinent ; it is certain, that it is on a much larger scale than the- 
tract east of the AlLganies to the Atlantic, but it must be admit¬ 
ted . that its relative position with the rest of the world, (except as 
to the East Indies) is much less advantageous. Its remoteness 
from any European country or se tlement, will discourage the 
establishment of colonies. Before its colonization can be effected, 
the same obstacles as were encountered by nearly all the colo¬ 
nists in America, must be overcome, and perhaps still greater. 
This tract differs from that east of the Allegany in one res¬ 
pect, and which is of considerable moment; it does not open to 
the ocean by fine bays, and by large navigable rivers, crossing 
it parallel to each other. The cause of this difference princi¬ 
pally arises from a chain of mountains, which runs with the coast, 
seldom receding more than sixty miles. The Columbia, and the 
Multnomak, its southern branch, are both confined between this 
ridge and the principal mountains, until after flowing towards 
each other, the one, a thousand, and the other, nearly fifteen hun» 
dred miles, they break through the ridge before mentioned, and 
find their way to the sea, uniting their waters aboin sixty miles 
from it. The other rivers which rise in the Rocky mountains, 
instead of falling into the sea, become tributary either to the 
Multnomak or the Columbia. 
Next to the Mississippi* this river and its tributaries, water 
a greater extent of country than any river of our continent, not 
even excepting the St. Lawrence. The distance from the source 
of the Columbia, to that of the Multnomak, which rises with the 
Colerado of California, is not less than two thousand miles. The 
Multnomak was rot (discovered by Lewis and Clark when des¬ 
cending the Columbia, its entrance being concealed by an is¬ 
land; on re-ascending the Columbia, those celebrated travellers 
were astonished at the sight of a noble river little inferior to the. 
principal stream. 
