Class_Xl/^ BookJZSxJki Cof>Yl^ A N.A R R AT I V E •OF THE ADVENTURES and SUFFERINGS, OF JOHN R. JEWITT : ONLY SURVIVOR OP THE CREW OP THJE SHIP BOSTON, BURISTfi A CAPTIVITT OF NEARLT THRKE TEARS AMO»fl THS S^slftEs gj^ NOOTKA SOUND : WITH AHf ACCOUNT OF THE MANNERS, MODE OF LIVING, AND RELlGlOt OPINIONS OF THE NATIVES. SSr^EEIISHED WITH A PEATE, REPRESEyTI.Va TUE 3i:;r j rOSSESSION OP THE 8ATAGE3. Dire scenes of horror on a^savaffe shore. In which, a witness sad, a pkrt I bore.'* ....j>. t ...4.,.^.,.. "'x. "*' rniNTED BY SETH RICHARDS, 1«15. Digtvtct of. Cannecticut, gg. I -^ BE IT REMEMBERED ; That on the eighth |^_ J day of March in the thirty-ninth year of the In- dependence of the United States of America, John R. Jew ITT, of the said District hath deposited in this office ^ the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as proprie- tor, in the words following ^ to wit : A narrative of the adventurss and sufferings of John R, Jcwitt ; only survivor of the crew of the ship Boston, during a captivity of nearly three years among the savages of Nootka Sound : with an account of the manners, mode f/ living, and religious opinions of the natives. Emhellish' ''4 with a plate, representing the ship in possession of the ivages, *' l>ixe scenes of horror on a savage shore, " In which, a witness sad, a part I bore." I conformity to an act of the Congress of the United :Aatcs, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, -' by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the '• authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times • therein mentioned^ HENRY W. EDWARDS, Clerk of the District of Connecticut. A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by me, HENRY W. EDWARDS, Clerk of \h^ District of Connecticut. J\'aines of the Creiv of the Ship Boston, behitging to Boston j^: jyiassadmsettSf oioned by Messrs. F. & T. Amoi^, JMerchants of that place— All of -whom excepting tivo, were on the 22nd «f JMavchf 1803, barbarously murdered by the savages of J^'ootka. Holin Salter, B. Uelouissa, William In grab am, Edward Thompson, Adam Siddle, Philip Bi-own, .lohn Dorthy, Abialiam V/alers, Francis Duffield, Wilson, (blackman)of Virgi of Boston, Do. of New-York, of Blvtli, (Enf^land,) of Hull, Do. of Cambridge, (Mass.) of Situate, Do. of Philadelphia, of Penton,(Eng,) Captain. Chief-Mate, Second-Mate. Boatswain, Carpenter. Joiner. Blacksmith Steward Tailor Cook. Seam&r Do. Da Do Do, Do. Do. William Caldwell, of Boston, Joseph Miner, of Newbiiryport, William Robinson, of I^igh, (Scotland,) Thomas Wilson, of Air, Do. Andrew Kelly, Do. Do Robert Burton, of the Isle of Man, James M*Clay, of Dublin, Thomas Platten, of Blakeney, Norfolk, Eng. Dc» Thomas Newton, of Hull, po. Do. Charles Bates, of St. James Deeping, Do. fki John Hall, of New-Castle, Do. Do Samuel Wood, of Glasgow, (Scotland) Do. Peter Alstrom, Norwegian, Do. Francis Marten, Portuguese, Do. Jupiter Senegal (blackinan) Do. John Thompson, Philadelphia, Sail-Makc: , who escaped — since dead. John R. Jewitt, of Boston in England, Armourer, the writer of the Journal from whence this Narrative is taken, and wlio at present, July, 1815, , resides in MiddldONvn, in the state of Connecticut. A list of Words m the Nootkian Language^ the most in use. Giieek-up, Man. Toop-helth, Cloth. fvlootz-mab. Woman. Cham-mass, Fruit. Noowexa, Father. Cham-mas- C Sweet or pleasant Mother, sish, (_ to the taste. rioomu-hexa, ranassis. Child- Moot-sus, Powder. Kalluhtik, Brother. Chee-pokes, Copper. Kloot.chem-up, Sister. Hah-welks, Hungry. Tanassis-check- np, Son.Nee-sim-mer-hise, !Knoug-h. Taiiassis-kloots •raah, Dauj^hter- Giiit-la-Yek, Knife or dagger. Tau-hut-se-tee, IIead.,Klick-er-yek, Rings. Kassee, Eyes.'Quish-ar, Smoke. llap-se-up, Hair. Mar-met-tj, Goose or dutk. .Xee4«a, Nose. Pook-shit-tle, To blow. Pui-pce, Chee-chee. Ears. Teeth. Een-a-qui.shit-tle,^^^^^^;"'^^^ Choop, Tongue. Ar-teese, To bathe. Kook-a-nik-sa, Hands. ,Ma-mook-su.lnali, To go to fish. Klish-kliii, Feet.'Ar-smootish- C . ..,„ .^ Sun or Moon. check-up, ^ A warrior. OoplieUh, Tar-toosc, Stars,'Cha-alt-see-kIatnur- 5 GoofF, or Sky.'wali, '^go away. Si.-yal,, i-cp-t'lUij Sea.'Ma-kook, To sell. "ha-fwik. Fiesli water.L . , . , ,•!* V G\\e me ,, - ;Kah-ah-pah-chiIt, ^ , ,\ • ^ liain. » ' ^sOiTielbing. O'tecce, Snow. Oo-nah, How many. ;')Vc!tec, Mounlain or hill !-yuh-ish, Much. ,'-liir-miss, Earth. Kom-me-tak, I undersrtr.nd. ■.k-sec. Firccr fuel. IJock. r > 1- ^I <^o not nr.der- r-yee-ma.hak,|^^^^j .-ka-tec, House. Em-ma-chap, To play. 'J No. Kle-w]):tr, ' To Uugh. -no, Kaic-koeKh, Yes. Slave. M ac-ka w -> ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ t mah-sjsh, S -^ >Iah-hack, Whale. Kah-ah-coh, Bring it. .Klu.ck-!"-miss, Oil. Sah-wauk, One. Qiiart-lak, Sea-otter. Att-la, Two. Coo-cob'ho-sa^ Seal Kat-sa, Three. Moo-watch, Bear Mooh, Four. «Jo-har, Salmon Soo-chah, Five. Toofch-qv^.n, Cod Xoo-poo, Six. Vo^'-'^e, Halibut At-tle-poo, Seven , Kloos-a-mit, Herring .Vt-lah-quelth, Eight. €hnp-itz. Cance Saw-wauk-queltlf, Nine. Go wha-pa, Paddle My-o, Ten Vj!iec-ine-na, A fish-hook. 3ak-aitz, Twenty. CHce-rnen, Fish-hook.- 3oo-ie\vk, One hundrc: ^i'-Iv-a-minny, Jr^n. Hv-e-oak, Ov.t thou«ar NARRATIVE OF JOHN R. JEWITT, I WAS born in Boston, a considerable borough town in Lincolnshire, in Great-Bri- tain, on the 21st of May, 1783. My father, Edward Jewitt, was by trade a blacksmitb, and esteemed among the first in his line of business in that place. At the age « f three years I had the misfortune to lose m;/ * mother, a most excellent woman, who died in childbed, leaving an infant daiigh tetj who,, with myself, and an elder brother by a for- mer marriage of my father coristttqted the ^ whole of our family. My father, who con- <^ sidered a good education a« the greatest blessing he could bestow on his children, was very particular in paying every, atten- tion to us in that respect, always exhorting us to behave well, and endeavouring to im- press on our minds the principles of virtuf: md morality, and no expense in his power was^ spared to have us instructed ui whatev- er: might render us useful and respectable ftii .society- My brother, , who was four ^^^ivs v^klpr than myself, and '^^ ^ r^^r^,^r- A !2 6 hardy constitution, he destined for iiis own trade, but to me he had resolved to give an education superior to that which is to be ob- tained in a common school, it being his in- tention that I should adopt one of the learn- ed professions. Accordingly at the age of twelve he took me from the school in which I had been taught the first rudiments of learning, and placed me under the care of Mr. Moses, a celebrated teacher of an acad- ciiiy at Donnington, about twenty miles from Boston, in order to be instructed in the Latin language, and in some of the higher branches of the Mathematics. I there made ^^Oijsid^^rable proficiency in writing, reading, and arithmetic, and obtained a pretty good knowledge of navigation and of survey- ing ; but my progress in Latin was slow, not only owing to the little inclination I felt for learning that language, but to a na- tural impediment in my speech, which ren- dered it extremely difficult for me to pro- nounce it, so that in a short time, with my father's consent, I wholly relinquished the study. The period of my stay at this place w^s the most happy of my life. My preceptor, •Mr. Moses, was not only a learned, but a virtuous, benevolent, and amiable man, uni- verr ally beloved by his pupils, who t^ofc Re- light in his instruction, and to whx)m fee^l- lowed every proper amusement, th# <^n- 'sisted with attention to their studies. ' One of the principal pleas^ires I enjoyerf was in attending the fair, which is regularly held twice a year at Donnington, in the spring and in the fall ; the second day be- ing wholly devoted to selling horses, a pro- digious number of which are brought thith- er for that purpose. As the scholars on these occasions were always indulged with a holiday, I cannot express with what eager- ness of youthful expectation I used to anti- cipate these fairs, nor what delight I felt at the various shows, exhibitions of wild beiasts, and other entertainments that they present- ed. I was frequently visited by my father, who always discovered much joy on seeing me, praised me for my acquiiements; and usually left me a small sum for my pocket expenses. Among the scholars at this academy, tfere was one named Charles Rice, with whom I formed a particular intimacy, which contin- ued during the whole of my stay. He was my class and room mate, and as the town he came from, Ashby, was more than sixty miles off, instead of returning home, he used frequently during the vacation, to go with me to Boston, where he always met with a corral welcome from my father, who receiv- ed Me on these occasions with the greatest affection, apparently taking much pride in mtv^X My friend in return used to take me itbijim to an uncle of his in Donnington. ?^ very wealthy man, who, havin.o: no children of his own, was very fonH of his nephew, and on his account I was always a welcome visit- or at the house. I had a good voice, and an ear for music, to which I was alwavs passion- ately attached, though my father endeavour- ed to discourage this propensity, considering it, (as is too frequently the case) but an in- troduction to a life of idleness and dissipa-^ tion, and having been remarked for my sing- ing at church, which was regularly attended on Sundays and Festival days by the schol- ars, Mr. Morfrhrop, my friend Rice's uncle,, used frequently to request me to sing ; he was always pleased with ray exhibitions of this kind, and it was no doubt one of the means that secured me so gracious a recep- tion at his house. A number of other gen- tlemen in the place would sometimes send for me to sing at their houses, and as I was not little vain of my vocal powers, I wasmucb gratified on receiving these invitations, and accepted them with the greatest pleasure. Thus passed away the two happiest years of my life, when my father, thinking that I had received a sufficient education for the profession he intended me for, took me from school at Ronningtou in order to ap- prentice me to Doctor Mason, a surgeQo of eminence at Reasby, in the neighbourteod of the celebrated Sir Joseph *Banks. With regret did I part from ray school acaiiain tance, particularly my friend Rice and re- returned home with my father, on a short visit to my family, preparatory to my in- tended apprenticeship. The disinx:lination I ever had felt for the profession my father A?ished me to pursue, was still further in- creased on my return. When a child I was always fond of being in the shop, among the workmen, endeavouring to imitate what I saw them do ; this disposition so far in- creased after my leaving the academy, that I could not bear to hear the least mention made of my being apprenticed to a surgeon, and 1 used so many intreaties with my ia ther to persuade him to give up this plai? and learn me his own trade, that he at las! consented. More fortunate would it probo bly have been for me, had I gratified i\h wishes of this affectionate parent, in adop ting the profession he had chosen for me, than thus induced him to sacrifice them to mine. However it might have been, I was at length introduced into the shop, and my natural turn of mind corresponding with the employment, I became in a short time un- commonly expert at the work to which I was set. 1 now felt myself well contented, pleased with my occupation, and treated with much affection bygpy father and kind- less by my step-moth erf my father having i)cc more e^itered the state of matrimony^ ^i:]!^ ti wiil'OAV much younger than himself to who had been brought up in a superior man ner, and was an amiable and sensible wo- man. About a year after I had commenced thife apprenticeship, my father finding that he could carry on his business to more advan- tage in Hull, removed thither with his fami- ly. An event of no little importance to me, as it in a great measure influenced my fu- ture destiny. Hull being one of the best ports in England, and a place of great trade, my father had there full employment for his numerous workmen, particularly in ves- sel work. This naturally leading me to an ^^icquaintance with the sailors on board some '--^f the sliips, the many remarkable stories •fhey told me of their voyages and adven- 6ifes, and of the manners and customs of the nations they had seen, excited a strong wisti in me to visit foreign countries, which was encreased by my reading the voyages of Capt. Cook, and some other celebrated navigators. Thus passed the four years that I lived at Hull, where my father, was esteemed by all who knew him, as a worthy, industrious, and thriving man. At this period a circum- stance occurred which afforded me the op- ^rtunity I had foripne time wished, of gr*^ tidying my inclination of going abroad. ^ ' Among our principal customers at H^tf^ were the Americans who frequented tto 11 port, and from whose conversation, my father as well as myself formed the most fa- vorable opinion of that country, as affording an excellent field for the exertions of indus- try, and a flattering prospect for the estab- lishment of a young man in life. In the summer of the year 1802, during the peace between England and France, the ship Bos- ton, belonging to Boston, iu Massachusetts, and commanded by Capt. John Salter, ar- rived at Hull, whither she came to take on board a cargo of such goods as were want- ed for the trade, with the Indians on the North- West coast of America, from whence, after having takea in a lading of furs and skins, she was to proceed to China, and from thence home to America. The ship, having occasion for many repairs and alterations, ne- cessary for so long a voyage, the captain ap- plied to my father to do the smith work, which was very considerable. That gentle- man, who was of a social turn, used often to call at my father's house, where he passed many of bis evenings, with his chief and se- cond mates, Mr. B. Delouisa, and Mr> Wil- liam Ingraham, the latter a fine young man of about twenty, of a most amiable temper, and of such afl'able mani^rs, as gained him the love and attachment «r our whole crew. iThese cjentlemen used occasionally to take me with them to the theatre, an amusement wlBCJJiJ was very fond of, and which my fa 12 Iher rather encouraged than objected to, as he thought it a good means of preventing young men who are naturally inclined to seek for something to amuse them, from frequenting taverns, ale houses, and places of bad resort, equally destructive of the health and morals, vi^hile the stage treqwently furnishes excellent lessons of morality and good conduct. In the evenings that he passed at my fa- ther's Captain Saltar, who had for a great number of years been at sea, and seen al- most all parts of the world, used sometimes to speak of his voyages, and observing me listen with much attention to his relations, he one day when I had brought him some work^ said to me in rather a jocose manner, John, how should you like to go with me ? [ answered that it would give me grest plea- sure, that I had for a long time wished to visit foreign countries, particularly America, which I had been told so many fine stories of, and that if my father wouJd give his consent and he was willing to take me with him, I would go. I shall be very glad to do it, said he if your father can be prevailed on to let you go, and as T want an expert smith for an armourer, Jke one I have shipped for that purpose noroeing sufficiently master of his trade, I have no doubt that you will answer my turn well, as T perceive you are both active and ingenious, and on my re- ttirn to America, I shall probably be able to tlo something tnuch better for > on in Bos» ton ; I will take the first opportunity of speak- ing to your father about it, and try to per- suade him to consent. He accordingly the next evening that he called at our house in troduced the subject: my father at first would not listen to the proposal. That best of pa- rents, though anxious for my advantageous establishment in life, could not bear to think of parting with me, but on Capt. Salter's telling him of what benefit it would be to me to go the voyage with him, and that it was a pity to keep a promising and ingenious young fellow% like myself, confined to a small shop in England, when if I had tolerable success, 1 might do so much better in Ame- rica, where wages were much higher an 1 living cheaper, he at length gave up ,his ol' jections and consented that I should ship on board tire Boston as an armourer, at the rate of thirty dollars per month ; with an agree- ment that the amount due ine, together witi; a certain sum of money which my father gave Capt. Salter for that purpose, should be laid out by ^'iip on the North-West Coast in the purchase of furs on my account, to be dis- posed of in China for such goods as woldd yield a profit on the return of the ship ; my father being solicitous to give me every ad - yaiidtage in his power, of well establish in,-; myself in my trade in Boston or some othei B ' ' 14 uiaritiine town of America. Such were the flattering expectations which this good man iiidulged respecting me. Alas! the fatal dis- aster that befel us, not only blasted all these hopes, but involved me in extreme distress and wretchedness for a long period after. The ship having undergone a thorough re- pair and been well coppered, proceeded to take on board her cargo, which consisted of English cloths, Dutch blankets, looking glasses, beads, knives, razors, &c. which were received from Holland, some sugar and molasses, about twenty hogsheads of urn, including stores for the ship, a great (uantity of ammunition, cutlasses, pistols, and three thousand muskets and fowling pieces. The ship being loaded and ready for sea, as I was preparing for my departure, \WY father came to me, and taking me aside, said to me with much emotion, John, I am now going to part with you, and heaven on- ly knows if we shall ever again meet. But a whatever part of the world you are, al- V ays bear it in mind, that on your own con- duct will depend your success in life. Be lionest, industrious, frugal, and temperate, and you will not fail, in whatsoever country it may be your lot to be placed, to gain yourself friends. -^ Let the Bible be your gtiide, and your reliance in any fortune, thai may befal you that Almighty Being, whr knows how to bring forth good from e^il u and who never deserts those who put their trust in him. He repeated his exhortations to me to lead an honest and a christian life, and to recol^ct that I had a father, a moth- er, a brother, and sister, who could not but feel a strong interest in my welfare, enjoin- ing me to write him by the first opportunity that should offer to England, from whatevei part of the w^orld I might be in, more parti- cularly on my arrival in Boston. This i promised to do, but long unhappily was it before I was able to fuliil this promise. I then took an affectionate leave of my wor- thy parent, whose feelings, would hardly permit him to speak, and bidding an affec- tionate farewell to my brother, sister, and step-mother, who expressed the greatest so- licitude for my future fortune, went on board the ship, which proceeded to the ©dNVUs t^> be ready for the first favourable wind, f found myself well accommodated on board as regarded my work, an iron forge having been erected on deck ; this my father had made for the ship on a new plan, for which he afterwards obtained a patent ; w])il€ a corner of the steerage was appropriated to my vice bench, so that in bad weather I »,^ould work below. On the third day of September, 1802, wc viled from the Downs with a fair wind, in ompany with twenty-four sail of Atnerican ve5j$fe3s, most oi^ which were bound home. m I was sea-sick for a few of the first day?, but it was of short continuance^ and on my recovery I found myself in uncommonly fine health and spirits, and went to work with alacrity at my forge, in putting m order some of the muskets, and making daggers, knives, and small hatchets for the Indian trade, while in wet and stormy weather I was oc- onpied below in filing and polishing them. Tliis was my employment, having but little to do with sailing the vessel, though I used occasionally to lend a hand in assisting the :seamen in taking in and making sail. As I had never before been out of sight of land, (cannot describe my sensations, after I had recovered from the distressing effects of sea- ickness, on viewing the mighty ocean by vhich I was surrounded, bounded only by he sky ; Avhile its waves rising in mountains, eenK'd every moment to threaten our ruin. ■ lanifest as is the hand of Providence in i eserving its creatures from destruction, in no instance is it more so than on the great deep ; for whether w^ consider in its tu- uultuary motions the watry deluge that each moment menaces to overwhelm us, the im- mense violence of its shocks, the little that interposes between us and death, a singly ;.!ank forming our only security, >vhich hould it unfortunately be loosened woiik! plunge us at once into the abyss, our grati tnde ought strongly to be excited toward^ 17 that superintending Deity who in so won- derful a manner sustains our lives amid the waves. ' We had a pleasant and favorable passage' ^ of tvi^enty-nine days to the Island of St. Ca- therine on the coast of Brazils, where the Captain had determined to stop for a few days to wood and water. This place be- longs to the Portuguese. On entering the harbor we were saluted by the fort which we returned. The next day the Governor of the Island came on board of us with his suite ; Captain Salter received him with much res- pect and invited him to dine with him, which he accepted. The ship remained at St. Ca- tharine's four days, during which time, we were busily employed in taking in wood, wa- ter, and fresh provisions. Captain Salter thinking it best to furnish himself here with a full supply for his voyage to the North- West coast, so as not to be obliged to stop- at the Sandwich Islands. St. Catharine is a very commodious place for vessels to stop, at that are bound refund Cape Horn, as it abounds #ith springs of fine water, with ex-^ cellent oranges, plantains, and bananas. Having 'Qg^Uipleted our stores we put to: sp-, and on the twenty-fifth of December at ^gth passed Cape Horn, which we had made no less than thirty-six days before, but repeatedly forced back by contrary B 2 18 winds, experiencing very rough and tempest tuous weather in doubling it. Immediately after passing Cape Horn, all our dangers and difficulties seemed to be at an end ; the weather became fine and so little labour was necessary on board the ship that the men soon recovered from their fa- tigue and were in excellent spirits. A few days after we fell in with an English South Sea Whaling Ship, homeward bound, which was the only vessel we spoke with on our voyage. AVe now took the trade wind or lionsoon, during which we enjoyed the fin- est weather possible, so that for the space of a fortnight we were not obliged to reeve I topsail or to make a tack, and so light was the duty and easy the life of the sailors dur- ng this time, that they appeared the happi- st of any people in the world. . Captain Salter, who had been for many years in the East- India trade, was a most ixcellent seaman, and preserved the strict- est order and discipline on board his ship, ihough he was a man of mild temper and conciliating manners, and disposed to allow r^very indulgence to his meny not inconsistent vith their duty. We had on board a fine band of music, with which on Saturday iiights, when the weather was pleasant, w# were accustomed to be regaled, the Captain ordering them to play for several hours* for the amusement of the crew. This to me » 19 was most delightful, especially during the serene evenintjs we experienced in traversing the Southern Ocean. As for myself, during the day I was constantly occupied at my forge, in re-fitting or repairing some of the iron work of the vessel, but principally in making tomahawks, daggers, &c. for the North AVest coast. During the first part of our voyage we saw scarcely any fish, excepting some whales, a few sharks, and flying fish ; but after weathering Cape Horn we met with numerous shoals of sea porpoises, several of whom we caught, and as we had been for some time without fresh provisions, I found it not only a palatable but really a very ex- cellent food. To one who has never before seen them, a shoal of these fish presents a very striking and singuTar appearance ; be- held at a distance coming towards a vessel they look not unlike a great number of small black waves rolling over one another in a confused manner and approaching with great swiftness. As soon as a shoal is seen all ii? bustle and activity on board the ship, the grains and the narpoons are immediately got ready, and those who are best skilled in throwing them take their stand at the bow and along the gunwale anxiously awaiting , the welcome troop as they come gamboling snd blowing around the vessel, in search of food. When pierced with the harpoon ayd 20 I drawn on board, unless the fish is instantly killed by the stroke, which rarely happens, it utters most pitiful cries, g;reatly resembling those of an infant. The flesh cut into steaks and broiled, is not unlike very coarse beef, and tbe harslet in appearance and taste is so much like that of a hog, that it would be no easy^ matter to distinguish the one from the other ; from this circumstance the sai- lors have given the name of the herring hog to this fish ; 1 was told by some of the crew, that if one of them happens to free itself from the grains or harpoons, when struck, all the others, attracted by the blood, im- itjed lately quit the ship and give chace to the wounded one, and as soon as they over- take it immediately tear it in pieces. We also caught a large shark, which had follow- ed the ship for several days with a hook w^hich I made for the purpose, and al« though the flesh was by no means equal to that of the herring hog, yet to those desti- tute as we were of any thing fresh, I found it eat very well. After passing the Cape when the sea had become cajju we saw great numbers of Albatrosses, a large brown and white bird of the goose kini|, one of which Captain Salter shot, whose wings measured from their extremities fifteen feet. One thing, however, I must not omit mentioning, as it struck me in a most lingular and ex traordinary manoer. This was, that o»? 21 passing Cape Horn in December, wliicli was mid summer in that climate, the nights were so light, without any moon, that we found no difficulty whatever in reading small print which we frequently did during our watches. In this manner, with a fair wind and easy weather from the 28th of December, the pe- riod of our passing Cape Horn, we pursued our voyage to the Northward until the 12th of March, 1803, when we made Woody Point in Nootka Sound on the North West Coast of America. We immediately stood up the Sound for Nootka, where Captain Salter had determined to stop, in order to supply the ship with wood and water before proceeding up the coast to trade. But in order to avoif! to his men from the Indians, while thus etth- ployed, he proceeded with .the ship about five miles to the Northward of the village, which is situated on Friendly Cove and sent out his chief mate with s^eral of the crew in the boat to fi'id a good place for anchoring Jier. — After souinpRing for some time they re- turned with information that they had dis- covered a secure place for anchorage, on the Western side of an inlet or small bay at about half a mile from the coast, near a small isb and which protected it from the sea, and where there was a plenty of ivood and excel- 4.ertt >yat«r. The ship ^accordingly came to ' 22 anchor in this place, at twelve o'clock at night, in twelve fathom water, muddy bottom, and so near the shore that to prevent the ship from winding we secured her by a hauser to the trees. On the morning of the next day, the thirteenth, several of the natives came on board in a canoe from the village of Nootka, with their king, called Maqnina, who ap- peared much pleased on seeing us, and with great seeming cordiality, welcomed Capt Salter and his officers to his country. As I had never before beheld a savage of any na- tion, it may readily be supposed that the nov- elty of their appearance, so different from any people that I had hitherto seen, excited in me strong feelings of surprize and curiosity. I was, however, particularly struck with the r..