The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-02-05

of woodland; most Of the prairies
seem to be Of warm, sandy loan
soil-in nearly all of them abounds
a root called the camcrous, which
forms one of tie principal articles
of food for the Indians, and on which
hogs are said to fatten more rapidly
than on any other food. The coun-
try continues to be pretty much of
the same character to the southern
point Of Puget's Sound distance Of
thirty-live or forty miles, with the
exception of what is called the
"Mound Prairie" This prairie is
twelve or fifteen miles long, nearly
in the centre of which is large con-
ical mound Of perhaps one hundred
and twenty five feet elevation, af-
fording view of the whole surroun-
ding country from its summit. This
mound is about half mile from the
Chickales river. The soil is of a
black, sandy loan, but full of small
stones and gravel, and much inferior
to the other prairics we have MOTTO
ed. The Indians at this place say
that there is a succession of prairies
from this place to the mouth of the
river, and from Gray's Bay nearly
to Puget's Sound. At the southern
extremity of the Sound the prairie
soil is of rich black, sandy loan.
Here a little river called De Shoots
descends down precipice of dark
volcanic rocks Twenty-Five feet into
the briny element. The water pow
err at this place, with the exception
of the Willamette, is superior to any
in the territory; and, indeed, in
some respects it is even superior to
the Willamette Falls, having the
advantage of ship navigation, and
being in forest of lofty and luxu-
RANT fir and white cedar, capable
of yielding vast quantities of timber
at much less expense than it can be
had at the Falls of the Willamette.
The fir, one Of the noblest trees in
the world, grows here probably in
greater perfe ction than at any other
place on the globe it attains to .
height Of over three hundred feet,
yet its boiy> or stem is perfectly
straig t, and often exceeds ten feet
in diameter. There is continue
ton OF this forest several miles in
width, bordering on the SCUM, to
within a mile or two Of Fort MIS-
qually, ten or twelve miles above
where the Nisqually river cmpties
into the Sound. The Fort is situa-
ted on beautiful plains, or more pro-
perly speaking, in Natures Park ;
at an elevation of above one hundred
and fifty feet above the level of the
Sound. This park extends back to
the range OF mountains, stretching
parallel with the coast at distance
of one hundred and forty or fifty
miles, dividing the interior from the
lower country. From Nisqually to
the mountains range is about fifty
miles. In this park are many groves
of trees, which appear to have been
planted by the great architect of the
earth, in such positions as form the
greatest symmetry and harmony,
and afford the highest qualification
to the eye Of man. Amid these
groves lie has scooped ont these
beautiful little lakes, which feed
each other, and have their outlet
into the Sound. The little stream
that forms the outlet, murmurs over
a pebbly bed from the lake even TO
the Sound (about half mile dis
tant) till it is lost in the briny elc-
ment. From this point may be seen,
towering into the regions Of perptt t.
ual snow, Mount Mclaughlin, ST
I,lcn's, and Mt. Hood, upon which
the rays of the sun Otter glitter will
the radiance of diamonds, in bcauti-
ral and striking contrast with the
lakes and vcrdant plains below.
~