Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/362

 352 JOURNAL AND LETTERS OF DAVID DOUGLAS. currants. As I observe that this shrub only produces its fruit when growing in very dry sandy places, never where the soil is rich, and very sparingly if it is at all moist, it would be worth the while of cultivators at home to attend to this circumstance. As I had tasted nothing but these berries all day, I found a small basin of cold tea at night, with some dried salmon, particularly re- freshing. The storm continued unabated, by which my poor horses were so alarmed that it was necessary to tie them to some trees close to our camp ; but the chief disadvan- tage arose from its being impracticable to keep a fire lighted, and, as I was afraid to lie down in my soaked clothes, I stripped, and rolling myself in my blanket, soon fell asleep, but awoke about midnight, so benumbed with cold, that I found my knees refused to do their office. Having rubbed my limbs most vehemently with a very rough cloth, to restore animation, I succeeded at last in making a little fire, when some hot tea did me more good than anything else could have done. If ever, however, my zeal has been damped, it was on this occasion ; my guide, too, and interpreter, were so much disheartened by the difficulties of the way, the dreadful storm, and the want of provisions, that I finally consented to return, and regained the Columbia on the night of Saturday, the 24th, after an absence of nine days, during which time I had not seen a human face, save those of my two companions. I was, however, fully determined to resume my journey in this direction without much delay, the ground appear- ing very rich in objects of interest, among which, that which .had gratified me most, was a beautiful Paeonia (P. Brownii, the only individual of this genus in Amer- ica), with a flower that is dark purple outside, and yellow within, blooming on the very confines of perpetual snow, while it grows poor and small on the temperate parts of