Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-03-07


raised in ample quantity. The wheat is
particularly fine; tall, with long and we'll
filled heads. had an opportunity subse-
quentiy Of seeing the CHILEAN wheat, which
is deservedy celebrated; but | consider it
decidedly inferior to thar grown on the
Columbia. Fruits Of various kinds, ap-
pies, peaches, piums, &c. do remarkably
we'll. | remember being particularly
struck, upon my arrival a. Vancouver in
the autumn, with the display Of apples in
the garden of the fort. The trees were
crowded with fruit, so that every limb re-
quIicd TO be sustained by prop. The APP
pies were literally packed along the branch
es, and so closely that | could compare
them to nothing more aptly than TO ropes
OF onions as they are sometimes exhIb'ed
for sale in our markets. Indian corn fails
here in consequence Of the shortness Of
the season. but at Walla-W alla, three hum
dred miles above,it is raised in great guam
tity. The superintendent informed me that
eighty bushels to the acre was an ordinary
crop, but that he had known his land to
yield one hundred.
In the vicinity of Walla-W ala. or Ned
Perces Fort, the country in every dIrec-
ton for many miles, exhibits an arid cheer
less prospect. The soil is deep s,nd. and
the plain upon which the fort stands pro-
duccs nothing but bushes Of dry worm-
wood, (artemesia.) Along the borders of
the small streams, however, the soil sex
ceedingy rich and productive, and on
these strips Of land the superintendent raj
ses his corn and vegetables necessary for
the consumption of his people.
The prong-horned antelope [antelope
f refer occasionally ranges these plains;
the black-taled or mule deer cerus ma
Gratis is found in the vicinity; grouse Of
several species are very abundant, and the
large prairie hare is common lower down
the river, extending indeed TO the rocky
cape at its entrance, is found the white
tailed deer ceruus neucurus, the elk, &c.
In the autumn and winter, IN the vicinity
Of Fort Vancouver, ducks, geese, anc
swans, swarm in immense numbers. These
are killed bv the Indians, and taken to the
fort as articles Of trade. For single duck,
a load Of powder and shot is given; for
goose, two; and for swan, four loads
For deer, ten loads Of ammunition or
a bottle Of rum is the usual price.
Early in May the salmon are first seen
entering the river, and in about fortnight
the Columbia and all its tributaries TEEN
with this delicious fish, which are seen
eaping from the water continually. The
Indians lake great numbers by various
modes, suGsisting almost wholly upon them
during their stay, and drying and packing
them away in matched huts for the winter
store. The salmon also forms chief arti-
Gle Of food for the inmates Of the fort, and
hundreds Of casks are sailed down every
season for the consumption Of the hired
men during the winter.
When Capt. Wycth established his fort
on Wappatoo island, ne soon found him
self compelled to depend entirely upon the
salmon fishery, being forced by the COM
pany to rellnquish his trade in furs. He
accordingly turned his attention TO this
branch Of trade, and when his brig sailed
for the United States, she had about half a
cargo on board. The ship paid well, and
all connected with the undertaking after
wards regretted that more attention had not
been paid 10 it. The salmon can always be
purchased Of the Indians in any qua n,ity.
and at very low prices, cleaned and ready
for sailing:
The Wallammet or Mul,nomah river
empties into the Columbia about twenty
miles below Vancouvar,at the lower end OF
Wappattoo island, which is called v ar
rior's Point. There is also another mouth
at the head Of the river. about Vancouver.
The Walammet is navigable for vessels
drawing ten or twelve feet. to the distance
of abou, thirty miles. At this point small
stream enters the river. which is called the
| Klaklamas; and about mile above is a fall
Of thirty-fye feet. Here are several admi-
rabe mill sites, and the whole Of the land
in the vicinity is Of the very best quality
About twenty miles above this. in the Wal
Iammet valley, as it is called, is the spot
chosen by the Methodist Missiona ries for
their settlement, and here also a considera-
bic number Of the retired servants Of the
company have established themselves
The soil Of this delightful valley is rich be-
yond comparison, and the climate consid-
erably milder than that Of Vancouver
Rain rarely falls, even in the winter Sc a
son. but the dcws are sufficiently heavy to
compensate for its absence. The epidemic
of the country, ogue and fever. is rarely
known here. In short, the Walammet
valley is a terrestrial paradise, to which |
have known some to exhibit so strong an
attachment as TO declare that notwi thstand-
ing the few privations which must necessa-
rily be experienced by the settlers ola new
! country, no consideration could ever induce
them to return 10 their former home.
There is also another small settlement
! onkowalitskvcr,a stream which flows from
the north, and empties into the Columbia
about thirty miles below Vancouver. The
soil here is said 10 be as rich as that OF