Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/88

82 82 JOURNAL OF DAVID DOUGLAS. Baptiste McKay and two Indians, the branches of trees which impede our progress. The numerous trunks of fallen Fines are of almost incredible size, often measuring two hundred and fifty feet. A tree, apparently belonging to Myrtacese, struck me much : its leaves, wood, fruit, and bark, are all aromatic, smelling like Myrtus Pimento, and. producing sneezing like pepper. The fruit is large, glob- ular, and covered with a fine thin green skin, enveloping a small nut with an insipid kernel, which appears to be the favourite food of squirrels. I trust this fine tree will ere long become an inmate of English gardens, and may even be useful in medicine, and afford a perfume. It is Laurus regia. Want of food, and the difficulty of making our way along, renders this journey most exhausting. We were somewhat cheered at seeing the Umptqua River rolling along below us, when we reached the summit of a weary ridge of mountains to-day. The stock of food being quite done, Mr. McLeod and McKay went out to shoot, while I employed myself in chopping wood, kindling the fire, and forming our encampment; and after twilight refreshed myself by bathing in the Umptqua. Our distance from the ocean could not exceed thirty or thirty-five miles, as I observed Menziesii ferruginea (Bot. Mag. t. 1571), and Pinus Canadensis, both of which always keep along the skirts of the sea. The poor horses are so fatigued that it is found impracticable to bring them up to-night, and mine being among the laggards, I can not lie down, as I have nothing whatever to spread beneath me, my blanket and bearskin being among the luggage on the horse's back. Mr. McLeod returned unsuccessful, so that we were both supperless ; but he hopes that a large doe, which though wounded, yet managed to elude his search at night, may still be found to-morrow morning.