Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/62

in which I found it. They said there was any quantity there; not far up.

Tuesday 4th. Camped 3 miles above the forks. Weather still favorable.

Wednesday 5th. Fair weather. Got up to Wabass's landing to-night with one boat, the other encamped at the drift below.

Thursday 6th. Fair weather. The boats got up to our landing this evening. Savage,^[1] the Steilacoom Mail man, arrived today.

Friday 7th. Fair weather. Started the soldier with the mail. Wrote Mr Ogden of the accidental discovery of coal. Loading Batteux with wheat, oats, potatoes, & pork.

Saturday 8th. Gloomy, cloudy day. Started the batteux. Got off myself also to visit the coal placa. I have felt extremely uneasy since writing Mr O on the subject fearing I may have been over sanguine with regard to it, however I sent the specimen I found. Encamped at the mouth of the fork river.

Sunday 9th. Extremely pleasant weather for the season. Found several pieces of coal at the entrance of the river evidently drifted from above. Started up at 9:30 A M. About noon arrd at the place the indians have brought us to see the coal. Quite disappointed with the appearance of things. Infernal cliff so abrupt no getting even a specimen. In fact this does not agree with my specimens, nor is it the likely place. Tho I have kept most dilligent watch I have not been able to see a morsel of coal along the river shore. The indians say there is a place below. I determined to go no higher being convinced the coal I had found had never drifted so far down. Arrived at the next place at the foot of a bad rapid & was pleased to find a good coal of the splint variety & in abundance cropped out in the river, where it can be easily won free of water. Still this does not altogether satisfy me. The kind I found washed up is Cannel Coal, this here is splint. Tho I looked pretty dilligently, I was obliged to come away.