Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/225



Several of the following numbers of the Quarterly will be taken up largely with the publication of the journals of two scientists, David Douglas and Dr. John Scouler. These men rendered the different branches of natural history conspicuous services through explorations conducted in the "Oregon Country." Dr. Scouler came as surgeon to the Hudson Bay Company's vessel, the William and Anne, and gave his attention mainly to the fauna of the Pacific Northwest during the year 1825. Mr. Douglas came at the same time and continued his work in this region mainly as collector of plants with intense, one might almost say desperate, zeal during the major part of the time from 1825 to 1833.

The journal kept by Dr. Scouler during his explorations in the Pacific Northwest has, I believe, never been published. Through the keen search for Oregon material, conducted by Mr. Charles E. Ladd, of Portland, it was secured for the region to which it mainly pertains, and it was generously turned over to the Oregon Historical Society. It will be published in the pages of the (Quarterly along with the reprint of the Douglas material. Probably not a copy of the work containing the Douglas narrative is to be found in Oregon. It is believed that the value of both of these documents will be materially enhanced by their being brought into conjunction. They will be found to be very interesting and exceedingly important sources of Oregon history.

These documents represent the best type of contemporary records of extensive and intimate experiences with the In-