*» ^J i: -xxixtir &iw^^ WHO w*i£3 XI iliUr: •..?i u v»;^ mned aspect, about six feet in heighth and extremely strait and well proportioned ; his features were in general good and his face was rendered remarkable by a large Roman nosej a very uncommon form of feature among these people ; his complexion was of a dark copper hue, though fiis face, legs, and arms were on this occasion, so covered with red paint, that their natural colour could scarcely be perceived, his eye-brows were paintt^d black in two broad stripes like # new moon, and his long black hair, w^hirh'; shone with oil, was fastened in a bunch c > the top of his head and strewed or powdc^ 2^ ed all over with white down, which gavt him a most curious and extraordinary ap- pearance. He was dressed in a large man- tle or cloak of the black sea otter skin, which reached to his knees, and was fasten- ed around his middle by a broad belt of the cloth of the country, wrought, or painted with figures of several colours ; this dress was by no means unbecoming, but on the contrary had an air of savage magnificence. His men were habited in mantles of the same cloth, which is made from the bark of a tree, and has some resemblance to straw matting, these are nearly square and have two holes in the upper part large enough to admit the arras— they reach as low as the knees and are fastened around their bodies with a belt about four inches broad of the same cloth. From his having frequently visited the English and American ships that traded to the coast, Maquina had learned the signifi- cation of a number of English words, and in general could make himself pretty well un- derstood by us in our om n language He was always the first to go on board such ships as came to Nootka, which he was much pleased in visiting, even when he had no trade to oflfer, as he almost always receiv- ed some small present, and was in gen<^ral extremely wdl treated by the commandWs; Ue a-emamed on boaf d of us for some thm^ 24 during which the captain took him into the cabin and treated him with a glass of rum ; these people being very fond of distilled spi- rits, and some biscuit and molasses which they prefer to any kind of food that we can offer them. As there are seldom many furs to be pur- chased at this place aiwl it was not fully the season, Capt. Salter had put in here not so much with an expectation of trading as to procure an ample stock of wood and water ibr the supply of the ship on the coast, think- ing it more prudent to take it on board at Nootka, from the generally friendly disposi- tion of the people, than to endanger the safe- ty ojf his men in sending them on shore for that purpose among the rjiore ferocious na- tivies of the north. With this view, we im- plied lately set about getting our water casks in I'eadiness, and the next and two succeed- ing days part of the crew were sent on shore to cut pine timber and assist the carpenter in ruaking it into yards and ^pars for the ship, while those on board were employed in re- fitting the rigging, repairing the sails, &c. when we proceeded to take in our wood and water as expeditiously as possible, during which time I kept myself busily employed in repairing the muskets, making knives, tomaxes, &c. and doing such iron work a^ was wanted for the ship. Meantime mori or less of the natives came on board of u daily, bringing with than fresh salmon with which they supplied us in great plenty, re- ceiving in return some trifling articles. Capt. Salter was always very particular before ad- mitting these people on board to see that they had no arms about them, by obliging them in- discriminately to throw ofl'their garments, so that he felt perfectly secure from any attack. On the fifteenth the king came on board with several of his chiefs ; he was dressed as before in his magnificent otter skin robe, having his face highly painted, and his hair tossed off^ with the white down which lookr ed like snow; his chiefs were dressed in mantles of the country cloth of its natural colour, which is a pale yellow ; these were ornamented with a broad border painted or wrought in figures of several colours repre- senting men's heads, various animals, &c. and secured around them by a belt like that of the king fromw hich it was distinguished only by being narrower: the dress of the common people is of the same fashion and differs from that of the chiefs in being of a coarser texture and painted red, of one uni- form colour. Captain Salter invited Maquina and his chiefs to dme with him, and it was curious to see how these people (when they eat) seat themselves (in their country fashion upofi oar chairs) with their feet under them cros^ sect, like Turks. They cannot endure tl^e C • taste of salt, and the only thing they would eat with us was the ship bread which they were very fond of especially when dipped in molasses, they had also a great liking for tea and coffee when well sweetened. As iron weapons and tools of almost every kind are in much request among them, whenever they came on Loojd they were alays very at- tentive to me, crowding around me at the forge, as if to see in what manner I did my work, and in this way became quite familiar, a circumstance, as will be seen in the end, of great importance to me. The salmon which they brought us furnished a most de- Ucious treat to men who for a long time had lived wholly on salt provisions excepting such few sea fish as we had the good fortune occasionally to take. We indeed feasted most luxuriously, and flattered ourselves that we should not want while on the coast for plenty of fresh provisions, little imagin- ing the fate that awaited us, and that this dainty food was to prove the unfortunate lure to. our destruction ! On the nineteenth, the king came again on board and was invited hv the Captain to dine with him. He had much conversation with Capt. Salter, and informed him that there were plenty of wild Jucks and geese near Friendly Cove, on vvhich the Captain made him a present of a louble-barreled fowling piece with which In 8 ppeared to be greatly pleaded aad ^oon uf- t er went on shore? 27 On the 20th we were nearly ready for om departure, having taken in what wood and water we were in want of. The next day Maquina came on board with nine pair of wild ducks, as a present, at the same time he brought with him the gun one of the locks of which lig had brok- en, telling the Captain that it was pesliak^ that is bad ; Capt. Salter v>^as very much of- fended at this observation, and considering it as a mark of contempt for his present, he called the king a liar, adding other oppro- brious terms, and taking the gun from him tossed it indignantly into the cabin and cal- ling me to him said, •* John, this fellow has brokap this beautiful fowling piece, see if you can mend it :' on exaraing it 1 told him that it could be done. — As 1 have already observed, Maquina knew a number of Eng- lish words, and unfortunately understood but too well the meaning of the reproachful terms that the Captain addressed to him. — He said not a word in reply, but his counte- nance sufficiently expressed the rage he felt, though he exerted himself to suppress it, and 1 observed him while the Captain was speak- ing repeatedly put his hand to his throat and '^fnb it upon his bosom, which he afterwards Hlpld me was to keep down his heart which was rising into his throat and cboaking him, ilejsoon after went on sliore with his^^-ttjen, evidently much discomposed. 26 * On the morning of the 22d the natives ame off to us as usual with salmon, and re-^ inained on board, when about noon Maqui- na cauie along side with a considerable num- ber of his chiefs and men in their canoes, who, after going through the customary ex-' amination ^ere admitted into the ship. He liad a whistle in his hand, and over his face a very ugly mask of wood representing the bead of some wild beast, appeared to be re- markably good humoured and gay, and whilst his people sung and capered about the deck, entertaining us with a variety of an- tic tricks and gestures, he blew his whistle to a kind of tune which seemed to regulate ilbeir motions. As Capt. Salter waj^walk- iiig on tlie quarter deck amusing bimself with their dancing, the king came up to him aad enquired when he intended to go to sea ?^^^ he Answered, to-morrow. — Maquina then .^aid, I you love salmon — much in Friendly Cove, why not go then and catch some ?' — The Captain thought that it would be very desirable to have a good supply of these fish for the voyage, and on consulting with Mr. Delonisa it was agreed to send part of the crew on shore after dinner with the seine ijj order to procure a quantity — Maquina and his chiefs staid and dined onboard, and after dinner the chief n^te went off witli nine Uifeu in the jolly boat and yawl to fish at Friendly Cove, having set the steward oil 29 I shore at our watering place to wash the cap^ tain's clothes. Shortly after the departure of the boats I went down to my \ice bench in the steerage, where I was employed in cleaning muskets. I had not been there more than an hour when I heard the men hoisting in the long boat, which, in a few min- utes after, was succeeded by a great bustle and confusion on deck. I immediately ran up the steerage stairs, but scarcely was my head above deck, when I was caught by the hair by one of the savages, and lifted from my feet ; fortunately for me, my hair being short, aud the ribbon with which it was tied slipping, I fell from his hold into the steerage. As I was tailing, he struck at me with an axe, which cut a deep gash in my forehead, and penetrated the skull, but in consequence. of hj^Iosing his hold, I luckily escaped the full force of the blow ; which, otherwise, would have cleft my head in tvvo. I fell, stunned and senseless upon the floor — how lon^ I continued in this situation I know not, but on recovering my senses the first thing that 1 did, was to try to get up ; but so weak was I, from the loss of blood, that 1 fainted and fell. I was however soon recalled to my re- collection by three loud shouts or yells from fhe savages, which convinced me that they had got possession of the ship. It is impos- ^i^}f for me to describeifty feelings at tiiis I'V^vVi't^^ ^^nnd. — Some faint idea mav he for- c 2- 30 med of them by those who have known what it is to half waken from a hideous dream and still think it real. Never, no, never, shall I Jose from my mind, the impression of that dreadful moment. I expected every instant to share the wretched fate of my unfortunate companions, and when I heard the song of triumph, by which these infernal yells was succeeded, my blood ran cold in my veins. Having at length sufficiently recovered my senses to look around me after wiping the blood from my eyes, I saw that the hatch of the steerage w^as shut. This was done, as I afterwards discovered, by order of Ma- quina, who, on seeing the savage strike at me with the axe, told him not to hurt me, for that I was the armourer, and would be ijiseful to them in repairing their arms ; while at the same time to prevent any of his iil^h feom injuring me, h^ had the hatch closed^ But to me this circumstance wore a very dif- ferent appearance, for I thought that these barbarians had only prolonged my life in or- der to deprive me of it by the most cruel tor- tures. I remained in this horrid state of suspence for a very long time, when at length the hatch was opened, and Maquina, calling me fay name, ordered me to come up. I groped my way up as well as I was able, being almost Ijlin^ed with the blood that flowed from my wound, and so weak a« with difficulty to w alk. The king, on pefceiviE^ ai ^tny situation, ordered one of his men to bring a pot of water to wash the blood from m face, which having done, I was able to see distinctly with one of my eyes, but the oth- er was so swollen from my wound, that it was closed. But what a terrific spectacle met ray eyes ; six naked savages, standing in a circle around me, covered with the blood of my murdered comrades, with their daggers uplifted in their hands, prepared to strike. I now thought my last moment li«d come, and recommended my soul to my Maker. — The king, who, as 1 have already observed, knew enough of English to make himself understood, entered the circle, and placing himself before me, addressed me nearly in the following words — " John — I speak— you no say no — You say no — -daggers coifte !" He then asked me if I \\o\M be his slave during my life — If I would fight for him in his battles — If I would repair his muskets and make daggers and knives for him — with several other questions, to all of which I was careful to answer, yes. He then told me that he would spare my life, and or- dered me to kiss his hands and feet to show my submission to him, which I did— In the m^ean time his people were very clamorous to have me put to death, so that there should be none of us left to tell pur story to pur co^Bhtrymen and prevent them from conning to Ir^de tvith them; but the king, in the 32 most determined manner opposed their wish- es, atid to his favour am I wholly indebted for my being yet among the hving. As I was busy at work at the time of the attack, I was without my coat, and what with the coldness of the weather, my feebleness from loss of blood, the pain of my wound and the extreme agitation and terror that I still felt, I shook like a leaf, which the king observ- ing, went into the cabin and bringing up a ,^reat coat that belonged to the captain, threw It over my shoulders, telling me to drink some ruiD from a bottle which he handed me at the same time, giving me to understand that it would be good for me and keep me from trembling as I did. I took a draught of it,, after which, taking me by the hand, he led me to the quarter deck, where the most hor- rid sight presented itself that ever my eyes witnessed — the heads of our unfortunate Captain and his crew, to the number of twen- ty-five, were all arranged in a line, and Ma- quina ordering one of his people to bring a head, asked me whose it was : I answered, the Captain's ; in like manner the others were shewed me, and I told him the names, excepting' a few that were so hoi ribly man- gled that I was not able to recognize them, I now discovered that all our unfortunate crew had been massacred, and learned that after getting possession of the ship, the sava- g;es had broke^ open the arm chest and ms^9. 33 zine, and supplying themselves with ammu- nition and arras, sent a party on shore to at- tack our men who had gone thither to fish, and being joined by numbers from the vil- lage, without difficulty, overpowered and murdered them, and cutting off their heads, brought them on board, after throwing their bodies into the sea. On looking upon the deck, I saw it entirely covered with the blood of my poor comrades, whose throats had been cut with their own jack-knives, the sav- ages having seized the opportunity w bile they were busy in hoisting in the boat to grapple with them and overpower them by their num- bers ; in the scuffle the captain was thrown overboard and dispatched by those in the ca- noes who immediately cut off his head : What I felt on this occasion, may be more readily conceived than expressed. After I had answered his questions, Ma- quina took my silk handkerchief from my neck and bound it around my head, placing over the wound a leaf of tobacco, of which we had a quantity on board. This was done at my desire, as I had often found from per- sonal experience the benefit of this applica- tion to cuts. Afequina then ordered me to get the ship under weigh for friendly Cove. This I did by, . cutting the cables and sending some erf theii^ives aloft to loose the sails, which they perfumed in a very bungling manner. But 34 they succeeded so far in loosing the jib and topsails, that, with the advantage of a fair wind, I succeeded in getting the ship into the Cove, where, by order of the king, 1 ran her ashore on a sandy beach, at 8 o'clock at night. We were received by the inhabitants of the village, men, women, and children, with Joud shouts of joy, and a most horrible drumming with sticks upon the roofs and sides of their houses, in which they had al- so stuck a great number of lighted pine tor- ches, to welcome their king's return and congratulate him on the success of his en- terprize. Maquina then took me on shore to his house which was very large and filled with people — where I was received with much kindness by the women, particularly those belonging to the king, who had no less than nine wives, all of whom came around me ex- pressing much sympathy for my misfortune, f ently stroking and pattiag my head in an encouraging and soothing manner, with words expressive of condolence. How sweet is compassion even from savages ? — Those who have been in a similar situation, can alone truly appreciate its value. In the mean time, all the warriors of th^e tribe, to the number of five hundred, had as- sembled at the king's house to rejoice for their success. They exulted greatly in ba 36 ving taken our ship, and each one hosted of his own particular exploits in killing our men, but they were in general much dissatis- tied with my having: been suffered to live, and were very urgent with Maquiria to deli- ver me to them to be put to death, which he obstinately refused to do, telling them that he had promised me my life and would not break his word ; and that besides, I knew how to repair and to make arms, and should be of great use to them. The king then seated me by him and ^or- dered his women to bring him something tp eat, when they set before him some dried clams and train oil, of which he ate very heartily, and encouraged me to follow hiV example, telling me to eat much and take a great deal of oil which would ^ make me strong and fat ; notwithstanding his praise of this new kind of food, I felt no dispoj^i- tion to indulge in it, both the smell and ta^te being loathsome to me ; and had it been otherwise, such was the pain I endured, the agitation of my mind, and the gloominess of my reflections, that 1 should have felt very little inclination for eating. Not satisfied with his first refusal to deliver me up to them the people again became clamorous that Maquina should consent to my being Wled, saying that not one of us ought tQ be Ipt, alive to give information to others of our cottnirymen and prevent them from cotsimg to trade or induce them to revenge the de struction of our ship, and they at length be- came so boisterous that he caught up a large club in a passion and drove them all out of the house. During this scene a son of the king, of about eleven years old, attracted no doubt by the singularity of my appearance came up to me : I caressed him ; he return- ed my attentions with much apparent plea- sure, and considering this as a fortunate op- portunity to gain the good will of the father, I tpok the child on my knee, and cutting the metal buttons from olf the coat 1 had on, I tied them around his neck. At this he was highly jJelighted, and became so much at- tached to me that he would not quit me. The king appeared much pleased with my attention to his son, and telling me that it was time to go to sleep directed me to lie with his son next to him, as he was afraid Jest some of his people would come while be was asleep and kill me with th'eir dag- gers. I lay down as he ordered me, but neither the state of my mind nor the pain I felt would allow me to sleep. About mid- night 1 was greatly alarmed by the approach of one of the natives, who came to give in- formation to the king that there was ojne of the white men alive, who had knocked him down as he went on board the ship iii night This Maquina communicated to me, giviiip; me to understand that as soon as the ^\'n 37 rose he should kill him. I en^io^ivoured to persuade him to spare his life, but he Ug^e me be silent and go to sleep. I said nothing more but lay revolving in my mind what method 1 could devise to save the life of this man. What a consolation thought I, what a happiness would it prove to me in my for- lorn state amon^ these heathen, to have a Christian and one of my own countrymen for a companion, and how greatly would it alleviate and lighten the burden of my slav- ery. As I was thinking of some plan for his preservation, it all at once came into ray mind that this nian was probably the sail- maker of the ship, named Thompson, as I had not seen his head among those on deck and knew that he was below at work upon the sails not long before the attack. The more 1 thought of it the more probable it ap- peared to me, and as Thompson was a man nearly forty years of age, and had an old look, I conceived it v»'ould be easy to make him pass for my father, and by this means prevail on Maquina to spare his life, To» wards morning 1 fell into a doze, but was awakened with the first beams of the sun by %he,k\ng, who told me that he was going to kill the man who was on board the ship, and ordered me to accompany him. I rose and fc^Jlowed him, leading with me the yoiirv^ prifkqe his son» D 38 On coming" to the beach I found all the men o^ ^^^^ tribe assembled. The king ad- ^?xessed them, saying that one of the white men had been found alive on board the ship, and requested their opinion as to saving his life or putting him to death. They were unanimously for the first : This determina- tion he made known to me. Having arrang- ed my plan, I asked him, pointing to the boy whom 1 still held by the hand, if he lov- ed his son, he answered that he did ; I then asked the child if he loved his father, and ^^^ bib replying in the affirmative, I said and I also love mine." I then threw myself i my knees at Maquina s feet and implor- I him with tears in my eyes to spare my fa- thers life, if the man on board should prove ta be him, telling him that if he killed my father it was my wish that he should kill me too, and that if he did not I would kill my- self, — and that he would thus lose my servi- ces ; whereas, by sparing my father's life he '5^oidd preserve mine, which would be of great advantage to him by ray reparing and tnakinoj arms for him. Maquina appeared xnoved by my entreaties and promised not to put the man to death if he should be my father. He then explained to his people ^vhat I had said, and ordered me to. go on board and tell the man to come on shoVe To my unspeakable joy on going into tLe hold- i fotuid that my conjecture w>: 39 Thompson was there, he had escaped with- out any injury, excepting a slight wound iu the nose, given him by one of the savages with a knife as he attempted to come on deck, during the scuffle. Finding the sava* ges in possession of the ship, as he afterwards informed me, he secreted himself in the hold, hoping for some chance to make his escape — but that the Indian who came on board in the night ajiproaching the place where he was, he supposed himself discovered, and being determined to sell his life as dearly as possible, as soon as he came within his reach, he knocked him down, but the Indian imme- diately sprmging up ran off at full speed. ^— I informed him in a few words that all oil r men had been killed ; that the king had pre- served my life, and had consented to spare his on the supposition that he was my father, an opinion which he must be careful not to undeceive liiem in, as it was his only safety. After giving him his cue, I went on shoi-e with him and presented him to Maquina, who immediately knew him to be the saii- maker and was much pleased, observing- that he could make sails for his cano^.— He then took us to his house and ordered sojue- thing for us to eat. On the 24th and 25th the natives were bu ly employed in taking the cargo out of the Kip, stripping her of her sails and riggingy uttiup away the spai^s and masts, and in 40 short rendering her as complete a wreck as possible, the muskets, ammunition, cloth and al! the principal articles taken from her, be- ing deposited in the king's house. While they were thus occupied, each one taking what he liked, my companion and myself being obliged to aid them, I thought it best to secure the accounts and papers of the ship, in hopes that on some future day I might have it in my power to restore them to the owners. With this view I took posses- sion of the Captain's writing desk which con- tained the most of them together with some Daper and implements for writing. I had ilso the good fortune to find a blank account aok, ill which I resolved, should it be per- iled me to write an an account of our cap- and the most remarkable occurrences iuac I should meet with during my stay liiiioog these people, fondly indulging the >pe that it would not be long-before some vessel would arrive to release us. I like- Tyise found in the cabin, a small volume of amons, a bible, and a common prayer book f the Church of England, which furnished »e and my comrade great consolation in the .idst of OUT mournful servitude, and ena- pled me, under the favor of divine provi- dence, to support, with firmness, the mise< les of a life which I mlG^lit otherwise have otmd beyond my strength to endure. A^- these people set no lvalue upon things of ^hl^ 41 kind, I found no difficulty in appropriating them to myself, by putting them in my chest, which though it had been broken open and rifled by the savages, as I still had the key, I without much difficulty secured. In this I also put some small tools belonging to the- ship, with several other articles, particularly a journal kept by the second mate, Mr. In- graham, and a collection of drawings and views of places taken by him, which I had the good fortune to preserve, and on my ar- rival at Boston, I gave them to a connection of his, the honourable Judge Dawes, who sent them to his family in New- York. On the 26th, two ships were seen stand- ing in for Fpiendly Cove. At their first ap- pearance the inhabitants were thrown into great confusion, but soon collecting a num- ber of muskets and blunderbusses, rail to the shore, from whence they kept up so brisk a fire at them, that they were evidently ifraid to approach nearer, and after firing a tew rounds of grape shot which did no harm to any one, they wore ship and stood out to sea. These ships, as I afterwards j^earnedv were the Mary and Juno of Boston, They were scarcely out of sigbt when Ma- jiiiaa expressed much regret that he had permitted his people to fire at them, being apprehensive that they would ^i^e iuforma- •aii to others in what manner tljeyhud been D 2 42 received, and prevent them from coming to trade with him. A few days after hearing of the capture of the ship, there arrived at Nootka a great number of canoes filled with savages from no less than twenty tribes to the North and South. Among those from the North were the Ai-tiz-zarts, Schoo-mad-its, Neu- wit-ties, Savin-nars, Ah-owz-arts, Mo- watch- its, Suth-setts, Neu-chad-lits, Mich-la-its and Cay-u-quets ; the most of whom were considered as tributary to Nootka. From the South, the Aytch-arts and Esquiates also tributary, with the Kla-oo-quates, and ~the Wickanninish, a large and powerful tribe about two hundred miles distant. These /last were better clad than most of the oth- ers, and their canoes wrought with much reater skill ; they are furnished with sails s well as paddles, and with the advantage »f a fair breeze, are usually but twenty-four iiours on their passage. Maquina, who was very proud of his new icquisition, was desirous of welcoming these visitors in the European manner. He ac- urdingly ordered his men, as the canoes ap- .