CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

THE white settlers first made their homes on the shores of Puget Sound, and these homes, in multiplying, spread along the shores northward and northwestward, carrying with them the name of Puget Sound. The same inclusive notion of the term is used in the title and scope of this book. In this expanded region of Puget Sound we find an abundance of English names scattered along the shores of the great inland sea. The reason for this is easily comprehended after a little reflection. The geographic names on the Atlantic seaboard were in use for more than a century before the war of the American Revolution was fought. Just as that war was beginning the first Spanish caravels crept northward from New Spain toward the fabled Straits of Anian. After the war was ended the wild coasts along the Pacific were a lure for the explorer and the fur trader. Voyages of this kind increased, breeding disputes over sovereignty, which culminated in Great Britain's geographic and diplomatic expedition of 1792. The commanding officer, Captain George Vancouver of the Royal Navy, was the friend and acquaintance of many men who had taken part for their country in the disputes and the war with the American colonies. It was perfectly natural that he should compliment those men as he discovered or rediscovered places that needed naming. An explorer of the same nationality, but of an earlier or a later period, would, of course, have given us a different set of names famous in British history.

The American who loves the history of his country is usually broad enough to love also the great achievements of

his kin beyond the seas. He therefore not only tolerates but actually grows fond of such names as Hood, Howe, Rainier, Puget, and Vancouver, as applied to the geography of the northwest. With all this broad and liberal spirit there is another feeling that would cause the American to rejoice over the fact that the unconscious trend of history has erased from the map the name of the British King of 1792 and placed in its stead that of the American President of the same year. At the same time there is probably not one intelligent British subject of the present day who would complain over the geographic fact that Vancouver's New Georgia has become the American State of Washington. In fact, the British have themselves substituted for the name of Hanover, another compliment for George III, a name that is also one of the loved and much-used terms in American geography. They have changed New Hanover into British Columbia.

The geography of the Puget Sound region was probably not very familiar to the members of Congress in 1853, when the bill was up for creating the Territory of Columbia. A motion was warmly welcomed to change the name to the Territory of Washington, and thus was the name of the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army placed over a host of names of those who had been pitted against him on land and sea.

Besides honoring his King by calling the land New Georgia, Vancouver sought to further honor him by calling the whole inland sea he had explored by the name of the Gulf of Georgia. Part of that name still remains to designate the waterway between the southeastern end of Vancouver Island and the mainland. This curtailment is recognized by all mapmakers, British as well as American. In the process of restricting the geographic scope of the name of Gulf or Strait of Georgia the name of Washington again appeared, as is recorded in the "Pacific Coast Pilot," page 556, as follows, "The Canal de Haro and Rosario Strait were surveyed by the United States Coast Survey in 1853 and 1854, when the name of Washington Sound was applied to the whole archipelago between the mainland and Vancouver

Island." That name of Washington Sound appears on all United States government charts, but on ordinary American maps the region is designated as San Juan County of the State of Washington.

On the other hand, the United States Coast Survey added another English name to the chart in 1855. While surveying Port Discovery, which Vancouver had named after his ship, the Coast Survey discovered a mountain south of the bay, having an elevation of 2110 feet. It was named Mount Chatham, in honor of the armed tender accompanying the sloop Discovery.

In studying the biographies of the naval heroes honored by Vancouver, a landsman would be puzzled by the degrees and grades of admirals. Of the rank of admiral there are three degrees,-admiral, vice-admiral, and rear-admiral. Of these degrees, each formerly had three grades distinguished by red, white, and blue flags, the red being the highest. On the union of England and Scotland, the red flag was put aside and the union flag took its place. The red flag was revived in the general promotions and jollifications in November, 1805, after the victory off Trafalgar. By an order in council dated August 5, 1864, the three grades of red, white, and blue flag officers were abolished and the white flag was chosen as the sole emblem for a flag officer of the Royal Navy.

It is not necessary to discuss here the quality of Vancouver's work. That will appear in all its excellence during the perusal of the portion of his journal reproduced. However, it will not prove out of the way to say a few words about the general features of observation. The expedition was designed for the dual object of exploring and of transacting diplomatic work with the Spaniards at Nootka. For this reason the work in and around Puget Sound was hurried. Notwithstanding this haste the work was remarkably well done, and the maps are marvels for accuracy under all the circumstances. The observations of the soil, the climate, the trees, flowers, and birds are surprising when one remembers the newness of all to members of the party. Especially valuable and interesting are the recorded observations of the