IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. 1.0 ^BS I I.I 2.5 ntuu 1.8 1-25 1.4 1.6 M 6" ► V] <$> /a 7 CM/ ^ c^m. ' 0% ^'^ ■^^ <>% ^#.v V /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ »^^ ^ <^ 4 ^9) '" /AT^^ 'o- V^J^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may ise bibliographicaliy unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. 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Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those toe large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6tre reproduit en un seul clich6, 11 est film6 A partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 { A MA(QW2MA NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES AND SUFFERINGS .. J'OBIJV M, HEWITT, ■ ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE CREW OF THE SHIP BOSTON, DURING A CAPTIVITY OF SEARLY THREE YEARS , ., ' , V, , AMONG THE c SAVAGES OF NOOTKA SOUND: WITH AW ACCOUNT OP THE .; v «. Li MJNNERS, MODE OF LIVING, JND RELIGIOUS OPINIONS OF THE NATIVES. > v ^^^ One repreaenting the Ship in possession of the Savages, and the other a Portrait of the Indian Chief Maquina, " Dire scenes of horror on a savage shore, " Inivhich, a witness sad, a part I bore/' MIDDLETOWN: ^ PRINTED BY LOOMIS AND RICHARDS, dlind Reprinted by Rowland Hurst, Wakefield; AND PUBLISHED BT L0NGM4V, HDSRT, REICS, ORMB AND BROWW, PATERNOSTER-ROW* LONDON ; AND SOLD BT ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 'u »3U3; ■';■ MJ i: ■■ ,w? 1816. ks. ^imitt df Conmttftut, H, % ^ ^ BE IT REMEMBERED; That ; i^^'^' J on the eighth day of March, in the thirty-ninth year of the Independence of the United States of America^ John R. Je witt, of the said District j hath deposited in this office^ the title of a Bookj the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit, A narrative of the adventures and sufferings of John R. Jewett; only survivor of the crew of the ship Boston during a captivity of nearly three years among the savages of Nooika Sound: With an account of the manners ^ mode of living, and religious opinions of the natives. Embellished with two plates, representing the ship in possession of the savages, and a portrait of their Chief , Ma* quina, *' Dire scenes of horror on a savage shore^ ' << lu which, a witness sady a part I bore." In conformity to an act of the Congress of the United States^ entitled, *' An act for the encou* ** ragement of learning, by securing the copies ** of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the proprietors ** of such copies^ during the times therein men* *' tioned " HENRY W. EDWARDS, Clerk of the District of Connecticut. A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by mej^r^' HENRY W. EDWARDS, ^ Clerk of the Drstrict of Connecticut. J .„■ ban il- '; 'tt|i-; .: >-: \ . 1 .• ..- •■\ To i^A^ English Reader. > J ( -' ■ -, ». ' J 1 .•' i > 'M ur-r. 3 ^ The fallowing very interesting work has passed through many editions in America, and there can be no doubt but it will excite much sympathy in this country; more especially as the hero of the narrative is a native of Great Britain. ■.^mai.'ioi e^aui nu,:iii jli^^qv. * The editor of this edition received the copy from the hands of Mr. Jewitt, the author, at Middletown, in the State of Connecticut, in which town he has been some time advantageously settled in business, and at whose house the edi- tor has spent many pleasant hours. His companion in misfortunes, Thompson, on his arrival at Boston, immediately went to. Philadelphia^ his native place, where he was soon after taken ill and died. V- , ' • (' We have many books of fiction in our language, which have been for ages read with much avidity by our youth ; many of them^ with all the aid of fiction^ certainly not equally interesting with this well authenticated narrative. •., J 'I s .' » . '■ In many parts the mode of expres- sion in the narrative, might, perhaps, have been improved, but the editor has thought it best for the author to speak at all times for himself. ^-^!'. ;3iiv^0'* .■■i'^"'^^» v-bin"--?.' -.^-ifi \ ■ yU'V., /hI|- i;:>ijj 1' .^'^".-n-i'^M "^'v 'f.-: -*tTri.'. ■'-fvit;*^ iii>o^t 'H-^ .Oi! ♦■ J. rf '"^'vcjq^ E^trf *5v>l •r r— ... < « \ • ' I « * *■■ '■ ^ • ■ - ) t ,.'■■- N .'•! J^AMM^TIVE OF \M JOHN R.JEWITT. JL WAS born in Boston, n eotisiderable borough town in Lincolnshire, in Great-Britain, on the 21st of May^ 1783. My fatW, Edward Jevvitt, was by trade a blacksmith, and esteemed among the first in his line of business in that place. At the age of three years J had the misfortune to lose my mother, a most excellent Woman, who died in childbeil, leaving an infant daughter, who, with myself, and an elder brother by a former marriage of my fatlier, constituted the whole of our family. My father, who considered a good education as the greatest blessing he could bestow on his child- ren, was very particular in paying every atten- tion to us in that respect, always exhorting us to behave well, and endeavouring to impress on bur miods the principles of virtue and morality^ and no expense in his power was spared to have us instructed in whatever might render us useful and respectable in society.^ My brother, who was <\ four years older than myself and of a more hardy corisitution, he destined for his own trade, bat to me he had resolved to give an education supe* rior to that which is to be obtained in a common school, it being his intention that 1 should adopt 008 of the learned professions. Accordingly at the age of twelve he took me from the school in which J had been taught the first rudiments of learning, and placed me under the care of Mr. Mosei, a celebrated teacher of an academy at Donnington, about eleven 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 considerable proficiency in writing, reading, 'and arithmetic, and obtained a pretty good know- ledge of navigation and of surveying; but my progress in Latin was slow, not only owing to the little inclination 1 felt for learning that language, but to a natural impediment in my speech, which rendered it extremely difficult for me to pronounce it, so that in a short time, with my father^s con- sent, I wholly relinquished the study. The period of my stay at this place was the mott happy of my life. My preceptor, Mr. Moses, was not only a learned, but a virtuous, benevolent, and amiable man, universally beloved by his pa- pils, who took delight in his instruction, and io whom he allowed «very proper amusement, that consisted with attention to their stodiea. ardy but BUpeo itnoo dopt tthe hich 0860, tOD, be neof ■ there One of the prlncipul pleasures I enjtjyed was in ttteodiog the fair, which is regularly held twice a year at Donnington, io the opriog aud io the fall, thfe 8C.ood«^ da> beiog wholly devoted to selling horses, a prodigious number of which arc^brought thither for that purpose. As the scholars on these occasions were always indulged with a holiday, I cannot express with what eagerness of youthful expectation I used to anticipate these fairs, uor what delight 1 felt at the various shows, exhibi- tioDS of wild beaitS) and other entertainments that Ihey presented; I was frequently visited by my fa- ther, who always discovered much joy an seeing me, praised me for my acquirements, and usually left me a small sum lor my pocket expenses. Among the scholars at this academy, there was one named Charles Rice, with whom I formed a particular intimacy, which continued during the whole of my stay. He was my class and room mate, and as the town he came from, Ashby, was more than 60 miles off, instead of returning home, he used frequently during the vacation, to go with me to Boston, where he always met with a cordial [welcome from my father, who received me on these occasions with the greatest affection, apparently taking much pride in me. My friend in return used to take me with him to an uncle of his in Donnlngton, a very wealthy man, who, having no chUdreu of his own, was very foad of B Z w 6 I > ■'^- if \m nephevr, and oo his account I was always a welcome visitor at the house. I had a g^od ^'oice, and an ear for music, to which I was al- ways passionately attached, though my father en- deavoured to discourage this propensity, considering it, (as is too frequently the case) but an introduc* tioD \o a lite of idleness and dissipation, and hav- ing been remarked for my singing at church, which was regularly attended oo Sundays and festival days by the scholars, Mr. Morthrop, my friend Rice's uncle, used frequently \o request me •to sing ; he was always pleased with my exhibitions of this kind, and it was no doubt one of the means that secured me so gracious a reception at his house. A number of other gentlemen in the ptace would sometimes send for me to sing at their houses, and as I was not a little vain of my vocal powers, I was much gratified on receiving these invitations, and accepted them with the greatest pleasure. ■if . '■ , ■■ . - - . ■ ■" -, - 1! ■ Thus passed away the two happiest years of my life, when my father, thinking that I had re« ceived a snfficient education for the profession he intended me for, took me from school at Donning* ton in order to apprentice me to Doctor Mason, a surgeon of eminence at Reasby, in the neighboui:^ hood of the celebrated Sir Joseph Banks. With regret did I part from my school acquaintance, particularly my friend Rice, and returned hootf v^ ' \ » r - \l^i(h my father, on a short visit io my family, preparatory to my ii ''ed apprenticeship. The disinclination I ever had felt for the profession my father wished me to pursue, was still further in- creased on my retuin. When a child I was al- ways fond of being in the shop, among the work- men, endeavouring to imitate what I saw them do *, this disposition so far increased after my leav- ing the academy, that I could not bear to hear the least mention made of my being apprenticed to a surgeon, atid I used so many entreaties with my father to pursuade him to give up thia plan and learn me his own trade, that he at last con<* sented. More fortunate would it probably have been for me, had 1 gratified the wishes of this affectionate parent, in adopting the profession hcll' ^i^t^v!^:!,' .