Chapter I: Preface

As one of the American Waterways series, this volume is designed to be a history and description of the Columbia River. The author has sought to convey to his reader a lively sense of the romance, the heroism, and the adventure which belong to this great stream and the parts of the North-west about it, and he has aimed to breathe into his narrative something of the spirit and sentiment--a spirit and sentiment more easily recognised than analysed--which we call "Western." With this end in view, his treatment of the subject has been general rather than detailed, and popular rather than recondite. While he has spared no pains to secure historical accuracy, he has not made it a leading aim to settle controverted points, or to present the minutiae of historical research and criticism. In short, the book is rather for the general reader than for the specialist. The author hopes so to impress his readers with the majesty of the Columbia as to fill their minds with a longing to see it face to face.

Frequent reference in the body of the book to authorities renders it unnecessary to name them here. Suffice it to say that the author has consulted the standard works of history and description dealing with Oregon--the old Oregon--and its River, and from the voluminous matter there gathered has selected the facts that best combine to make a connected and picturesque narrative. He has treated the subject topically, but there is a general progression throughout, and the endeavour has been to find a natural jointure of chapter to chapter and era to era.

While the book has necessarily been based largely on other books, it may be said that the author has derived his chief inspiration from his own observations along the shores of the River and amid the mountains of Oregon and Washington, where his life has mainly been spent, and from familiar conversations in the cabins of pioneers, or at camp-fires of hunters, or around Indian tepees, or in the pilot-houses of steamboats. In such ways and places one can best catch the spirit of the River and its history.

The author gladly takes this opportunity of making his grateful acknowledgments to Prof. F. G. Young, of Oregon University, for his kindness in reading the manuscript and in making suggestions which his full knowledge and ripe judgment render especially valuable. He wishes also to express his warmest thanks to Mr. Harvey W. Scott, editor of the _Oregonian_, for invaluable counsel. Similar gratitude is due to Prof. Henry Landes of Washington University for important assistance in regard to some of the scientific features of the first chapter.

W. D. L.

WHITMAN COLLEGE,
WALLA WALLA, WASH.,
1909.

CONTENTS

PAGE

PART I.--THE HISTORY

CHAPTER I
THE LAND WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS 3

CHAPTER II
TALES OF THE FIRST WHITE MEN ALONG THE COAST 33

CHAPTER III
HOW ALL NATIONS SOUGHT THE RIVER FROM THE SEA AND HOW THEY
FOUND IT 43

CHAPTER IV
FIRST STEPS ACROSS THE WILDERNESS IN SEARCH OF THE RIVER 69

CHAPTER V
THE FUR-TRADERS, THEIR BATEAUX, AND THEIR STATIONS 98

CHAPTER VI
THE COMING OF THE MISSIONARIES TO THE TRIBES OF THE RIVER 136

CHAPTER VII
THE ERA OF THE PIONEERS, THEIR OX-TEAMS, AND THEIR FLATBOATS 159

CHAPTER VIII
CONFLICT OF NATIONS FOR POSSESSION OF THE RIVER 179

CHAPTER IX
THE TIMES OF TOMAHAWK AND FIREBRAND 202

CHAPTER X
WHEN THE "FIRE-CANOES" TOOK THE PLACE OF THE LOG-CANOES 234

CHAPTER XI
ERA OF THE MINER, THE COWBOY, THE FARMER, THE BOOMER, AND THE
RAILROAD-BUILDER 249

CHAPTER XII
THE PRESENT AGE OF EXPANSION AND WORLD COMMERCE 265

PART II.--A JOURNEY DOWN THE RIVER

CHAPTER I
IN THE HEART OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 273

CHAPTER II
THE LAKES FROM THE ARROW LAKES TO CHELAN 290

CHAPTER III
IN THE LAND OF WHEAT-FIELD, ORCHARD, AND GARDEN 313

CHAPTER IV
WHERE RIVER AND MOUNTAIN MEET, AND THE TRACES OF THE BRIDGE
OF THE GODS 332

CHAPTER V
A SIDE TRIP TO SOME OF THE GREAT SNOW-PEAKS 352