What did early explorers think of Elliot Bay, Seattle's major seaport, during their initial surveys in the 1840s? What hardships did the first white men who cruised through the San Juan Islands face? How was Puget Sound discovered? How did the highest volcano in the Cascade Range come to be called Mount Rainier? Such questions are answered in this examination of the early exploration and settlement of inland Washington. Illegible] unique text chronicles the history of many of these expeditions: George Vancouver's travels are described using his own journals, as well as those of his men, to explain both the route and Puget Sound Country; the early settlement history around the waters of Port Angeles, through Hood Canal, around Bainbridge and Whidbey Islands, south Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands is also recounted through journal writings of several explorers; and the author's own observations after his unique 30 day experience of tracing Vancouver's path and comparing what the early explorer saw with what exists today are offered. reasons for many names, as well. An appendix provides a muster table for the ship Discovery, between April 1st and May 31st, 1791 and for the ship Chatham, between May 1st and June 30 of the same year.