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Chapter I: Preface

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When one observes attentively the maps of South and North America, no feature appears more striking than the provision which Nature seems to have made, in both continents, for water-communication across the breadth of each. In the Northern continent, this channel of communication is formed by the Missouri and Columbia Rivers, which stretch over an extent of three thousand miles, interrupted only by the ridge of the Rocky Mountains. In the Southern continent, the River Amazon, in its path from the Andes to the sea, traverses a course of thirty-three hundred miles. In both cases, a few hundred miles of land-carriage will complete the transit from ocean to ocean. The analogy presented in the length and direction of these magnificent water-pathways is preserved in their history. A series of romantic adventures attaches to each. I indulge the hope, that young readers who have so favorably received my former attempts to amuse and instruct them, in my several works reviving the fabulous legends of remote ages, will find equally attractive these true narratives of bold adventure, whose date is comparatively recent. Moreover, their scenes are laid, in the one instance, in our own country; and, in the other, in that great and rising empire of Brazil to which our distinguished naturalist, Prof. Agassiz, has gone on a pilgrimage of science. It will enable us better to appreciate the discoveries and observations which the professor will lay before us on his return, to know something beforehand of the history and peculiarities of the region which is the scene of his labors; and, on the other hand, the route across the North-American continent, to which the first part of the volume relates, deprives increased interest, at this time, from the fact that it nearly corresponds to the route of the contemplated Northern Pacific Railroad.

BOSTON, June, 1866. T. B.

CONTENTS.

OREGON.

CHAPTER I.

DISCOVERY OF COLUMBIA RIVER 1

CHAPTER II.

LEWIS AND CLARKE 14

CHAPTER III.

THE SIOUX 23

CHAPTER IV.

SUMMARY OF TRAVEL TO WINTER-QUARTERS 33

CHAPTER V.

INDIAN TRIBES 45

CHAPTER VI.

THE MARCH RESUMED 57

CHAPTER VII.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUED 85

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SOURCES OF THE MISSOURI AND COLUMBIA 97

CHAPTER IX.

THE PARTY IN THE BOATS 107

CHAPTER X.

THE DESCENT OF THE COLUMBIA 120

CHAPTER XI.

CLARKE'S RIVER 131

CHAPTER XII.

KOOSKOOSKEE RIVER 147

CHAPTER XIII.

WINTER-QUARTERS 176

CHAPTER XIV.

A NEW YEAR 187

CHAPTER XV.

WINTER LIFE 197

CHAPTER XVI.

THE RETURN 210

CHAPTER XVII.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 230

CHAPTER XVIII.

CAPT. CLARKE'S ROUTE DOWN THE YELLOWSTONE 241

ELDORADO.

CHAPTER I.

THE DISCOVERY 255

CHAPTER II.

ORELLANA DESCENDS THE RIVER 265

CHAPTER III.

ORELLANA'S ADVENTURE CONTINUED 275

CHAPTER IV.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH 285

CHAPTER V.

RALEIGH'S FIRST EXPEDITION 293

CHAPTER VI.

RALEIGH'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED 307

CHAPTER VII.

RALEIGH'S SECOND EXPEDITION 316

CHAPTER VIII.

THE FRENCH PHILOSOPHERS 326

CHAPTER IX.

MADAME GODIN'S VOYAGE DOWN THE AMAZON 339

CHAPTER X.

MADAME GODIN'S VOYAGE CONTINUED 349

CHAPTER XI.

HERNDON'S EXPEDITION 361

CHAPTER XII.

HERNDON'S EXPEDITION CONTINUED 373

CHAPTER XIII.

HERNDON'S EXPEDITION CONTINUED 387

CHAPTER XIV.

HERNDON'S EXPEDITION CONCLUDED 396

CHAPTER XV.

LATEST EXPLORATIONS 404

CHAPTER XVI.

THE NATURALIST ON THE AMAZON 427

CHAPTER XVII.

ANIMATED NATURE 446

OREGON.

OREGON.

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Oregon and Eldorado; or, Romance of the RiversChapter I: Preface

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