>roached, to assemble on the beach with loaded muskets and blunderbusses, placing -Thompson at the cannon -which had been brought from the ship and laid upain[ Ho long sticks of timber in front of the village, then taking a speaking trumpet in hi~ *'^" 43 he ascended with me, the roof af his house and began drumming or beating upon the boards with a stick most violently. Noth- ing could be more ludicrous than the appear- ance of this motly group of savages collect- ed on the shore, dressed as they were, with their ill-gotten finery, in the most fantastic manner, some in women's smocks, taken from our cargo, others in Kotsacks, (or cloaks) of blue, red or yellow broadcloth, with stockings drawn over their heads, and their necks hung round with numbers of powder-horns, shot-bags, and cartouch-box- es, some of them having no less than ten muskets a piece on their shoulders, and five or six daggers in their girdles. Diverting indeed was it to see them all squatted upon the beach, holding their muskets perpendi- cularly, with the butt pressed upon the sahd instead of against their shoulders, and in this position avi'aited the order to lire. Maqui- na, at last, called to then^ with hist trumpet to tire, which they did in the most awkward and timid manner, with their muskets hard pressed upon the ground as above mention- i?d. At the same moment the cannon were fired by Thompson, immediately on which they threw themselves back and began to roll and tumble over the sand as if they had >een shot, when suddenly springing up hey began a song of triumph and running "» >ward and forward upon the shore, 44 with the wildest gesticulations, boasted of their exploits and exhibited as trophies what they had taken from us. Not^vithstanding the unpleasantness of my situation, and the feelings that this display of our spoils ex- cited, I could not avoid laughing at the strange appearance of these savages, their awkward movements, and the singular con- trast of their dress and arms. When the ceremony was concluded, Ma- quina invited the strangers to a feast at his house, consisting of whale blubber, smoekd herring spawn, and dried fish and train oil, of which they eat most plentifully. The feast being over, the trays out of which they eat, and other things were immediately re- moved to make room for the dance which was to close the entertainment. This was performed by Maquina's son, the young pritice Sat-sat-sok-sis, whom I have already spoken of in the following manner — Three >f the principal chiefs, drest in their otter- skin mantles, which they wear only on ex- traordinary occasions and at festivals, hav- ing their heads covered over with vi'hite down and their faces highly painted, came forward into the middle of the room, each furnished with a bag filled with the white down, which they scattered around in such a manner as to represent a fall of snow. These were fol ^ lowed by the young prince, who was dresse in 2. long piece of yellow cloth, v-t-v *^ 45 loosely around him, and decorated with small bells, with a cap on his head, to which was fastened a curious mask in imitation of a wolfs head, while the rear was brought up by the king himself in his robe of sea- otter skin, with a small whistle in his mouth and a rattle in his hand, with which he kept time to a sort of tune on his whistle. After passing very rapidly in this order around the house, each of them seated himself, except the prince, who immediately began his dance, which principally consisted in spring- ing up into the air in a squat posture, and constantly turning around on his heels with great swiftness in a very narrow circle. This dance, with a few intervals of rest, was con- tinued for about two hours, during which the chiefs kept up a constant drumming with sticks of about a foot in length on a long hollow plank, which was, though a very noisy, a most doleful kind of music. This they accompanied with songs, the king himself acting as chorister, while the women applauded each feat of activity in the dan cer by repeating the words, Wocash! Wocash Tyee ! that is good ! very good prince. As soon as the dance was finished Maquina be- gan to give presents to the strangers in the name of his gon Sat-sat-sok-sis. These were pieces? of European cloth generally of a fa in length, muskets, powder, shot, &c, ^ "^r he gave them any thing, they had 40 a peculiar manner of snatching it from him with a very stern and surly look, repeating each time the words, Wocash Tyee. This I understood to be their custom, and was con- sidered as a compliment which if omitted j w^ould be supposed as a mark of disregard ^ for the present-. On this occasion Maquina gave away no less than one hundred mus- kets, the same number of looking glasses, four hundred yards of cloth, and twenty casks of powder besides other things. After receiving these presents, the stran- gers retired on board their canoes, for so nu- merous were they that Maquina would not suffer any but the chiefs to sleep in the hou- .«:es ; and in order to prevent the property from being pillaged by them, he ordered Thompson and myself to keep guard, during the night, armed with cutlasses and pistols. In this manner tribes of savages from vari- ous parts of the coast, continued coming for ^ several days, bringing' with them, blubber, q\\, herring spawn, dried fish and clams, for which they received in return, presents of cloth, &c. after which they in general imme- diately returned home. I observed that ve- ry few, if any of them, except the chiefs, had arms, which I afterwards learned is the cos- . torn with these people whenever they cori e upon a friendly visit or to trade, in 0Tder to 5hesy, on their approach, that their iiifelitfOii^ re pacific. 47 Early on the morning of the 18th the ship was discovered to be on fire. TJiis was ow- ing to one of the savages having gone on board with a fire brand at night for the pur- pose of phmder, some sparks from which fell into the hold, and communicating with some combustibles soon enveloped the whole in flam.es. The natives regretted the loss of the ship the more as a great part of her cargo still remained on board. To my companion and myself it was a most melan- choly sight, for with her disappeared from our eyes every trace of a civilized country ; but the disappointment we experienced was still more severely felt, for we had calculat- ed on having the provision to ourselves, which would have furnished us with a stock for years, as whatever is cured with salt, to- gether with most of our other articles of food, are never eaten by these people. 1 had luck- ily saved all my tools exceptitig the anvil, and the bellows which was attached to the forge and from their weight had not been brought on shore. We had also the good fortune in looking over what had been.taketi from the ship to discover a box of chocolate and a case of port wine, which as the In- dians were not fond of it proved a great com- fort to ii%for some time, and from one of the natives i obtained a nautic9-l almanack, which h curse. The burning of oar ship which V*> had lamented so much, as depriving us of so many comforts, now appeared to us in a ve- ry different light, for had the savages got pos- session of the rum of which there were near- ly twenty puncheons on board, we must in> evitably have faiien a sacrifice to their fury in some of their moments of intoxication. This cask fortunately and a case of gin was all the spirits they obtained from the ship. To prevent the recurrence of sim^r dan ger 1 examined the cask, and tindfl^ still a considerable quantity remaining, I bored a small hole in the bottom with a giinblet which before morning to my great joy com pletely emptied it. By this time the wound in my head began to be much better, so thatl could enjoy some sleep which I had been almost depriv- ed of by the pain, and thougli^J was still fee* ble from the loss of blood ancTmy suffermors, I found myself sufficiently well to i^o to work at my trade, in making for the king and hk wives bracelets and other small ornaments of copper or steel, and in repairing the arms, making use of a large square stone for the anvil and heating my metal in a common wood ftre. This was very gratifving to Ma- quina and his women particularly, and so cured me their good will. in the mean time great numbers from (he other tribes, kept continuallv flockini? ih E Nootka, bringing with them in exchange for the ship's plunder such quantities of provis- ion, that notwithstanding the little success that Maquina met with in whaling this sea- son, and their gluttonous waste^ always eat- ing to excess when they have it, regardless of the morrow, seldom did the natives expe- rience any want of food during the summer. As to myself and companion we fared as they did, never wanting for such provision as they had, though we were obliged to eat it cookednn their manner and with train oil as a sauce, a circumstance not a little unpleas- ant, both from their uncleanly mode of cook- ing, and many of the articles of their food which to an European are very disgusting, but, as the saying is, hunger will break through stone walls, and we found at times m the blubber of sea animals and the flesh of the dogfish, loathsome as it in general was, a very acceptable repast. But timch oftener would poor Thompson, who was no favorite with them, have suffered from hun- ger, had it not been for my furnishing him with provision — This I was enabled to do iVom my work, Maquina allowing me the privilege, when not employed for him, to work for myself in making bracelets and oth- er ornaments of copper, fish-hooks, dagger.s, &c. either to sell to the tribes who visited us, or for our own chiefs, who on these occasions besides supplying me with as much as J wished to eat, and a sufficiency for Thomp- son, almost always made me a present of ao European garment taken from the ship or some fathoms of cloth, which were made up by my comrade, 'and enabled us to go com- fortably clad for some time, or small bun- dies of penknives, razors, scissors, &c. for one of which we could almost always pro- cure from the natives two or three fresh sal- mon, cod, or halibut ; or dried fish, clams and herring spawn from the stranger tribes ; and had we only been permitted tjo cook them after our own way, as we had pots, and other utensils belonging to the ship, we should have not had much cause of com> plaint in this respect, but so tenacious are these people of their customs, particularly in the article of food and cooking, that the king always obliged me to give whatever pro- visions 1 bought to the women to cook — and one day finding Thompson and myself on the shore employed in boiling down sea-wa-. ter into salt, on being told what it was, he \yas very much displeased, and taking the little we had procured, threw it into the sea. fn one instance alone, as a particular favour, he allowed me to boil some salmon in my own way, when I invited him and his quien to eat with me ; they tasted it, but did not Jike.it, and made their meal of some of it ibat I had cooked in their country fashion In May, the weather became uucoQiinou- ly mild and pleasant, and so forward was ve- getation that I picked a plenty of strawber- ries by the middle of the month. Of this frjait there are great quantities on this coast, and I found them a most delicious treat. — My health now had become almost re-estab- lished, my wound being so far healed that it i^ave me no farther trouble. I had never fail- *^d to wash it regularly once a day in sea water, and to dress it with a fresh leaf of to- ^ac^o, which I obtained from the natives, who had taken it from the ship, but made .0 use of it. This was all the dressing I iave it, except applying to it two or three ames, b little loai* sugar, which Maquina > ave me, in order to remove some proud flesh vliich prevented it from closing. My cure .rould doubtless have been much sooner ef- ected had 1 have been in a civilized country, vhere T could have had it dressed by a sur- leon and properly attended to. But alas ! 1 liad no good Samaritan with oil and wine to bind up my wounds, and fortunate might I even esteem myself that I was permitted o 5&K.^exion, when freed from the paint and vnti V, au<)|iich their skins are generally rov- >wu, somewhat inclining to a cop- \ / \ 74 per cast. The shape of the face is oval ; the features are tolerably regular, the lips being thin and the teejh verj white and ev- en : their eyes are black but rather sniall, and the nose pretty well formed, being nei- ther flat nor very prominent : their hair is black, long and coarse, but they have no beard, completely extirpating it, as well as the hair from their bodies, Maquina being the only exception, who suffered his beard to grow on his upper lip, in the manner of mustachios, which was considered as a mark of dignity. As to the women they are much whiter, many of them not being darker than those in some of the Southern parts of Eu- rope. They are in general very well look- ing and some quite handsome. Maquina's favorite wife in particular, who was a Wick- inninish princess, would be considered as a beautiful woman in any country. She was uncommonly well formed, tall, and of a majestic appearance ; her skin remarka- bly fair for one of these people, with con- siderable colour, her features handsome and her eyes black, soft, and languishing ; her hair was very long, thick, %nd black, as is that of the females in general, which is much softer than that of the men ; in this they take much pride, frequently oiling and plait ing it carefully into two broad plaits, ty» the ends with a strip of the cblh '^' country and letting it hang dowr^j each mde of the face. 1 75 The women keep their garments mucft neater and cleaner than the men, and are extremely modest in their deportment and dress ; their mantle or Katsack, which is longer than that of the men, reaching qnite to their feet, and completely enveloping them, being tied close under the chin, and bound with a girdle of the same cloth or a sea otter skin around their waists ; it has al so loose sleeves which reach to the elbows Though fond of ornamenting their person; they are by no means so partial to paint 'u: the men, merely colouring their eye-browi black and drawing a bright red stripe fron each corner of the mouth towards the ear Their ornaments consist chiefly of ear rings necklaces, bracelets, rings for the fingeri and ancles, and small nose jewels, (the lat ter are howtver wholly confmed to the wive: of the king or chiefs) these are principal ly made out of copper or brass, highly pol ished and of various forms and sizes the nose jewel is usually a small whit( shell or bead suspended to a thread. Th( wives of the common people frequentl; wear for bracelets and ancle rings, strips o the country cloth or skin of the Metameltl ,J^r^*^ted in figures, and those of the kinj ^i{ principal chiefs bracelets and necklaces rjinsisting of a number of strings of Jje md V. an article much prized by them, an< ■' '^vN^s a very handsome appearatice J. ^ 76 This Ife^wmv, ias they term it, is a kind A of shell of a dazzling whiteness, and as smooth as ivory, it is of a cylindrical form, in a slight degree curved, about the size of a goose quill, hollow, three inches in length and gradually tapering to a point, which is brokien off by the natives as it is taken from the water ; this they afterwards string upon threads of bark, and sell it by the fathom ; it forms a kind of circulating medium among these nations, live fathoms being considered as the price of a slave their most valuable species of property. It is principally ob- tained from the Aitizzarts, a people living about thirty or forty miles to the Northward, who collect it from the reefs and suiilten Tocks with which their coast abounds, though it is also brought in considerable quantity from the South. Their mode of taking it lias been thus described to me. To one end ^"of a pole is fastened a piece of plank in v^'hich a considerable number of pine pegs are inserted made sharp at the ends ; above the plank in order to sink it, a stone or .ome weight is tied, and the other end of Lhe pole suspended to a lung rope ; this is let down perpendicularly by the IJe-ivaw fishers in those places where that subst;*^ ;;'^ is found which are usually from fifty to^^ ty fathoms deep ; on finding the botf' they raise fhe pole up a few feet and fail*, this they repeat a oiuDber f^'.t^^f^ 77 sounding, when they draw it up and take of£ the Ife-waw which is found adhering to Jhe points. This method of procuring it is v^ry laborious and fatiguing, especially as they seldom take more than two or three of these shells at a time, and frequently none. Though the women, as I have said, make but little use of paint, the very reversals the case with the men. In decorating their heads and faces they place their principal pride, and none of our most fashionible beaus, when preparing for a grand ball can be more particular : For 1 have known ^^* quina after having been employed for i;^^^ than an hour in painting his face, rul^^^^ whole off and recommence the oper'^^* anew when it did not entirely please "^' The manner in which they paint ihen;^^^"' frequently varies, according to t)M: occa^*^^' but it oftener is the mere dictate of whim.— The most usual method is to paint the eye- brows black, in form of a half moon, and the face red in small squares, with the arms and legs and part of the body red ; some- times one half of the face is painted red in squares, and the other black ; at others, dot- ted with red spots, or red and black instead of squares, with a variety of other devices, such as painting one half of the face and bo- dy red, and the other black. But a method . of painting which they sometimes employed, usd whiich they were much more oarticulai: 78 in, was by laying on the face a quantity of bear's grease of about one eighth of an inch thick ; this they raised up into ridges resem- bling a small be^ad in joiner's work, with a stick prepared for the purpose, and then painted them red, which gave the face a very singular appearance. On extraordinary oc- casio^is, the king and principal chiefs used to strew over their faces, after painting, a fine black shining powder, procured from some mineral, as Maquina told me it was got from the rocks. This they call pelpelth, and alue it highly, as, in their opinion, it serves set off their looks to great advantage, glit- ig, especially in the sun, like silver.— * article is brought them in bags by the chemass, a very savage nation who live a »vay to the North, from whom they like- rec^ive a superior kind of red paint, a .^pecies of very fine and rich ochre, which they hold in much estimation. Notwithstanding this custom of painting themselves, they make it an invariable prac- tice, both in summer and winter, to bathe once a day, and sometimes oftener ; but as the paint is put on with oil, it is not much discomposed thereby, and whenever they wish to wash it off, they repair to some piece of fresh water and scour themselves with sand or rushes. In dressing their heads on occasion of c festival or visit, they are full as partici^^^r 79 and almost as long, as in painting. The hair, after being well oiled, is carefully gath- ered upon the top of the head and secured by a piece of pine or spruce bough with the green leaves upon it. After having it prop- erly fixed in this manner, the king and prin- cipal chiefs used to strew all over it the white down obtained from a species of large brown eagle, which abounds on this coast, which they are very particular in arranging so as not to have a single feather out of place, oc- casionally wetting the hair to make it adhere. This, together with the bough, which is some- times of considerable size, and stuck over with feathers by means of turpentine, gives them a very singular and grotesque appear- ance, which they, however, think very be- coming, and the first thing they do on learn- ing the arrival of strangers is to go and dec- orate themselves in this manner. The men also wear bracelets of painted leather or copper, and large ear-rings or vi^tr d conical shell about half an inch m 80 length of a bliu ish colour and very bright,, which is brought from the S:^;ith. These are suspended by a small wire or string to the hole, in the gristle of the nose, which is formed in infancy, by boreins: it with a pin, the bole being afterwards enlariied by the re- peated insertion of wooden pe,2:s of an in- Qljeased size, until it becomes about the di- ameter of a pipe stem, though some have them of a size nearly sufficient to admit the little finger. — ^The common class who can- not readily procure the more expensive jew- els tiiBtlhavementionedjSubstituteforthera, usually, a smooth round stick, some of which are of an almost incredible length, for I have seen them projecting not less than eight or nine inches beyond the face on each side ; this is made fast or secured in its place by little wedges on each side of it. These sprit-sail-yard fellows, as my mess-mate us- ed to call them, when rigged out in this niyenler made quite a strange show, and K was his delight whenever he saw one of them coming towards us with an air of con- sequence proportioned to the length of his stick, to put up his hand suddenly as he was passing him, so as to strike the stick, in or- der, as he said, to brace him up sharp to the wind ; this used to make them very angry, but nothing was more remote from Thomp- .^on's ideas than the wish to cuUivat-- o^^r favour. 81 The natives of Nootka appear to have bul little inclination for the chace, though some of them were expert markesmen, and used sometimes to shoot ducks and geese, but the seal and the sea -otter form the principal ob- jects of their hunting, particularly the latter. Of this animal, so much noted for its vakwi- ble skin the following description may m)t be uninteresting. The sea-otter is nearly five feet in length, exclusive of the tail, which is about twelve inches, and is very thick and broad where it joins the body, but gradually tapers to the end, which is tipped with white. The colour of the rest is a shining silky black, with the exception of a broad white stripe on the top of the head. Nothing can be more beautiful than one of these animals when seen swimming, especially when the lookout for any object. At such /'^i it raises its head quite above the surf^ /^,,* the contrast between the shiniijg bla^-* is the white, together with its sharp ears anu^ long tuft of hair rising from the middle of its forehead, which look like three small horns, render it quite a novel and attractive object. They are in general very tmie, and will permit a canoe or boat to approach very neaiT before they dive. I was told, however, ihnt they are become much more shy since i} hy have been accustomed to shoot them iAcilh muskets, than when they used only ar ^0 t%s. The skin is held in great estimation '^»ina, more especially that of the tail, the 82 fur of which is finer and closer set than that on the body. This is always cut off and sold separately by the natives. The value of a skin is determined by its size, that be- ing considered asapiime skin which will reach, in length, from a man's chin to his feet "H^ food of the sea-otter is fish, which he is very dexterous in taking:, being an excel- lent swimmer, with feet webbed like those of a goose. — They appear to be wholly con- fined to the sea-coast, at least to the salt wa- ter. They have usually three or four young at a time,butl know not how often they breed, Borin what places they deposit their young, though I have frequently seen them swim- ming around the mother when no larger than rats. The flesh is eaten by the natives, cook- ' in their usual mode by boiling, and is far rable to that of the seal of which they nuch account. A if not great hunters there are few peo- ple more expert in fishing. Their lines are generally made from the sinew of the whale, and are extremely strong. For the hook, they usually make vise of a strait piece of iiard wood, in the lower part of which is in- serted and well secured, with thread or whale sinew, a bit of bone made very s^arp at the point and bearded ; but I uset^ tc make for them hooks from iron, which t preferred, not only as being less liai)!4 break, but more certain of securing the 83 Cod, halibut, and other sea fish were not on- ly caught by them with hooks, but even sal- mon. To take this latter fish, they practise the following method — One person seats himself in a small canoe, and baiting his hook with a sprat, which they are alwavs careful to procure as fresh as possible, fastafe his line to the handle of the paddle ; this, as he plies it in the water, keeps the fish in con- stant motion, so as to give it the appearance of life, which the salmon seeing, leaps at it and is instantly hooked, and by a sudden and dexterous motion of tjie paddle, drawn on board. I have known some of the na- tives take no less than eight or ten salmon of a morning in this manner, and have seen from twenty to thirty canoes at a time in Friendly Cove thus employed. They are likewise little less skilful in taking the whale. This they kill wirh a kind of javelin or h'^^^ poon, thus constructed and fitted, barbs are formed of bone which are sharp- ened on the outer side and hollowed within for the purpose of forming a socket for the stati ; these are then secured firmly togeth- er with whale sinew, the point being fitted so as to receive a piece of muscle shell which is ground to a very sharp edge, and se- cured in its place by means of turpentine. To this head or prong is fastened a strong linr of whale sinew about nine feet in length/ to the end of which is tied a bark rope from My to sixty fathoms long, having from twenty to thirty seal skin floats or buoys, attached to it at certain intervals, in order to check the motion of the whale and ob- struct his diving. In the socket of the har- p^n a staff or pole of about ten feet long, ^dually tapering from the middle to each end, is placed ; this the harpooner holds in his hand in order to strike the whale, and im- mediately detaches it as soon as the fish is struck. The whale is considered as the kings fish, and no other person, when he is •present, is permitted to touch him until the ifoyal harpoon has first drawn his blood, how- ever near he may approach ; and it would be considered almost as sacrilege for any of the jommon people to strike a whale, before he iS killed, particularly if any of the chiefs 'il- Al be present. They also kill the por- ^and sea cow with harpoons, but this ^drior game is not interdicted the lower With regard to their canoes, some of the handsomest to be found on the whole coast are made at Nootka, though very fine ones are brought by the Wickanninish and the Klaiz-zarts, who have them more highly or- namented. They are of all sizes, from #uch as are capable of holding only erne pcrsoB to their largest war canoes wkich v.ill c^^ijff^.