-pji/vri, ;5,.:n-J^*F.;' . In the evenings that he passed at my father'^. Captain Salter, who had for a great number of years been at sea^ and seen almost all parts of the world, used sometimes to speak of his voyages^ and observing me listen with much attention to bis 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? I answered, that it would give me great pleasure, that I had for a long time wished to visit foreign oouF tries, particularly America, which I had been told so many fine stories of, and that if my father would 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 I want an expert smith for an armourer, the one I have shipped for that purpose ■ot being sufficiently master of his trade, I have DO doubt thai you will answer my turn well, as I perceive you are both active aod ingenious, and on my return to America I shall probably be able to do something much better for you in Boston ; I will take the first opportunity of speaking to your father about it, and try to persuade him to conseat. He accordingly the next evening that he m '■ ca ', fa '1^ ta r: th te to t w- 13 '■ft called at our house, mtrodu:ed the subject: my father at first would not lioteu to the proposal. That best of parents, though auxious for my advan- tageous establishment in life, could not bear to think of parting with me, but on Captain 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 fel* low, like myself, confined to a small shop in Eng- land, when if I had tolerable success, I might do so much better in America, where wages wire much higher and living cheaper, he at length gave up his objections, and consented that I should ship on board the Boston as an armourer, at the rate of thirty dollars per month ; with an agreement that the amount due to me, together with a certain sum of money which my father gave Capt. Salter for that purpose, should be Ittid out by him on the North-west coast Jn the purchase of furs for my account, to be disposed of in China for such goods as would yield a profit on the return of the ship ; my father being solicitous to give me every advan- tage in his power, of well establishing myself in my trade in Boston, or some other maritime town *^ of Ainerica. Such were the flattering expectations which this good man induJged respecting me. Alas! the fatal disaster that befel us, not only blasted all these hopes, hut involved me in ex» treme distress and wretchedness for a long period after. m,^*4v,f^'^^^ki^|^^., :**A -i^ffiUH,, ;-fiSp;l 1^1 i| > i\ t ■ I . 18 « i ■*: : our voyage. We now took Ihe trade wind or monsoon, during which we enjoyed the finest wea- ther possible, so that for the space of a fortnight we were not obliged to reeve a topsail or to make a tack, and so light was the duty aqd easy the life of the sailors dqriog this time, that they appear- ed the happiest of any people in the world. Captain Salter, who had been for many years in the £ast-India trade, was a most excellent seaman, and preserved the strictest order and disci* pline on board his ship, though he was a roan of mild temper and conciliating manners, and disposed to allow every indulgence to his men, not inconsistent with their duty. We had on board a fine band of music, with which on Saturday nights, when the weather was pleasant, we were accustomed to be regaled, the Captain ordering them to play for several hours for the amusement of the crew. This to me was most delightful, especially during the serene evenings we experi- enced in traversing the Southern Ocean. As for myself, during the day I was constantly occupied at my forge, in refitting or repairing some of the iron work of the vessel, but principally in mak- ing tomahawks, daggers, <&c. for the North West coast. Ac, ri r*« M:\ During the first part of our voyage we saw scarcely any fish, excepting some whales^ a few nod or st wea- [>rtniglit make the life j^^m. appear- ly yean xcellent' *i^Mk ad disci* a roan ^I^B ;rs, and lis men, OD board ^turday we were •y ordering usement Rightful, expert- As for ^j occupied e of the in mak- ■; th West • i' )< we saw - . ■ 1 a few 19 sharks, and flying fish ; but after weathering Cape Horn we met with nnmerons shoals of sea por- poises, several of whom we caught, and as we had been for some time \^lhout fresh provisions, I found it not only a palatable but really a very excellent food. To one who has never before seen them, a shaol of these firfh presents a very striking and singular appearance ; beheld at a distance com- ing 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 is bustle and activity on board the ship, the grains and the harpoons 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 al they come, gamboling and blowing around the vessel, in search of food. When pierced with the har- poon and drawn on board, unless the fish is in- stantly killed by the stroke, which rarely happens, it utters most pitiful cries, greatly resembling those of an infant. The flesh cut into steaks and broiled, is not unlike very coarse beef, and the 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 sailors have given the name of the herring hog to this fish; I was told by some of the crew, that if one of them happens to free itself from the grains or C 2 ,1 -i'i V I l> I 20 I '■ i harpoons, when strack, all fhe others, altracted by the blood, immediately quit the ship and give chase to the wounded one, and as soon as they overtake it immediately tear it in pieces. We also caught a larp;e shark, which had followed the ship for several days with a hook which X made for tite purpose, and although the flesh was by no means equal to that of the herring hog, yet lo those destitute as we were of any thing fresh, I found it eat very well. After passing the Cape when the sea had become calm we saw great numbers of Albatrosses, a large brown and white bird of the goose kind, one of which Captain Salter shot, whose wings measured from their extremities fifteen feet. One thing, however, I must noft omit mentioning, as it strnek me in a most singnlar and extraordinary manner. This was, that on passing Cape Horn in December, which was mid- summer in that climate, the nights were so light, without any moon, that we found no difficulty whatever in reading small sprint which we fre* quently did during our watches. ',vi^ se^ <■} In this manner, with a fair wind and easy wee* iher from the 28th of December, the period of oar passing Cape Horn, we pursued our voyage to the Northward until the 12th of March, 1803, when we m^de Woody Point in Nootka Sound on the Korth-west Coast of America. We immediately stood up the Sound for Nootka, where Captain i I ! '%, (travted id give 18 they We >lldwed hich I sh waa ^gi yet i; fresb^ le Cape ^ great I white I Salter emities 9i omit ['ngalar lat on If mid- > lighf, BBculty i^e fre» 21 . Salter had determined to stop in order to lupply the ship with wood and water before procee 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 1 3th, seve- ral of the natives came on board in a canoe from the' village of Nootka, with their king, called Maquina, who appeared much pleased on seeing ' us, and with great seeming cordiality, welcomed Captain Salter and his officers to his country. As I bad never before beheld a savage of any natiao^ it may readily be supposed that the novelty of their C 3 .("-> , 1 I ( 41 22 \ :i ) -1 I ■'if ^l*'' ■|T ftpptmnce, so differfnt frohii any people that I bad hitherto seen, excited in me strong feelings of snrprize and cariosity. I was, however, particu- larly struck with the looks of their king, who was a man of a dignified aspect, about six feet in height and extremely strait and well proportioned; his features 'were in general good and his face was rendered remarkable by a large Roman nose, a very uncommon form of feature among these peo- ple; his complexion was of a dark copper Inie, though his face, legs, and arms were, on this occa- sion, so covered with red paint, that their natural colour could scarcely be perceived, his eye^brows were painted black in two broad stripes like a new moon, and his long black hair, which shone with oil, was fastened in a bunch on the top of his head and strewed or powdered all over with vhite down, which gave him a most curious and extraordinary appearance. He was dressed in a large mantle or cloak of the blttdt sea otter skin, which reached to his k^ees, and was fastened 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 un- becoming, 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 mat- tings these are nearly square and have two holes in the upper part large enough to admit the arms— 23 that I lings of [lartica- ho was I height Bd; hia [ce waa nose, a !ae f>eo- er Irae, ia occta- natural e-brows like a :h afaone i top of er with oaa and ed in a er akin, astened cloth of urea of ans nn- savage mantles le bark iw mat- o holes arms— 4^ they reach as low as the knees and are fastened, round their bodies with a belt about four inches broad of the same cloth* ?v Mil < r,s< .*> riti^'-:^: < .Wl— * t.-^»-« ,i. or ;:^:t .Tl-^ ,- «/:, 7i From his having frequently visited the English and American ships that traded to the coast, Maqaina had learned the signification of a anaa- ber of English words, and in general could make iiimself pretty well understood by us in our own language. He was always the iirat to go on board such ships as came to Nootka, which he was mach pleased in vtaiting, even when he had no trade to offer, as lie always receiv«d some small present, and was ia general extremely well tinted by the commanders. He remained on board of as for some time, dliring which 4he captain took htm into the cabin and treated him with a glasa of rum ; these people being very fond of distilled ipiritSy and some biscuit and molasses which they prefer to any kind of food that we can offer them. . ... ...-^ , .• • TS' '•■■. I. ■irj.