PINETUM BRITANNICUM. 
H 
longer in California, and explored it more thoroughly than he would otherwise have done ; but, in the end of 
the summer of 1832, despairing of a more direct opportunity, he sailed for the Sandwich Islands, which he 
reached in August 1832, and from thence found a vessel for the Columbia, where he arrived on 24th October 
1832. He continued there until October, during which time he extended his explorations on every side. 
He visited the Blue Mountains, and attempted the ascent of Mount Hood. He also commenced “an 
exploration” to the north, by Frasers River; but it was brought to a premature termination by the 
upsetting of his canoe, at the Stony Islands of Fraser’s River. By this catastrophe, his Journal and botanical 
notes, besides his collection of plants, and all the articles needful for pursuing his journey, were destroyed. 
He himself escaped with difficulty. He was carried over the cataract, and gained the shore in a whirlpool 
below; not, however, by swimming, for he was rendered helpless, and the waves dashed him on the rocks. 
Having now taken the cream of botanical discovery in North-West America, he thought of returning to 
England by Siberia, and perhaps attempting to penetrate to Pekin on the way. Baron Wrangel, Governor 
of the Russian Territories in America, wrote him, offering him every assistance and encouragement, and his 
friends in England had prepared his way by interesting the Russian Government in his behalf. Dr Hooker 
thinks that, in his later letters, he seemed to have given up this purpose, and to have turned his thoughts 
towards England. But, subsequently to the letters from which Dr Hooker judged, it would appear that he 
still cherished the idea, for Mr Beale (Beale’s “Sperm Whale,” p. 362) mentions that Douglas informed him, 
when he saw him at Oahoo shortly before his tragic death, that in a short time he intended to commence his 
journey homewards, through Siberia and Russia, wishing, as he stated, to inspect some platina mines which 
had just then been discovered in Siberia. 
In October 1833, he bade adieu to North-West America, and sailed for the Sandwich Islands, which 
he reached on 23d December, touching, but not botanising, at San Francisco. He landed at Oahoo, but 
shortly after proceeded to Hawaii, his object being to ascend and explore the lofty volcanic mountains, Mouna 
Kuah and Mouna Roa. Both of these he ascended, and a graphic and interesting account of his ascents, 
given in the last of his Journals, will be found in the “Companion to the Botanical Magazine,” vol. ii., 
p. 161, from which the vignette portrait of Douglas, at the end of this article, is copied. Two months later, 
his wanderings were over. In one of them he fell into a pit excavated for the purpose of taking wild cattle, 
and was killed by a bullock which had previously fallen into it. Such was the melancholy end of one of 
the ablest, certainly the most successful, of botanical collectors. There have been collectors who contributed 
more to botanical knowledge—and collectors, perhaps, who have made more extensive collections—but none 
who have contributed more to the stock of hardy plants introduced into England. He had the rare good 
fortune to be sent to a country which was at the same time fertile in novelties, and, what was of still more 
importance, one possessing a climate similar to our own. 
Properties and Uses .—Whether it may be ultimately ascertained that there are two species of Abies 
Douglasii, or only one, it is obviously desirable that, in the meantime, all that is known of the properties and 
uses of the two supposed species should be kept distinct and apart. We shall say what we know of 
each under their separate heads. 
Of the Oregon variety, Dr Lindley says (“ Penny Cyclop.,” i., p. 32) that the timber is heavy, firm, and 
of as deep a colour as the yew, with very few knots, and not in the least liable to warp. “ We have,” said he, 
“a plank now before us, which, after standing some years in a hot room, is as straight, and its grain as 
compact, as the first day it was placed and more recently ( Gardeners' Chronicle , 17th May 1862) he gave 
it as an ascertained fact that it is unsurpassable in the qualities which render timber most valuable ; that it 
is clean grained, strong, elastic, light, and acquires large dimensions in ungenial climates; that it thrives 
everywhere in the United Kingdom, except the extreme north, and is, therefore, of all trees that which most 
deserves the attention of planters for profit. To which we may add, that no evergreen surpasses it as an 
ornament of scenery. 
Dr Cooper, in that section of the “ United States Pacific Railroad Reports” which relates to British 
Columbia, 
