State journal & flag., 1846-11-13
VOLUME 3.
California;.
THE SOURCE OF THE COLUMBIA,


lumbia River, he says:
l contemplated with admiration those
rugged and gigantic mountains, where the
Great River escapes-majestic but impetu.
Gus, even at its source and in its yagrant
course, undoubtedly it is the most dangerous
river on the western side of The American
Hemisphere. Two small lakes, from four
to six miles in length, formed by number
of springs and streams, are the reservoirs of
its frs! waters.
pitched my tent on the banks of the first
fork that brings in its feeble tribute. and
which we behold rushing with impetuosity
over The inaccessible rocks that present
themselves on the right. What sublime
rocks How varied in shape and figure
The fantastic in every form, the attractive,
the ludcrous, and the sublime, present them
selves simultaneous 10 the view; and by
borrowing ever so little the aid OF the mag
ination, we behold rising above our aston
ished eyes, castles of by-gone chivalry, with
their many embatted towers, fortresses sur
rounded by their walls and buwarks, pala.
ces with their domes, and, in find, calhedrals
with their lofty spires.
When emigration, accompanied by indus
try and the arts and sciences, shall have
penetrated into the numberless valleys of the
Rocky Mountains, the source of the Column
bia will prove a very important point. The
climate is delightful; the extremes of heat
and cold are seldom known. The snow
disappers as fast as it falls; the laborIous
hand that would till these valleys, would be
repaid hundred fold. Innumerable herds
Craze throughout the year in these mead
ows, where the sources and streams nurture
perpetual freshness and abundance. The
hillocks and declivities ofthe mountains are
generally studded with inexaustble focests,
in which the Iarch.tree, lhornbush, cedar,
and cypress abound.
In the plain between the two lakes, are
beautiful springs, whose Writer'S have reuni
ted and formed a massive rock of soft sandy
stone, which has the appearance of an i'm
mense CONCEALED or perrIied cascade. Their
waters are soft and pelncid, and Of the same
temperature as the milk just drawn from the
COW. The description given by Chandler
Of the famous fountain Of Pambouk kalesi,
on the ancient Hierapolis Of Asia Minor, in
the valley Of Meandev, and OF which Malle
Brun makes mention, might be literally ap-
Piled TO the warm springs at the source of
the Columbia. The prospect unfolded 10
our view was so wonderful, that an attempt
TO give even faint idea of it, would svor
of romance, without going beyond the limits
oil fact.
We contemplated with an admirng gave
this vast slope, which. from distance, had
the appearance Of chalk, and when nearer,
extends like an immense concreted cascade,
its undulAting surface resembling a body OF
water. suddenly checked or ndurated in its
rapid course.
The first lake. of the Columbia is two miles
and q half distant from the River des Ares
a.plats, and receives portion of its waters
during the great spring freshet. They are
separated by bottom land. The advanta-
ges nature seems 10 have bestowed on the
source of the Columbia, will render its geo.
graphical position very important at some fu.
turc day. The magic hand of civilized man
would transform it into a little terrestrial
paradise.
THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
"The Bay of San Francisco is the glory
of the western world. Its mouth lies in
latitude 81 degrees 80 minutes. The water
on the bar is eight fathoms at low tide. The
mountains on either hand rise several hun
dred feet above the sea, and form fine land
marks in loggy weather to point out the
bar, and the channel into the harbor. The
capes at the oceans edge are about two miles
apart always yerdant and refreshing to
the eye; and, as you 60 up the passage, the
little streams tumbng from the rocks among
the greenwood and the wild game, standing
out on the cliffs, or frolicking among the
brush, and the seal barking in the water,
give promise of pleasure and rest from the
tolls of the sea.
"This passage is about five miles in length.
-Four and q half miles from the capes it mar
rows considerable, and presents bold point
north and south. On the southern one
stands the Preside or fort. on which this
mighty barber condescends to depend for
protection. The fort is in ruins. A dozen
old rusty guns in the care Of thirty or for ly
half.clad half breed soldiers. usually foraging
in squads of five or ten among the neighbor
ing Missions; one side OF its walls tumbled
down, and another strongly disposed OF
plunge into the sea, and not the tenth Of
true soldiers heart beating tor hundred
miles around, is n true summing up of its
present strength.
"The house of the commandant, situated
in one corner, is respectable whitewashed
pile OF mud and bricks. On the other corn.
er of the same side..is the chapel, also built Of
mud; filthy place for worship. On an
other side are artfcers' shops and prison
The two other sides are broken down, not
by the fying metal Ct brave conflict, but by
the gentle pattering Of the rains the ruins
covered with bones! not the bones Of fear.
less men, who have fallen in the breach,
throwing their gushing blood in the face o.
a conquering foe; but The bones Of beeves
that have been gnawed by The garrison dur
ing years Of valorous eating. Densely man
ned, also, are these piles Of adobe and osse.
GUS ruins. not with rank and file OF mailed
warriors. but with dogs, vulures, aad jack,
ais. This Is Fort San Francisco, one Of the
strongest posts in the CALIFORNIA;. Heaven
help its dogs, vultures, and jackaIs, in case OF
81 eieUet