-'^*iH{ * ;v-*n? iyfei,f4*f* ^i^hM- in i'si A« there ar6 seldom many furs to be purchased at this place and it was not fully the season, Qt^U Salter had put in here not so much with an expec- tation of trending aa to procure an ample stock of wood and water lor the supply of the ship on the coast, tbinkiag it more prudent to take it on board at Nootka, fioiB the generally friendly disposition of the people^ thaa to endaqger the i 34 ri i-ii ' safety of his men io sendiog them on shore for that purpose among the more ferocioas natives of the north. With this view, we immediately set about getting our water casks in readiness, and the next and two succeeding days, part of the crew were sent on shore to cut pine timber, and assist the carpenter in making it into yards and spars for the ship, while those on board were empfoyed in re- fitting the rigging, repairing the sails, &c. when we proceeded to take in our wood and water aa expe* ditiously as possible, during which time I kept my- self busily employed in repairing the muskets, making knives, tomax£s, &c. and doing such iron work as was wanted for the ship. ^,i:',vmkK Meantime more or less of the nativea came on board of us daily, bringing with them fresh salmon with which they supplied us in great plenty, re- ceiving in return some trifling articles. Captain Salter was always very particular before admitting these people on board to see that they had no arms about them, by obliging them indiscriminately to thiow off their garments, so that he felt perfectly lecHre from any attack* iv^ i lOtji . '^ On the 15th the king came on board with seve- ral 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 looked like snow \ bis chiefs were dressed in fr%A •^ ft*" V4' inaolles of the country cloth of its natf^ral colour, which is a pale yellow ; these were orsamented with a broad border, painted or wrought in figures of several colours, representing men^s iieads, va« rious animals, &c» and secured around them by a belt like that of the king from which it was distin- guished 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 tex* ture, and painted red, of one uniform colour. ■ ■■*f'--/' * »*• -^ ivHf* -W,'- Captain Salter invited Maquina and his chiefs to dine witli him, and it was carious to see how theafe people (when they eat) scat themselves (in their country fashion, upon oar chairs) with their feet under them crossed like Turks. They cannot endure the 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 ia molasses, they had also a great liking for tea and coffee, when well sweetened. At iron weapons and tools of almost every kind are in much request among them, wbeoever thsy came on board they were always very attentive to me, crowdidf around me at the forge, as if to see in what manner I di!' 2« men who for a long time had lived wholly on rait provisions excepting such few sea fish as we had the good fortune occasionally to take. We in- deed feasted most luxuriously, and flattered our- selves that we should not want while on the coast for plenty of fresh -provisioDs, little imagining the fate that awaited us, and that this dainty food was to prove the unfortunate lure to oar destruetion ! , On the 1 9th, the king came again on board, and was invited by the Captain to dine with him. He had much conversation with Captain Salter, and in- formed him that there were plenty of wild ducks and geese near Friendly Cove, on which the Cap- tain made him a present of a doable-barrelled fowl- ing piece, with which he appeared to be greatly pleased, and soon after went on shore. On the 20th we were nearly ready for oar depar- ture, having taken in what wood and water we were in want of* ^ i « ." ;•' The next day Maqaina came on board with nine pair of wild ducks, as a preseoty at the same time lie brought with him the gun, one of the locks of which he had broken, telling the Captaio that it mMpeshaky that is bad. Captain Salter was very much ofifended at this observation, and considering it a» a mark of contempt for bis present, he calM fer* •i • 2T • t!ie king a liar, adding other opprpbrious termSf and taking the gnc from him, tossed it indignantly into the>cabin, and calling me to him, said^ ^ John, this fellow^ has broken this beautiful fowling piece, aee if you can mend it :^ On examining it I told him that it could be done. As I have already observed, Maqnina knew a number of English words, and unfortunately understood but too well the meaning of the reproachful terms that the Cap- tain addressed to him. He said not a word in reply, but his countenance sufficiently expres^^ed the rage he felt, though he exerted himself lo sup- press it, and I observed him while the Captain was speaking, repeatedly pul bis hand to his throat, and rub it upon his bosom, "which he afterwards told me was to keep down his heart, which was lisihg into his throat and choaking him. He sooq after went on shore with his men, evidently much discomposed. On the morning of the 22d, the natives came off to us as usual w ith salmon, and remained on board ; when about noon Maquina came along side, with a considerable number of his chiefs and men in their canoes, who after going tbrou^^h the cu.stomary «][amination, were admitted into the ship. He had a whistle in his hand, and over his face a very ugly mask of wood, representiug the head of gome wild beast, appeared to be remarkably good humoured and gay, and whilst his people sung , !■ if 'I Mi, l\ 28 «Dd capered about the deok^ eDteHainiflg ua witli a variety of anac trick and gestures, he blew his Avhjstle to a kind of tune which seemed to regn- •}ate their motions. As Captain Salter was walking on the quarter deck, amusing himself with their dancing, the king came up to him, and inquired when he intended to go to sea? He answered to- niorrow. Maquina then said, * yon 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 ^r. Delouisa, it was agreed to send part of the crew on shore after dinner with the seine, in order to pro- cure a quantity. Macquina and his chiefs staid and dined on board, and after dinner the chief mate went off with nine men in the jolly-boat and yawl, to fish at Friendly Cove, having set the steward on shore at our watering place, to wash the Cap- tain's clothes. (■n Shortly after the departure of the boats, I went ^own to my viee 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 king boat, which, in a few minutes 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 1 was caught by the hair by [f 29 7 «ne of the savages, and lifted from my feet; for- tunately for me, my hair being short, and the rib- bon with which it was tied slipping, I fell from his hold into the steerage. As I was falling, he struck at me with an axe, which cut a deep gash in my forehead, and penetrated the skull, but in conse- quence of his losing his hold, I luckily escaped the full force of the blow; which, otherwise, would have cleft my^ head in two. I fell, stunned and senseless, upon the floor — how long I conti- nued in this situation I know not, but on recover- ing my senses, the first thing that I did, was to try to get up , but so weak was f , from the loss uf blood, that I fainted and fell. I was, however, soon recalled to my recollection by three loud shouts or yells from the savages, which convinced me that they had got posession of the ship. It is impossible for me to describe my feelings at this terrific sound. Some faint idea may be formed 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 lose from my mind the impression of that dreadful moment. I ex« pected every instant to share the wretched fate of my unfortunate companions, and when 1 heard the song of triumph, by which these infernal yells was succeeded, my blood ran cold in my veins. Bffli n Having at length sufficiently recovered my senses Vo look aiuuud me, after wiping tbe blood from mj 'i; ilf i lilt ' M . ''Jt t )■ I 30 eyea, I saw that the hatch of the steerage was shat. This was done as I afterwards discovered, by order of Maquioa, who od seeing the savage strike at me with the axe, told him not to hurt me, for that I was the armourer, and would be useful to them in repairing their arms: while at the same time to prevent any of his men from injuring me, he , had the hatch closed. But to me this circumstance wore a very different appearance, for I thought that these barbarians had only prolonged my life in order to deprive me of it by the most cruel tortures. I remained in this horrid state of suspense for a ▼ery long time, when at length the batch was open* ed« and Maquina, calling me by name,, ^ordered me to come up. I groped my way up'lEis well as I was able being almost blinded with the blood that flowed from my wound, and so weak as with difficulty to walk. The king, on perceiving my situation, ordered one of his men to bring a pot of water to wash the blood from my face, which having done, I was able to see distinctly with one of my eyes, but the other was so swollen from my wound, that it was closed. But what a teriSe spectacle met my eyes : six naked savages, stand- ing 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 had come, and recommended my soul to my Maker* -^ 81 , The kiag who, as I have already observed, knew enough of English to make himself understood, en tered the circle, and placing liimfeif before me, ad- dressed me nearly in the following words — ^^ John — I speak — you no say no — You say no—daggers come !^* He then asked me if 1 would 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 otler questions, to all of which I was careful to answer, yes. He then told me that he would spare my life, and ordered me to kiss his hands and feet to show my BubmissioD to him, which I did.— In the mean time bis people were very clamorous to have me put to death, so that there should be none of us left to tell oar story to our countrymen, and prevent them from coming to trade with them ; but the king, in the most determined manner, opposed their wishes, and to his faronr em I wholly indebted for my being yet among the living. i < ' As I was busy at work at the time of the at* tack, I was without my coat, and what with the coldness of the weather, my feebleness from loss of blood, the paio of my wound and the extreme agitation and terror that I still felt, I shook like a leaf, which the king observing, went into the ca- bin, and bringing up a great coat that belonged to the captain, threw it over my shoulders, telling me to drink some rum from a bottle which he flKtUJ I, t: (!