-, forty men, and are ex tremefy light. :t>f these, the largest of any that I ever gaw, was one belonging to Maquina, which I measured and found to he forty-two feet six inches in length at the bottom, diwd forty -six feet from stem to stern. These are made of pine hollowed out from a tree with their chizzels solely, which are about three inch- es broad and six in length, and set into a handle of very hard wood. This instrument was formerly made of flint or some hard stone ground down to as sharp an edge as p(»ssible, but since they have learned the use of iron, they have almost all of them of that metal. Instead of a mallet for striking this chizzel, they make use of a smooth round stone, which they hold in the palm of the hand. With this same awkward instriunent they not only excavate their canoes and trays and smooth their plank, but cut down such trees as they want, either for building, fuel, or other purposes, a labour which is mostly done by their slaves. The falling of trees as practised by them is a slow anci most tedious process, three of them being generally from two to three days, in cutting down a large one, yet so attacked were they to their own method, that not- withstanding they saw Thompson frequent- ly with one of our axes, of which there was a number saved, fall a tree in less time than th^y could have gone round it w ith their ebisSzels, still tbey could not be persuaded to make use of them. H 80 After hollowing out their canoes, which lliey do very neatly, they fashion the out- side, and slightly burn it for the purpose of removing any splinters or small points that might obstruct its passage through the wa- ter, after which they rub it over thoroughly with rushes or coarse mats in order to smooth it, which not only renders it almost as smooth as glass, but forms a better secu- rity for it from the weather ; this operation of burning and rubbing down the bottoms of their canoes is practised as often as they acquire any considerable degree of rough- ness from use. The outside, by this means, becomes quite black, and to complete their work they paint the inside of a bright red, with ochre or some other similar substance ; the prows and sterns are almost always or- , nam en ted with figures of ducks or some oth- er kind of bird, the former being so fashion- ed as to represent the head and the latter the tail, these are separate pieces from the canoe and are fastened to it with small flexible twigs or bark cord. Some of these canoes, particularly those employed in whaling, v/hich will hold about ten men, are orna- mented within about two inches below the gunwale, with two parallel lines on each side of very small white shells running fore and aft, which has a very pretty effect. Their war canoes have no ornament of thie kiad but are painted on the outside with 87 iigures in white chalk representing eagks, whales, human heads, &c. They are very dexterous in the use of their paddles, which are very neatly wrought, and are five feet long with a short handle and a blade seven inches broad in the middle tapering to a sharp point. With these they will make a canoe skim very swiftly on the water with scarcely any noise,^ while they keep time to the stroke of the paddle with their songs. With regard to these they have a number which they sing on various occasions ; as war* whaling, and fishing, at their marriages and feasts, and at public festivals or solem- nities. The language of the most of these appears to be very different, in many res- pects, from that used in their common con- versation, which leads me to believe either that they have a different mode of expres- sing themselves in poetry, or that they bor- row their songs from their neighbours, and what the more particularly induces me to the latter opinion, is, that whenever any of the Newchemass, a people from the Northward and who speak a very different language, ar- rived, they used to tell me that they expect- ed a new song, and were almost always sure to have one. * A specimen of one of their war songs will be found at the «7rd of this work. 88 Their tunes are generally soft and plain- tive, and though not possessing great varie- ty, are not deficient in harmony. — Their sing- ings generally accompanied with several rude kinds of instrumental music ; among the most prominent of which is a kind of drum. This is nothing more than a long plank hollowed out on the under side and made quite thin, which is beat upon by a stick of about a foot long and renders a sound not unlike beating on the head of an empty cask, but much louder. But the two most favourite instruments are the rattle and the pipe or whistle ; these are however only used by the king, the chiefs, or some partic- ular persons ; the former is made of dried seal-skin, so as to represent a fish, and is filled with a number of small smooth peb- bles, it has a short handle and is painted red. The whistle is made of bone, generally the leg of a deer, it is short but emits a very shrill sound. They have likewise another kind of music, which they make use of in dancing, in the manner of castanets, this is prom the fur already spo- ken of, which feels like wool and is of a grey colour. Many of the articles thus ^j^ught, par- ticiUarly the provisions, were^Bisidered as 97 presents, or tributary offerings, but this must be viewed as little more than a nominal ac- knowledgment of superiority, as they rarely failed to get the full amount of the value of their presents. Ihaveknoun eighteen of the great tubs, in which they keep their provisions, filled with spawn brought in this way. On these occasions a great feast is always made, to which not only the strangers, but the whole village, men, wo- men, and children are generally invited, and I have seen five of the largest tubs employ- ed at such time in cooking at the king's house. At these feasts they generally in- dulge in eating to an excess, making up in this respect for their want of inebriating liquors, which they know no method of pre- paring in any form, their only drink being water. Whenever they came to visit or trade it was their general custom, to stop a few miles distant under the lee of some bluff or rockj and rig themselves out in their best manner, by painting and dressing their heads. On their first coming on shore, they were invit- ed to eat by the king, when they brought to him, such articles as he wanted, after which the rest of the inhabitants were permit- ted to purchase, the strangcss being care- ful to keep them in their canoes until sold, under strict guard to prevent their being stolen, the dp)osition of these people f(y: theiviiJg being' so great, that it is necessai*y to keep a watchful eye upon them. This was their usual mode of traffick, but whenever they wished to purchase any par- ticular object, as for instance, a certain slave, or some otlier thing of which they were very desirous, the canoe that came for this purpose would lie off a little distance from the shore, and a kind of embassador or representative of the king &r chief by whom it was sent, dressed in their best manner, and with his head covered with the white down, would rise, and after making known the object of his mission in a pompous speech, hold up specimens of such articles as he was instructed to offer in payment, mentioning the number or quantity of each, when if the bargain was concluded, the ex- :^hange was immediately made. On their visits of friendship or traffick, the chiefs alone used to sleep on shore, this "was generally at the house of the king or head chief, the others passing the night on board of their canoes, which was done not only for the preservation of their property, but because they were not permitted to re- main on shore, lest they might excite some disturbance or commit depredations. All these people generally go armed, the common class wearing only a dagger sus- pended from their neck behind, with a string of metamelth, and sometimes Jtoust in their 99 girdles. The chiefs in addition to the dag- ger carry the chetoollh, or war- club sus- pended in the same manner beneath their mantles, this in the hands of a strong man is a powerful weapon, in the management of which, some of the older chiefs are very dex~ terous. It is made from the bone of a whale, and is very heavy. The blade is about eighteen inches long and three broad, till it approaches near the point, where it ex- pands to the breadth of four inches, lo the middle, from whence it slopes off grad- ually to an edge on each side, it is from one to two inches in thickness. This blade is usually covered with figures of the sun and moon, a man's head, &c, and the hilt which is made to represent the head of a man or some animal, is curiously set with small white shells, and has a band of meta- melth fastened to it in order to sling it over the shoulder. Some of the tribes have also a kind of spear headed with copper or the bone of the sting ra}^ which is a dangerous weapon ; this is however not usual, and on- ly carried by the chiefs. The bow and ar^ row are still used by a few, but since the in- troduction of fire arms among them, this yeapon has been mostly laid asuJe. Biit to return to our unhappy situation. Though oiy comrade and myself fared as /dj, and ey^n better than we could have ex pected among these people, considering their 100 customs and mode of living, yet our fears lest no ship would come to our release, and that we should never more behold a Chris- tian country, were to us a source of constant pain. Our principal consolation in this gloomy state, was to go on Sundays, when- ever the weather would permit, to the bor- ders of a fresh water pond, about a mile from the village, where, after bathing, and putting on clean clothes, we would seat ourselves under the shade of a beautiful pine, while I read some chapters in the Bi- ble, and the prayers appointed by our Church for the day, ending our devotions with a fer- vent prayer to the Almighty that he would deign still to watch over and preserve our lives, rescue us from the hands of the sava- ges, and permit us once more to behold a Christian land. In this manner were the greater part of our Sundays passed at Noot- ka ; and I felt grateful to heaven, that amidst our other sufferings, we were at least allow- ed the pleasure of offering up our devotions miniolested, for Maquina, on my explaining ,0 him as well as was in my power the rea- son of our thus retiring at this time, far from objecting, readily consented to it.. The pond above mentioned was small, not more than a quarter of a mile in breadth and of no great length, the water being very cl^ar, though not of great depth, and bordered by a beautiful forest of pine, fir, elm, and beach, 101 ftee from bushes and finder wood — a most delightful retreat, which was rendered still more attractive by a great number of birds that frequented it, particularly the humming bird. Thither we used to go to wash our clothes, and felt secure from any intrusion from the natives, as they rarely visited it ex- cept for the purpose of cleansing themselves of their paint. In July we at length thought that the hope of delivery we had so long anxiously in- dulged, was on the point of beinj^ gratified. A ship appeared in the offing, but alas, our fond hopes vanished almost as soon as form- ed ; for instead of standing in for the shore she passed to the northward and soon disap- peared. I shall not atteujpt to describe our disappointment— my heart sunk within me, and I felt as though it was my destiny nev- er more to behold a Christian face. Four days after there occurred a tremendous storm of thunder and lightning, during which the natives manifested great alarm ethd terror, the whole tribe, hurrying to \la(|ui- na's house, where, instead of keeping within, they seated themselves on the roof amid the severest of the tempest, drumming upon the boards, and looking up to heaven, while the king beat the long hollow plank, singing and, as he afterwards told me, be«^ging Qua- kvotze, the name they give to God, not to MU them, in which he was accompanied I 2 102 by the whole tribe ; this singing and drum- ming was continued until the storm abated. As the summer drew near its close, we began to suffer from the frequent want of food, which w^as principally owing to Ma- quina and the chiefs being out whaling, in which he would not permit Thompson and myself to join, lest we should make our es* cape to some of the neighbouring tribes. At these times the women seldom or ever cook any provision, and we were often hun- gry, but were sometimes fortunate enough to procure secretly, a piece of salmon, some other fish, spawn, or even blubber, which, by boiling in salt water, with a few onions and turnips, the remains of the Spanish garden, or young nettles and other herbs, furnished us a delicious repast in private. In the mean time, we frequently received ac • counts from the tribes who came to Nootka, both from the north and south, of there be- ing vessels on the coast, and were advised by their chiefs to make our escape, who also promised us their aid, and to put us on board. These stories, however, as I after- wards learne4 turan and winter at Tashees and Cooptee, the latter lying about thirty miles up the Sound in a deep bay, the navigation of which is very dangerous from the great number of reefs and rocks with which it abounds. On these occasions every thing is taken with them, even the planks of their bouses^in or- der to cover their new dwellings. To an European, such a removal exhibits a scene ^uite novel and strange : canoes piled up w^ith boards and boxes, and filled with men, women and children of all ranks and sizes, making the air resound with their cries and songs. At these times, as well as when they liave occasion to go some distance from their houses, the infants are usually suspend- ed across the mothers shoulders, in a kind df cradle or hammock, formed of bark, of about six inches in depth, and of the length of the chijid, by means of a leather band in- serted thiPOugh loops on its edges ; this they also keep them in when at home, in order to preserve them in a strait position, and prevent any distortion of the limbs, most probably a principal cause of these people being so seldom deformed or crooked. — The long boat of our ship having been re= paired and furnished with a sail by Thomp- son, Maquinagave us the directioivof it, we being better acquainted with managing it than his people, and after loading her ^ >leep as she could 'swim, we proceed^ci i- .105 company with tkem to the north, quitting Nootka with heavy hearts, as we could en- tertain no hoj3es of release until our return, no ships ever coming to that part of the coast. Passing Cooptee, which is situated on the southern bank, just within the mouth of a small river flowing from the east in a narrow valley at the foot of a mountain, we proceeded a boiit fifteen miles up this stream to Tashees, between a range of lofty hills on each side, which extend a great distance in- land, and are covered with the finest forest trees of the country. Immediately on our arrival, we all went to work very diligently in covering the houses with the planks we had brought, the frames being ready erected, these people never pretending to remove the timber. In a very short time the work was completed, and we were established in our new resiflence. Tashees is pleasantly situated,, and in a most secure position from the winter storms, in a small vale or hollow on the south shore, at the foot of a mountain. The spot on which it stands is level, and the soil very line, the country in its vicinity abounding with the most romantic views, charmingly diversified, and line streams of water falling in beautiful cascades from the mountains. The river at this place is about twenty rods in S\ idth, and, in its det pest part, from nine "^o twelve feet. This village is the extreme 106 *" point of navigation, as immediately beyond, the river becomes much more shallow, and is broken into rapids and falls. The houses here are placed in a line like those at Noot- ka, but closer together, the situation being more confined, they are also smaller, in con- sequence of which we were much crowded, and incommoded for room. The principal object in coming to this place, is the facility it affords these people of providing their winter stock of provisions^ which consists principally of salmon, and the spawn of that fish ; to which may b^ added herring and sprats, and herring spawn. The latter, however, is always procured by them at Nootka, previous to their quitting it. At the seasons of spawning, which are early in the spring and the last of August, they collect a great quantity of pine branch- es, which they place in different parts of the ^ays sure to receive a handsome present of sal- 109 mon, which I had the privilege of calhVig mine ; 1 also went with him several times in a canoe, to strike the sahiion, which I have attempted to do myself, but could never succeed, it requiring a degree of adroitness that 1 did not possess. I was also permit- ted to go out with a gun, and was several times very successful in shooting wild ducks, and teal, which are very numerous here, though rather shy. These they cooked in their usual manner, by boiling, without any farther dressing than skinning them. In ma- ny respects, however, our situation was less pleasant here than at Nootka. We were more incommoded for room, the houses not being so spacious, nor so well arranged, and as it was colder, we were compelled to be much more within doors. We however, did not neglect on Sundays, when the weather would admit, to retire into the woods, and by t!ie side of some stream, after bathing- return our thanks to God for preserving us, and offer up to him our customary devo- tions. 1 was however, verj apprehensive, soon after our arrival at this place, that I should be deprived of the satisfaction of keeping my journal, as Maquina one day observing me writing in it, enquired of me YflM I vvas doing, and when 1 endeavoured t<)( explain it, by telling him that 1 was keeping an account of the weather, he Sf^di^^^^ yvas not so, and that I was speaking 110 bad about him, and telling how he had taken our ship and killed the crew, so as to inform my countrymen, and that if he ever saw me writing in it again, he would throw it into the fire. 1 was much rejoiced that he did no more than threaten, and became very cautious afterwards not to let him see me write. Not long after I finished some daggers for him, which I polished highly ; these pleas- ed him much, and he gave me directions to make a cheetoolth, in which I succeeded so far to his satisfaction, that he gave me a present of cloth sufliicient to make me a complete suit of raiment, besides other things. Thompson, also, who had become rather more of a favourite than formerfy, since he had made a fine sail for his canoe, and some garments for him out of Europe- an cloth, about this time completed another, which was thought by the savages a most superb dress. This was a Kootsuk or man- tle, a fathom square, made entirely of Eu- ro|3ean vest patterns of the gayest colours." These were sewed together, in a manner to make the best show, and bound with a deep trimming of the finest otter skin, with which the arm-boles were also bordered ; while the bottom was farther embellished with five or six rows of gilt buttons, pimped as near as possible to each other. Nothing could exceed the pride of Maquina wheti|^ Ill first put on this royal robe, decorated like the coat of Joseph, with all the colors of the rainbow, and glittering with the buttons, which as he strutted about made a tinkling, while he repeatedly exclaimed in a trans- port of exultation, Kleiv shish Katsuck-^ wick kum atack Nootka. A fine garment — Nootka can't make him. Maquina, who knew that the chiefs of the tribes who came to visit us, had endeav- oured to persuade me to escape, frequently cautioned me not to listen to them, saving that should I make the attempt, and he were to take me, he should certainly put me to death. While here he gave me a book in which I found the names of seven per- sons belonging to the ship Manchester of Philadelphia, Captain Brian, viz. — Daniel Smith, Lewis Gillon, James Tom, Clark, Johnson, Ben and Jack. These men, as Maquina informed me, ran away from the ship, and came to him, but that six of them soon after went off in the night, with an in- tention to go to the Wickinninish, but were stopped by the Esbquiates, and sent back to him, and that he ordered them to be put to death ; and a most cruel death it was, as I was told by one of the natives, four njeta holding one of them on the ground, and forcing open his mouth, while they choak- €d him by ramming stones down his throat. J^^i^Q.kihehoy, who made no attempt 112 to go off, Maquina afterwards sold him to the Wickinninish. I was informed by the princess Ynqua, that he was quite a small boy, who cried a great deal, being put to hard labour beyond his strength by the na- tii:es, in cutting wood and bringing water, and that when he heard of the murder ojf our crew, it had such an effect on him that he fell sick and died shortly after. On learning the melancholy fate of this unfortu- nate lad, it again awakened in my bosom those feelings that I had experienced at the shocking death of my poor comrades. The king finding that I was desirous of learning their language, was much delight- ed, and took great pleasure in conversing with me. On one of these occasions, he ' xplained to me his reasons for cutting off our ship, saying that he bore no ill will to my countrymen, but that he had been sever- al times treated very ill by them. The first injury of which he had cause to complain, was done him by a Captain Tawnington, ^vho commanded a schooner which passed a winter at Friendly Cove, where he was well treated by the inhabitants. This man taking advantage of Maquina's absence, who had gone to the Wickinninish to procure a wife, armed himself and crew% and enter- ed the house where there were none hrA women, whom he threw into the greatest c^onsternation, and searching the chests?^ took 113 away all the skins, of which Maquina had no less than forty of the best ; and that about the same time, four of their chiefs were barbarously killed by a Captain Mar- tinez, a Spaniard. That soon after Captain Hanna, of the Sea-Otter, in consequence of one of the natives having stolen a chizzel from the carpenter, fired upon their canoes which were along side, and killed upwards of twenty of the natives, of whom several were Tyees or chiefs, and that he himself being on board the vessel, in order to escape was obliged to leap from the quarter deck, and swim for a long way under water. These injuries had excited in the breast of Maquina, an ardent desire of revenge, the strongest passion of the savage heart, and though many years had elapsed since their commission, still they were not forgot- ten, and the want of a favourable opportu- nity alone prevented him from sooner aveng- ing them. Unfortunately for us, the long wished for opportunity at length presented itself in our ship, which Maquina finding not guarded with the usual vigilance of the North West Traders, and feeling his desite of revenge rekindled by the insult offered him by Capt. Salter, formed a plan for at- tacking, and on his return, called a council #f his chiefs, and communicated it to them, ^quainting them with the manner in which k2 114 he had been treated. No less desirous of avenging this affront offered their king, than the former injuries, they readily agreed to his proposal, which was to go on board without arms as usual, but under different pretexts, in greater numbers, and wait his signal for the moment of attacking their un- suspecting victims. The execution of this scheme, as the reader knows, was unhappi- ly too successful. And here I cannot but indulge a reflection that has frequently oc- curred to me on the manner in which our people behave towards the natives. For though they are a thievish race, yet 1 have no doubt that many of the melancholy dis- asters have principally arisen from the im- prudent conduct of some of the captains and crews of the ships employed in thi$ trade, in exasperating them by insulting, plundering, and even killing them on slight grounds. This, as nothing is more sacred with a savage than the principle of revenge, and no people are so impatient under in- vsult, induces them to wreak their vengeance upon the first vessel or boat's crew that of- fers, making the innocent too' frequently suffer for the wrongs of the guilty, as few of them know to discriminate between per- sons of the same general appearance, more especially when speaking the sanie Hn^ guage. And to this cause do I believe^ must principally be ascribed the sangui- 115 iiary disposition with which these people- are reproached, as Maquina repeatedly told ine that it was not his wish to hurt a white man, and that he never should have done it, though ever so much in his power, had they not injured him. And were the command- ers of our ships to treat the savages with rather more civility than they sometimes do, I am inclined to think they would find their account in it ; not that I should recommend tp them a confidence in the good faith and friendly professions of these people, so as in any degree to remit their vigilance, but on the contrary, to be strictly on their guard, and suffer but a very few of them to come on board the ship, and admit not many of their canoes along side at a time ; a precau- tion that would have been the means of pre- venting some of the unfortunate events that have occurred, and if attended to, may in future, preserve many a valuable life. Such a regulation too, from what I know of their disposition and wants, would produce no serious difficulty in trading with the savages, and they would soon become perfectly re- con ci led to it. Among the provisions which the Indians procure at Tashees, I must not omit men- tioning a fruit that is very in»portant, as forming a great article of their food. This isj what is called by them the Yama, a spe- cies of berry that grows in' bunches like 116 currants, upon a busb from two to three feet hit^h, with a lar^e, round and smooth leaf. This berry is black,, and about the size of a pistol shot, but of rather an oblong shape^ and open at the top like the blue whortle- berry. The taste is sweet but a little acrid, and when first gathered, if eaten in any great quantity, especially without oil, is apt to produce cholics. To procure it, large com- panies of women go out on the mountains, accompanied by armed men, to protect them against wild beasts, where they fre- quently remain for several "days, kindling a fire at night, and sheltering themselves un- der sheds constructed of boughs. At these parties, they collect great qu an titles. I have known Maquina's queen and her wo- men return loaded, bringing with them up- wards of twelve bushels. In order to pre- serve it, it is pressed in the bunches be- tween two planks, and dried and put away in baskets for use. It is always eaten with oil. Of berries of various kinds, such as straw- berries, rasp-berries, black-berries, &c. there are great quantities in the coimtry, of which the natives are very fond, gathering them in their seasons, and eating them with oil,: but the yama is the only one that they pre- serve. Fish is, however, their great article ol loodf as almost ^11 the others, excepting %c^ 117 yama, maybe considered as accidental." — They nevertheless are far from disrelishing^ meat, for instance, venison and bear's flesh. With regard to the latter, they have a most singular custom, which is, that any one who eats of it is obliged to abstain from eating any kind of fresh fish whatever, for the term of two months, as they have a superstitious belief, that should any of their people after tasting bear's flesh, eat of fresh salmon, cod, &c. the fish, though at ever so great a dis- tance oflT, would come to the knowledge of it, and be so much offended thereat, as not to allow themselves to be taken by any of the inhabitants. This I had an opportunity of observing while at Tashees, a bear hav- ing been killed early in December, of which not more than ten of the natives would eat, being prevented by the prohibition annexed to it, which also was the reason of my com- rade and myself not tasting it, on being told by Maqnina the consequence. As theie is something quite curious in their management of this animal, when they have killed one, 1 shall give a description of it. After well cleansing the bear from the dirt and blood, with which it is generally covered when killed, it is brought in and seated opposite the king in an upright pos- ture, with a chief's bonnet, wrought in figure?? on its head, •and its fur powdered oyer witb the white down. A tray of pro- 118 vision is then set before it, and it is invited by words and gestures to eat. This mock ceremony over, the reason of which I could never learn, the animal is taken and skinned, and the flesh and entrails boiled up into a soup, no part, but the paunch being re- jected. This dressing the bear as they call it, is an occasion of great rejoicing throughout the village, all the inhabitants being invited to a great feast at the king's house, though but few o( them, in consequence of the pen- alty, will venture to eat of the flesh, but generally content themselves with their fa- vourite dish of herring spawn and water. The feast on this occasion was closed by a dance from Sat-sat-sak-sis, in the manner I have already described, in the course of which he repeatedly shifted his mask for another of a different form. A few days after a second bear was tak- en, like the former by means of a trap. This I had the curiosity to ^o and see at the place where it was caught, which was in the fol- lowing manner. On the edge of a small stream of water in the mountains, which the salmon ascend, and near the spot where the bear is accustomed to watch for them, which is known by its track, a trap or box about the height of a man's head is bniU of posts and planks with It flat top, on which are laid a number of large stones ox rocks. 