Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/174

168 The Valley of the Umpqua is divided from that of the Willammette by the Calapooiah Mountains, a single and almost unbroken ridge, the course of which is nearly East and West. Across these Mountains, which are not high, and the ascent and descent of which are very gradual, is a distance of about twelve miles. They are thickly covered with good Fir timber, are not rocky, and have a soil fit for cultivation. The Umpqua Valley is about thirty-five miles wide and its length is not certainly known. Its general character is very similar to the Willammette Valley, excepting that its surface is more undulating. The Umpqua River runs through the middle of the Valley, receiving numerous tributaries from the neighboring Mountains. It is a stream sufficiently large for navigation; but the great rapidity of its current will probably always prevent it from being useful for that purpose. The Valley is diversified with woodland and prairies; but the prairies occupy the greater portion, the timber being principally along the water courses and on the bordering Mountains. The prairies have a good soil, and are covered with a most excellent kind of grass. There is a great deal of fall in the smaller streams, and, having their sources in the Mountains, they are constant, and afford numerous fine water privileges. There is some granite in this Valley, but the prevailing rock is basaltic. The Umpqua Indians are quite numerous. They are not openly hostile to the whites, but yet it is not considered entirely safe for a few persons to travel through their country. No settlement has yet been made in the Valley, and no person has yet visited it except those passing through, to or from California. The Hudson's Bay Company have a trading Post near the mouth of the River. Supplies are taken to it overland, from Vancouver, on pack animals. There is a small bay at the mouth of the Umpqua, but the depth of water at the entrance is sufficient only for small vessels. It affords a tolerable