Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/232

This page has been validated.
222
F. G. Young.

for California what had been done for the Columbia region. He was not, however, able to stay away from the Oregon country. He was equipped also for making astronomical, meteorological, geographical, and other observations, and was to extend his explorations even into Siberia.

Left England October, 1829. Arrives in Oregon on June 3, 1830. Spends six months in Oregon, but the journal of his activities from this time on on the Pacific Coast in Oregon and California is lost. We have only brief accounts in letters. The journals of his former expedition had from time to time been carefully dispatched to the Horticultural Society of London, which had been his main support. But soon after starting on his second exploration changes took place in the Horticultural Society which impelled Douglas to resign as its collector, and there was then no one to whom he was bound to communicate the results of his investigations. It will be noticed later also that he met with a very disastrous accident, in which he lost many of his records.

Arrives at Monterey from the Columbia December 22, 1830. Goes to the Sandwich Islands August, 1832. Early in March, 1833, was at Puget Sound. On March 19 starts up the Columbia to Okanogan with a cattle party. His plans to go to Thompson's River, Alexandria, and upper Caledonia, and to come down through the Fraser River country. On the 13th of June is wrecked at Stony Islands in the Fraser River and loses his botanical notes and journal. He returns broken in strength and spirit. Coming back via Thompson's River and Okanogan he tarries for a time at Walla Walla. Made occasional journeys with Mr. Pambrun to the Blue Mountains. Attempted the ascent of Mount Hood.

Soon starts for the Sandwich Islands with the intention of proceeding from there to England. He makes ascent of Mount Roa and on July 12, 1834, is found dead in a pit dug as a trap for wild cattle on the islands.