Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/385

 I do not know as they have any particular kind of diseas here or fevers any more than the fever and ague. ...

A Carpet is a very good thing to bring acrost the country, to lay down in the tent to keep things out of the dirt, especially your victuals, if you have team enough to bring it, but unless you have you had better throw it into the river, or give it to some person that needs it, rather than to bring it half way and kill off your team, and then be obliged to throw it away, it is better to start with half a load, than to have ten pounds to much. ...

Affectionately Yours

Milwaukie O. T. 3d July, 1853

Brother Levi

... I expect to go down the Columbia to Bakers Bay, which is at the mouth of the river and opposit to Fort George, or lower Astoria, in a flatboat with a Mr. Allen, and some 3 or 4 other men. We have a Salmon nett, and we expect to fish a short time then cross over into Shoal Water Bay, run down that bay in a skiff, then run out into the Ocean and around into Grays Harbour, look about that, and up the Chehalees River, and if we can find us claims to suit us, we intend to take some, and here let me say that in case you should come to this country I wish you to let me know which part of the country you would prefer, from what you know of the country. I intend to get me some prairia, and I have intended to select a place so that you need not be under the necessity of clearing up a farm, for it cannot be denied but it is hard clearing farms, unless we can get a place in what they call "openings" in that case the farm can be easily cleared. Large trees are burned down, not cut, and generally burned up. In case I find nothing to suit me on this trip, I shall look up the country, either south east of this, or south, and perhaps as far as the Umqua. In that case I shall not settle for some time yet. (that is if we go the Umqua) But I know nothing of the accounts you have received of the Pugets Sound country, neither do I know any thing farther than what I have told you. But it is