66 Joseph Schafer 34 horses from lameness and fatigue out of 60 with which we left Edmonton, distance about 700 miles. The country on the w^est of the Rocky Mountains is very much broken and covered with dense forests of pine and cedar growing in many instances to an immense size. The rivers or mountain torrents are very numerous and ex- tremely rapid. They are scarcely navigable for the small In- dian canoes, are subject to the sudden rising of the water and difficult to ford — thereby causing great delay in the construc- tion of canoes, rafts, etc. The descent of the Columbia and our proceedings to the month of November are detailed in the letter addressed to your Lordship, and forwarded by the H. B. Co. ship Cowlitz" from Fort Vancouver Nov. ist, 1845 copy of which is here- with enclosed).. Since November the weather has been extremely unfavor- able. The rain, which usually commences about that period, has continued, almost without intermission, causing much sick- ness and rendering the climate, followed as it is by the intense heat of the summer, extremely unhealthy. The annual express via the northern water communication, which left Red River on the 20th June, arrived at Fort Van- couver on the 9th November. We have consequently gained upwards of two months by proceeding overland to the Columbia. The American immigrants continued to arrive in the coun- try till late in December. Their condition was most miserable. The lateness of the season and humidity of the climate having occasioned much sickness and suffering. They have on nearly every occasion conducted themselves peaceably, but we attribute this conduct to the presence in the river of Her Majesty's ship "Modeste." They have evidently been misinformed as to the extent, soil and climate of the cultivable portion of the Oregon Territory. Should Great Britain maintain her right to the Territory, we
are of opinion that large numbers of the present settlers will----
