Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/231

Rh Willamette Valley. On the 16th strike the Umpqua. Douglas soon sets out for the upper courses of the river in search for the "much-wished-for" pine. Lies stunned for several hours from fall into deep gully. On the 24th experienced terrible storm. At midday of the 25th reached his "long-wished-for pine." Loses no time in examining trees and collecting twigs and cones. Is impressed with it as "beautiful and immensely grand." Makes and records measurements of a large tree. The report of his gun, fired to bring down cones, reveals his presence to eight Indians. Thes show spirit of fiendish hostility and render his situation perilous in the extreme. Douglas's coolness and his tactics, showing a prim determination to defend himself, cowed them. October 28 to November 7 travels to camp on lower Umpqua, and is there exposed to severe drenching winter storm and threatened by skulking bands of hostile Indians. Starts back to Vancouver, which is reached after a journey of twelve days of extreme misery, disheartened by the loss of nearly the whole of his collections while crossing the Santiam.

December 9 revisits coast in hopes of replacing some of the objects he had lost. The undertaking still more unfortunate than the first. Suffers wreck of canoe and returns home to Vancouver sick of effects of wet and cold. On the 6th of March once more visited the sea and was again driven back by bad weather, having failed this third and last time.

On March 20, 1827, by the Annual Express, in company with Dr. McLoughlin. he started for England. It is "an interesting country" he could "not quit without much regret." Goes via Fort Colville and Kettle Falls. The long, arduous tramp across the continent is described in detail. Arrived at the York Factory, Hudson Bay, about August 11. Botanized a month. Sailed from Hudson's Bay September 15. Arrives at Portsmouth on the 11th of October.

His great success in so perilous an exploration made him a "lion among the learned and scientific men in London." Dr. Hooker summarizes the results of Douglas's expedition. Plans are soon made for another. This time he was to do