The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-10

Cules VI ll!is piiiC, "SSVtuiiS W Nhi' DO"S
lass, were from twelve to fifteen inches lii
length, resembling in size and form sugar
loaves. Oak timber, of various kinds.
is abundant along the river, as well as but
tonwood, balsam poplar, ash, sweet gum,
beech, and many other useful kinds, but
no hickory or walnut.
The Governor of Fort Vancouver, who
is an active agriculturalist, has exeried
himself for several years in raising what
ever appears adapted to the soil. Wheat.
rye, barley, peas, and culinary vegetables
of all kinds arc raised in ample quantity.
Fruits of various kinds, apples, peach
es, plums, &C., do remarkably well. |
remember being particularly struck, upon
my arrival at Vancouver in the autumn,
with the display Of apples in the garden
ofthe fort. The trees were crowded with
fruit, so that every limb required to be
sustained by prop. The apples were
literally packed along the branches, and
so closely that | could compare them to
nothing more APPLY than ropes of onions.
In the vicinity of Walla-Walla. or Ncy
Perces Fort, the country, in every direc-
ton for many miles, exhibits an arid and
cherries prospect.-The soil is deep
sand, and The plain upon which the fort
stands produces nothing bu, bushes and
dry aromatic NORWOOD. Along the bor-
ders of small streams, however, the soil
is exceedingly rich and productive, and
on these strips of land the superintendent
raises his corn, and the vegetables neces-
sary for the consumption of his people.
The prong-horncd antelope OCCASION
ally ranges these plains; the black tailed
or mule deer is found in the vicinity;
grouse of several species are very album
dant, and the large prairie hare is COM
mon.-In the autumn and winter, in the
vicinity of Fort Vancouver, ducks, geese,
and swans swarm in immense numbers.
These are killed by the Indians and taken
to the fort as articles of trade. For a
single duck, one load Of powder and shot
is given; for a goose, two; and for
swan, four loads. For deer, ten loads
of ammunition or bottle Of rum Is the
usual price.
Early in May the salmon are first seen
entering the river, and the Columbia and
all its tributaries TEEN with these delicious
fish. The Indians take great numbers by
various Misunderstanding almost wholly
upon them during their stay, and drying
and packing them away in matched huts
TO be used FOL winter store. The salmon
also forms chief article of food for the
inmates of the fort, and hundreds Of casks
are sailed down every season.
About twenty miles above this, in the
Wallammet valley, is the spot chosen by
the Methodist missionaries for their set
dement,, and here also a considerable
number of the retired servants of the COM
pany have established themselves. The
soil of this delightful valley is rich beyond
comparison. and the climate considerably
milder than that of Vancouver. Rain
rarely falls, even in the winter season,
but the dews are sufficiently heavy to
compensate for lis absence. The epide-
mic of the country, ague and fever, IS
rarely known here. In short, the Wal
lammet valley is a terrestrial paradise, to
which have known some exhibit so
strong an attachment as to declare, that
notwithstanding the few privatons which
must necessarily be experienced by the
settlers of a new country, no consldera-
ton could ever induce them to return TO
their former homes. J. X. Il.
| Scenes of the Revolution.