CHAP. XX.

DEPARTURE FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. ARRIVAL AT THE MOUTH OF COLUMBIA RIVER. TREATY WITH THE INDIANS. ASTORIA. THE VESSEL SAILS, AND THE CAPTAIN TRADES WITH MORE INDIANS. A STORM. ABOUT JENKINS AND TWO SAILORS. THE VESSEL IS DRIVEN UPON THE BEACH. A WHALE ASHORE. THE SHIP IS GOT OFF, BUT JENKINS AND THE TWO SAILORS CANNOT BE FOUND.

I MUST not take leave of the Sandwich islands, without describing some very extraordinary mountains upon the island of Hawaii. Several of these are very elevated, and among them there are at least fifty craters of volcanoes. The American missionaries lately visited these mountains, and they found one of the craters to be one thousand feet deep. Think of a thousand feet! It is more than thirty times as deep as this house is high. The smoke and fire were issuing from more than twenty craters when they were there.

What of volcanoes in Hawaii?

Our preparations being made, we finally took leave of these people, from whom we parted with regret. They had treated us kindly, and their gentle manners excited in us all feelings of deep interest. I often think of these islanders, surrounded by the wide ocean, and it rejoices my heart to know, that they are now receiving the blessings of religion, and the benefits of partial civilization.

Our design was now to proceed to the coast of North America, and trade with the Indians for furs. We laid our course for the mouth of Columbia river, where we soon arrived. We ascended the river for a mile or two, and came to anchor. At first we saw no Indians, but having fired one or two cannon, several canoes started from the shores, and came to us.

They were all miserable looking people, clothed in furs. Many of them had their heads

What is the direction of the mouth of Columbia river from the Sandwich islands?

flattened, by boards fastened to them in infancy, so as to give them the shape of a pyramid. They had not many furs, but what they had we purchased for various trinkets. They seemed to be particularly fond of blue beads, and preferred them to every thing else.

It has pleased God that the productions of one country should be valued in another, and this circumstance ought to bind different nations together; but instead of doing so, it often excites covetousness and injustice. For blue beads, that are of little value to civilized people, these poor Indians parted with what was really valuable.

We observed that the country, around the mouth of the Columbia river, was rugged and rocky. The shore seems to consist almost wholly of mountains. At the present time there is a small settlement of fur traders near the mouth of Columbia river, called Astoria.

Where is Astoria?

After procuring what furs we could, we sailed down the river, and proceeded toward the north, along the coast. We had not sailed far before we saw an Indian village, situated on the border of a little cove or bay. As the captain thought it probable that we might obtain some furs here, we came to anchor. We then fired a cannon, but the Indians, instead of coming to us, seemed to be alarmed, and fled away in great terror.

After awhile, however, some of them came back, and waited upon the shore as if inviting us to come to them. Accordingly the captain went in a boat to them. He found them rather shy, but he procured some furs for beads, brass medals, buttons, and other trifles.

The next day, some of our spars being broken, the captain sent Jenkins, my old friend, who was second mate in the ship, as I told you, with two of the men ashore, to get two or three small pine trees, of which there were plenty on the land, to replace them. Jenkins and the two

M

sailors went in a boat, and having procured the spars, they set out to return.

Before they reached the ship, it was already dark; and a gale of wind, which had been threatening for several hours, suddenly commenced with great violence. The waves began to heave and roar, as they broke upon the rocks, and the clouds thickened so fast that, in a few minutes after sun down, it was as dark as midnight.

We saw Jenkins and the sailors in the boat, at no great distance, rowing toward the vessel with all their might. All on board the ship were anxious, and they, too, seemed to be aware of their danger. But the sudden darkness cut them off from our view, and we saw them no

more.

The difficulties of our own situation now occupied all our attention. The rain began to fall in torrents, and the lightning burst around us, with such peals of thunder as I had never