(! ( ■ liri! ^ 32 handed me, at the same lime giving me to nnder- Btand that it would be good for me, and keep me i'rom trembling as 1 did. 1 took a draught of it, after which, taking me by the hand, he Jed me to the quarter deck, where the most horrid sight presented itself that ever my eyes witnesed — the }iei)ds of our unfortunate captain and his crew, to the number of twenty-five, were all arranged iu a line, and Maquina ordering one o! his people 1o bring a head, asked me whose it was : I an- swered, the captain^s; in like manner the others were shewed me, and 1 told him the names, ex- cepting a few that were so horribly mangled that J was not able to recognize them. \ii I now discovered that all our unfortunate crew had been massacred, and learned, that after getting possession of the ship, the savL^es had broke open the arm ch«*8t and magazine, and supplying them- selves with ammunition and arms, sent a party on shore to attack our men, who had gone thither to iish, and bein^ joined by numbers from the village, ^vifhoQi L^i^culty overpowered and murdered them, and cutting off their heads, brought them on board, after throwing their bodies into the sea : On look- ing 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 sa- vages having seized the opportunity while they were busy in hoisting in the boat, to grapple with ■33 them, and overpower them by their numbers; ia^ the scaffle the captain was thrown overboard, and dispatched by those io the caooes, who irome* diately cut off his head : What I felt on this occasion, may be more readily conceived than expressed. w >•»«»" ./ Ji J..;' t> •;i:^,7 ' After I had adswered his questions, Maqulna took my silk handkerchief from my neck, and bound it around my bead, 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 personal experience, the benefit of this application io cuts. iii:» erfk i«H4 :; At I ':!>;" 5 «' f'i Maquina then ordered me to get the ship under weigh for Friendly Cove. This I did by cutting the cables, and sending some of the natives aloft to loose the sails, whicli they performed in a very bungling manner. But they succeeded so far in loosing the jib and top-sails, that, with the ad van* tage of fair wind, I succeeded in getting the ship into the Cove, where, by order of the king, I ran her ashore on a sandy beach, al eight o^clock at •J . - -'^ f^l iMl •;-j* We were received by the inhabitants of the Tillage, men, women, and children, with loud shouts of joy, and a most horrible drumming with sticks upon thej roofs and sides of their housesi D 3 ill •: I I i' 'Bt ; t U4 i ■•' s rl;i r If. 34 io which they had aUo stuck a great number of lighted pioe torches, to welcome their king's re* turn, and congratulate him ou the success of his enlerprize. . ^, ,, Maqatna 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 pf whom ' came around me, expressing much sympathy for my misfortune, gently stroking and patting 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. fi m In the mean time, all the warriors of the tribe, to the number of five hundred, had assembled at the king's house, to rejoice for their s -;ess. They exulted greatly in having taken our ship, and each one boasted of his own particular exploits in killing our men, but they were in general much dissa- tisfied with my having been suffered to live, and were very urgent with Maquina to deliver 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 'v^mi .i^,:'4 35 that betidfi, I knew how to repair and to make aroif, and should be of great use to them. The king then seated m£ by him,* and ordered his women to bring him something to rat, when they set before him some dried clams and train oil, of which he ate very heartily, and encouraged me to follow his example, telling me to eat muclf| and take a great d&al of oil, which would make me strong and fat ; notwithstanding his praise of this new kind of food, I felt no disposition to indulge in it, both the smell and taste being loathsome to me; and had it been otherwise, such, was the pain I endured, Jhe agitation of my mind,, and the gloomines of my reflections, that I should, have felt very little inclination for eating. f|^ Not satisfied with his first refusal to deliver me up to them, the people again became clamorous that Maquina should consent to my being killed, saying that not one of us ought to be left alive to give information to others of ojr countrymen, and prevent them from coming to trade, or induce them to revenge the destruction of our ship, and they at length became so boisterous, that he eaught up a large club in a passion, and drove them all out of the house. During this scene, a son of the king, about eleven years old, attracted no doubt by the singularity of my appearance, came up to me : I carewed him; he returned my attentions with ill 'I ' ''I ii hi 30 ...» , much apparent pleasure, and consideriDg this as a fortuoate opportanity to gain the good will of the ' father, I took the child on my knee, and cutting the metal buttons from off the coat I had on, I tied^ them around his neck. At this he was highly delighted, and became so much attached to me^ tl^t he would not quit me. , ^ u j.^; .. , • 19 -,,,■" The king appeared much pleased with my atten- tion to his son, and telling me that it was time to go to slee^ directed me to lie with his son next to him, as he was afraid lest some of his people would come while iie was asleep and kill me with their daggers. I lay down as he ordered me, but neither the state of my mind nor the pain I felt would aflow me to sleep. V i I About midnight I was greatly alarmed by the approach of one of the natives, who came to give information to the king that there was one of the' white men alive, who had knocked him down M he went on board the ship at night. This Ma- quina communicated to me, giving me to undeir- ttand that as soon as the aun rose he should kill him. 1 endeavoured to persuade him to spare his life, bat he ifade me be silent and go to sleep. I said Doihing more but lay revolving in my mind what method I couid devise to save the life of this man. "^^ What a consolation thought I, what a happiness woaid it prove to me in my forlorn state among h f sr these heathens, to have a Christiao aod one of my own couotrymeo for a companioD, and how greatly Mould it alleviate and lighten the burden of ray slavery. ..,;.,., ,^ ^ , -..,,._^ As I was thinking of some plan for his preserva- tioa, it all at once came into my 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 sails not long before the attack. The more I thought of it the more probable it appeared to me, and as Thompson was a man nearly forty years of age, and had an old look, I conceived it would be easy to make him pass for my father, and by this means prevail on Maquina to spare his life. To- wards morning I fell into a doze, but was awakened with the first beams of the sun by the king, who told me he was going to Lill the man who was on board the ship, and ordered me to accompany him. I rose and followed him, leading with me the young prince, his son. ^. * , ; On coming to the beach I found all the men of the tribe assembled. The king addressed them, saying that one of the white men had been found alive on board the ship, and requested their opinior as to saving his life or putting him to death. They were unanimously for the latter: This deter- mination he made known to me. Having arranged ¥^ tr- .'I ! 'h )'■ ii '. ■ s ■ . I ( ; j vll I'i 38 m »y plaD, I asked him, pointing to the boy, whom I still held by the hand, if he loved his son, he answered that he did; I then asked the child if be loved his father, and on his replying in the affirmative, I said, and ^^ I also love mine. I then threw myself on my knees at Maquina^s feel, and implored bin, with tears in my eyes, to spare •my father's life, if the man on hoard should prove to be him, telling him that if he killed my father. It was my wish that he shodid kill me too, and that if he did not, I would kill myself, — and that he would thus lose my services; whereas, by iparing my father's life, he would preserve mint, which would be of great advantage to him, by my xepairing and making arms for him. "j *:•. '* iC fr< ij?'- .>f »« "-.-r,*,. IL^y.*- fv ,>*■/ )rf» ''■ if;:: ' 1- 1 As these people set no value upon things of this kind, I found no difficulty in appropriating th' m to myself, by putting them in my chest which though it had been brokeQ open and rified by the savage^s, as I still had the key, I without much dillicuity secured. In this I also put some small tot. is be- longing to the Khip, with several other articles, * -. ( i 41 l^artkulatly a joaraalk^pt by (he>»ecoQ(l mate, Mr. Ingraham, aad a collection of drawiogs and views of places taken by him, which I bad the good for- tune to preserve, and on my arrival at Boston, £ gave them to a connection of his, the honoarable Jadge Pawes, who sent them to his family in New York. ' • 'h; , . ! On tlie 26th, two ships were seen standing in for FrieDdly Gove. At their first appearance the in- habitants were thrown into great confusion, but soon collecting a niiHiber of mnakets and blunder- busses, ran to the shore, from whence they kept up so brisk a fire at th^m, that they were evidently afraid to approach nearer, and after firiug a few rounds (^ grape shot which did no harm io any one, they w^yeship and stood out to sea. These ship?, as I . afterwards learned, were the Mary and Juno of Boston. Tbey were soarceily out of sight when Maqaina expressed imich regret that he had permitted his people to fire at them, being apprehensive that they would give information to others in what manner they had been received, and prevent them from ooming to trade with hi«i. A few days after hearing of the capture of the ship, there arrived at Nootka a great aumber of canoes filled with savages from no less than fwenty E !,'i! ( . I'!.','; ' i fell I' s i i i:i. M fii: III I Hi If i';. : 42 tribes to the North and Sout)). Among those from the North were the Ai-tiz^arts, Schoo- mad-its, Nea-wit-ties, Savin-nars, Ah-owz-arts, Mo-watch- its, Suth-setts, Neu-chad-litc, Mich-la-its and Cay- u-quet9; the most of whom were considered as tri- butary to Nootka. From the Suuth, the Aytch-arts and Esqm-ates also tributary, with the Kla-oo- quates, and the Wickannish, a large and powerful tribe abdut two hundred miles distant. These last were better clad'than most of the others, and their cauoes wrought with much greater skill ; they are furnished with sails as weH as paddles, and with the advantage of a fair breeze, are usually but twenty- lour hours on their passage. Maquina, who was very proud of bis new ac- quisition, was desirous of welcoming these visitors in the European manner. He accordingly ordered his men, as the canoes approached, to assemble on the beach with loaded muskets and blunderbusses, placi!ig Thompson at the cannon which had been brought from the ship and laid upon two long sticks of timber in front of the village, then taking a speaking trumpet in his hand, he ascended with me, the roof of his house, and began drumming or beating upon the boards with a sUck most vio- lently. * Nothing could be more