is constantly serene and cloudless. It had long been considered an El Dorado or country of wealth, by the Spaniards, but these visions have been dispelled, although recent discoveries to the northward seem to have realized the old tradition there.

What articles of value have been found on the shores of the Gulf to encourage such hopes?

Pearls only, whereof the fishery was long pursued with success, but is now nearly abandoned.

Describe the limits of New California.

New California extends from 32° to 40° N. lat., and is bounded on the north and east by territories little known, inhabited by Indians: on the south-east it is separated from the state of Sonora by the Rio Colorado, and the Gulf of California.

What was the chief place of the missions of New California?

Monterey.

What is said of the soil and climate of New California? That it is one of the most favoured spots on the globe as to soil and climate.

What grains and fruits have been produced there? All the varieties of grain and fruit, peculiar to the best European regions, grow in the highest perfection. Have the vine and the olive been planted there?

Both the vine and the olive have been more successfully reared there than in any other part of America? Have the missionaries been successful in converting the Indians?

About 7000 converts have been induced to quit a wandering life, and apply themselves to cultivation. Name the principal Cape.

Cape Mendocino in about the same parallel as the Snowy Mountains.

What has been observed of the climate?

That it is much more mild than that of the same latitude on the eastern coast of the new continent. Is the sky serene and cloudless?

No, the sky is foggy; but the frequent fogs, which render it difficult to land on the coast near Monterey and San Francisco, give vigour to vegetation, and fertilize the soil, which is covered with a black spongy earth?

What European grains have been cultivated there ? Wheat, maize, and beans, are cultivated in abundance. Have the vegetables and fruit trees cultivated in Spain, been introduced into the gardens of the Indians? They have.

By whom?

By the thirty-six monks of St. Francis who governed the missionaries.

Were wild vines found there by the first colonists? The first colonists found on their arrival in 1769, shoots of wild vines in the interior, which yielded very large grapes, but of sour quality.

Did the missionaries introduce the vine of Europe? They introduced the vitis vinifera of Europe, and good wine is made all along the coast, south and north of Monterey, to beyond latitude 37°.

Where is the olive cultivated?

The European olive is successfully cultivated near the channel of the Santa Barbara, and at San Diego: the oil extracted is as good as that of the valley of Mexico, or the oils of Andalusia.

Why has that fine country continued until now unexplored, whilst the colonization has been left to monks? Apparently because the feeble hold of Spain on her American colonies could not grasp it.

Is the prospect much improved, now that the territory has been ceded to the United States?

Not much; that nook of the Pacific being so inaccessible to European commerce and colonization, either by land or sea. The city of Mexico is at the same distance in a straight line from Philadelphia, as from Monterey, which is the chief place of the missions of New California. Though more remote, these regions seem much more accessible from China or Australia, by means of steam navigation.

CHAPTER XXIII.

UNEXPLORED REGIONS OF NORTH AMERICA.

To whom do these belong?

Virtually to the natives; for notwithstanding the claims set up by Russia, Great Britain, and the United States, it cannot be said that any of these nations are in actual possession. The American Government claims the whole region west from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, south of the 49th parallel of latitude. The British Government claims the entire region drained by the Columbia River; but Great Britain offers, in order to determine the question, that the northern boundary of the United States territory, west of the Rocky Mountains, should, for a considerable distance, be carried along the same parallel of latitude, the 49th, which forms their northern boundary on the eastern side of these mountains. From the point where the 49th degree of latitude intersects the north-eastern branch of the Columbia river (called in that part of its course M'Gillivray's River,) the proposed line of boundary would be along the middle of that river till it joins the Columbia; then along the middle of the Columbia to the ocean. The Hudson's Bay Company can show that their servants in 1803, had already crossed the mountains and formed settlements on the northern branches of the Columbia, then called the "Oregon," or "River of the West." A settlement, called Astoria, founded by Mr. Astor, came by purchase, into the possession of this company, who have fixed their chief station higher up the river, at Fort Vancouver, where they have a number of settlers and a considerable tract of uncultivated land.

What is the general course of the Columbia?

This river rises amidst the most rugged steeps of the Rocky Mountains, in about latitude 54° and after a north-north-west coast of about 1000 miles, falls into the Northern Pacific in about latitude 46°.

How high is the river navigable from its mouth? The tide flows up the river 183 miles, and large sloops

may ascend so far with safety: vessels of 300 tons burden reach the entrance of the Multnomah, 125 miles from the mouth.

What is its general depth below the rapids?

Thirty feet.

Its general breadth?

From one to three miles to its junction with the Multnomah.

Is the water good?

Its waters are clear, and not muddy, like those of the Missouri.

What other settlements have the Hudson's Bay Company formed on the river Columbia?

Fort George, on the south side of the river, and eight miles from the sea.

How far is Fort Vancouver distant from Fort George? Fort Vancouver is eighty miles higher up the river. Describe its situation.

It is built in the centre of a very large and level prairie, already covered with fields of potatoes and pease; and the varied produce of the Company's farm is annually increasing by seeds of plants and vegetables sent from Canada.

What native roots are found useful there as food?

The margins of the prairie abound in the beautiful Phalangium esculentum, a root so much used by the Indians as a substitute for bread; whilst the tubers of a species of Sagittaria, which grows on the marshy banks of the river, afford an agreeable substitute for the potato. In the neighbouring woods are some of the choicest plants of which the north-west coast can boast.

Describe Fort George.

Fort George is a square building, almost entirely composed of wood surrounded with palisades, and furnished with bastions.

What land is in cultivation near it?

Eighty acres of land round the fort have been cleared, which produce fine crops of potatoes, and the cattle find plenty of pasture on the banks of the river.

Whence are the cattle brought?

The horned cattle were brought from California, and the hogs, which thrive remarkably well, from the Sandwich Islands.

Are there any Indian settlements near the Fort?

The Indian village is a little to the westward of the fort on a sandy beach, containing about twelve houses, each holding from fifteen to thirty inmates.

What trade is carried on at the forts?

It consists wholly of furs and skins.
By whom is it carried on?

By the north-west company of Canadian traders, who through the activity of their servants, in spite of American competition, have acquired almost the whole of the fur-trade of this region.

What skins are procured there?

Besides the same skins as in the eastern countries, this yields that of the sea-otter, which bears a very high price; but the reckless pursuit of it has so thinned the species, as to render the produce now of little value. What becomes of the articles here collected? They are sent round Cape Horn.

Name the principal Capes to the North of Cape Mendocino.

Capes Orford, Gregory, Perpetua, Foulweather, Lookout, Point Adams, Cape Disappointment (the two last being on the north and south sides of the entrance of the Columbia) and Capes Shoalwater and Flattery.

Name the openings or bays.

The inlets are those of the Trinity, St. George, Hayley's Bay, at the mouth of the Columbia, and Whitby's Bay, and the entrance of Fuca which terminates the coast.

What is the character of the coast from Cape Mendocino to Cape Flattery?

The coast runs in an uninterrupted line, unbroken by islands, sounds, or gulfs, differing in this respect from all the north-west coast, which as far as Behring's Straits, is studded with islands, and broken with numerous creeks and sounds.

What is the character of the country south of the Columbia?