The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-24

as by bending their arm or spreading out
their hand and pointing to the space con-
tanned in the curve of the arm, or between
the fOrefnger and thumb, that We should
find our progress soon stopped in the
directi ON which led toward Mount
Rainier.
The first information of the natives we
found perfectly correct; and 1t was not
long before We had every reason to give
credit to the second by finding the
inlet divided into two branches, one taking
a northwarily direction toward the ships,
giving that which, in the morning We had
considered to be the western shore of the
main inlet, the appearance of an island
eight or nine leagues in circuit. The other
stretched to the southwestward; and
into which ran very strong tide. Although
there was little doubt of our having been
preceded in the examination OF this
branch, yet, as the strength of the influx
indicated its extremity to be at some dis
lance, | determined, as We were we'll
equipped for the excursion, to embrace the
advantage of SO favorable an opportunity
of keeping the larboard shore on board
and of examining such iniets as might be
found leading to the lett; that, in the
event of Mr.. Puget having been unable to
accomplish the task assigned him, our sur
vey might be completed without another
expedition into this region. With the as
sistance of the strong tide we rapidly
passed through fair, navIgable channel,
near half a league wide, with soundings
from twenty-four to thirty fathoms, free
from any appearance of shoals, rocks or
other Interruptions. The eastern shore
was found nearly straight and compact,
but on the western three wide openings
were seen. whose examinations were not
distinguiShabe, and the strength with
which the tide flowed into the two north
ernmost induced US to consider them as
very extensive. Having advanced about
three leagues from the south or inner
point OF entrance into an opening we
halted about in the evening for the night
on a small island lying about a mile from
the eastern shore. The general character
of the situation in which We had now ar
rived indicated 1t to be q continuation of
the main branch of the inlet we nad been
thus long navigating. The lnsuiar APP
pearance of its western side, the rapidity
OF the flood tide ana its increasing width
gave Us reason TO suppose We should hnd
1t still more extensive.
During the night we had some rain.
with a fresh gale from the southeast,
which abated by the morning. The rain
still continued but not so violently as to
prevent our proceeding. At 4 O'Clock on
Sunday morning. the 9th, we again en-
barkei and steered about southwest by
south, in which direction the inlet seemed
to stretch to some distance; and the APP
an opinion OF It's terminating III a river.
The space we had so considered was, at
O'Clock, proved 10 be a low. swanpy, COM
pact shore, forming the, southern extrem-
Itv OF the inlet in this direction, about two
leagues from our last resting D ace. The
Inlet here terminated in an expansive
though shallow bay, across which a fiat of
land extended upward of a mile from its
shores, on which was lying an immense
quantity of driftwood. consisting chiefly
OF very large trees. The country behind
for some distance was low, then rose grad
ually TO moderate height; and, like the
eastern SHORES OF the inlet, was covered
with wood and diversified with pleasant
inequalities of hill and dale. though not
enriched with those imaginary marks and
pleasure grounds We had been accustomed
TO behold nearer 10 the seacoast; the whole
presenting one unlutreructed wilderness
From hence the direction of the Inlet
was about northwest by north. still pre-
serving considerable width; the western
shore appearing 10 be formed by a grnun
OF islands. Our progress was a little re-
tarded by the rain in the forenoon: hut
about midday the clouds dispersed. though
not sulhcient!y early TO procure an o.
serVatlon Tor the latitude. We had now
reached point on the larboard shore
where the Inlet was again divided into two
other larger branches, one leading to the
southwestward, the other toward the
north. As my plan was TO pursue the ex
ANIMATION OF the larboard shore, the south.
west branch became our first object. This
We found divided into two narrow chan
ne!s. leading to the southwark. with the
appearance OF two small coves IN the
northward. Up 10 the westernrnost of the
former, ABOUT SIX miles, We took I'd our