Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/82

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76
Journal of David Douglas.

SKETCH OF A JOURNEY TO THE NORTH-WESTERN PARTS OF THE CONTINENT OF NORTH AMERICA,

DURING THE YEARS 1824-'25-'26-'27.

By David Douglas, F. L. S.

Reprinted from "The Companion to the Botanical Magazine," Volume II, London, 1836.

III.

Excursion to North California[1] and the Umptqua or Arguilar River, etc., to Procure Cones of the Gigantic Pine.

September 1st, Friday.—In the morning saw my chests placed in a boat, which was going with cargo to the ship at sea. I had intended to accompany my collections, and see them stowed in the Dryad; but meeting Captain Davidson, who had come to the Fort, to take leave of the gentlemen there, I mentioned my wishes to him, and gladly embraced the opportunity of resting, and writing a few lines to my friends in England.

Saturday, 2d, to Friday, 15th.—Weather warm and cloudy, with heavy dews at night. Employed myself gleaning a few seeds of the choice plants that I had collected last year, especially Ribes sanguineum, Gaultheria Shallon, Acer macrophylla and circinnata, Berberis Aquifolium, etc.; and laid in specimens of Pinus taxifolia, with fine cones. I also obtained a few sections of the various woods, gums and specimens of the bark of those timber trees which compose the forest in this vicinity. I consulted Mr. McLoughlin on the practicability of visiting the country south of the Columbia, on the Multnomak and Umptqua

  1. The text shows that Mr. Douglas did not penetrate to the boundary of what is now "North California."—Editor Quarterly.