May 22, 2019
Part one of a series dedicated to the naturalist and explorer, John Kirk Townsend. In 1839, Townsend published his journal as a book entitled "A Narrative of a Journey Across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River". The journal recounts the then 24 year old's trip from Missouri to the mouth of the Columbia River in 1834, with fellow naturalist and professor Thomas Nuttall. These naturalists brought with them, some preconceptions about Native Americans. Nevertheless, the Journal illustrates, in vivid detail, the travels of an expert naturalist/scientist exploring the West.
This narration is slightly abridged by the narrator and is based on an old printing where some excerpts of the original journal were omitted. For a complete version of Townsend's book, go to this link:
http://osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/narrative-of-journey-across-rocky-mountains-to-columbia-river
For free e-book versions go to www.gutenberg.org here: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45238