[15]. For information concerning the wood-rat, sea-otter, and chepool, see Franchère, notes 128–130.—Ed.
[16]. For the characteristic fish of this coast, see Franchère, notes 88, 124–126. The ulichan is the candlefish, so named because it is fat enough to burn for illuminating purposes.—Ed.
[17]. For the wappato root see Franchère, note 87.—Ed.
[18]. Captain John Meares, born about 1756, served in the British navy, where he attained the rank of lieutenant. After the Peace of Paris (1783) he entered the merchant service, and founded a commercial house in Macao, China, to trade with the North-west Coast of North America. In 1786 he made his first voyage thither. Two years later, he formed an establishment at Nootka Sound, and explored the coast to the south—failing, however, to recognize the outlet of the Columbia as the mouth of a great river. In 1789, Meares’s establishment at Nootka was demolished by the Spaniards, which led to the diplomatic incident known as the Nootka Sound episode. His book appeared during this controversy—Voyages made in the years 1788 and 1789 to the N. W. Coast of America (London, 1791). Meares finally returned to the navy, became commander in 1795, and died in 1809.—Ed.
[19]. For brief account of Vancouver, see Franchère, note 2. Port Discovery, on the northern coast of Washington, was named for Vancouver’s ship. Desolation Sound was farther north in the Gulf of Georgia.—Ed.
[20]. For the appearance of these flattened heads, see Clark’s drawings of the Chinook, in Original Journals of Lewis and Clark Expedition.—Ed.
[21]. For the promontory known as Tongue Point, see Franchère, note 44. Gray’s Bay was named for Captain Robert Gray, op. cit., note 1. “Oathlamuck” Point is that now known as Cathlamet Point, in Clatsop County, Oregon. This does not bound Gray’s Bay, except as it is the point below which the river widens into great inlets.—Ed.
[22]. Puget’s Island, in the Columbia opposite Cathlamet, Washington, was named when Broughton explored the Columbia (1792), for Peter Puget, lieutenant of Vancouver’s vessel, the “Discovery.” For Oak Point, see Franchère, note 74. Ross is the only contemporary writer who mentions this Indian village by name.—Ed.
[23]. Ross confuses the names of two landmarks; the first should be Mount Coffin (see Franchère, note 48), the second Coffin Rock. The first is an isolated cliff on the Washington bank of the river, the second a rocky islet toward the Oregon side—both used as places of Indian sepulture. For Deer Island, see Franchère, note 75.—Ed.
[24]. For this chief, see Franchère, note 51.—Ed.