119 The top and sides are then carefully cover- ed with turf, so as to resemble a little mound, and wholly to exclude the light, a narrow entrance of the height of the building only being left, just sufficient to admit the head and shoulders of the beast. On the inside, to a large plank that covers the top, is sus- pended by :i strong cord a salmon, the plank being left loose so that a forcible pull* will bring it down. On coming to its usual haunt, the bear enters the trap, and in en- deavouring to pull away the fish, brings down the whole covering with its load of stones upon its head, and is almost always crushed to death on the spot, or so wounded as to be unable to escape. They are always careful to examine these traps every day, in order if a bear be caught, to bring it away, and cook it immediately, for it is not a little singular, that these people will eat no kind of meat that is in the least tainted, or not perfectly fresh, while, on the contrary, it is hardly possible for fish to be in too putrid a state for them, and I have frequently known them when a whale has been driven ashore, bring pieces of it home with them in a state of offensiveness insupportable to any thing but a crow, and devour it with high relish^ considering it as preferable to that which is fresh. On the morning of the 13th of December, comojeaced what to us appeared a most singular farce. Apparently without any previous notice, Maquina discharged a pis- tol close to his son*s ear, who immediately fell down as if killed, upon which all the women of the house set up a most lamenta- ble cry, tearing handfuls of hair from their heads, and exclaiming that the prince was dead, at the same time a great number of theinhabitants, rushed into the hous^ arm- ed with their daggers, mutkets, &c. enquir- ing the cause of their outcry, these were im- mediately followed by two others dressed in wolf skins, with masks over their faces re- presenting the head of that animal ; the lat« ter came in on their hands and feet in the manner of a beast, and taking up the prince carried him off upon their backs, retiringjn the same manner they entered. We saw nothing more of the ceremony, as Maquina came to us, and giving us a quantity of dri- ed provision, ordered us to quit the house ?»nd not return to the village bef vre the expi- ration of seven days, for that if we appeared witlnn that period, he should kill us. At any other season of the year such an order would by us have been considered as an indulgence, in enabling us to pass our time in whatever way we wished, and even now, furnished as we were, with sufficient provision for that term, it was not very un- pleasant to us, more particularly Th(n4v^on, who was always desirous to keep as tniucli - 12 i 49 possible out of the society and sight oi the natives, whom he detested. Taking with us our provisions, a bundle of clothes, and our axes, we obeyed the directions of Maquina, and withdrew into the woods, where we built ourselves a cabin to shelter us, with the branches of trees, and keeping up a good fire, secured ourselves pretty well from the cold. Here we passed the pre- scribed period of our exile, with more con- tent than much of the time while with them, employing the day in reading and praying for our release, or in rambling around and exploring the country, the soil of which we found to be very good, and the face of it, beautifully diversified with hills and vallies, refreshed with the finest streams of water» and at night enjoyed comfortable repose up- on a bed of soft leaves, with our garments spread over us to protect us from the cold. At the end of seven days we returnedj and found several of the people of A-i-tiz zart with their king or chief atTashees, who had been invited by Maquina to attend the close of this performance, which 1 now learnt was a celebration, held by them an niially, in honour of their god, whom they call Qua/ioolzey to return him their thanks for his past, and implore fiis future favors. It terminated on the 2 1st, the day after our feturu, with a most extraordinary exhibi- fion. Three men, each of whom had tvio I. 122 bayonets run through his sides, between the ribs, apparently regardless of the pain, traversed the room, backwards and forwards, singing war songs, and exulting in this dis- play of firmness. On the arrival of the 25th, we could not but call to mind, that this being Christmas, was in our country a day of the greatest fes- tivity, when our fellow countrymen assem- bled in their churches, were celebrating the goodness of God, and the praises of the Saviour. What a reverse did our situation offer — captives in a savage land, and slaves to a set of ignorant beings, unacquainted with religion or humanity, hardly were we permitted to offer up our devotions by our- selves in the woods, while we felt even grate- ful for this privilege. Thither with the king's permission, we withdrew, and after reading the service appointed for the day, sung the hymn of the Nativity, fervently praying that heaven in its goodness, would permit us to celebrate the next festival of tliis kind in some Christian land. On our return, in order to conform as much as was in our power to the custom of our country, we were desirous of having a better s^upp^ than usual, AVith this view we bought trofja one of the natives, some dried clfims and oil, and a root called Klelsup, whkh *w© cooked by steaming, and found it very j>ala» ^able, This root consists of mauy iib^'^-' 123 of about six inches long, and of the size oi a crow quill. It is sweet, of an agreeable taste, not unlike the Quajioose, ^nd itis ea,- ten with oil. The plant that produces it I have never seen. On the 31st, all the tribe quitted Tasheeg for Cooptee, whither they go to pass the re- mainder of the winter, and complete their fishing, taking oflf every thing with them in the same manner as at Nootka. We arrived in a (ew hours at Cooptee, which is about fifteen miles, and immediately set about covering the houses, which was soon com- pleted. This place, which is their great herring and sprat fishery, stands just within the mouth of the river, on the same side with Tashees, in a very narrow valley at the foot of a high mountain. ThoMgh nearly as se- cure as Tashees from the winter storms, it is by no means so pleasantly situated, though to us it was a much more agreeable residence, as it brought us nearer Nootka, where we were impatient to return, in h/)pes of finding some vessel there, or hearing of the arrival of one near. The first snow that fell this season, was the day after our arrival, on New- Years ; a day that like Christmas, brought with it, painful recollections, but at the same time led us to indulge the hope of a more foftiv •late -vear than the last. 124 Early on the morning of the 7th of Jan- uary, Maqiiina took me with him in hisca- lioe on a visit to Upquesta, chi«f of the A-i- tiz-zarts, who had invited him to attend an exhibition at his village, similar to the one with which he had been entertained at Ta- .shees. This place is between twenty and thirty miles distant up the sound, and stands on the banks of a small river about the size of that of Cooptee, just within its en- trance, in a valley of much greater extent than that of Tashees ; it consists of four- teen or fifteen houses, built and disposed in the manner of those at Nootka. The tribe, which is considered as tributary to Maqui- na, amounts to about three hundred war-' riors, and the inhabitants, both men and Avomen, are among the best looking of any people on the coast. ^- On our arrival we were received at the sliore by the inhabitants, a few of whom were armed with muskets, which they tired, with loud shouts and exclamations of Wo- cash, wocash. We were welcomed by the chief's messen- ger, or master of ceremonies, dressed in his best garments, with his hair powdered with wlwte down, and holding in his hand the eheetoolth, the badge of his office. This man preceded us to the chief's house, whe^e he introduced and pointed out to us eur res- pective seats. On entering, the visitoFS.toofc 125 off their hats, which th^y always wear 6n similar occasions, and Maquina his outer robes, of which he has several on whenever he pays a visit, and seated himself near the chief. As I was dressed in European clothes I became quite an object of curiosi- ty to these people, very few of whom had ever seen a white man. They crowded around me in numbers, taking hold of my clothes, examining my face, hands and feet, and even opening my mouth to see if I had a tongue, for notwithstanding I had by this time become well acquainted with their lan- guage, 1 preserved the strictest silence, Ma- quina on our first landing having enjoined me not to speak, until he should direct. Ha- ving undergone this examination for some time, Maquina at length made a sign to me to speak to them. On hearing me address^ them in their own language, they weregreat- ]y astonished and delighted, and told Ma- quina that they now perceived that I was a man like themselves, except that I was white and looked like a seal, alluding to my blue jacket and trowsers, which they wanted to persuade me to take off, as they did not like their appearance. Maquina in the mean time gave an account to the chief, of the scheme he had formed for surprizing our ship, and the manner in which he and his- people had carried it into execution, with •iu(^h particular and horrid details of that. I. 2 126 transaction as chilled the blood in my veins. Trays of boiled herrinsj spawn and train oil were soon after brought in and placed before us, neither the chief or any of his people eating at the same time, it being contrary to the ideas of hospitality entertained by these nations, to eat any part of the food that is provided for strangers, always waiting until their visitors have finished, before they have their own brought in. The following day closed their festival with an exhibition of a similar kind, to that which had been given at Tashees, but still more cruel, the different tribes appear- ing on these occasions to endeavour to sur- pass each other, in their proofs of fortitude and endurance of pain. In the morning twenty men entered the chief's house, with each an arrow run through the flesh of his sides, and either arm, with a cord fastened to the end, which as the performers ad- vanced, singing and boasting, was forcibly drawn back by a person having hold of it. After this performance was closed we returned to Cooptee, which we reached at midnight, our men keeping time with their songs to the stroke of their paddles. The natives now began to take the herring and sprat in immense quantities, with some jjalmon, and there was nothing but feasting from morning till night. The following v^ he method they employ to take the herring. 127 A stick of about seven feet long, two inches broad, and half an inch thick, is formed from some hard wood, one side of which is- set with sharp teeth, made from whale bone, at about half an inch apart. Provided with this instruuient, the fisherman seats himself in the prow of a canoe, which is paddled by another, and whenever he comes to a shoal of herring, which cover the water in great quantities, he strikes it with both hands upon them, and at the same moment turning it up, brings it over the side of the canoe, into which he lets those that are ta- ken drop. It is astonishing to see how many are caught by those who are dexte- rous at this kind of fishing, as they seldom fail when the shoals are numerous, of taking as many as ten or twelve at a stroke, and in a very short time will fill a canoe with them. Sprats are likewise caught in a similar man= ner. About the beginning of Fehruary, Maqui- na gave a great feast, at which were pre- sent not only all the inhabitants, but one hundred persons from A-i-tiz-zart, and a number from Wickinnin^sh, who had been invited to attend it. It is customary with them to give an annual entertainment of this kind, and it is astonisiiing to see what a i^uantity of provision is expended, or rather wasted on such an occasion, when they al- 'Vays eat to the greatest excess. It was at 128 this feast that I saw upwards of a hundred salmon oooked in one tub. The whole resi- dente at Oooptee presents an almost unin- terrupted succession of feasting and gor- mondizing, and it would seem as if the principal object of these people was to con- sume their whole stock of provision before leaving it, trusting entirely to their success in fishing and whaling, for a supply at Nootka. On the 25th of February, we quitted Coopte^^and returned to Nootka. With much jt>y did Thompson and myself again find oui'^elves in a place, where notwith- standing the melancholy recollections which it excited, we hoped before long to see some vessel arrive to our relief, and for this we became the more solicitous, as of late we liad become much more apprehensive of our safety in consequence of information brought Maquinaa few days before we left Cooptee, by some of the Cayuquets, that there were twenty ships at the northward preparing to Gome against him, with ^an intention of destroying him and his whole tribe, for cut- ting off the Boston. This story which was wholly without foundation, and discovered afterwards to have been invented by these people, for the purpose of disquieting him, threw him into great alarm, and notwitii" standing all I could say to convince him that it was an unfounded report, so great wi^^s^ i2d his jealousy of us, especially after it had been contirmed to him by some others of tjie same nation, that he treated us witli much harshness, and kept a very suspicious eye upon us. Nothing indeed could be more unpleasant than our present situation, when I reflected that our lives were altogether de- pendent on the will of a savage, on whose caprice and suspicions no rational calcula- tion could be made. Not long after our return, a son of Ma- quina's sister, a boy of eleven year^ old, who had been for some time declinini2:, died. Immediately on his death, 'which was about midnight, all the men and women in the house, set up loud cries and shrieks, which awakening Thompson and myself, so disturbed us tliat we left the house. This lamentation was kept up during the remain- der of the night. In the morning, a ^reat fire was kindled, in which Maqiiina burned in bonour of the deceased, ten flithoms of cloth, and buried with him ten fathoms more, eight of I-whaw, four prime sea otter skins, and two small trunks, containing our imforiunate. captain's clothes and watch. This boy w as considered as a Tyee or rhief, being the only son of Tootoosch, one of their principal chiefs, who had married Ma- quina's sister, whence arose this ceremony 00 iijs interment ; it being an established custcftfe witb these people, that whenever r 130 chief dies, his raost valuable property m burned or buried with hthi ; it is, however, wholly confined to the chiefs, and appears to be a mark of honour appropriate to them. In this instance Maquina furnished the articles, in order that his nephew might have the proper honours rendered him. Tootoosch his father, was esteemed the first warrior of the tribe, and was one who had been particularly active in the destruction of our ship, having killed two of our poor com- rades,^ who were ashore, whose names were Hall and Wood. About the time of our removal to Tashees, while in the enjoyment of the highest health, he was suddenly seiz- ed with a fit of delirium, in which he fan» cied thiit he saw the ghosts of those two men constantly standing by him, and threat- ening iiim, so that he would take no food, except what was forced into his mouth. A short time before this, he had lost a daugh- ter of about fifteen years of age, which af- flicted him jDjreatly, and whether his insanity, a disorder very uncommon amongst these savages, no instance of the kind having oc- curred within the memory of the oldest man amongst them, proceeded from this cause, or that it was the special interposition of an all merciful God in our favour, who by this means thought proper to induce thesd bar*' barians still farther to respect our Wvfis, m "hat for hidden purposes, thf^ 8uprcm<^ W?' 131 poser of events, sometimes permits the spir- its of the dead to revisit the world, and haunt the murderer I know not^ but his mind from this period until his death, which took place but a few weeks after that of his son, was incessantly occupied with the images of the men whom he had killed. This circum- stance made much impression upon the tribe, particularly the chiefs, whose uniform opposition to putting us to death, at the va- rious councils that were held on our ac- count, I could not but in part attribute to this cause, and Maquina used frequently in speaking of Tootoosch's sickness, to express much satisfaction that his hands had not been stained with the blood of any of our men. When Maquina was first informed by his sister, of the strange conduct of her husband, he immediately went to his house, taking us with him ; suspecting that his dis- ease had been caused by us, and that the ghosts of our countrymen had been called thither by us, to torment him. ^We found him raving about Hall and Wc/od, saying that they were pesliaky that is bad. Ma- quina then placed some provision before him to see if he would eat. On perceiving it, he put forth his hand to take some, but instantly withdrew it w ith signs of horror, sluing that Hall and Wood were there, and w^ujd not let him eat. Maquina then poifirtiflg to us, asked if it was not John 132 and Thompson who troubled hin». Wik, he replied, that is, no, John kluskish — Thomp- son klushish — John and Thompson are both good ; then turning to me, and patting me on the shoulder, he made signs to me to eat. I tried to persuade him that Hall and Wood were not there, and that none were near him but ourselves : he said, I know very well you do not see them, but I do. At £r??t Maquina endeavoured to convince him that he saw nothing, and to laugh him out of his belief, but tindiug that all was to no purpose, he at length became serious, and asked me if 1 had ever seen any one afiect- ed in this manner, and what was the matter with him. \ gave him to understand, point- ing to his head, that his brain was injured, and that he did not see things as ibrmerly. Being convinced by Tooloosch's conduct, that we had no agency in his indispositic n, on our return home, Maquina asked me what was done in my country io similar ca- ses. I told him that such persons were closely contined, and sometimes tied up and whipped, in order to make them better. After ponderins: for sometime, he said that he .should be glad to^do any thing to relieve him».and that he should be whipped, and imniediately gave orders to some of hisiHeD, to go to Tootoosch's house, bind hiniv and bring him to his, in order to undergo the .operation. Thompson was the person ,^- 18» lected to administer this remedy, which he undertook very readily, and for that pur- pose provided himself witJi a good number of spruce branchts, with which he whipped him rtiost severely, laying it on with the best will imaginable, while Tootoosch displayed the greatest rage, kicking, spitting, and at- tempting to bite all who came near him. Tiiis was too much for Maquina, who, at length, unable to endure it longer, ordered Thompson to desist, and Tootoosch to be carried back, saying that if there was no other way of curing him but by whipping, he must remain mad. The application of the whip, produced no beneficial effect on Tootoosch, for he af- terwards became still more deranged ; in his fits of fury sometimes seizing a club, and beating his slaves in a most dreadful manner, and striking and spitting at all who came near him, till at length his wife no longer daring to remain in the house with him, came with her son to Maquina s. The whaling season now conunenced, and Maquina was out almost every day in his canoe in pursuit of them, but for a consid arable time, with no success, one day break- ing the staff of his harpoon, anoiber, after having been a lonjj time fast to a whale, the weapon drawing, owing to the breaking of the shell which formed its point, -at ith sever al such likti accidents, arising from the hv- M 134 perfection of the instrument. At these times he always returned very morose and out of temper, upbraiding his men with hav- ing violated their obligation to continence preparatory to whaling. In this statje of ill humour he would give us very little to eat, which added to the women not cooking when the men are away, reduced us to very low fare. In consequence of the repeated occur- rence of similar accidents, I proposed to Ma- quina to make him a harpoon or foreganger of steel, which would be less liable to fail him. The idea pleased him, and in a short time I completed one for him, with which he was much delighted, and the very next day, went out to make trial of it. He succeed- ed with it in taking a whale. Great was the joy throughout the village as soon as it was known that the king had secured the whale, by notice from a person stationed at the head-land in the offing. All the canoes were immediately launched, and, furnished with harpoons and seal skin tioats, hastened to assist in buoying it up and in towing it in. The bringing in of this fish exhibited £jf, scene of universal festivity. As soon as the canoes appeared at the mouth of the cove, those on board of them singing a song of triumph to a slow air, to which they l^ept time witii their paddles, all who were oa shore, men, women and children, mounted the roofs of their houses, to congratulate 135 the king on his success, drumming most fu- riously on the planks, and exclaiming fVo- cash — wocash Tyee. The whale on being drawn on shore, was immediately cut up, and a great feast of the blubber given at Maquina*s house, to which all the village were invited, who indemnified themselves for their lent, by eating as usual to excess. I was highly praised for the goodness of my harpoon, and a quantity of blubber given me, which I was permitted to cook as I pleased, this I boiled in salt water with some young nettles and other greens for Thompson and myself, and in this way we found it tolerable food. Their method of procuring the oil, is to skim it from the water in which the blubber is boiled, and when cool, put it up into whale bladders for use, and of these J have seen them so large as, when filled, would re- quire no less than five or six men to carry. Several of the chiefs, among whom were Maquina's brothers, who after the king has caught the first whale,^are privileged to take them also, were very desirous, on disco\er- mg the superiority of my harpoon, that I should make some for thera^ but this Ma- quma would not permit, reserving for him- self this improved weapon. He however 1^ me directions to make a number more for.himself which I executed, and also made 136 liiiii several lances, with which he was great-. ]y pleased. As these people have some very singular observances preparatory to whaling, an ac- count of them will, I presume, not prove un- interestinoj, especially as it may serve to «:ive a better idea of their manners. A short Hiue before leaving Tashees, the king makes a point of passing a day alone on the moun- tain, whither he goes very privately early in the morning, and does not return till late in the evening. This is done, as I after- wards learned, for the purpose of singing and praying to his God for success in whal- ing the ensuing season. At Cooptee the same ceremony is performed, and at Nootka after the return thither, with still greater so- lemnity, as for the next two days he appears very thoughtful and gloomy, scarcely speak- ing to any one^ and observes a most rigid fast. On these occasions, he has always a broad red fillet made of bark, bound around his head, in token of humiliition, with a large branch of green spruce on the top, and his great rattle in his hand. In addi- tion to this, for a week before commencing their whaling, both himself and the crew of his canoe observe a fast, eating but very lit- tle, and going into the water several tira^^in the course of each day to bathe, singing and rubbing their bodies, limbs and faces with shells and buslies, so that on their Veturn 137 I have seen them look as though they liad been severely torn with briers. They are likewise obliged to abstain from any com- merce with their women for the like period, the latter restriction being considered as indispensible to their success. Early in June Tootoosch, the crazy chief, died. On being acquainted with his death the whole village, men, women, and children set up a loud cry, with every testimony of the greatest grief, which they continued for more than three hours. As soon as he was dead, the body, according to their custom, was laid out on a plank, having the head bound round with a red bark fillet, which is with them an emblem of mourning and sor- row. After laying some time in this man- ner, he was wrapped in an otter skin robe, and three fathoms of 1-whaw being put about his neck, he was placed in a large cof- fin or box of about three feet deep, • which was ornamented on the outside with two rows of the small white shells. In this, the most valuable articles of his property were placed with him, among which were no less than twenty-four prime sea-otter skins. At night, which is their time for interring the dead, the coffin was borne by eight men with two poles, thrust through ropes passed around it, to the place of burial, accompani- ed by his wife and family, with their hair cut short, in token of giief, all the inhabi' M 2 138 tants joining the procession. The place of burial was a large cavern on the side of a hill at a little distance from the village, in which, after depositing the coffin carefully, all the attendants repaired to Maquina's house, where a number of articles belonging to the deceased, consisting of blankets, pie- ces of cjgth, &c. were burned by a person appointed by Maquina for that purpose, dressed and painted in the highest style, with his head covered with white down, who, as he put in the several pieces, one by one, poured upon them a quantity of oil to increase the flame, in the intervals between, making a speech and playing off a variety of buffoon tricks, and the whole closed with a feast, and a dance from Sat-sat sak-sis, the king's son. The man who performed the ceremony -of Darning on this occasion, was a very singular charaeter, named Kinneclimmets. He was iield in high estimation by the king, though only of the common class, probably from his talent for mimicry and buffoonry, and might be considered as a kind of king's jester, or rather as combining in his person the character of a buffoon with that of mas- ter of ceremonies, and public orator to his majesty, as he was the one who at feast al- ways regulated the places of the guests, de- livered speeches on receiving or returmn;^ 'i^its. besides amusing the company e^tajl 139 their entertainraents, with a variety of mon-^ key pranks and antic gestures, which ap- peared to these savages the height of wit and humour, but would be considered as ex* tremely low by the least polished people. Almost all the kings or head chiefs of the principal tribes, were accompanied by a sim- ilar character, who appeared to be attached to their dignity, and are called in their lan- guage, Climmer-hahhee, This man, Kinneclimmds, was particular- ly odious to Thompson, who would never join in the laugh at his tricks, but when ha began, would almost always quit the house with a very surly look, and an exclamation of, cursed fool ! which Maquina, who thought nothing could equal the cleverness of his dimmer- habbee, used to remark with much dissatisfaction, asking me why Thompsoo never laughed, observing that I must have had a very good tempered woman indeed for my mother, as my father was so very ill-natured a man. Among those perform- ances that gained him the greatest applause, was his talent ot eating to excess, for I have known him devour at one m.eal, no less than seventy-five large herring, and at another time when a great feast was given by Maquina, he undertook, after drinking three points of oil by way of whet^ to Vat four dried sahnon, and five quarts of spawn^ mixed up with a gallon of train oil, and ac- 140 tually succeeded in swallowing the greater part of this mess, until his stomach became so overloaded, as to dischar|»e its contents in tfeedish. One of his exhibitions, howev- er, had nearly cost him his life, this wa»on occasion of Kla-quak-ee-na, one of the cbiefe, having bought him a new wife, in celebration of which he ran three times through a large fire, and burned himself in such a manner, that he was not able to stir for more than four weeks. These feats of savage skill, were much praised by Maquina, who never failed to make him a present, of cloth, musr kets, &c. on such occasions. The death of Tootoosch increased still more the disquietude which his delirium had excited among the savages, and all those chiefs who had killed our men became much alarmed, lest they should be seized with the same disorder and die like him ; more particularly, as I had told Maquina, that I believed his insanity was a punish- ment inflicted on him by Quahootze, for his cruelty in murdering two innocent men, who had never injured him. Our situation had now become unpleas- ant in the extreme. The summer was so far advanced, that we nearly despaired of a ship arriving to our relief, and with that ex- pectation, almost relinquished the hope of ever having it in our power to quit this sav- age laivd„ We were treated too with les^ J4l indulgence than before, both Thompson and myself being obliged, in addition to our oth-, er employments, to perform the laborious task of cutting and collecting fuel, which we had to bring on our shoulders from nearly three miles distant, as it consisted wholly of dry trees, all of which near the village, had been consumed. To add to this, we suffered much abuse from the com- mon people, who, when Maquina or some of the chiefs were not present, would insult us, calling us wretched slaves, asking us where was our Tyee or captain, making gestures signifying that his head had been cutoff, and that they would do the like to us ; though they generally took good care at such times to keep well out of Thomp- son's reach, as they had more than once ex- perienced to their cost the strength of his fist. This conduct was not only provoking and grating to our feelings in the highest de- gree, but it convinced us of the ill disposi- tion of these savages towards us, and render- ed us fearful lest they might at some time or other persuade or force Maquina and the chiefs, to put us to death. We were also, often brought to great dis* tress for the want of provision, so felr as to be reduced to collect a scanty supply of mus- cles and limpets from the rocks, and some- times even compelled to part with some of our- naost necessary articles of clothing. 