ludicrous than the ap- pearance of this motly groupe of savages collected 43 on the shore, dressed as they were, with their ill- gotten finery, in the most fantastic nianner, some in women's smocks, taken from our cargo, others in Kotsacks^ (or cloaks) of blue, red or yellow broad- cloth, with stockings drawn over their heads, aiid their necks hung round with numbers of powder- horns, shot-bags, and cartouch-boxes, some of thetn having no less than ten muskets a piece on their shoulders, and five or »ix daggers in their girdles. Diverting indeed was it to see them all squatted upon the beach, holding their muskets perpendicu- larly, with the butt pressed upon the sand, instead of against their shoulders, and in this position awaiting the order to fire. Maquina, at last^ cal- led to them with his trumpet to fire, which they did in the most awkward and timid manner, with theijr muskets hard pressed upon the ground as above- mentioned. At the same moment the cannon was fired by Thompson, immediately on which they threw themselves back and began to roll and tumble over the sand as if they had been shot, when sud- denly springing up, they began a song of triumph and running backward and forward upon the shore, with the wildest gesticulations, boasted of their explmts, and exhibited as trophies, what they had taken from as. Notwithstanding the unpleasant- ness of my situation, and the feelings that this display of our spoils excited, I could not avoid laughing at the strange appearance of these ffa- E 2 t ■-!! J \:i 44 rages, their awkward movement#, and the bId gular contrast of their dress and arms. « When the ceremony was concluded, Maquina^ iovited the strangers to a feai>t at his hoas«, con- msllDg of whale blubber, »moked herring spawn^ and dried fish and train oil, of which they eat most pientifully. The feast being over, the trayv, o«t< of which they eat, and other things were mmt" diately Removed to make room for the dance, whicEii ivas to close the entertainment. This was per- formed by Mitquina^s son, the young pvince 8at« .eat-sok-sis, whom I have already spoken ofy iiy the following manner: — Three of the principal chiefs, drest in "their otter-skin mantles, whicb they wear only on extraordinary occasions and at festivals, having their beada covered over with white down, and their faces higMy painted, caine forward into the middie of the room, each furnished with a bag filled with white down, which they scattered around in such a manner as U> represent a fall of snow. These were followed by the young prince^ who was dressed in a long piece of yellow cloth, wrapped loosely around him, and decorated with small bells, \i'iih a cap on bis head, to which was fastened a curious ma&k in Hnitaliion of a wolf^s head^ while the rear was brought up by ihe king himself, in his robe of sea-otter skin, with a small whistle in his mouth and a rattle in hit hand, with which he kept time to a sort of tuue 45 on bis whistle. After passing very rapidly io this order around the house, each of them seated him- self, except the prince, who immediately began his dance, which principally consisted in springing up into the air in a squat posture, and constantly turning around on his heels with great swiftnessy in a very narrow circle. This dance, with a few intervals of rest, was' continued for about two hours, during which the chiefs kept up a constant dramming 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 dancer, by repeating the words, IVocash! IVocath T^ee! that is good! very good prince. |!i ; !' As soon as the dance was finished, Maquina be- gan to give presents tc strangers, in the name of his son Sat-sat-sok-sii^ These were pieces of European cloth, generally of a fathom in length, muskets, powder, shot, &c. Whenever he gave them any/ thing, they had a peculiar aianner of snatching it from him with a very stern and surly look, repeating each time the words, iVocasIi Tyee. This I understood to be their custom, and was considered as a compliment, which if omitted, would be supposed as a mark of disregard for the E 3 [ V-\ \ I i i si! ^ / m \ 1 ,7 M m ^ ' \ :e M'^ \ [':. I I if M, 1U III 46 prenent. Oo this occasion, Maquioa gave away no lesi than one hundred muskets, the same num- ber of looking-glasses.; four hundred yards of cloth, and twenty casks of powder, beside other things. After I'eceiving these presents, the strangers re- tired on board their canoes, for so numerous were they, that Maquina would not suffer any but the chiefs to sleep in the houses ; and in order to pre- vent the property from *)eing pillaged by them, he . ordered Thompson and myself to keep guard, dur- ing the night, armed with cutlasses and pistols. In this manner tribes of savages from various parts of the coast, continued coming for several days, bringing with them, blubber, oil, herring- spawn, dried fish and clams, for which they re- ceived, in return', presents of cloth, &c. after which they in general immediately returned home, I observed that very few, if any of them, except the chiefs, had arms, which I afterwards learned is the custom with these people, whenever they come upon a friendly visit or to trade, in order to shew, ou their approach, that their intentions are pacific. « Early on the morning of the 19th, thefthip was discovered to be on fire. This was owing to one of the savages having gone on board with a fire- brand at night for the purpose of plander, some 47 iparks from which fell inta the hold', aud eomma- nicating with some combustibles, sr weloped the whole in flames. The natives regiected the loss of the ship the more, as a great part of her cargo still remained on board. To my compa- nion and myself, it was a most melancholy sight, for wifh her disappeared from our eyes every trace of a civilized country ; but the disappointment we. experienced, was still more severely felt, for we had calculated on having the provision to our- selves, which wonld have furnished us with a stock for years, as whatever is cnred with salt, together with most of our other articles of food, are never eaten by these people. I had luckily saved all my tools, excepting 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 taken from the ship, to discover a box of chocolate, and a case of port wine, which as the Indians were not fond of it, proved a great com- fort to us for some time, and from one of the natives I obtained a nautical almanack, which had belonged to the Captain, and which was of gi*eat use to me in determining tb: time. '^i! About two days after, on examiniug their booty, the savages found a tierce of rum, with which they were highly delighted, as they have become very fond of spirituous liquors since their intercourse !:! » ! \' r'i -■ M 4» with thf ;f hiies. This wai towards evening;, and Maquina having assembled ail the men at bis house, gave a feast, at which they drank so freely of the ram, that in a short time, they became so extremely wild and frantic, that Thompson and. myself, apprehensive for our safety, thought it: pradent to retire privately into the woods, where wc continued till past midnight. On our return we found the women gone, wh» are always very temperate, driaking nothing but water, having quitted the house and gone to the other huts to sleep, so terrified were they at the conduct of the men, who lay all stretched out on the floor, in a state of complete intoxication. How a easy in this situation would it have been for us to have dispatched or made oureeLyes masters of our enemies, had there been any ship near to which we could have escaped, hot as we were situated, the attempt would have been madness. The wish of revenge was, however, less strongly impressed on my mind, than what appeared to be so evident an interposition of divine Providence in our favour. How little can man penetrate its designs, and how frequently is that intended as a blessing, which he views as a curse. The burning of our ship, which we had lamented so much, as depriving as of so many comforts, now appeared to os in a very (litTerent light, for had the savages got po8» iressiou of the rum, of which there were nearly • > 4» twenty puncheons on board, we must inevitably bave fallen a sacriGee to their fury ia soine of- their momeats of intoxication. This cask fortu- nately, and a c .se of gin, was all the spirits they obtained from the ship. To prevent the recurrence of similar danger, I examined the cask, and finding.' still ^a odiilderable quantity ramaioing, 1 bored a small hole la the bottom with a gimhlet, which before rooraiog to ray gre^t joy completely enp* tied it* 11 By this time the WKmtd in m^ Head bagfaiQ fo be mueh bet-ter, so tha;! i ooukf enjoy some •letp^ whiKth i had bfe» almost dep«iiredof by the painv* and though I was still feeble from the loss of blood and nvy soflferiags, I found myself si»ffi«ieat4y well lo go ta woirk at my tfade, a niaking' fof the king^ and his wms bracelets aind othes snail ornameB't» •I copper or steel, aad in repairkig the anus, nakr wg use of a large square stone for the anvil, ao4 beating my metal in a common wood fire. Tbie was very gratifying to Maqaioa, and his women particuterly, and secured me their good will. In the mean time great numbers from the other tribes kept continoally flocking to Nootka, bring* mg with them in exchange for the ship's plunder such quantities of provision, that notwithstanding the little success that Maquina met with in whaling this season, and tlieir gluttonous waste, always ;i ii .) ' ( '.,■ 60 eating f sparing me ^lany labour which be believed >might be hurtful to J, me, frequently enquiring in an * -.