As an Oregon resident, I especially enjoyed reading about the origin of many of the place names we now enjoy and why the Northwest developed the way it has. Mountains, rivers, towns and valleys bare the names of early explorers and pioneers who braved the hardships this uncharted land and shaped the boundries of the land as we now know it. The Oregon Territory in the 1800's, with its rich resources and unexplored lands became an irresistible attraction to thousands of emigrants from the Eastern US. Early arrivals came from Europe by sailing ship around the Horn of South America and began trading for furs with the indians. As word of these wild lands spread, Mountain Men began to push across the Rocky Mountains and into the vast forests of the Oregon Country in search of furs and gold. The British, Hudson Bay Company, capitalized on the fur market and became the first rulers of the territory. If not for certain rather minor happening and the westward push of American pioneers, the boundry between the United States and Canada might have been the Columbia River. If you enjoy knowing how the world we live in is shaped the way it is, you will love reading this book.

"A very "Mutiny-on-the-Bounty" type of thing, but better. What an amazing and horrible story! This should be the next Mel Gibson or Tom Hanks epic.

Not too many books cover the subjects of Copperheadism during the Civil War or how such a group of people ever evolved. Klement truly defines the persons or people who were Copperheads of the north that heavily favored democratic policy and beliefs during the 1850's to 1870's period of time. It was interesting to read how postwar northerners defined Copperheads as anyone who sympathized with the south during the war when truly some Copperheads favored anti-war policies and states rights. This book is very detailed about popular northern democrats and political figures who were at odds against the Lincoln administration. This book covers a lot. For example, details about economic strongholds on midwestern farmers helped define an anti-war sentiment as prices were being controlled by northeastern interest groups such as railroad companies and republican authority. Many midwestern political opinion and feelings about the war are covered while the mid-atlantic states fight the Lincoln administration in favor of the south succeeding. Klement brings a very detailed look at how Copperheadism evolved and fought to survive as an ideal way of life for some northerners who refused the war, Lincoln and a northern stronghold over the south. I simply can't recommend a better book for covering such a heavily defined and detailed topic that Klement presents.

Basically, a well annotated primary source, the book: 'LOG OF THE UNION: John Boit's Remarkable Voyage to the Northwest Coast and Around the World 1794-1796' (c.1981) edited by Edmund Hayes; is the sloop's log of a two year circumnavigation by a nineteen year old sea captain during the initial stages of the American republic just after the revolutionary war. The UNION was a 65' 5", 94 ton topsail sloop with a crew of 22, heavily armed with cannon, and was fitted out in Newport, RI for a two year voyage to the fur trade in the Pacific northwest, then to the tea & porcelan market in Canton China, and a return trip to Boston. The development of the maritime fur trade along the northwest coast was one of many incentives for that coast's early exploration in the late 1790s.

Primarily of interest to the scholar, the LOG OF THE UNION contained no lessons or instruction in ship handling or navigation, but a word-for-word transcription of a fascinating account of a topsail sloop's journey around the globe. The LOG OF THE UNION is of special interest because it documented the first American sloop to sail around the world; and described, in meticulous detail, an extended sea voyage that was undertaken just before then president George Washington signed the naval act of March 1794 which authorized the construction of America's six original frigates (the USS CONSTITUTION; USS CONSTELLATION; USS UNITED STATES; USS CHESAPEAKE; USS CONGRESS; and the USS PRESIDENT).

The age of captain Boit was not particularly noteworthy in an era where the average lifespan was just twenty-four years old; a nineteen year old merchant sea captain would not have been unusual. British subjects became midshipmen in Her Majesty's Navy at age ten, then became lieutenants at age sixteen. Lord Nelson at age twenty-four was a full captain (equivalent to an Army colonel) of a fifth rate frigate.

The LOG OF THE UNION documented the typical sailing strategy employed by 18th century sea captains in capturing all the prevailing winds, seasons, and ocean currents during the age of sail. To get to the Pacific northwest, the sloop UNION left Newport in January 1794; sailed across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands; down the coast of Africa to the Cape Verde Islands, then crossed the Atlantic again; sailed down the South American coast to the Falkland Islands. The sloop UNION made the bumpy passage around Cape Horn and steered north to reach the Pacific northwest and then landed on Vancouver Island. After completing her trading business in 1795, she steered for the Hawaiian Islands from the Vancouver Islands. From Hawaii the UNION sailed to Canton China to sell its furs (150 sea otter; 300 beaver; and other land furs), pick up a consignment of tea and porcelan, and to recondition the ship for the trip to Boston, Massachusetts. She departed Canton for Boston in January 1796, down the China sea; through the Strait of Sunda, past the 18th Parallel; south in the Indian Ocean; then sailed directly west to take advantage of the south east trades and the south equatorial current. Upon leaving Mauritius, she passed south of Madagascar, around the Cape of Good Hope; up the west coast of Africa, until she entered the northeast trades which pushed her across the Atlantic to Boston.

Of special note are all the detailed drawings by artist Hewitt Jackson showing the UNION, stern to, with her sweeps extended, and all of the sail plans and points of sail of captain Boit's ninety four ton topsail sloop. Hewitt Jackson recorded all of the structures and details of the UNION's ground tackle, armament, storage capabilities, long boat, various cross sections of the hull, and of crewman (the 'people') engaged in various duties as briefly described in the captain's log.