142 in order to purchase food for our subsist- ence. This was, however, principally ow- ing to the inhabitants themselves experi- encing a great scarcity of provisions this season ; there having been, in the first place, but very few salmon caught at Friendly Cove, a most unusual circumstance, as they generally abound there in the spring, which was by the natives attributed to their having been driven away by the blood of our men, who had been thrown into the sea, %hich with true savage inconsistency, excited their murmurs against Maquina, who had pro- posed cutting off our ship. Relying on this supply, they had in the most inconsiderate manner squandered away their winter stock of provisions, so that in a few days after their return, it was entirely expended. Nor were the king and chiefs much more fortu- nate iu their whaling, even after I had fur- nished Maquina with the improved weapon for that purpose ; but four whales having been taken during the season, which closes the last of May, including one that had been struck by Maquina and escaped, and was afterwards driven on shore about six miles from Nootka, in almost a state of pu- tridity. These afforded but a short supply, to a population, including all ages and sexes, of no less than fifteen hundred per- sons, and of a character so very improvi' dent, that after feasting most gluttonously 143 whenever a whale was caught, they were sev- eral times for a week together, reduced to the necesi^ity of eating but once a day, and of collecting cockles and muscles from the rorks for their food. And even after the cod and halibut fishing commenced in June, in which they met with tolerable success, such was the savage caprice of Maquina that he would often give us but little to eat, finally orderng us to buy a canoe and fish- ing implements, and go out ourselves and fish, or we should have nothing. To do this, we were compelled to part with our great coats, which were not only important to us as garments, but of w hich we made our beds, spreading them under us when we slept. From our want of skill, however, in this new employ, we met with no success, on discovering wliich, Maquina ordered us to remain at home. Another thing, which to me in particular, proved an almost constant source of vexa^ tion and disgust, and which living among them had not in the least reconciled me to, was their extreme filthiness, not only in eat- ing fish, especially the whale, when in a statfe of offensive putridity, but while at their meals of making a practise of taking the vermin from their heads or clothes, and eating them, by turns thrusting their fingers into their hair, and into the dish, and spread- iiig Jh^ir garments over the tubs in which 144 the provision wag cooking, in order to set iu motion their inhabitants. Fortunately for Thompson, he regarded this much less than myself, and when I used to point out to him any instance of their filthiness in this re- spect, he would laugh and reply, Never mind John, the rhore good things the better. I must however do Maquina the justice to state, that he was much neater both in his person and eating than were the others, as was likewise his queen, owing no doubt to his intercourse with foreigners, which had given him ideas of cleanliness, for I never saw either of them eat any of these animals, but on the contrary they appeared not much to relish this taste in others. Their gar- ments, also, were much cleaner, Maquina having been accustomed to give his away when they became soiled, till after he dis- covered that Thompson and myself kept ours clean by washing them, when he used to make Thompson do the same for him. Yet amidst this state of endurance and disappointment, in hearing repi^atedly of the arrival of ships at the north and south, most of which proved to be idle reports, while expectation was almost wearied out in look- ing for them, we did not wholly desponri, re- lying on the mercy of the Supreme Bdng, to offer up to whom our devotions on the days appointed for his worship, w»as oBt chief con >olation and support, tbangh i^^ 145 were sonietirnes obliged by oiir task -masters to infringe upon the Sabbath, which was to Die a source of much re^rret. We were nevertheless, treated at times, with much kindness by Maquina vvho would give us a plenty of the best that he had to eat, and occasionally, some small present of cloth for a garment, promising me, that if any ship should arrive within a hmidred miles of Nootka, he would send a canoe with a letter from me to the captain, so that he might come to our release. These flat- tering promises and marks of attention were however, at those times, when he thought himself in personal danger from a mutinous spirit, which the scarcity of provision had excited among the natives, who, like true savages, imputed all their public calamities, of whatever kind, to the misconduct of their chief, or when he was apprehensive of an at- tack from some of the other tribes who were irritated with him for cutting off the Boston, as it had prevented ships from coming to trade with them, and who were constantly alarming him with idle stories of vessels tliat were preparing to come against him, and ex- terminate both him and his people the Cay- uquets. At s^ch times, he made us keep guard over him both night and day, armed \tith cutlasses and pistols, being apparently jS^id to ti'list any of his own men. A t one tfrnSj it was a general revolt of his people N 148 ihat he apprehended — then three of bfe principal chiefs, among whom was his elder brother, had conspired to take Qway his life, and at length he fancied that a small party of Klaooquates, between whom and the Nootkians, little friendship subsisted, had come to Nootka, under a pretence of trade, for the sole purpose of murdering him and his family, telling us, probably to sharpen our vigilance, that their intention was to kill us likewise, and so strongly were his fears excited on this occasion, that he not only or- dered us to keep near him armed by day, whenever he went out, and to patrole at night before his house while they remained, but to continue the same guard for three days after th^y were gone, and to fire at one and at four in the morning, one of the great guns, to let them know, if, as he suspected, they were lurking in the neighbourhood, that he was on his guard. While he was thus favourably disposed towards us, I took an opportunity to inform him of the ill treatment that we frequently received from his people, and the insults that were offered us by some of the stranger tribes in calling us white slaves, and loading us with other opprobrious terms. He was- much displeased, and said that his subjects should not be allowed to treat us ill, and that if feny of the strangers did it, he wished us to pun- ish the offenders with death, at tke same 147 time directing us for our security, to g^o constantly armed. This permission was soon improved by Thompson to the best ad- vantage ; for a few days after, having gone to the pond to wash some of our clothes, and blanket for Maquina, several Wickinnin- ish who were then at Nootka, came thither^ and seeing him washing the clothes, and the blanket spread upon the grass to dry,^ they began according to custom to insult him, ^^and one of them bolder than the others, ^walked over t^e blanket. Thompson was highly incensed, and threatened the Indian with death if be repeated the offence, but he, in contempt of the threat, trampled up- on the blanket, when drawing his cutlass, without farther ceremony, Thompson cut off his head, on seeing which the others ran off at full speed ; Thompson then gather- ing up the clothes and blanket on which were the marks of the Indian's dirty feet, and taking with him the head, returned and informed the king of what had passed, who was much pleased, and highlv commend- ed his conduct. This had a favourable ef- fect for us^ not only on the stranger tribes, but the inhabitants themselves, who treated us afterwards with less disrespect. In the latter part of July, Maquina in^ formed me that he was going to war with the Ay-charts, a tribe living at about fifty miles to the south, on account of someconr- J48 lrover>5y that had arisen the preceding suni- Bier, and that I must make a number of dag- gers for his men, and cheetoolths for his chiefs, which having completed, he wished me to make for his own use a weapon of quite a different form, in order to dispatch his enemy by one blow on the head, it being the calcwlation of these nations on going to war, to surprize their adversaries while asleep. This was a steel dagger, or more properly a spike, of about six inches long^ made very sharp, set at ri^t angles in an iron handle of fifteen inches long, terminat- ing at the lower end in a crook or tuni, so as to prevent its being wrenched from the hand, and at the upper, in around knob or head, from whence the spike protruded. This instrument I polished highly, and the more tp {^ease Maquina, formed on the back of the knob, the resemblance of a man's head, with the mouth open, substitut- ing for eyes, black beads, which I fastened in with red sealing wax. This pleased him much, and was greatly admired by his chiefs, who wanted me to make similar ones for them, but Maqnina would not suffer it, re- serving for himself alone this weapon. When these people, have finally determin- ed on war, they make it an invariable pr?ic- tice for three or four weeks prior to tlle^^x- pedition, to go into the water five pr six times a day, where they wash arid scrub 149 themselves from head to foot with bushes intermixed with briars, so that their bodies and faces will often be entirely covered with blood. During this severe exerCiSe, they are continually exclaiming, " Wocash Qua- hoolze, Teecliamme ah welth, wiketish tmi- ilth—Kar'Sab-matemas—Wik'Sish to hank matemas — / ya-ish kah-shitlk — -Assmootish warich matemas— V^hxch signifies, Good, or great God, let me live— Not be sick — Find the enemy — Not fear him — Find him asleep, and kill a great many of him. During the whole of this period, they have no intercourse with their women, and for a week, at least, before setting out, abstain from feasting or any kind of merri- ment, appearing thoughtful^ gloomy, and morose, and for the three last days, are al- most constantly in the water, iipth day and night, scrubbing and lacerating themselves in a terrible manner. Maquii^a having in- formed Thompson and myself that he should take us with him, was very solicitous that we should bathe and scrub ourselves in the same way with them, telling me that it would harden our skins so that the weapons of the enemy would not pierce them, but as we felt no great inclination to amuse our- selves in this manner, Me declined it. The expedition consisted of forty canoes, carrying from ten to twenty men eacW Thompson and myself armed ourselves wit^i n2 150 cutlasses and pistols, but the natives, al- though they had a plenty of European arms, took with them only their daggers and cheetoolths, with a few bows and arrows, the latter being about a yard in length, and pointed with copper, muscle shell, or bone : the bows are four feet and a half long, with strings made of whale sinew. To go to A-y-chart, we ascended from twenty to thirty miles, a river about the size of that of Tashees, the banks of which are high and covered with wood. At mid- night, we came in sight of the village, which was situated on the west bank near the shore, on a steep hill difficult of access, and well calculated for defence. It consist- ed of tifteenor sixteen houses, smaller than those at Nootka, and built in the same style, but com pa(*f!y placed. By ^Maquina's di- rections, the attack was deferred until the iirst appearance of dawn, as he said that vas the time when men slept the soundest. At length all being ready for the attack, we landed with the greatest silence, and go- ing around so as to come upon the foe in the rear, clambered up4he hill, and while the natives, as is their custom, entered the seve- ral huts, creeping on all fours, my comrade and myself stationed ourselves without, ter intercept tliose who should attempt to; fe»- cape, or com*^ to the aid of their friends, I '.yisli^d if pos^ibie, not to stain my hand** 151 in the blood of any fellow creature, aad though ThoQipson would gladly have put to death all the savages in the country, he was too brave to think of attacking a sleeping enemy. Having entered the houses, on the war-whoop being given by Maquina, as he seized the head of the chief, and gave him the fatal blow, all proceeded to the work of death. The A-y-charts being thus sur- prised, were unable to make resistance, and with the exception of a very few, who were so fortunate as to make their escape, were all killed or taken prisoners on condition of becoming slaves to their captors. I also had the good fortune to take four captives, whom Maquina, as a favor, permitted me to consider as mine, and occasionally employ them in fishing for me ; as to* Thomp- son, who thirsted for revengeH|e had no wish to take any prisoners, but with his cut-, lass, the only weapon he wouM employ against them, succeeded in killing Seven stout fellows, who came to attack him, an act which obtained him great credit with Maquina and the chiefs, who after this, held him in much higher estimation, and gave him the appellation of Che/iiel'Suma-har, it being the name of a very celebrated warrior of their nation in ancient times, whose ex- ploits were the constant theme of theiv piraii^e; 152 After having put to death all the old and infirm of either sex, as is the barbarous prac- tise of these people, and destroyed the buildings, we re-embarked with our booty in our canoes, for Nootka, where we were received with great demonstrations of joy by the women and children, accompany iug our war song with a most furious drumming on the houses. The next day a great feast was given by Maquina, in celebration of his vic- tory, which was terminated as usual with a dance by Sat-sat-sak-sis. Repeated applications had been made tf>eared to take a strong interest in my ♦^ teiiing me, that if he could persuade i^* 154 Maqnina to part with me, he would put m« Oil board the first ship that came to his country ; a promise, which from his sub- sequent conduct, I have good reason to think he would have performed, as my de- liverarice, at length, from captivity and suf- fering was, under the favour of divine provi- dence, wholly owing to him, the only letter that ever reached an European or American vessel, out of sixteen that 1 wrote at diflfer- eiit times, and sent to various parts of the coast, having been delivered by him in per- son. So much pleased was 1 with this man's behaviour to me while at Nootka, that I made for him a Cheetoolth, which 1 burn- ished highly, and engraved with figures ; with this he was greatly delighted, 1 also would have made for him a harpoon would Maqnina||aye consented. With hearts full of dejection and almost lost to hope, no ship having appeared oflf IVootka this season, did my companion and "^lyself accolhpany the tribe on Iheir remo- vo] ift September to Tashees, relinquishing in consequence, for six months, even the re- motest expectation of relief. Soon after our establishment there, Ma- quina informed me, that he and his chiefs bad held council both before and after g?nt- ting Nootka^ in which they had deteHjEiined that I must marry one of their wome«. iirg- imo: n8 a reason to inuace me to consent, tBa that as there was now no probability of a. ship coming to Nootka to release me, that I must consider myself as destined to pass the remainder of my life with them, that the sooner I conformed to their customs the better, and that a wife and family would ren- der me more contented and satisfied with their mode of living. I remonstrated against this decision, but to no purpose, for he told me that should I refuse, both Thompsoa and myself would be put to death, telling me however, that if there were none of the women of his tribe that pleased me, lie would go with me to some of the other tribt^, where he would purchase for me such an one as 1 should select. Reduced to this sad extremity, with death on the one side, and matrimony on the other, I thought proper to choose what appeared to me the least of the two evils, and consent to betjoiar- ried, on condition, that as I did not fknc^ any of the Nootka women, I sfeuld be per^ mitted to make choice of one from some other tribe. This being settled, the next nK)rning by day light Maquina with about fifty men in two canoes, set out with me for A-i-tiz-^zart, taking with him a quantity of clotlf, a num- ber of muskets, sea-otter skins, &c. for the pu;^€hase of my bride. With the aid of our pa()dfe and sails, being favoured with a fair tfreeze, we arrived some time before suu 136 het at the village. Our arrival excited a general alarm, and the men hastened to the shore, armed with the weapons of their coun- try, aiaking many warlike demonstrations, and displaying much zeal and activity. We in the mean time remained quietly seat- ed in our canoes, where we remained for about half an hour, when the messenger of the chief, dressed in their best manner, came to welcome us, and invite us on shore to eat. We followed him in procession to the chief s house, Maquina at our head, taking care to leave asufficient number in the boats to protect the property. When we came to the house, we were ushered in with much ceremony, and our respective seats pointed out to us, mine being next to Maquina by bis request." , After having been rep:aled with a feast of ]ierri«i(y spawn and oil, Maquina asked me if I saw any among the women who were pre- sent that 1 lijied, J immediately pointed out to him a young girl of about seventeen, the dau.crhter of Upquesta, the ciiief, who was sitting near him by her mother. On this Maquina making a sign to his men, arose and takino^ me by the hand, walked into the middle of the room, and sent off two of his men to bring the boxes containing tbe pre- sents from the canoes. In the meai^ time Kinneclimmets, the master of ceremoMic^, rA\o\i\ I have already spoken of, ipa^ie ^h^p- U7 self ready for the part he was to aCt, by powdering his hair with the white down.—* When ihe chests were brought in, specimens of the several articles were taken out, and shewed by our men, one of whom held up a musket, another a skin, a third a piece of cloth, &c. On this Kinneclimmets stepped forward, and addressing the chief, informed him that all these belonged to me, mention- ing the number of each kind, and that they were offered him for tlie purchase of his daughter Eu-stoch-ee-exqua, as a wife for me. As he said this, lJ}e men who held up the various articles, walked up to the chief, and with a \e\y stern and morose h}ok, the complimentary one on these oecusioDs, threw them ai his feet. In7niecliately on which, all the tribe, both men and women, who were assembled on this occasion, set up aery of Klack ko-Tyee, tliatis,!^|:ank ye chief. His men, alter this cerenmriy, having returned to their ])kces, Maffriiiia rose, and in a speech of more than half jiu hour, said much in my praise to the A-i-tiz> zart chief, telling bin) that I was, as good a man as themselves, differing from tliern only in being white, that I was besides acquaint- ed with many things of \<'hich they were ignorant ; that I knew how to mske daggers, iekeetoolths, and harpoons, and v»;as a very valuable person, who^i he was detern^ined to kc'ejj always j^>}th him ; praising meat ie same tune for tlie goodness of my tem- per, and the manner in which 1 had con- ducted since 1 had been with them, observ- ing that all the people of Nootka, and even the children loved me. While Maquina was speaking, his master of ceremonies was continually skipping about, making the most extravagant ges- tures, and exclaiming Wocash. When he had ceased, the A-i-tiz-zart chief arose amidst the acclamations of his people, and began with setting forth the many good qualities j^nd accomplishments of his daughter ; that be loved her greatly, and as she was his on- ly one, he could not think of parting with her. He spoke in this manner for some time, but finally concluded by consenting to the proposed union, requesting that she might be well used and kindly treated by her lumband. At the close of this speech, when the chief began to matiifest a disposi- tion to consent to our union, Kinneclimmets again began to cali out as loud as he could bawl, Wocash, cutting a thousand capers and spinning himself around on his heel like a top. When Upquesta had finished his speech, he directed his people to cany back the presents Vvhich Maquina had given him, to me, together with two young male slaves to aNsi.st me in fishing. These, after having been placed before me, were by MaqtijoaV 159 men taken on board the canoes. This cere^ inony being over, we were invited by one of the principal chiefs to a feast, at his honse, of Klussamit, or dried herring, where after tlie eating was over, Kinneclimmets amiised the company very highly with his tricks, and the evening's entertainment was closed by a new war-song from our men, and one in return from the A-itiz-zarts, accompanied with expressive gestures, and wielding of their weapons. After this, our company returned to lodge at Upquesta's, except a fevv who were left on board the canoes to watch the property. In the morning I received from the chief his daughter, with an earnest request that i would use her well, which I promised him, when taking leave of her parents, she ac- companied me with apparent satisfaction on board of the canoe. The wind being ahead, the natives %ere obliged to have recourse to their paddies, accompanying them with their songs, inter- spersed with the witticisms and buffoonry of Kinneclimmets, who, in his capacity of king's steersman, one of his functions which I forgot to enumerate, not only guided the course of the canoe, but regulated the sing- ing of the boatmen. At about live in i\\G tJjorning, Me reached Tasheeg, where we f Hind all the inhabitants collected on the •*hore to receive US. We were welcomed 160 with loud shouts of joy, and exclamations of Wocash, and the women takmg my bride under their charge, conducted her to Ma- f(uina's house, to be kept with them for ten ilays ; it being an universal custom as Ma- quina informed mc, that no intercourse should take place between the new marri- ed pair durinor that period. At night Ma- quina gave a great feast, which was succeed- ed by a dance, in which all the women joined, and dius ended the festivities of my .marriage. The term of my restriction over, Maquina assigned me as an apartment, the space in the upper part of his house, between him md his elder brother, whose room was op- osite. Here I established myself with my :amlly, consistingof myself and wife,Thomp. mn and the little Sat-sat-sak-sis, who had always been strongly attached tome, and Jtiow solicited his father to let him live with ^:ne, to which he consented. This boy was baudsprae, extremely well formed, amiable, and of a pleasant, sprightly disposition, i used to take a pleasure in decorating him with rings, bracelets, ear jewels, &c. which 1 made for him of copper, and ornamented and polished them in my best manner. I was also very carefid to keep him free from vermin of every kind, washing him and combing his hair every day. These marks of attention were not only very pleasing tof 161 the child, who delighted in being kept neat and clean, as well as in being dressed off in his finery, but was highly gratifying both to Maquina and his qneen, who us^ed to ex- press much satisfaction at my care of iiim. In making my domestic establishment, I determined, as far as possible, to live in a more coinfortable and cleanly manner than the others. For this purpose, I erected with planks, a partition of about three feet high, between mine and the adjoining rooms, and made three bedsteads of the same, which I covered with boards, for my family to sleep on, which I found much more com- fortable than sleeping on the floor amidst the dirt. Fortunately I found my Indian, princess both amiable and intelligent, for one whose limited sphere of observation must nAcessa*- rily give rise to but a few ideas. She was extremely ready to agree to any thing that I proposed relative to our mode of ]ivn»2:, ivas very attentive in keeping her garments £»^l person neat ami clean, and appermit me to wear those I had at present, which were almost worn out, and not to ompel Thompson to change his dressy obr 163 serving, that as he was an old man, such a change would cause his death. Their religious celebration, which the last year took place in December, was in this, commenced on the 15th of November, and continued for fourteen days. As I was now considered as one of them, instead of being ordered to the woods, Maquina directed Thompson and myself to remain, and pray with them to Quahootze to be good to them, and