The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1840-11-21
Vol. 1.-NO. "a.

been Wltlln twenty HllCS Oh us NOUN.
Gray also discovered good harbor on
the same coast, little north of the mouth
of the Columbia, which he called Bull
fnch's harbor; but which, even upon
American maps, is frequently named
Whidbcy's harbor, after Vancouvers lieu
tenant, who subsequently surveyed it.
Between 1899 and 1894, the British
and the Spaniards completely explored
the coasts of the continent from the forty
eighth to the ffty-eighth parallels, and
the numerous islands adjacent, which form
the great northwest Archipelago. The
discoveries of the English are well known
by means of the journals of Vancouver's
voyage while little can be gathered re-
speeding; those made by the Spaniards,
from the only source of information, the
introduction to the journals of the voy-
age of the Su,il and Mexicana. TO the
American fur traders, however. the world
is indebted for many other discoveries in
that quarter, as can be proved by docu-
ments still existing. The islands, straits,
capcs, &c. thus discovered, received from
the British navigators the names of various
members of the royal family, the ministry,
and the tory nobility and gentry of Engl-
and. These names may still be found
on our maps, though few of them will
probably ever be employed by those who
inhabit that part of the world. The Rus
slams, who occupy the northern part of
the great northwest Archipelago, and the
adjacent coasts of the continent, studious-
ly cxpunge from their maps every name
imposed by foreign civilized nation.
In 1896, Spain declared war against
Great Britain; and from that year to
1914, the trade of the north Pacific coasts
was conducted exclusively by the Russians
and the citizens of the United States.
Within that space of time the Russians
had formed numerous settlements and
trading posts on the coasts of America
north of the 55th parallel, and one cstab-
lishmcnt not far from the bay of San
Francisco, near the Both degree. The
west branch of the Columbia river was
explored in its whole course from the
Rocky Mountains to the Pacific in 1905,
/. by Messrs. Lewis and Clark, who had
been despatched for the purpose by the
Government of the United States, after
the ccssion of Louisiana to that power by
France. Settlements and trading posts
were also established in 1911, by citizens
of the United States, at the mouth of the
Columbia river, and at points on its
branches in the INTERIOR and by the
Northwest Company of Montreal in 1906,
and the following years, in the country
north of the sources of the Columbia,
which had been explored in 1893 by
Mackenzie. There is, however, no reason
to believe that any British establishment
had been formed in any part of the ter
ritory drained by the Columbia, before
the foundation of the American settle
ment called Astoria, at the mouth of that
river, in March, 1911.
The establishments formed by the cit
izens of the United States on the Column
bia, subss,ed until the end of 1913, when
in anticipation of their capture by Brit
ish naval force, which had been sent for
that purpose from London, the buildings
and stock of goods on hand were sold by
the principal agents to the Northwest