Not only do the excellent drawings by Hewitt Jackson enhance the LOG OF THE UNION, but more importantly are the photostatic copies of the actual pages of the log itself. Captain John Boit had a fine 'round' hand and kept an impeccable record of the two year voyage in copperplate penmanship. The traditional 1794 era handwriting itself would make the LOG OF THE UNION a valuable historical artifact let alone its informational content. There are also copies of John Boit's hand drawn charts of the Falkland Islands complete with soundings.

To add to the scholarly interest, the editor, Edmund Hayes, saw fit to explain the 18th century grammar found in the log. Throughout the journal is found captain John Boit's use of the familiar 'ye': e.g. log entry Nov. 2nd 1795: "Caulker on ye main-deck.", which is actually a contracted form of 'the' and it is pronounced the same. And 'ye' is an ancient runic letter (known as 'thorn') which designated the 'th' sound in English. (Only the Quakers in America have been known to pronounce 'ye' as 'yee'.)

The editor included interesting incidental information in subsequent chapters such as the method of keeping the log at sea (p. 135) or the short comings of the 18th century use of tangential arcs when ship builing (p. 129). Similar to other ship journals, the brevity of the UNION log entries is typical of the seagoing profession (where the less said, the better) and captain John Boit's two longest journal entries for the entire voyage are found in photostat on page seventy-one.

After the completion of his successful two year voyage in 1796, John Boit was still a sea captain when he passed away in 1829. The LOG OF THE UNION is a fascinating account of life at sea during the initial inception of the young American republic. The captain of the sloop UNION, who completed the commercially successful two year trip without a single loss of life, is generally regarded by historians to be one of the outstanding sea captians produced by the early republic and his log is mute testimony to that talent.

The LOG OF THE UNION is a brilliant document which should be read by both scholar and practical sailor alike. Its only shortcoming is that the editor, Edmund Hayes, should have included much more photostatic copies of the original sloop's log alongside the transcription for readers to learn and compare from captain John Boit's own handwriting itself.

A complelling account of the Indian participation (or lack of it) in the Northwest Rebellion led by the Metis leader, Louis Riel.

The account demonstrates how the Indians entered into treaties with the crown (Queen Victoria) only to have the promises broken by regional Indian Agents and administrators with the full support of the government of the day in Ottawa.

It goes on to show that Indian involvement in the uprising was exaggerated. Much of the participation was under duress from the agents of Riel. After the rebellion was quashed, the Metis participants either fled to escape prosecution, or for the most part, received relatively light sentences.

The Indian leaders who were alleged to have participated were treated harshly, sometimes by officials in a direct conflict of interest due to their own involvement.

In retrospect, it give a better appreciation of the issues present aboriginal Canadians are still wrestling with. A good read, but I could have read on.

This book is well laid out and a must for busy cooks. I especially appreciate the complete grocery list for the entire meal, appetizer and dessert included. The food is wholesome and simple with plenty of variety no matter your locale and the cooking instructions are easy to follow.

As a member of a Pacific Northwest tribe and fishing family, I found this book to be resourceful, interesting, eye-opening, and yet hopeful. It summarized rather clearly many important points of the "fish wars," tribal treaties, government-to-government relations and tribal sovereignty, family and tribal traditions, timber and dam effects on river/fish sustainability, and much more. It is clear that the author put a tremendous amount of time and energy into the research and ideas behind this book. And it is not just a "history rewritten" book or an attempt by one cultural group to get their two cents in on the events of 30 to 150 years passed. It's about an Indian world view, and how saving the salmon and the rivers they run through is part of the Indian way.

Another aspect that I liked about this book was the lack of white bashing, and also the tremendous respect for the law of the land. This book provides many examples of the patience required to work through the American judicial system, and how the positive results of that patience can be cultural, environmental, and social... things that are impossible to measure in terms of dollars.

A hint of hope is intertwined through the chapters as various governments and cultures -- people with sometimes conflicting goals and values -- are able to successfully work together as "good neighbors."

Inspiring and even humorous at times, I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Pacific Northwest, the environment, Indian culture, and/or the law. It would be great if this book ends up in classrooms at the junior high level on up. It also includes many excellent, crisp photos.

This book is essential reading for a balanced understanding of Pacific Northwest Catholic missionary history. The subject of the book, Fr. Charles Pandosy, O.M.I. is a hero, a true pioneer and a witness to many of the events that shaped the present Pacific Northwest experience. The author provides good translations of early letters and documents related to the subject of his study. Although the footnotes are disorganized, the reflections upon the meaning of Father Pandosy's missionary life are apt. Father Pandosy was a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate of the first generation of his missionary congregation and of the first magnitude. French by birth, he loved God, the Native Peoples with whom he worked, music and singing. Kowrach conveys all the elements of this complex and interesting person. As very little is written about Father Pandosy, Kowrach breaks new ground with this effort.

This book offers interviews and facts from all of the strategic players - not just one facet. This requires the reader to form their own educated opinions regarding the use of one of our precious natural resources - trees. It makes you look at how policy and programs over the years have affected lives and forests in the USA. It is an excellent source of facts and after reading a friend's copy, I had to get my own!

Good photographs, but these alone are not adequate to allow identification of many of the species described. Since most distinguishing characteristics of related species are described in terms of "less than" or "more than" the species photographed, and since you often can't see those characters in the photograph, it is often difficult to use this field guide to distinguish between related species. The key is only to the family level