54 Joseph Schafer services being required in the interior, from whence he has not returned. We also went down the Columbia River, visited Fort George and Tongue Point on the South side, and made a sur- vey of the Cape, which we regret not having had time to complete to forward by the present opportunity. On our return we found Lieutenant Peel, R. N., and Cap- tain Parke, R. M., of Her Majesty's ship America," who had made a short tour in the Willamette Settlement. We accom- panied these officers back to their ships in Port Discovery, Straits of San Juan de Fuca, and informed Captain Gordon of our arrival in the country and the several objects of our journey. ^ . j From Port Discovery we crossed the Straits to Vancouver's Island, commencing in the 48 parallel of latitude and extending 260 miles north, and about 50 in breadth. This island is somewhat intersected by high mountain ranges, but the soil is said to be fertile and well adapted for cultivation. We visited the H. B. Company's post, Fort Victoria in 48° 26' N. Latitude, and 123° 9' W. Longitude, on the south shore of the Island near the head of a narrow Inlet (of which we forward a sketch) where they have established a fort similar to those already described, a farm of several hundred acres on which they raise wheat and potatoes, and a depot of provisions, supplies, etc., for the different Trading posts further to the north. The position has been chosen solely for its agricultural advantages, and is ill adapted either as a place of refuge for shipping, or as a position of defense. The country to the south of the Straits of de Fuca, between Puget's Sound and the coast is overrun by high rugged mountains presenting great difficulty in traversing, and but few inducements to the farmer. Between the above mentioned points there are some fine harbors, among which we may mention Port Discovery and Dungeness, on the south shore, and a bay within three miles
of Fort Victoria, called the "Squimal" by the Indians, which----