thank him for what he had done. It was opened in much the same manner as the former. After which, all the men and women in the village assembled at Maquir na's house, in their plainest dresses, and without any kind of ornament^s about them, having their heads bound around with the red fillet, a token of dejection and humilia- tion, and their countenances expressive of seriousness and melancholy. The perform- ances during the continuance of this cele- bration, consisted almost wholly in singing a number of songs to mournful airs, the king regulating the time by beating on his hollow plank or drum, accompanied by one of his. chiefs, seated near him with the great rattle. In the mean time, they eat but seldom, and then very little, retiring to sleep late; aijd rising at the first appearance of dawn, and evt-n interrupting this short period of repose^ by getting up at midnight and singins^. It ^vas terminated by an exhibition of a similar 164 character to the one of the last year, but still more cruel. A boy of twelve years old, with six bayonets run into his flesh, one through each arm and thigh, and through each side close to the ribs, was carried around the room, suspended upon them, without manifiesting any symptons of pain. Maquina, on my enquiring the reason of this display, informed me that it was an ancient custom of his nation, to sacrifice a man it the close of this solemnity in honour of their God, but that his father had abolished it, and substituted this in its place. The whole closed on the evening of the 29th, with a great feast of salmon spawn and oil, at which the natives as usual, made up for their late abstinence. A few days after a circumstance occurred, which, from its singularity, I cannot forbear mentioning. I was sent for by my neigh- bour Yealthlower, the king's elder brother, to file his teeth, which operation having per- formed, he informed me that a new wife, whom he had a little time l^fore purchased, having refused to sleep with him, it was his intention, provided she persisted in her refusal, to bite off her nose. I endeavoured to dissuade him from it, but he was deter- mined, and in fact, performed his savage threat that very ni^ht, saying that since ksIjc would not be his wife, she should not hi 166 that of any other, and in the morning seiil her back to her father. This inhiirnau actiiid not, however, pro- ceed from any innate cruelty of disposition, or malice, as he was far from being of a bar. barous temper ; but such is the despotism exercised by these savages over their women, that he no doubt considered it as a ju 4 pun- ishment for her offence, in being so obstinate and perverse ; as he afterwards told me, that in similar cases, the husband had a right, with them, to disfigure his wife in this way^ or some other, to prevent her ever marrying again. About the middle of December, we left Tashees for Cooptee. As usual at this sea- son, we found the herring in great plenty, and here the same scene of riotous feasting as I witnessed the last year, was renewed by our improvident natives, who, in addition to their usual fare, had a plentiful supply of wild geese, which were brought us in great quantities by the Esquates. These, as Ma- quina informed me, were caught with nets made from bark, in the fresh waters of that country. Those who take them, make choice for that purpose, of a dark and rainy night, and with their canoes stuck with lighted torches, proceed with as little noise as possible, to the place where the geese are collected, who, dazzled by the light, suffer themselves to be approached very near, 160 when the net isr thrown over them, and in this manner, from Mty to sixty, or even more, will sometimes be taken at one cast. On the 15th of January, 1805, about mid- night, J was thrown into considerable alarm, in consequence of an eclipse of the moon, being awakened from my sleep by a great outcry of the inhabitants. On going to dis- cover the cause ai this tumult, 1 found them all out of their houses, bearing lighted torches, singing and beating upon pieces oi plank, and when 1 asked them the reason of this proceeding, they pointed to the moon, and said that a great cod-fish was en- deavouring to swallow her, and that they were driving him away. The origin of this superstition I could not discover. Though in some respects, my situation was rendered more comfortable since my marriage, as I lived in a more cleanly man- ner, and had my food better and more neat- ly cooked, of which, besides, 1 had always a plenty, my slaves generally furnishing me, and Upquesta never failing to send me an ample supply by the canoes that came from A-i-tiz-zart ; still, from my being obliged at this season of the year, to change my accus- tomed clothing, and to dress like the natives, with only a piece of cloth of about two yards long, thrown loosely around me, my European clothes having been for some time entirely worn out, I sufiTered more than 107 I can express from the cold, especially as | was compelled to perform the laborious task of cutting and bringing the fire wf)od, which was rendered still more oppressive to me, from niy comrade for a considerable part of the winter, not having it in his power to lend me his aid, in consequence of an attack of the rheumatism in one of his knees, with which he suffered for more than four months, two or three weeks of which he was so ill as to be unable to leave the house. This state of suffering, with the little hope I now had of ever escaping from the savages, be- gan to render my life irksome to me, still, however, 1 lost not my confidence in the aid of the Supreme Being, to uhom, whenever the weather and a suspension from the tasks imposed on me, wo?dd permit, 1 never failed regularly, on Sundays, to retire to the woods to worship, takin^r Thompson with me when he was able to go. On the 20lh of February, we returned to our summer quarters at Nootka, but on my part, w ith far diflerent sensations than tlie last spring, being now almost in despair ot any vessel arriving to release us, or our be- ing permitted to depart if th(^re should. — Soon after our return, as preparatory to the whaling season, Maquina ordered me to make a ^ood number of harpoons for him- self and his chiefs, several of which I had comi^eted with some lances, when on th« 168 |6tb of March, I was taken very ill with a violent cholic, caused, 1 presume, from my havinjjj suffered so much from the cold in go- ing without proper clothing. For a number of hours 1 was in great pain, and expected to die, and on its leaving me, I was so weak as scarcely to be able to stand, while I had nothing comforting to take, nor any thing to drink but cold water. On the day follow- ing, a slave belonging to Maquina died, and was immediately, as is their custom in such cases, tossed unceremoniously out of doors, from whence he was taken by some others, and thrown into the water. The treatment of this poor creature made a melancholy impression upon my mind, as 1 could not but think, that such probably, would be my fate should I die among these heathen, and so far from receiving a decent burial, that I should not even be allowed the common priv- ilege of having a little earth thrown over my remains. The feebleness in which the violent attack of my disorder had left me, the dejection I felt at the almost hopelessness of my situa- tion, and the want of warm clothing and proper nursing, though my Indian wife, ns far as she knew how ,was always ready, and even solicitous, to do every thing for me sihe could, still kept me very much indisposed, tvhich Maquina perceiving, he linally told tne, that if I did not like' living with my wife, and that was the cause of my being so sad, J might part with her. This proposal I readily accepted, and the next day Ma- quina sent her back to her father. Oh part- ing with me, she discovered much emotion, begging me that 1 would suffer her to re- main till I had recovered, as there was no one who would take so good care of me as herself. But when 1 told her she must go, for that 1 did not think 1 should ever re« cover, which in truth I but little expected, and that her father would take good care of her, and treat her much more kindly than Maquina, she took an affectionate leave^ telling me that she hoped I should soon gel better, and left her two slaves to take care oi nie. Though 1 rejoiced at her departqre, I was greatly affected with the simple expressions of her regard for me, and could not but feel strongly interested for this poor girl, who in all her conduct towards me, had discovered so much mildness and attention to my wish- es ; and had it not been that I considered her as an almost insuperable obstacle to my being permitted to leave the country, I should no doubt have felt the deprivation of her society a real loss. After her de- parture, I requested Maquina, that, as I had parted with my wife, he would permit me to resume my European dress, for, oth^ erwise, from not having been accustotued ijc> P 170 dress like theiii, I should certainly die. To this he consented, and 1 once more became comfortably clad. Change of clothing, but more than all, the hopes which I now began to indulge, that in the course of the isummer 1 should be able to escape, in a short time restored me to health, so far, that I could again go to work in making harpoons for Maquina, who, probably, fearing that he should have to part with me, determined to provide himself with a good stock. I shall not however, longer detain the reader with a detail of occurrences that in- tervened between this period, and that of niy escape, which, from that dull uniformity that marks the savage life, would be in a measure^ but repetitions, nor dwell upon that mental torture 1 endured, from a constant conflict of hope and fear, when the former, almo.^t wearied out with repeated disap- pointment, offered to our sinking hearts no prospect of release, but death, to which we were constantly exposed from the brutal ignorance and savage disposition of the common people, who in the various councils that were held this season to determine w hat to do with us, in case of the arrival of a ship, were almost always for putting us tg death, expecting by that mearis to conci^l the murder of our crew, and to throw the blame of it on some other tribec These 171 barbarous sentiments, were, liowever, uni- formly opposed by Maquina and his chiefs, who would not consent to our being' injured. But as some of their customs and traits of national character, which I think deserving of notice, have not been mentioned, I shall proceed to give a brief account of them. The office of king or chief, is, with those people, hereditary, and descends to the ehi- est soil, or in failure of male issue, to the elder brother, who in the regal line, is con- sidered as the second person in the king- dom. At feasts, as J have observed, the king is always placed in the highest, or seat of honour, and the chiefs according to their respective ranks, which appear, in general, to be determined by their affinity to the roy- al family, they are also designated by the embellishments of their mantles, or Kut- saks. The king, or head Tyee, is their kaderin war, in the management of which he is perfectly absolute. He is also presi- dent of their councils, which are almost al- ways regulated by his opinion. But he has no kind of power over the property of his subjects, nor can he require them to contri- bute to his wants, being in this rcvspect, no m.)re privileged than any other person. He has in common with his chiefs, the right oi holding slaves, which is not enjoyed by pri- vate individuals, a regulation probably aris- ing from their having been originally captivea 172 taken in battle, the spoils of war being uii* derstood as appertaining to the king, who receives and apportions them among his several chiefs and warriors, according to their rank and deserts. In conformity with this idea, the plunder of the Boston, was all deposited in Maquina's house, who distribut- ed part of it among his chiefs, according to their respective ranks or degree of favour with him, giving to one, three hundred mus- kets, to another, one hundred and fifty, with other things in like proportion. The king is, however, obliged to support his dig- nity by making frequent entertainments, and whenever he receives a large supply of pro- visions, he must invite all the men of his tribe to his house, to eat it up, otherwise, as Maquina told me, he would not be consider- ed as conducting like a Tyee, and would be Tiomore thought of than a common man. With regard to their religion — They be- lieve in the existence of a Supreme Being, v/hom they call Quahootze, and who, to use Maquina's expression, was one great Tyee M> the eky, who gave them their fish, and €Ould take them from them, and was the greatest of all kings. Their usual place of wonsliip, appeared to be the water, for when- ever they bathed, they addressed some wortis in form of prayer to the God above, intreat- iiig that he would preserve them in health, ^ive them good success in fishing, kc. These 173 prayers were repeated with much more en~ ergy, on preparing for whaling or for war, as I have already mentioned. Some of them would sometimes go several miles to bathe, in order to do it in secret, the reason for this I could never learn, though I am induced to think it was in consequence of some family or private quarrel, and that they did not wish what they said to be heard ; while at other times, they would repair in the same secret manner to the woods, to pray. This was more particularly the case with the wo- men, who might also, have been prompted by a sentiment of decency, to retire for the purpose of bathing, as they are remarkably modest. I once found one of our women more than two miles from the village, on her knees in the wood*^, with her eyes shut, and her face turned towards heaven, uttering words in a lamentable tone, among which I distinctly heard, Wocash Ah-wdth, meaning good Lord, and which has nearly the same signification with Quahootze. Though I came very near her, she appeared not to no- tice me, but continued her devotions, and I have frequently seen the women go alone into the woods, evidently for the purpose of addressing themselves to a superior being, tmd it was always very perceptible on their return, when they had thus been employed, oni their silence and melancholy 16ok«. p2 174 They have no belief however, ia a state of future existence, as I discovered in con- versation with Maquina, at Tootoosch's death, on my attempting to convince him, that he still existed, and that he would again see him after his death : but he could com- preh'end nothing of it, and pointing to the ground, said that there was the end of him, and that he was like that. Nor do they be- lieve in ghosts, notwithstanding the case of Tootoosch would appear to contradict this assertion, but that was a remarkable instance, and such a one as had never been known to occur before; yet from the mummeries per- formed over the sick, it is very apparent that they believe in the agency of spirits, as they attribute disease to some evil one that has entered the body of the patient. Neither have they any priests, unless a kind of con- juror may be so considered, who sings and prays- over the sick, to drive away the evil spirit. On the birth of twins, they have a most singular custom, which, I presume, has its ori2:iu in some religious opinion, but what it is, I coidd never satisfactorily learn. The father is prohibited for the space of two years from eating any kind of meat, or fresh iish, during which time, he does no kind of labour whatever, being supplied with what he has occasion for from the tribe. In the mean time he and his wife, who is also oblige 175 €d to conform to the same abstinence, with their children, live entirely separate from the others, a small hut being built for their accommodation, and he is never invited to any of the feasts, except such as consist wholly of dried provision, where he is treat- ed with great respect, and seated among the chiefs, though no more himself, than a pri- vate individual. Such births are very rare among them, an instance of the kind how- ever occurred while I was at Tashees the last time, but it was the only one known since the reign of the former king. The father always appeared very thoughtful and gloomy, never associated with the other in- habitants, and was at none of the feasts but such as were entirely of dried provision, and of this, he eat not to excess, and con- stantly retired before the amusements com- menced. His dress was very plain, and he wore around his head the red fillet of bark, the symbol of mourning and devotion. It was his daily practise to repair to the mountain, with a chiefs rattle in his hand,, to sing and pray, as Maquina informed me, for the fish to come into their waters. When not thus employed, he kept continually at home, except when sent for to sing and per» form his ceremonies over the sick, being considered as a sacred character, and one much in favour with their gods. 176 These people are remarkably healthful, and live to a very advanced age, having quite a youthful appearance for their years. They have scarcely any disease but the cholic, their remedy for \yhich, is friction, a person rubbing the bowels of the sick vio- lently, until the pain has subsided, while the conjuror or holy man, is employed, in the mean time, in making^ his gestures, sing- ing, and repeating certain words, and blow- ing off the evil spirit, when the patient is wrapped up in a bear skin in order to pro- duce perspiration. Their cure for the rheu- matism, or similar pains, which I saw appli- ed by Maquina, in the case of Thompson, to whom it gave relief, is by cutting or scarify- ing the part affected. In dressing wounds, they simply wash them with salt water, and biijd them up with a strip of clothj or the bark of a tree. They are, however, very expert and successful in the cure of fractur- ed or dislocated limbs, reducing them very dexterously, and after binding them up with bark, supporting thein with blocks of wood, so as to preserve their position. During the whole time I was amono- them, but live na- tural deaths occurred, Tootoosch and his two children, an infant son of Maquina, and the slave whom 1 have mentioned, a cir<5nm^ stance not a little remarkable in a population of about fifteen hundred ; and as respects :bikl-birth, so light do they make of it. 177 that I have seen their women the day after, employed as usual, as if little or nothing had happened. The Nootkians in their conduct towards each other, are in general pacific and inof- fensive, and appear by no means an ill-tem- pered race, for I do not recollect any in- stance of a violent quarrel between any of the men, or the men and their wives, while 1 was with them, that of Yealthlower ex- cepted. But when they are in the least of- fe«ded, they appear to be in the mr)st vio- lent rage, acting like so many maniacs, foaming at the mouth, kicking and spitting most furiously; but this is rallier a fashion with them, than a demonstration of maligni- ty, as in their public speeches, they use the same violence, and he is esteemed the great- est orator, who bawls the loudest, stamps, tosses himself about, foams and spits the most. In speaking of their regulations, I have omitted mentioning, that on attaining the age of seventeen, the eldest son of a chief, is considered as a chief himself, and that whenever the father makes a pres- ent, it is always done in the name of his eldest son, or if he has none, in that of his daughter. The chiefs, frequently piir- ahase their wives at the age of weight or ten, to. prevent their being engaged by others. 178 though they do not take them from their parents until they are sixteen. With regard to climate, the greater part of the spring, summer, and autumn, is very pleasant, the weather being at no time op- pressively hot, and the winters uncommonly mild, for so high a latitude, at least as far as my experience went. At Tashees and Cooptee, where we passed the coldest part of the season, the winter did not set in till late in December, nor have 1 ever knawii the ice, even on the fresh water ponds, more than two or three inches in thickness, or a snow exceeding four inches in depth, but what is wanting in snow, is amply made up in rain, as I have frequently known it during the winter months, rain almost incessantly for five or six days in succession. It was now past mid-summer, and the hopes we had indulged of our release, be- came daily more faint, for though we had heard of no less than seven vessels on the coast, yet none appeared inclined to venture to Nootka. The destruction of the Boston, the largest, strongest, and best equipped ship, with muc^ the most valuable cargo of any that had ever been fitted out for the North- West trade, had inspired the commanders of others with a general dread of coioiliig thither, lest they should share the same hie ; and though in the letter I wrote (imj Ici^^g those who should receive them, to come to 17^ the relief of two unfortunate Christians who were suffering among heathen) 1 stated the cause of the Boston^ss capture, and that there was not the least danger in coming to Nootka, provided they would follow the di- rections 1 laid down, still 1 felt very little encouragement, that any of these letters would come to hand, when on the morning of the nineteenth of July, a day that will be ever held by me in grateful remembrance, of the mercies of God, while 1 was employed with Thompson in forcing daggers for the king, my ears were saluted with the joyful sound of three cannon, and the cries of the inhabitants, exclaiming, Weena, weena — Mamethlee — that is, strangers — white men. Soon after several of our people, came running into the house, to inform me that a vessel under full sail was coming into the harbour. Though my heart bounded with joj, 1 repressed my feelings, and affecting to pay no attention to what was said, told Thompson to be on his guard, and not betray any joy, as our release, and perhaps om* lives, depended on our conducting ourselves so as to induce the natives to suppose we were not very anxious to leave them. We con- tinued our work as if nothing had happened, when in a few minutes after, Maquinacame in, and seeing us at work, appeared much surprised, and asked me if I did not know tMi a vessel had come. 1 atiswered in a 180 careless manner, that it was nothing to ine. How, John, said he, you no glad go board. I replied that I cared very little about it, as I had become reconciled to their manner of livincr, and had no wish to go away. He theu told me, that he bad called a council of his people respecting us, and that we must leave off work and be present at it. The men havityg assembled at Maquina^s house, he asked them what was their opin- ion should be done with Thompson and my- self now a vessel had arrived, and whether be had not better go onboard himself, to make a trade, and procure such articles as were wanted. Each one of the tribe who wished, gave his opinion. Some v/ere for putting us to death, and pretending to the strangers, that a different nation had cut off the Boston, while others, less barba- rous, were for sending us fifteen or twenty mileK back into the country until the depart- ure of the vessel. These, however, were the sentiments of the common people, the chiefs opposing our being put to death, or injured, and several of them, among the most forward of vxhom were Yealthlower and the youns chief, Toowinnakinnish, were far immediately releasing us ; but this, if he could avoid it, by no meahs appeared ^ae- cord with Maquina's wishes. ^ " Having mentioned Toowinnukinnfeb, I sh^ll brieliv obbi^rve,. ths^' be was^a youqg 181 irtan of about twenty three jears old, the on- ly son of Toopeeshottee, the oldest and most respected chief of the tribe. His son had always been remarkably kind and friendly to me, and I had in return frequently made for him daggers, cheetoolths, and other things, in my best manner. He was one of the handsomest men among them, very ami- able, and much milder in his manners than any of the others, as well as neater both in his person and house, at least his apartment, without even excepting Maquina. With regard, however, to Maquina's go- ing on board the vessel, which hediscovend a strong inclination to do, there was but one opinion, all remonstrating ajjainst it, tellihg him that the captain would kill him or kc-t^p him a prisoner, in consequence of his hav- ing destroyed our ship. When Maquina had heard their opinions, he told them that he was not afraid of being hort from goir;*/ on board the vessel, but tliat he would, hov.^ ever, in that respect, be guided by John, whom he had always found true. He then turned to me, and asked me if I thouiiht there would be any danger in his going in board. I answered, that I was wot surpris- ed at the advice his people had gixen him, Unacquainted as th^y were with the man- ners of the white me«, and judgin»- them by tl^fir own, but if they had Wu with them as much as 1 had, or even liimHrlf, Oux Q 182 wooJd think very different. That he had almost always experienced good and civil treatment from them, nor had he any reason to jfear the contrary now, as they never at- tempted to harm those who did not injure them, and if he wished to go on board, he mifijht do it, in my opinion, with security.