The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-24
tut is abOu. ninety miles up tNe river, which is an OBJ

jeotion.
Oregon city the present seat OF government is thirty
miles the Willamette and two lilies above the Clack
mas rapids which prevent all vigeton to the city
the world Am informed by good ju dyes that lowell
and Lawrence will not bear q com osrison with It
There are many large mills alrsaay in operation
and others about being erected
The lumber trade Is the principal blu sness at the
present time. The demand is much greatN than the
supply Nc boards readily bring ninety dollars u
thousand, and the prospects that there prices
will hold COED for year at least This countr Is dss-
the world 1t can boast of abundant materials the
whole country almost forest COED water priv eyes
exist in every quarter and the whole Pacific
a market, as we'll as many Of the islands.
he Legislature has just closed its session Of fifty
FIVE days They have adopted a code of laws, mostly
taken from the Iowa statutes One, however which
may interest the people Of the North is the prohibiting
Of negroes and mnsttoes from settling passing
From the limited observations that have been
abled TO make during my brief sojourn here, have
been -sdy disappointed in the character the people
Of this country. | expected to find active In
dustrious and thrifty class; but general fact the
reverse Is the case They all seem to settle down on
ANTICIPATION Believing that the territory of Oregon Is
to be the country OF the Pacific and that large cities
are TO be built within few years at Vancouver Port
land, Oregon City, Dyersvie and Astoria they expect
from the rise Of lands to realize vast fortunes Specu
lations are already going and land in Astoria has
sold for nifty cents foot where there but fifteen
buildings In the whole town and portion of these In
dian leg huts There three of land Guilt
vates ia the place But one small store only partially
stocked one carpenter, and one tnman-these two
all the mechanics in Astoria No school or churches OF
any this Is the place that is spoken of by all the
people OF the region as the great city Of Astoria The
bay ut this point good the natural advantages for
building wharyes cannot be exceled but can
great city within the present century, is very
The Columbia lie bad river to navigate; sand bars
and rocks are scattered throughout There is an i'm
meFse sand bar stretching entirely the moath
which Is about eight and half miles WIDE excepting
about quarter Of mile which is put down by all the
officers Of the several vessels In the river the
worst place they many Of them avow that ii
they are lucky enough to get out they will not be
at height Of forty and sixty feet usually when there
Is little WIND, presenting most beautiful picture to
the eye from Cape disappointment The roaring OF the
breakers in a westerly wind, be heard distinctly
forty miles up the river.
have just returned from visit to the Chinook In
dian country where witnessed most revolving cere-
mopy-thst Of burying the living with the dead. one
Ct the old chiefs lost daughter fine looking woman,
about twenty years OF age. She was wrapped up la
rush mat together with ali her trinksts and placed in
canoe The father had an indian slave bound Ia nd
and foot fastened to the body Of the deceased aud
then enclosed the twoin another mat leaving out tho
head Of the living one The Indians then took the
and carried it to high rock and left 1t there
Their custom Is TO let the slave live for three days,
then another rlsve is forced to strsngle it BY cord
drawn round the neck They also kill that may
have been fsvore Of the deceased and bury the
head OF the canoe was desrou. of interfering and
saving the life Of the poor victim but MIR Harris the
gentleman with me, and the two Indians, compa-
Mons. assured that should only get yself into
the settlements party so small alton
dictated different course from the nclinatons Of our
hearts
This whole region. from the Cascades to the Pacific
coast sboupds with game The grisly and black bears
are quite numerous, especially the latter IL Is com
mon TO see them come into the yards and about the
cabins Of the settlers MIR. Rymising and myself killed
three In one day They considered quite harmless
here, and seldom Ietaate the hunter. The grisly
bears different They well sustain the ferocious
character given them by all travellers The elk deer,
and cougar, are found In large numbers Wild fowls
are plentiful along the Columbia and its tributaries
Pecans measuring twelve aud fifteen feet from top
hip, are 80 thick in Clatsup Bay that they literally
cover the beach entirely round General r. Smith
left Vancouver this morning In the General Patterson,
Tor NorqpsiIy This is Ills nrst visit TO Oregon. lie
recsived with sslutes by MIR. Hathaway command
ing the Fort, also by General Ogden, Of the Hudson
Bay Company. The latter entertained him day.
during his sojourn here in style that would do credit
TO an Eastern hotel
The fret ofrcisl news Of the deaths Of exPresdent
Folk, General Gaines, so, was received here by tho
General Patterson.
There Is no mail communication between San Fran
cisco and Oregon The latest dates here lst july
believe from the States.