GENERAL REPORT ON WESTERN DIVISION. 
201 
both as to its situation and its facilities for perfect defence, by permanent works, entitle it to 
consideration. It seems to be fully adapted to the purpose of a great naval establishment. 
The country through which we passed to the east of the Cascade range may be described as 
generally barren and unfit for agriculture, and poor for grazing purposes. There are two small 
tracts which are exceptions to this rule ; but I know of none which would be considered good in 
our western Stales. The yellow pine on the slopes of the mountains may be carried down the 
principal streams into the Columbia, and thence rafted or “ run” to the head of navigation; the 
larch, between the Okinakane and Colville, can be hauled to the streams of the same names, and 
rafted to the Columbia; the building-stones in the vicinity of the Pisquouse will some day be 
available for the market; but labor must become more cheap and abundant, capital more plenty, 
before these can become important interests. The Indians are harmless and peaceable; with the 
exception of the Yakimas, they are very poor. Their food consists of salmon, berries, and 
potatoes. The entire absence of game renders it difficult for them to obtain good clothing; during 
the whole trip I did not see a single deer, elk, or bear—nothing larger than a wolf. Wolves, 
badgers, squirrels, and a few gray marmots, were the only quadrupeds. The blue and ruffled 
grouse, prairie chicken, and sage-fowl, abounded. To the west of the mountains the country is 
covered with dense fir timber, interspersed with prairies or lakes. The only good land I have 
seen is in the valleys of the Columbia and Cowlitz, and of some of that string of prairies which 
skirt the mountains from the Columbia at least as far as the Skywhamish. The Willopah and 
Chehalis have also good land upon them. The prairies near the sound are uniformly of gravel, 
barren and worthless. Lumber and the fisheries must constitute the great interests of this portion 
of the Territory. 
The Indian names of these streams, lakes, prairies, &c., were carefully obtained by Mr. Gibbs 
during the trip. They have been adopted in the map and the reports as preferable to any 
names we could give them; partly for the purpose of endeavoring to perpetuate them, and partly 
for the reason that they will be of service to persons travelling through the country. 
During the exploration the astronomical observations were principally taken by Lieutenant 
Duncan; they are as accurate as the instruments at our disposal would permit. The only astro¬ 
nomical phenomenon worthy of note was the existence of a comet, seen from Wenass, on the 21st, 
22d, and 23d of August. It was visible but for a short time after dark, and was so low that the 
altitude could not be taken. The tail was 53' 10" in length. At 8A. 56 m. 59s. (mean time) 
on the 21st, its bearing by compass was north 75° west, the variation of the needle being 17° 30'; 
its observed distance from Ursae Majores at 9A. 6m. 6.7 s. (mean time) was 67° 54' 35". On the 
22d its bearing by compass at SA. 3 m. 09.5s. (mean time) was north 84° west, variation of the 
needle as before ; its distance from Jupiter at 8A. 13m. 17s. was 9° 41' 35" ; from Arcturus at 
8A. 18m. 25.9s., was 36° 29' 05". 
For geographical purposes but little additional information is needed concerning the eastern slope 
of the mountains. A somewhat closer examination of the Pisquouse, Chelan and Millekitekwu, 
as well as astronomical observations with better instruments than were at my disposal, would be 
interesting. With regard to the western slope, much additional information is still desirable as 
to the courses of the streams, of which but little is known. The accompanying map will be 
found more accurate than any which has preceded it. It is believed that no important stream 
on the western slope is omitted; when none of the party have crossed or followed them, they 
are given from the best Indian and other information. From Bellingham bay and the vicinity of 
MacDonough’s island we saw the direction of many of these valleys, and learned where they 
headed, with reference to streams on the eastern slope, the number and position of the branches, 
&c.; the streams as given will be found, I think, not to differ very materially from the truth. The 
map will, at least, serve as a basis of operations for any future survey. In the event of any de¬ 
tailed examination of the country in the future, the work should be performed by several very 
small parties, each the smallest in number that can use the necessary instruments. On the east- 
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