Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/344

 tribe of plants is insufficient to enable me to determine accurately what they are. I lost no time in forming a collection of birds, as nothing could be done in Botany; my sight, however, which was always weak, is much impaired during the last few months; without pain or inflammation, a dimness has come on which is a great loss to me, especially with the use of the gun, which, as you know, I could handle to some advantage. I am in possession of a species of Pinus, the finest of the genus, and hope soon to have abundance of better specimens and ripe seeds. (Here follow the details, which are precisely similar to what Mr. D. had mentioned in his foregoing letter). This is unquestionably the most splendid specimen of American vegetation what would Dr. Hooker give to dine under its shade? As for Mr. Lambert, I hardly think he could eat at all if he saw it.

I possess another species of Mimulus, a fine plant, but not equal to yours. In the middle of this month I quitted the ocean, and might have crossed the Continent this season, but from what I had seen of the country lying toward -the head waters of the Columbia River, I could not think of forsaking such an inviting field, or departing so far from the interests of the Society by which I am employed. I expect to reach the mountains in August. How glad I shall be to join you in our usual trip of [to] Ben Lomond, where we shall have more time and a keener relish for talking over our journeys in Northwest America. Mr. McDonald is gone to Thompson's River, in the interior. Pardon the shortness of this note, as I have neither time nor convenience for writing no table nor desk : this is penned upon the top of my specimen board, under which are some exceedingly interesting things.

April 2d to 6th.—Continuing our journey without interruption, we reached the Establishment on the Oakanagan River, one of the northern branches of the Columbia, where we were kindly received by the Factor, Mr. Annance, but the ground being covered three or four feet deep with snow, nothing could be done in the way of Botany, and my attempts to secure specimens of the Wild Grouse of the country were also unsuccessful. I observed a beautiful yellow Lichen growing on the dead brushwood.

April 9th.—My companions and I resumed our route early this morning, sometimes walking and sometimes on horseback, where the portages are very long and rugged, and on Tuesday, the 11th, arrived at the Junction of the Spokan River with the Columbia, where we found John