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—or "The Dalles," as it is commonly called—is a town of about twelve hundred inhabitants, situated on the south side of the Columbia, at the lower end of the Dalles of the river. In the early history of the country it was fixed upon by the Methodists as a mission station; but failing in their efforts to instruct the Indians, or intimidated by their warlike character, or both, they relinquished the station to the Presbyterians, who held it at the breaking out of the Cayuse war in 1847. On this occurrence the whole country east of the Cascades was abandoned by all missionaries of Protestant denominations, and Dalles was converted into a military station, the mission buildings having been burnt down.

When the Donation Act was passed, giving missions the ground previously occupied by them, the Methodists laid claim to a portion of Dalles. The Government, however, had appropriated a portion of the claim for a military post, paying for the part thus taken. The Presbyterians then disputed the claim, on the ground that they were in possession at the breaking out of the war, which compelled them to quit the place, and had never abandoned it, but had a right to return at the cessation of hostilities. The question of ownership has never yet, we believe, been satisfactorily settled.

The mining excitement, on the discovery of gold