Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/101

 eaten, but the latter is pleasantly acid, and much used by the Killeemuck Indians, as is also another species of Vaccinium, that I never saw before.

Saturday, the 4th.—Late last night we were joined by Mr. McLeod, who has been a good way to the southward. He informs me that this river, the Umptquaor Arguilar, is three-fourths of a mile broad, where it flows into the sea, but that a sand-bar, which crosses the mouth, renders it impassable for shipping. Twenty -three miles further South, is another river of similar size, and affording the same sort of salmon and salmon-trout. At its mouth are numerous bays, and the surrounding country is less mountainous than the north; and twenty miles further still, is yet another river, but smaller than the two preceding, deriving its source, according to the Indians' account, very far up the interior. Here McLeod's investigation has ceased for the present, as he waits till all his party is collected, before proceeding further. The Indians, state that sixty miles to the southward, where the Indians are very numerous, a much larger river surpassing, as one stated who had seen both streams, the Columbia in size, gains the ocean. The latitude is about 41 North. Mr. McLeod observed that the vegetation changed materially as he proceeded to the South, the Pines disappearing altogether and giving place to the myrtaceous tree which I have described, of which he measured several individuals 12 feet round, and 70 to 100 feet high. Its fragrant leaves, when shaken b} T the least breeze of wind, diffuse a fragrance through the whole grove. All the natives, like those in this neighborhood, had never seen white men before, and viewed them narrowly, and with great curiosity. They were kind and hospitable in the extreme, assisting to kindle the fire and make the encampment; while they were delighted beyond measure at being paid with a ring, button, bead, or any the small-