— After reflecting a few moments, he said, with much apparent satisfaction, that if I would write a letter to the captain, telling him good of him, that he had treated Thompson and myself kindly since we had been with him, aid to use him well, he would go. It may readily be supposed that I felt much joy at this determination, but knowing that the least incaution might annihilate all m\ hopes of escape, I was careful not to manifest it, and to treat his going or slaying as a matter perfectly indifferent to me. I told him that if he wished me to write such a letter, 1 had no objection, as it was the truth, otherwise 1 could not have done it. I then proceeded to write the recommen- ^,atory letter, which the reader will natural- ly imagine was of a somewhat different tenor from the one he had required ; for if deception is in any case warrantable, it was certainly so in a situation like ours, wher^ ihe only chance of regaining that freedom 'y* which we had been so unjustly deprived, jpended upon it ; and 1 trust th^iietv, en of the 'Tjost rigid, will coildeclia mii 183 with severity for makingj use of it, on ati occasion which afforded me the only hope of ever more beholding a Christian country, and preserving myself, if not from death, at least from a life of continued suffering. The letter which I wrote, was nearly in the following terms : — To Captain of the Brig Nootka,July 19, 1805. Sir, THE bearer of this letter is the Indian king by the Mame of Alaquina. He was the iustigatot of the capture of the ship Boston, of Boston io North America, John Sal* ter captain, and of the murder of tweuty-fire meaof her -crew, the two only survivors being now on shore — IfVhere- foye I hope you will take caie to confine him according to his merits, puttino in your dead lights, and keeping so good a watch over him, that he caunot escape from you. By so doing we shall be able to obtain our release ia ihecourie of a few hours. JOHN R. JEWITT, j^rmourer of the Boston, for himself and John Thompson, Sail'tnaker vf said ship I have been asked how I dared to write in his manner : my answer is, that from my long "sidence among these people, 1 knew that had little to apprebi?nd from their anger qu ing of their king being contined, while knew his life depended upr- "^ ^^ 184 lease, and that they would sooner have giveu up five hundred white men, than have had him injured. This will serve to explain the Jitlle apprehension I felt at their menaces af- terwards, for otherwise, sweet as^ liberty was tome, I should hardly have ventured on so hazardous an experiment. On my giving the letter to Maquina, he asked me to explain it to him. This I did line by line, as he pointed them out with his linger, but in a sense very different from the real, giving him to understand that I had written to the captain, that as he had been kind to me since I had been taken by him, lliat it was r?iy wish that the captain should treat him accordingly, and give him what mo- lasses, biscuit and rum he wanted. When I had finished, placing his fiuger in a signifi- cant manner on my name at the bottom, and yeing me rnih a look that seemed to read ly inmost thoug;hts, he said to me, " John, you no lie?" Never did I undergo such a scrutiny, or ever experience greater appre- S^isions than 1 felt at that moment, when iiy destiny was suspended on the slightest thread, and the least mark of embarrass- ment ott mine, or suspicion of treachery on his part, would probably have rendered my 'ife the sacrifice. Fortunately I was able :o preserve my composure, and niy li^ji^^ painted in the Indi^'nnianaer, which Maqui- na had ^nce my marriage, required <>f ni^; 185 prevented any change in my countenance from being noticed, and I replied with con- siderable promptitude, looking at him in my turn, with all the confidence I coidd muster, ** Why do you ask me such a ques- tionf Tyee ? have you ever known me to lie ?" " No." " Then how can you sup^ pose I should tell you a lie bow, since I have never done it." As I was speaking, he still continued looking at me with the same piercing eye, but observing nothing to excite his suspicion, he told me that he be- lieved what 1 said was true, and that he would go on board, and gave orders to get ready his canoe. His chiefs ag^in attempt- ed to dissuade him, using every argument for that purpose, while his 'wives crowded around him, begging him on their k^ees. not to trust himself with the white men Fortunately for my companion and my sell, so strong was his wish of going on board the vessel, that he was deaf to their sol icili: tions, and making no other reply to them, than, "John no lie," left the house, tak^J'i four prime skins with him as a j^resent the captain. ^ Scarcely had the canoe put off, ^Tien he rdered his men to stop, and callii];g to me, u^ked me if I did not want to go. on board v.:i^ him. Suspecting thi^as a questioti! Kfr^^ly intended to ensnare m^ J repiietl 186 that I had no wish to do it, not having any desire to leave them. On going on board the brig, Maquina im- mediately gave his present of skins and my letter to the captain, who on reading it, ask- ed him into the cabin, where he gave him some biscuit and a glass of rum, at the same time, privately directing his mate to go for- ward, and return with five or six of the men armed. When they appeared, the captain told Maquina that he was his prisoner, and should continue so, until the two men, whom he knew to be on shore, were releas- ed, at the same time ordering him to be put m irons, and the windows secured, which was instantly done, and a couple of men placed as a guard over him. Maquina was fi^.3tly surprised and terrified at this recepr iion ; he however, made no attempt to resist, hat requested the captain to permit one of IS men to come and see him. One of them .3 accordingly called, and Maquina said something t^ him which the captain did not rinderstand, but supposed to bean order to T^ease us, when the man returning to the inX<^, it was paddled off with the utmost lexpcdviion to^tiie shore. A'^i the canoe ap- proachfc\:l, the inhabitants, who had all col- lected u|\>on the beach, manifested some 11% ^asiuesif ,t not seeing their king on ba^rd:, butwheri^n its arrival, they wei^ told that the captain had made him a prisoner.^ ^*^^ 187 ihat John had spoke bad about him in 1$f letter, they all both men and women, set up a loud howl, and ran backwards and for- wards upon the shore like so many lunatics, scratching their faces, and tearing the hair in handfuls from their heads. After they had beat about in this mannev for some time, the men ran to their huts for their weapons, as if preparing to attack an invading enemy ; while Maquina's wives and the rest of the women, came around me, and throwing themselves on their knees, begged me with tears to spare his life, and Sat-sat-jjsak-sis, who kept constantly with me, taking me by the hand, wept bitterly, and joined his entreaties to theirs, that I would not let the white men kill his father. I told them not to afflict themselves, that Maquina's life was in no ganger, nor wouhl the least harm be done to him. The men w^ere however, extremely e:\asr perated with me, more particularly the com- mon people, who came running in the most furious manner towards me, brandishing iheir weapons, and threatening to cut n^e in pieces no bigger than their thumb nails, while others declared they would burii me alive over a slow fire, suspended by my heels. All this fury, however, eaysed u^e but little alarm, as I felt convinced they •vould not dare to execute tiieir llnea^^ wdiile th^ king \yas on bdard 188 chiefs took no part in this violent conduct, but came to me, and enquired the reason why Maquina had been thus treated, and if the capt tin intended to kill him. I told them that if they would silence the people, so that I could be heard, I would explain all to them. They immediately put a stop to the noise, when I informed them that the captain in confining Maquina, had done it of his own accord, and only in order to make them release Thompson and myself, as he well knew we were with them, and if they would do that, their king would receive no aijury, but be well treated, otherwise he would be kept a prisoner. As many of them did not appear to be satisfied with this, and began t€> repeat their murderous threats — fvill me, said I to them, if it is your wish, throwing open the bear skin which I wore, here is ray breast, I am only one among so many, ^nd can make no resistance, but unless vo', wish to see your king hanging by his ok to tliatpole, pointing to the yard arm of the brig, aod the sailors firing at him with bullets, you will not do it. O no, was thegen- fcrdi cry, that must never be; hut what must w^e do ? 1 told them that their best plan vould be, to send Thompson on board, to df^- the captain to use Maquina well tpll I iS released, which would be boori. ^^i^.s ■.cv V ere perfectly willing to do, ami I (;n Thompsw to go on board. JBdt hE 189 objected, saying that he would not leave me alone with the savaojes. I told him not to be under any fear for me, for that if I could get him off, I could manage well enough for myself, and that I wished him immediately on getting on board the brig, to see the cap- tain and request him to keep Maquina close till I was released, as I was in no danger while he had him safe. When I saw Thompsoa off, ,1 asked the natives what they intended to do with me. They §aid I must talk to the captain again, in another letter, and tell him to let his boat come on shore with Maquina, and that I should be ready to jump into the boat at the same time Maquina should jump on shore. I told them that the captain, who knew that they had killed my shipmates, would never trust his men so near the shore for t^ar they would kill them too, as they were so much more numerotjii^, but that if they would «^- lect any three of their number to go with me in a canoe, when we came within hail, I could debire the capfein to send his boat with Maquina, to receive me in exchange for him. This appealed to please them, and after some whispering among the chiefs, who from what words 1 overheard, conduded that, if the captain should refuse to s^nd his boat with Maquina, the three men would ha^^ jio difficulty in bringing me wfck with 190 them, they agreed to my proposal, and se- lected three of their stoutest men to convey me. Fortunately having been for some time accustomed to see me armed, and suspect- ing no design on my part, they paid no at- tention to the pistols that I had about me. As I vi^as going into the canoe, little Sat- sat-sak-sis, who could not hear to part with me, asked me, with an affecting simplicity, since I was going away to leave him, if the white men would not let his father come oa ghore, and not kill him. I told him not to be concerned, for that no one shoidd injure bin father, when taking an affectionate leave of me, and again begging me not to let the v;hite men hurt his father, he ran to comfort his mother, who was at a little distance, vith ti}e assurances I had given him. Orr eatering the canoe, I seated myself in Imjirow (Rcing the three men, having de- ^^i^i^t hied if it was practicable, from the mo* meirl 1 found Maquina was secured, to get fj board the vesjsei before he was released, loping by that means', to be enabled to ob- :lain the restoration of what property be- lo!igijig to the Boston, still remained in the |>0ssession of the savages, which 1 thought^ 4^ ii could be done, a duty that I owed to be owners. With feelings of joy impfiO"^?i. >le to t^e described, did I quit this vS^v. « bort^ co|(ildent now that nothing co^;^ thv^jtm^'e^icape," or prevopt tli^ e^cptioii 191 of the plan I had formed, as the men ap- pointed to convey and guard me, were arm- ed with nothing but their paddles. As we came within hail of the brig, they at once ceased paddling, when presenting my pis- tols at them, I ordered them instantly to go on, or 1 would shoot the whole of them. A proceeding so wholly unexpected, threw them into great consternation, and resuming their paddles, in a few moments, to my inex- pressible delight, I once more found myself along side of a Christian ship, a happiness which I had almost despaired of ever again enjoying. All the crew csowded to the side to see me as the canoe came up, and mani- fested much joy at my safety. I immediate- ly leaped on board, where I was welcomed by the captain, Samuel Hill, of the -^^^ Lydia of Boston, who congratulated nie on my escape, informing me that lie Imd re- ceived my letter off Kla-iz-zart, from the chief Mackee Ulatilla, who came off himself in his canoe, to deliver i| to him, on which he immediately proceed ecihither to aid me. I returned him my thanks in the best manner I could for his humanity, though 1 hardly knew what 1 said, such was the agitated state of my feelings at that moment, with joy for my escape, thankfulness to the Su- preme Being who had so mercifully pre- served me, and gratitude to those whom he ha^ Tendered instrumental in my delivery, 102 that I have no doubt, that what with my stranj^e dress, being painted with red and black from head to foot, having a bear skin wrapped around me, and my long hair, which I was not allowed to cut, fastened on the top of my head in a large bunch, with a sprig of* green spruce, I must have appeared more like one deran2:ed than a rational crea- ture, as captain Hill afterwards told me, >^iat he never saw any thing in the form of man, look so wild as 1 did when J first came onboard. The captain then asked nie into the cab- in, -where I found Maquina in irons, with a guard over him. He looked very melancho- ly, but on seeing me his countenance bright- ened up, and he expressed his pleasure with : t;4*e welcome of " Wocash John ;" when taking him by the hand, I asked the captain's j)ermisfeion to take ofl his irons, assuring him tJMit as I was with him, there was no danger of his being in the least troublesome. He ciceordingly consentj^, and I felt a sincere pleasure in freeing frofn fetters, a man, who, though lie had caused the death of my poor coiBiades, had nevertheless, always proved my friend and protector, arid whom I had requested to be thus treated, only with a view of securing my liberty. MEtq^ina smik^d a r. a appeared much pleased aM his mark -of .apoiitioii from me. When I baq fr-eed tl^lSing from hisironj^, capt^ BHi 1 93 ^vished to learn the particulars of our cap- ture, observing that an account of the de- struction of the ship and her crew had beeu received at Boston before he sailed, but that nothing more was known, except that two of the men were living, for whose rescue the owners had offered a liberal reward, and that he had been able to get nothing out of the old man, whom the sailors had supplied jso plentifitlly with grog, as to bring him too much by the head to give any information. I gave him a correct statement of the whole proceeding, together with the manner in which my life and that of my comrade had been preserved. On hearing my story, he was greatly irritated against Maquina, and said he ou^ht to be killed. I obser^e^i that however ill he might have acted in taking our ship, yet that'it would, perhaps, be wrong to judge an UQinfonned ,sav-agt\ with the same severity as a civilised pt^rson, who had the light of reVigwu and the luv\>^ of society to guide hinf>. That Maquiua's conduct in taking our ship, arose, frou) aii insult that he thought he had received from captain Salter, and from the uinuk^fiabi- conduct of some masters of vessels, who had robbed him, and wilhout i;roM>cation, killed ii, number of his people. i:esides that, a re- gard ^ for the safety of otliers o\is:ht to pn> yent his being put to death, as 1 had liied imq enough with iUmQ people to k4|o# t?-f ?; 194 revenue ot an injury, is held sacred by them, and that thej would not fail to retaliate, should he kill their kin^, on the first vessel or boat's crew that should give them an op- portunity ; and that, though he migjht consider er executing him as but an act of justice, it would probably cost the lives of many Amer- icans. The captain appeared to be convinced from what I said, of the impolicy of taking Maquina's life, and said that he would leave it wholiy with me whether to spare or kill hiui, as he was resolved to incur no censure in either case. I replied that 1 most certain- ly should never take the life of a man who had preserved mine, had I no other reason, but as there was some of the Boston's prop- erty still remaining on shore, I considered it I duty that I owed to those who wereinter- esied in that ship, to try to save it for them, and with. that view I thought it would be »v8ll to keep him on board till it was given lip. He concurred' in this proposal, saying U" there was any of the property left, it most rtamly onght to be got. Buriiig this conversation Maquina was in great anxiety, as from what English he knew he perfectly c omprehended the sub- ject of our deliberation ; constantly iiiteT" ruptiijg me to enquire what we had .detieir- mined to fio with him, what the captain said, if his life would be spared, and if 1 du^ not think that Thompson would kill him. ^ J 195 pacified him as well as I was able, by telling him that he had nothing to fear from the captain, that he wouhi not be hurt, and that if Thompson wi^ed totill him which was veny grobable, he^^nDiiW natT3e allowed to do it. lie would then remind me that I wa& f^debted to him for my life, and that I ought to do by hnn, as he had done by me. I as- sured him €hat such was my intention, and I requesteti him to remain quiet, and not alarm himself, as no harm was intended him. But I fbimd it extremely difficult to convince him of this, as it accorded so little with the ideas of revenge entertained by them. I told him however, that he must restore all the property still in his possession, belonging to the ship. This he was perfectly reaily to. do, happy to escape on "such terms. But ias it was now past fi\ey and too late for the arti- cles to be collected, and brought off, I told him that he must content himself to remain on board with me that nigjft, and in the morning he should be set oil shore as so6a as the things were delivered, ^o tliis he agreed, on condition that I would remain ^vith him in the cabin. A then went npotj deck, and the canoe that brought me having; been sent back, I hailed the inhabitants, and told them that their king had agreed to «tay utt board till the next day, when he - -^-^ re- *^rn, bat that no canoe^; must at U' »H>e near the vessel during the aig 196 they would be fired npon. They answered, Woho, woho — very well, very well. I thea returned to Maquina, but so great were his terrors, that he would not allow me to sleep, constantly disturbing me with his questions, and repeating, " John, you know wjien you was alone, and more than five hundred men were your enemies, I was your friend, and prevented them from putting you ajad Thompson to death, and now I am in- the power of your friends, you ought to do the same by me." I assured him that he would be detained on board' no longer than the property was released, and that as soon as it was done, he wouhl be set at liberty. At day break I hailed tiie natives, and old them that it was Maquina's order that Jiey should bring off the cannon, and an- chors, and whatever remained with them of the cargo of the ship. This they set about iomg with the utmost expedition, transport- ing the cannon arid anchors by lashing to- gether two of their largest canoes, and cov- .5ring them with planks, and in the course of two hours, they delivered every thing on hoard that I could recollect, with Thomp- • on's and my chest, containing the papers of fhe ship, &c. When every thing belonging to th^ ^hip had been restored, Maquina was peruxit4<^(i to return in his canoe, which had beerr ■ for him, with a present of what skinihe b^^a 197 collected, which were about sixty, ibr the captain in acknowledgment of his having spared his life and allowed him to depart un- hurt ; such was also, the transport he felt when captain Hill came into the cabin, and told him that he was at liberty to go, that he threw off his mantle, which cGjn.^isted of four of the very best skins, add g^i-ve it to him, as a mark of his gratitude, in re- turn for which, the captain presented him with a new great coat ^nd hat, witli which he appeared much delighted. The captain then desired me to inform him that he shoafd return to that part of the coast in Novem- ber, and that he wished him to keep what skins he should get, which he would buy of him. This Maquina promised, saying to me at the same time, ' John, you know I shall be then atTashees, but when yoli come make pow, which means, fire a gun to let me know, and I will come down." When Invcauie to \\\Q side of the brig, he i^hook me cordially -by the hand, and told me that he hoped I would come to see him again in a big ship, and bring much plenty of blaukAHs, biscuit, molasses and rum, for him and \-M son who loved me a great deal, and that he wouhi keep all the furs he got iorme, observino^rni the same time, that he should never Hi^/rc take a letter of recommendation from any ne, or ever trust himself on botird i> ves>e^ niless I was there. Then gm;>{;iM" «> -1^ nrr ,aads, with m^ich emotioi), wn]!- ar^^ TJ "> 196 trickled down his cheeks, he bade me fare- well, and stept into the canoe, which imme- diately paddied him on shore. Notwithstanding my joy at my deliver- ance, and the pleasing anticipation I felt of once more beholding a civilized country, and 3^ain being permitted to offer up my devo- tions in a Christian church, I could not avoid experiencing a painful sensation on parting with this savage chief, who had pre- served my life, and in general treated me with kindness, and considering their ideas and manners, much better than could have been expected. My pleasure was also greatly damped by an unfortunate accident that occurred to Toowinnakinnish. That interesting young chief had come on board in the first canoe m the morning, . anxious to see and comfort bis^ king. He was received with much kind- ness by captain Hill, from the favourable ac- count I gave of him, and invited to remain on board. As the muskets were delivered, he was in the cabin with Maquina, where was also the captain, who on receiving them,, snapped a number in order to try the locks ; unluckily one of them happened to be load- ed with swan shot, and goin^^ off, discharg- ed its contents into the body of poor Too winnakinnish, who was sitting opposite. C^k- liearin:^ the report, 1 instantly ran ij^to the cabin, where I found him weltering in his ¥U>od, mth the captain who was gresttJ^^ 199 shocked at the accident, endeavouring to as- sist him. We raised him up, and did every thing in our power to aid and comfort him, telling him that we felt much grieved at his misfortune, and that it was wholly uninten- tional, this he told me he was perfectly satis- fied of, and while we dressed and bound up his wounds in the best manner we could, he bore the pain with great calmness, and bid- ding me farewell, was put on board one of the canoes, and taken on shore, where after languishing a few days, he expired. To me, his misfortune was a source of much afflic- tion, as he had no share in the massacre of our crew, was of a most amiable character, and had always treated me with the greatest kindness and hospitality. The Brig being under weigh, immediately on Maquina's quitting us, we proceeded to the north v^ard, constantly keeping the shore in sight, and touching at various places for the purpose of trading. Having alrtady exceeded the bounds I had prescribed myself, 1 shall not attempt any account of our voyage upon the coast, or a description of the various nations we met with in the course of it, among whou» were a people of a very singular appearance, called by the sailors the Wooden lips. Tbey have luany skins, and the trade is printifir^f- ly managed by their women, who are not oh- - ly expert in making a bargain, but are as dextefous in the management of their ca- noes, as the men are elsewhere. 2qQ After a'perjod of nearly four mon this from our leaving Nootka, we returned from the northward to Columbia river, for the pur- pose of procuring masts, &c. for our brig, which had suffered considerably in her spars during a gale of wind. We proceeded about ten miles up the river, to a small Indian vil- lage, where we heard from the inhabitants, that Captains Clark and Lewis, from the Unit- ed States of America, had been there about a fortnight before, on their journy over-land, and had left several medals with them, which they shewed us. The river at this place, is of considerable breadth, and both sides of it from its entrance, covered with forests of the very finest pine timber, fir and spruce, interspersed with Indian settlements. Here after providing ourselves with spars, we sail- i?d for Nootka, where we arrived in the latter part of November. The tribe being absent, t]>e agreed signal was given, by ^vmg a can- iion, and in a few hours after a canoe appear- ed, which landed at the village, and putting ike king on shore, came off to the brig. — Enquiry was immediately made by Kinne- cluiimits, who was one of the three men in zhe canoe, if John was there, as the king had ne skins to sell them if he was. I then eat forward and invited them on boarr), viith which they readily complied, te}iij>g ine that Maquina had a number of X&idk Willi jjitiiy but that he would not come on bcEvd in>less I ^vo^ic] «?-o on i^horc for hm 201 This I agreed to provided they would re- main in the brig in the mean time. To this they consented, and the captain taking them into the cabin, treated them with bread and molasses. I then went on shore in the canoe, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Thomp- son and the captain, who, though he wanted the skins, advised me by no means to put my- self in Maquina's power ; but I assured him that I had no fear as long as those men were on board. As I landed Maquina came up and welcomed me with much joy : on enqui- ring for the men, I told him that they were to remain till my return. " Ah John,"* said he, " I see you are afraid to trust me, but if they had come with you, I should not have hurt you, though I should have taken good care not to let you go on board of another vessel." . He then took his chest of skins, and stepping into the canoe, I paddled him along-side the brig, where he was received and treated by Capt. Hill with the greatest cordiality, who bought of him his skins. He left us much pleased with his reception, enquiring of me how many moons it would be before I should come back again to see him and his son, who had begged him^ard to let him come with him to see me: saying, that he would keep all his furs for me, and that as soon as my son,^ who was then about five months old, was of a suitable age to take from his mother, he would send for him, and take care of him as his own. As soon as Maquina had quitted us, we got under weigh, and stood again to the northward. We continued on the coast un- till the eleventh of August,! J 806, when having completed our trade, we sailed for China, to the great joy of all our crew, and particu- larly so to rue. With a degree of satisfac- tion that I can ill express, did 1 quit a coast tovvhich I was resolved nothing should again tempt me to return, and as the tops of the mountains sunk in the blue waves of ocean^ I seemed to feel my heart lightened of an oppressive load. We had a prosperous passage to China, arriving at Macao in December, from whence the brig proceeded to Canton. There 1 had the good fortune to meet a townsman :Vid Rii ocd acquaintance, in the mate of an ^n* 1 Easllndiaman, named John Hill, - lu}»Q jitther a wealthy merchant in Hull, in v Baltic trade, was a next door neighbour Shortly after our arrival, the cap- n ^it-iiigon board of the English ship, and mentioning his having had the good fortune to liberate two men of the Boston's crew from tl>« savages, and that one of them was fciamed Jewitt, my former acquaintance imme- diate)-/ Clime on board the brig to see me. Words can ill express njy feelings on see- 2; bim. Circumstanced as I was, ame=Ji>jy persons who were entire strangers to ith to meet thus in a foreign liand, with one be : tvveeu v»hom and myself, a considerable in tiraacy had subsisted, wa^ a pleasure that those alone who have been in a Hisu^lHr situ- ation can properly estimate. He appeared on his part, no less happy to see me, whom he supposed to be dead, as the account of our capture had been received in England some time before his sailing, and all my friends supposed me to have been murder- ed. From this young man, I received every attention and aid, that a feeling heart, inter- ested in the fate of another, couJd confer. He supplied me with a new suit of clothes, and a hat, a small sum of money for my ne- cessary expences, and a number of little ar- ticles for sea stores on my voyage to Ameri ca. I also gave him a letter for my father, in which I mentioned my wonderful preser- vation, and escape, through the humanity of captain Hill, with whom I should return to Boston. This letter he enclosed to his fath- er, by a ship that was just sailing, in conse- quence of which it was received much ear Her than it otherwise would have been. We left China in February, 1807, and af ter a pleasant voyage of one hundred and fourteen days, arrived ai Boston. My feel- ings on once more finding myself in a Chv'< tian country, among a people speaking ihe same language with myself, may be more rea- dily conceived than expressed, li. tfie Post- Office in that place, 1 found a letter fer me froili my mother, acknowledging the receipt of ^nmefrora China, expressing the great joy 404 of my family on bearing of my being alive and well, whom they had for a long time giv- en up for dead, and requesting me to write to them on receiving; her letter, which I ac- cordingly did. - Vi^hile in Boston, 1 was treated with much kindness and hospitality by the owners of the shi]^ Boston, Messrs. Francis and Thomas Amovy of that place, to whom I feel myself under great obliga- tions for their goodness to me, and the assis- tance which they so readily afforded a stran- ger in distress. WAR-SONG OF THE NOOTKA TRIBE. Commencing' ivith a chorus repeated at the end of each line Hah-^ee liali yav hnr, he yar hah. Te yil» ee yali har — ee yie huh. Ivi yar ee yar hah — ee yar hah. ■ ;; yar ee I yar yar hah — le yar «e yee yah i l-ve ma hi-chill at-sish Kla-ha — Ha-ye-hah. Qi e nok ar pa'ts arsh wavv — le yie-yar. Waw-iioo iiHks sar hasch — Yar-Iiah. I-yar hee l-yar. Waw hoo naks ar hascii yak-queets sish ni-ese, W. 'v har. Hie yee ah-hah. 3,^epeaicu over and over with gestures and brandishing of ■-vt ip^ns. NOTE. Itvee-ma hi-cMU, signifies, Ye do not know. It appears to he ;- -'^t^ic. 5 mcile of expression, the con\mon one for you do not kriow, hfing, iVih-kum-ut/sh ,• fronr^ tliis, it would seem .■.;iit they h;