■ ^ •■ N 68 gtiffer me to languish in captivity amoag theMe heathens. With this view, I sought to gain tlieir good-will by always endeavouruig to assume a cheerful countenance, appearing pleased with their •ports and buiTooo tricks, making liitle ornamenig for the wives and children of their chiefs, by which means I became quite a favourite with them, and fieth-l^poks, daggers, <&c. for themselves. ^1 11 As a farther recommendation to their favour, and what might eventually provs of the utmost importance to us, i resolved ^o learn their lau- gnage. which in the course of a few months resi- dence I so far succeeded in acquiring^ as to be able in general to ma^^c myself well understood. I likewise tried to persuade Tnompson to learn it, as what might prove necessary to him. But he refused, saying, that he hated both them and their cursed liogo, and would have nothing to da with it* By pursuing this conciliatory plan, so far did I gain the good-wili of the«ie savages, particularly the chiefs, that I scarcely ever failed experiencing kind treatment from them, and was received with a smile of welcome at theii houses, where I was always sure of having something given me to eat, whenever they had it, and many a good meal have I had from them, whrn they themselves were short of provisioQK and suiS'ering for the want of them. . * 5^ And it was a comtnOi: practice with me, when we had nothing to eat at home, which happened not unfrequently during my stay among them to go around the village, and on noticing a smoke from any of the houses, which denoted (hat tney were cooking, enter iu without ceremony.: and n^k tiiem for something, which I was never refused. Kew nations, indeed, are there so very rude and u 12 reel- ing, whom constant mild treatment and an atten- tion to please, will not mollify and obtaiu from some return of kind attention. This, the treatment I received from these people, ma^ exemplify, for not numerous, even among thosv? calling them- selves civilized, are there instances to be found of persons depriving themselves of food to give it to a stranger, whatever ^na^ be his merits^ . \ i •iii I :' ' >l t '; It may perhaps be as well ia this place to give a description of Nootka; some accounts of the tribes who were accustomed to visit us ; and the manners and custjms of the people, as far as I hitherto bad an opportunity of observing them, ■; . i >.- The village of Nootka, is situated in between 49 and 50 deg. N. lat. at the bottom of Friendly Cove, on the West or North-west side. It con- sists of about twenty houses or huts, on a small hill, which rises with a gentle ascent from the shore. Friendly Cove, which affords good and secure anchorage for ships close in with the shore^ f' «0 m T» a small harbour of not more than a quarter or half a mile in leng;th, and aboat half a mile or three quarters broad, formed by the line of coast on the J'ast, and a long point or head land, which extendi as much as three leagues into the sound, in nearly a Westerly d'.ection. 'I^his, as well as I can judge from what I have seen of it, is ia general from one to two miles in breadth, and mostly a rocky and uiiprodurtive soil, with but few trees. The Eastern and Western shores of this harbour, are steep and in many parts rocky, the trees growing quite to the water's edge, but the bottom to the North and North-west is a fine sandy beach of half a mile or more in extent. m i V'. From the village to the North and North-east extends a plain, the soil of which is very ex^'ellent, and with proper cultivation may be made to pro- duce almost any of our European vegetables ; this is but little more than half a mile in breadth, and is terminated by the sea-coast, which in this place\ is lined with rouks and reefs, an designate iiim from all the others, is longer and broader at the bottom ; the top, instead of being flat, having upon it an ornament in the figure of a small 'irn. It is also of a much finer texture than the others, and plaited or wrought in bl^ck and white stripes uith the represeutation in front of a canoe in pursuit of a whale, with the harpooner standing in the prow pre- pared to strike. This bonnet is called Seeya-poks* Their mode of living is very simple — their food 69 eoosifltia^'klmoBi wholly of fish, or fish spawD fresh or dried, the blubber of the whale, seal, or sea^ cow, mpscles, clams, and (icrrics of various kiods ; all of which are eaten with a profusion of train oil for saoce^tiot excepting even the most d^ilicate fruit as strawberries and raspberries. With so little va« riety in their food, no great secret can be expected in their cookery. Of this, indeed, they may be said to know but two methods viz. by boiling and steaming, and even the latter is not very frequent* ly practised by them. Their mode of boiling is as follows: Into one of their tubs, they pour water sufficient to cook the quantity of prr^vision wanted. A number of heated atones are then put in to make it boily when the salmon or other fish are put in with- out any other preparation than sometimes cutting oflf the beads, tails and fin», the l)oiling in the mean time been kept up by the application of the hot stones, after which it is left to cook until the whole is nearly reduced to on^ mass. It is then taken out and distributed in the trays. *In a similar manner they cook their blubber and spawn, smoked >3r dried fish, and in fine, almost every thing they eat, no* thing going down with them like broth. When they cook their fish by tfeam, which are usually the heads, tails, and fins of the salmon, cod £Rk) b'alibut, a large fire is kindled, upon which , they place a bed of stones, whichf when the wood . ,.c. O 3 . ,i 1 !; '1 tf I ! i' M ■»i I' I i "■ I ■ 70 m 'fl^Kifll 'HMnf|(9t W^ r S|jl sWh- t ( p-: 'i' ■;>! *M^*' » Vn^«.i ^^;l KkHhI JJ|rT<'i T^« ■ ; I ^'if a, is bnrnt down, becomes perfectly heafed# Layers . cf green leaves or pine boughs, are then placed upon the stones, and the fish, clams, &e. being laid npon them, water is poured over them, and the ^whole closely covered with mats, to keep in the steam. This is much the best mode of cooking, and clanis and muscles done in this manner, are really excellent. These, as I have said, may be considered as their only kinds of cookery ; though I bave^ in a very few instances, L'^own them dress the roe or spawn of the salmon and the herring, when first taken, in a different manner; this was by roasting them, the former being supported be- tween two split pieces of pine, and the other having a sharp stick run through it, with one end fixed iii the ground ; sprats are also roasted by tbem in this way, a nsmber being spitted upon one •tick; and this kind of food, with a little salt, would be found no contemptible eating even to an European. At their meals they seat themselves upon the ground, with their feet curled up under tbem, around their trays, which are generally about three feet long by one broad, and from six to eight inches deep. In eating they make use of nothing but tbeir fingers, except^for the soup or oil, which they lade out with clam shells. Around one of these trays, from four to six persons will seat themselves, Constantly dipping in their fingers or clam shells^ 11 71 one after the other. The king and chiefs alone have separate (rays, from which no one is permitted to eat with them, except the queen, or principal 'Wife of the chief, and whenever the king or one of the chiefs wishes to distinguish any of his people •with a special mark of favour on these occasions, i he calls him a^d gives him some of the choice bits from his tray. The slaves eat at the same time, and of the same provisions, fareing in this respect < as weil as their masters, being seated with the fa- mily, and only feeding from separate trays. Whenever a feast is given by the king or any of the chiefs, there is a person who acts as a master of ceremonies, and whose business it is to receive the gaests as they enter the house, and poin<: out to them their respective seats, which s regulated with great punctiliousness as regards rank; the king occupying the highest or the seat of honour, his son or brother sitting next him, and so on with the chiefs according to their quality ; the private persons belonging to the same family being always placed together, to prevent any confusion. The women are seldom invited to their feasts, and only at those times when a general invitation is given to the village. 1 ! r 1 ■ ■^^' • I I 'I M As whenever they cook, they always calculate to have an abundance for ail the guests, a profu- sion in this respect being considered as the highest ...JJi 72 i« luxury, much more is usually set before ( deformity that I saw amongst them was a man of I 73 dwarfish stature; he was thirty years old and but three feet three ioches high, he had however do other defect than his diminutive size being well made, and as strong and able to bear fatigue as \^hat they were in general. Their coiLolexion, when f jed from the paint a? d oi! with vhich their skina are generally co- vered, is a Hro^ a, somewhat inclining to a copper casto The shape of the face is oval; the features are tolerably regular, the lips being thin and the teeth very white and even; their eyes are blackr but rather small, and the nose pretty well formed being neither flat nor very prominent ; their hvu' is black, long and coarse, but they have no bearc completely extirpating it, as well as the hair ■ ^w their bodies. Maquiaa 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 Europe. I'hcy are in general very well looking, and some quite handsome. Maquina^s favourite wife in particular, who was a Wickinninish princess, would be con.^idered as a beautiful woman in any country. She was un- commonly well formed, tall, and of a majestic ^ at ,:tj; ti ill! P^ w ■ a 74 appearao/ce ; her skia remarkably fair for one of these people, with considerable colour, her features handsome, and hef eyes black, soft, and lan- guishing; her hair was very long, thick, and black, as is that of the females iO general, which is much softer than that of the men s in this they take much pride, frequently oiling and plaiting it carefully into two broad plaits, tying the ends with a strip of the cloth of the country, and letting it hang down before on each side of the face. to The women keep their garments much neater and cleaner than the men, and are extremely mo- dest in their deportment and dress ; their mantle, or Kotsack, which is longer than that of the men, reaching quite to their feet, and completely en- veloping them, being tied close under the dbin, and bonud with a girdle of the same cloth, or of sea otter skin around their waists; it has also loose sleeves which reach to the elbows. Though ibnd of ornamenting their persons, they are by no means so partial to paint as the men, merely colouring their eye4)row8 black, and drawing a bright red •tripe from each corner of the mouth towards the ear. Their ornaments consist chiefly of ear-rings, necklaces, bracelets, rings for the fingers and ancles, and small nose jewels, (the latter are, however, wholly confined to the wives of the king or chiefii,) these are principally made out of copper or brass, lr- 76 highly polished, and of varioas forms and sizes; the nose jewel is usaally a small white shell or bead laspended to a thread. \ The wives of the common people fret^oentlyt i^ear for bracelets and aucle rings, strips of the country cloth or skin of the Metameltb painted in fignres, and those of the king or principal chiefs, bracelets and necklaces, consisting of a number of ^ strings of Ife-uaw^ an article much prized by them, and which makes a very handsome appearance. This Ife^waw^ as they term it, is a kind 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 in* ' ches in length, and gradually tapering to a point, which is broken off by the natives, as it is taken from the water; this they afterwards string upon threads of bark, an,d sell it by the fathom; it forma a kind of circulating medium among these nations, five fathoms beiog considered as the price of a slave their roost valuable species of property. It is prin^ cipally obtained from the Aitizzarts, a people living about thirty or forty miles to the Northward, who. collect it from the reefs and sunken rocks with ' which their coast abounds, though it is also brought in considerable quantity from the Sooth. y 1 HI a •lit' I ■■' •V- . I : I' i ; Their mode of taking it has been thus described ta me:— ^To one end of a pole is fastened a piece of ■■'ii i 76 1 .4 i.