, 1853-06-11

nearly a foot than that OF the day II there
7 fore became necessary TO make cxtraordlna-
ry cxertions TO prepare for the next days
tide BY buoying her mp with casks, which
fortunately We had at hand, on board the
Oregon. 1t now became necessary 10 float
her of, in order 10 avoid a second failure.
We therefore had recourse 10 passing her
chain cable under her bottom, to which a
line OF casks was lashed on the weather
side, at the same time the launch was sus-
pended as a weight from her masthead 10
preserve her in the same position. The
hawsers that had been landed at Astoria BY
our store vessels were sent for and attached
to the brigs anchors, and so placed as 10
haul her at once into the deepest water and
through the narrow pass. When all was
prepared, a strong wind arose from the sea-
ward, and caused swell which broke adrifl
some of the casks, leaving sufficient, how
ever, to float her before high water.
] was much relieved when ! saw her
again float, for had felt not little anxious
lest in the drifting sands Of the river she
might have formed a bed, which would
have placed ii out Of our power to get her
off before the next spring tides, and would
have compelled US 10 discharge all her guns,
sc. Although this would have been at
tended with great Of trouble, il would
have been Of little consequence compared
with the loss of tine, which we could i'll
afford to spare.
Aflsr getting her of, we ran upthe river
few miles, and anchored just below the
Pillar Rock, and opposite TO Waikaikum.
Waikaikum belongs 10 chief named Ska.
makewes, and is large lodge, plckcled
around with planks.
Mr.. Hale passed two days there, and OBJ
iained much interesting information from
him relative TO his tribe. This chief foT-
mermerly had large tribe under him, but
since the year 1890 the fever has destroyed
them nearly all. The portion Of this coun-
try more Immediately affected by this scourgr
extends along the banks OF the river from
the ocean to the Cascades but that part OF
it which is within the influence of The
ocean tides, is the least subject TO its rava-
ges When an Indian contracts this disease
he seldom RECEIVERS, for The treatment he
goes through is sufficient to kill person in
good health.
Pillar Rock is called by the Indians Ia.
luaptea, after the name Of a chief, who in
bygone days lived at the falls of the Colum-
bia, and who, having incurred the displeas-
ure Of thrir spirit, called Talapos, was turn
ed into a rock, and placed where he would
be washed by the waIers of the great river
The rock is twenty-five feet high, and only
l.aI af aNs Not. - - i
conglOmerate or pudding-stone, and is fast
crumbling to pieces. found great difficult
ty in ascending it.
The next morning in proceeding up the
river to carry on the survey, one Of the
small boals Of the Porpoise, tina! we had in
tow, was, through the negligence of her
crew, capsized. Every thing in her except
her oars was lost, and in addition to this the
accident caused us much detention.
In the afternoon we reached Katalamel
Point, and anchored al the lower end of
Puget Island, where we passed the next day
Sunday On Monday we again resumed
our surveying duties, and reached Oak
Point, where the river takes turn 10 the
soulhward and eastward. On the 24th,
Lieutenant Emmons joined me, and received
his instructions to pass through the country
to the south, and join the ship at San Fran.
cisco.
Just before reaching Walkers Island We
ran aground, by the pilot mistaking his
marks, but were soon relieved III the eve
ming Of the next day, we reached Mount
Coffin, at the mouth of the CowIitz. This
mount afforded favorable point for astro-
nomical observations, being seven hundred
and ten feet high, and quite isolated. The
canoes used BY the Indians as cofhns are
seen upon it in every direction, in all stages
Of decay. They are supported between
trees, at the height Of four or FIVE feet r.
bove the ground, and about them are hung
the utensils that had belonged 10 the decea-
sed, or that had been offered as tokens of
respect
remained the whole day on the top Of
this mount, and obtained full sci Of obser-
vations; the weather being remarkably clear
and beautiful. Here my boats crew care
lrssly omitted TO extinguish the fire they
had used for cooking our dinner, and as we
were pulling off to the brig, | regretted to
see that the fire had spread, and was enyel-
opIng the whole area of the mount but
there was no hel p for it. The fire contin-
ued to rage throughout the night, until Il
was burnt. took the earliest opportunity
OF explaining to the Indians in the ncigh>
borhood, that the fire was accidental, and
after receiving few small presents, they
appeared satisfied that it was so. But a
few years earlier, the consequence of such
carelessness would have been hostile at
tack, that might have involved us in diff
Guilty of no ordinary kind. We had a mi
nor punishment to undergo, for the smoke
was so great that it envcloped all the signals
towards tho mouth of the river, and made il
: necessary for me 10 anchor within sigh, Of