, 1853-05-14

sides are exceedingly thin, seldom exceed
ing three -iourths Of an inch, and they are
preserved with great care, ing never suff.
cred to lie exposed 10 the sun, for fear Of
rents and c.acLs. When these do occur,
the canoe is mendcd in a very ingenious
manner; holes are made in the sides, lhro'
which vithes nre passed and peg. ed in such
a way that the strain will draw it tighter
tie withe is then crossed, and the end se-
cured in the same manner. When the ty-
ing is fni,bed, the whole is pitched with the
gum Of th pine. This is neatly done, and
answ'rS the purpose WILL
We r. maihed al PORT Discovery until 9th
May, during which time we were employed
in surveying the harLor and exploring the
country Our boianists had a large and in
teresting field opcUed to them, and there
are few places where the variety and beau
ty Of the aors are 50 great as they are here.
Dodecathcon, Viola, Trifolium, Lpptosiphon,
Scilla (he cammass Of the nalives), Collin
sia, Claylonia, Stclialia, &c, vied with each
other in beauty, and were in such profusion
as 10 excite both admiration ard astonish-
ment. According 10 Mr.. Breckenridge, the
soil on which the plants grow consists of
lisht-brown loan, but the grneral character
Of the soil around Port Discovery is a thin
black, vegetable mould, with a sub-stratum
Of sand and gravel.
The trees grow so closely that in some
places the woods are almost impenetrable.
The timber consists principally Of pine, FIR.
and spruce OF the latter there are two
species, one Of which resembles the hem
lock-spruce Of the United States il has a
very tall growth, and puts out but few, and
those small, lateral branches. Some maple
trees grow in the open grounds and on the
banks, but they are to small 10 be Of any
service 10 the settler. Several trees which
we cut down 10 make spars for the Vim
cennes, proved, although healthy in appear
a1ce before they were felled, 10 be more or
less defective the wood was sound and
compact on one side only, while on the 9TH
er il was oben-grained and fbrous.
Several Of the officers made excursions
into the woods after game. In these they
found much difficulty, in consequence Of
the quantity Of fallen trees thai lay across
each other in every direction. No large
game, however, was seen. OF birds. crows,
robins, &C., were in abundance and sono
beautiful specimens Of land-shells Helices)
were obtained. ...f
Soon after our arrival al Port Discovery,
| despatched an Indian with letter 10 the
fort Of the Hudson Bay Company at Ms
qually, at the upper end Of Puget Sound,
to request that pilot might be sent me-
My interview with The native who EN-
ployed for this purpose was amusing. He
appeared Of gay and lively disposition
the first thing he did, when brought into
the cabin, was 10 show me a cross and re-
peat his ave, which he did with great read
mess and apparent devotion but he burst
into loud laughter as soon as he had finished
repeating it. He and made many efforts
10 understand each other, but without much
success, except so far as the transmission of
the letter 10 Fort Nisqually, and the reward
he was 10 receive on his rvturn.
In the excursions Of the officers, several
burial places were met with. The eorpses
arc moi inferred but are wrapped IN mats
aud placed upon the ground in a sitting pos
ture, and surrounded with stakes and pieces
Of plank 10 protect them from tbs wea1her
and wild beasts. .,. H .-F .a.
On the 9th Of May, tho officers were all
engaged in surveying, while ] occupied one
of the points as station, whore made as
Economical and magnetic observations.
fcnnd the latitude as deg O2 min. 5s secs.
n. the Longitude l23 deg. @ min. 07.6
sec. W.; the variation was 20 deg. 40 +.
The temperature in the shade, was 55 deg.
(7o bs Continued