\ pkok, ia which a coDsiderable o amber of pine pegi are inserted, made sharp at the ends; above the plaok, in order to sink it, a stone or some weight is tied, and the other end of the pole suspended to a long rope; this is let down perpendicularly by the Ijc'voaw fishers in those places where that sab- stance is found, which are usually from fifty to sixty fathoms deep. On finding the bottom, they raise the pole op a few feet, and let it fall, this they repeat a number of times as if sounding, when they draw it up, and take off the Jfe-aaw which is found adhering to the points. This method of procuring it is very laborious and iatiguing, espe* cially as they seldom take more than two or three of these shells at a time, and frequently none. ■I It' i' . ,1 1 Ml Though the ''women, as I have said, make but little MBt of paint, the very reverse is the case with the men. In decorating their heads and faces, they place their principal pride, and none of our most fashionable beans, when preparing lor a grand ball, can be more particular; for I have koown Maqui* na, after having been employed more than an hour in painting his face, rub the whole off, and re- commence the operation anew, when it did not entirely please him* The manner in which they paint themselves hi:* quently varies, according to the occasion, but it oftener is the mere dictate of whim. The most 77 usual melhod is to paint the eyeorows blacl(, in form of a half mooo, and the face red in small squares, with the arms and legs and* part of the body red ; sometimes one half of the face is painted red in squares^ and the other black ; at others, dotted with spots, of red aad black instead of squares, with a variety of other devices, such as paiating one half of the face and body red, aad the other black. Rut a method of painting which they sometimes employed, and which they were much more parti- cular in, was by laying on the face a quantity of beards grease of about one eighth of an inch thick ; this they raised up into ridges resembling a small bead 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 extraor- dinary occasions, the king and principal chiefs nsed to strew over their face?, after painting, a fine black shining powder, procured from some mineral, as Maquina told me it wal got from the rocks. This they call pelpelth and value it highly, as, in their opinion, it serves to set off their looks to great' advantage, glittering especially in the sun, like ailver. — This article is brought them in bags by the Newchemass^ a very savage nation who live a long way to the Xorth, from whom they likewise receive a superior kind of red paint, a species of very fine and rich ochre, which they hold in much estimation. ll;' rr: r'- ;)/ t^. i: 78 NoiwithstandiDg this custom of painting them- b61vc8, they make it an invariable practice, both in summer and winter, to bathe once a day, and sometimes oftener ; but as the paint is pnt on with c'l, it is not much discomposed thereby, and whenever they wish to wash it off, they repair to some' piece of fresh water and scour themielres with sand or rushes* l''IP "■■■ SIM' W \ : In dressing their heads on occasion of a festival or a visit, they are full as particular, and almost as long, as in painting. The hair, after being well oiled, is carefully gathered upon the top of the head, and secured by a piece of pine or sprnce bough, with the green leaves upon it. After hav- ing it properly fixed in this manner, the king and principal chiefs used to strew all over it the white down obtained from a species of large brown eagle, which abounds on this coast, and which they are very particular in arranging so as not to have a single feather out of place, occasionally wetting the hair to make it adhere. This, together with the bough, which is sometimes of considerable size, and stuck oiver with feathers by means of torpentijey gives them a very lingular and gro- tesque appearance, which they, however, think very becoming, and the first thing they do on learning the arrival of strangers, is to go and di corate themselves in this manner. HI 79 The men also wear bracelets of paioted leather or copper, and large ear-rings of the latter, bat the ornaroeot on which they appear to set the most valae, is the nose-jewel, if such an appella- tion may be given to the wooden stick which some of them employ for this parpose. The king and chiefs, however, wear them of a different form, being either small pieces of polished copper or brass, of which I made many for them, in tbe shape of hearts and diamonds, or a twisted conical shell about half an inch in length of a blueish colour and very bright, which is brought from the South. These are supsended by a small wire or string to the hole, in the gristle of the nose, which is formed in infancy, by boreing it with a pin, the hole being aftarwards enlarged by the repeated insertion of wooden pegs of an increased size, until it becomes about the diameter of a pipe stem, though some have them of a size nearly sufficient to admit the little linger; - ^' '* • ■■ » j,ii. '■ : The common class who cannot readily procure the more expensive jewels that I have mentioned, substitute for them, usually, a smooth round stick, some of which are of an almost incredible length, for I have seen them projecting not less ihan 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-saii-yard fellows, as my messmate used to call them, when rigged H 2 m %: 80 •ut Id this manner, made quite a strange show, and it was his delight, whenever he saw one of them coming towards us with an air of consequence pro- .portioned to the length of his stick, to put up his hand suddenly as he was passing him, so as to strike the stick, in order, as he said, to brace him up sharp to thif wind ; this used to make them very angry, but nothing was more remote from Thomp8on'*8 ideas than a wish to cultivate their favour. The natives of Nootka appear to have but little inclination for the chace, though some of them were expert maiAcsmen, and used sometimes to shoot ducks and geese, but the seal and the sea-otter form the principal objects of their hunting» parti- «ulariy the latter. Of this animal, so much noted for its valuable skin, the followirvg descrmfion may not be unin- teresting : 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 shin- ing 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 on the look out for any object. At such times it raises its head quite above 81 the surface, and the cootrast between the shiDiog black and the white, together with its sharp ears and a long tuft of hair rising from the middle of its forehead, which looks like three small horns, ren- der it quite a novel and attractive object. They are m general very tame, and will permit a canoe or boat to approach very near before they dive. I ^ was told, however, that they are become much more shy since they have been accustomed to shoot them with muskets, then when they used only ■(•■■t:.. arrowsk . -'".v^ The skin is held in great estimation hi China, more especially that of the tail, the fur of which is finer and closer set than that on the body. This i» always cut off and sold separately by the native's. The value of a skin is determined by its size, that being considered as a prime skin which will reach, in length, from a man's chin to his feet. The food of the sea-otter is fish, which he is very dexterons in taking, being an excellent swimmer, with feet webbed like those of a goose. They appear to bfr wholly confined to the sea coast, at least to the salt water. They have usually three or four young at a time, but I know not how often they breed, nor in what place they deposit their young, though I have frequently seen them swimming around the mother, when no larger than rats. The flesh is eaten by the natives/cooked in their usual mode, by H 3 '■'it I- ' ■ I i J; li h M 82 m 14 a l'\K Liii boiling, and is far preferable to that of the seal, of M'hich they make much account. But if not great hunters, 4here are few people more expert in Sshing. Their lines are generally made from the sinew of the whale, and are ex- tremely strong. For the hook, they usually make use of a straight piece of hard wood, in the lower part of which is inserted and well secured, with thread or whale sinew, a bit of bone made very sharp at the point and bearded; but I used to make for them hooks from iron, which they pre- ferred, not only as being less liable to break, but more certain of securing the fish. Cod, halibut, aad other sea fish were not only caught by them with hooks, but even salmon. m fi . |Si f ,:, To take this latter fish, they practise the follow- ing method : One person seats himself in a small canoe, and baiting his hook with a sprat, which they are always careful to procure as fresh as possi- ble, fastens his line to the handle of the paddle; this, as he plies it in the water,, keeps the fish in constant molion, 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 the paddle, drawn on board. I have lino:vn some of the natives take no less than eight or !cn aalmon of a morning, in this manner, and : 83 have seen from twenty to thirty canoes at a time ia Friendly Cove thus employed. They are likewise little less skilful in taking the whale. This they kill with a kind of javelin or harpoon, thus constructed and fitted — The barbs are formed of bone, which are sharpened on the outer side, and hollowed within, for the purpose of forming a socket for ttie staff; these are then secured firmly together with a whale sioew, the point being fitted so as to receive a piece of muscle shell, which is ground to a very sharp edge, and secured in its place by means of turpentine. To , this head or prong ir fastened a strong line of whale Binew^ about Mne feet in length, to the end of which is tied a bark rope from fiity 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 Harpoon a staff or pole of about ten feet long, gradually tape^N ing from the middle to each end, is placed; this the harpooner holds in his hand, in order to s^ « the whale, and immediately detaches it as so as the fish is struck. ^rv^ t^^' ' The whale is considered as the king^s fi i. and no other person, when he is present, is permitted to touch him, until the royal harpooa has fiKst urawn his bloQd, however near he r»jay approach-, and I: in I. (I (■*• u^r: i !.: :?i u\ 81 <'i' H would be considered air osl as sacrilege for any of the common people to strike a whale, before ht is kille(!f, particularly if any of the chiefs should be present. They also kill the porpoise and sea cow , with harpoors, but this inferior game is not inter- dicted the lower class* Ai/.m^^it^-^ With regard to their canoes, some of the hand- somest to be found on the whole coast are made at Nootka, though very fine ones ire brought by the Wickininish and the Kla-iz-zarts, who have them more highly ornamented. They are of all sizes, from such as are capable of holding only one per- son to^ their largest war canoes, which will carry forty men, and are~extremely light*' Of these, the h^gest of any that I ever saw, was one belonging to Macquina, which I measured, and found to be foruhtwo feet }ix inches in length at the bottom, and forty'Hx feet from stem to stem. These are made of pine hollowed out from a tree with their chisels solely, which are about three inches broad and six in length, and set into a handle of very hard wood. This instrument was formerly made of flint, or gome hard stone ground down to as sharp an i^gt as possible, 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 chiseK they make use of a smooth round stone, which tjiey hold IV . 86 in the palm of the hand. With this same awk- ward instrument, they not only excavate th^ir 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 felling of Uee9, as practised by them, is a slow and most tedious process, three of them being generally from two to three days in cutting down a large one; yet so attached were they to their own method, that notwithstanding they saw Thompson frequently with one of our axes, of which there was aiiumber saved, fell a tree in less time than they could have gone round it with their chisels, still they could not be persuaded to make u«e of them, • ] :» ■ '» After hollowing out their canoes, which they do very neatly ; they fashion the outside, and slightly burn it for the purpose of removing any splinters or small points that might obstruct its passage through the water, after which they rub it over thoroughly with rushes or coarse matA, in order to smooth it, which not only renders it almost as smooth as glass, but forms a better ^curity for it from the weather ; this operation of burning and rubbing dowu the bottoms of iheir canoes, is prac- tised as often as they acquire any considerable i ■ '!■ V wA t^;i* 86 degree of roaghness from aie. The outside, by this meaosy becomes quite ^ ^ack, and to complete their work, they paiot the inside of a bright red, with ochre, or some other similar substance ; the prows and sterns are almost always ornamented with figures of ducks, or some other kind of bird* the former being so fashioned as to represent the bead, and the latter the tail ;^ these are separate pieces from the canoe, mod are fastened to it with small flexible twigs or bark cord.. Some of these canoes, particularly those employ- ed in whaling, which will hold about ten men, are i orDairieoted within about two inches below the gun- wale, with two parallel lines on each nide of very •mall white i«heils, running fore and aft, which has M very pretty elTect. Their Mar caaoes have no ornament of thin kind, but are paintud on the out- side with figures in vvliife chalk, representing eaglcR: M^h. es, huiuau heads, 6^ «-- ■^' 1^ 6^ |v, :■ ; : 90 " y The houses at Nootka as already stated, are about twenty, without comprising those inhabited by the Klahars, a small tribe that has been con- quered aud incoporated into that of Nootka, though they must be considered as in a state of vassalage as they are not permitted to have any chiefs among them, and live by themselves in a cluster of small houses at a little distance from the village. The Nootka tribe which consists of about five hundred warriors, is not only more numerous than almost any of the neighbouring tribes, but far exceeds them in the strength and martial spirit of its people; and in fact there are but few nations within a hundred miles either to the North or South but are considered as tributary to them. ■vVvt' T'5^ Si • In giving some account of the tribes that were accustomed to visit Nootka, I shall commence at the Soutliward with the Kla-iz zarts, and^the Wick- ininibh, premising that m point of personal appear- ance there prevails a wonderful diversity between the various tribes on the coast, with the exception of the feet and legs, which are badly shaped in almost all of them from their practice of sitting on them. . . tt'.. The Kla-iz-zarts are a numerous and powerful tribe, living nearly three hundred miles to the South aud are said to consist of more than a thousand war- riors. They appear to be more civilized than any of 01 the others, being better and more neatly dressed, more mild and affable in thefr manners, remarkable for their sprlgbtliness and vivacity, and celebrated for their singing and dancing. They exibit also greater marks of improvement in whatever is wrought by them; their canoes though not superior to those of Nootka in point of form and lightness, are more highly ornamented, and their weapons and tools of every kind have a much higher finish and display more skill in the workmanship. Their cast of countenence is very different from tliat of the Nootkians, their faces being very broad, with a less prominent nose and smaller eyes, and the top of the head flattened as if it had been pressed dovva with a weight. Their complexion is also much fairer, and their stature shorter, though they are well formed and strongly set. " . They have a custom which appears to be peculiar to them, as I never observed it in any of the olher tribes, which is to pluck out not only their beardi^, and the hair from their bodies, but also their eye- brows, so as not to leave a vestige remaining. They were also in general more skilful in painting and decorating themselves, and I have seen some of them with no less than a dozen holes in each of their ears to which were surspended strings of small beads about two inches in length. Their langua;;e is the same as spoken at Nootka, but their pronunciation is much more hoarse and guttural. These people IS n .% % r^! 1?" ■b . ! H ■ hm i .lil 92 are not ooly very expert ia whaling, but are great banters, of the sea otter and other animals, with which their country is said to abound, and the Meta.- melth a large animal of the deer kind, the skin of whieh I have already spoken of, another of a light grey colour, with very fine hait from which they mann&cture a hanjdsome cloth, the beaver, ^nd a species of largr) wild cat, or tyger cat* : 'I The Wickinnish, their neighbours on the North, are about two hundred miles from Nootka. They are a robust strong and warlike people, but consi« dered by the Nootkians as their inferiors in courage. This tribe is ihrre numerous than that of Nootka, amounting to between six and seven hundred warri- ors. Though not so civilized as the Kla-izzarts and less skilful in their manufactures, like them they employ themselves in hunting as well as in whalinf; and fisbicg. Their faces are broad but less vo than the K!a-iz-zarfs, with a darker complexion, and a much less open and pleasing expression of countenance, while their heads preseiut a very diffe- rent form, being pressed in at the sides and length- ened towards the top, somewhat in the shape of a sugar loaf. These people are very frequent visitors at Nootka, a close friendship subsisting between the two nations, Maquina's Arcomah, or Queen, Y-j/a-fintla-no, being the daughter of the Wickinni- nish king. / , •' it: -^k- 93 The Kla*oo*quates adjoining them on the North are much less oamerooB, their forcis not exceeding four hundred fighting men ; they are also behind them in the arts of life. These are a fierce, bold, and enterprizing people, and there were none that visited Nootka, whom Maquina used to be mpre on his guard against, or viewed with so much sn»pici- on. The £shquates are about the same number; these are considered as tributary to Maquina : Their coast abounds^ with rivers, creeks, and marshesr , .. To the North the nearest tribe of any importance is the Aitizzarts ; these however do not exceed three hundred warriors. In appearance they greatly resemble the people of Nootka, to whom they are considered as tributary, their manners, dress, and style of living also being very similar. They reside at about forty miles distance up the sound. A con- siderable way farther to the northward are the Cayuquets\ these are a much more numerous tribe than that of Nootka but thought by the latter to be deficient in courage and martial spirit, Maquina having frequently told me that their hearts were a little like those of birds. !! 'f v: ■.i; ■ f . I ;; There are also both at the North and South many other intervening - tribes, bat in general small in number and insignificant, all of whom as well as the above mentioned speak the same 3 ^^'1 :| w> % |i . " ^ 94 languager But the Newchemass who come from a great way to the Northward, aad from some distance inland, as I was told by Maquioa, 8p.eak quite a different language, although it is well understood^ by those of Nootka. These were the most savage looking apd ugly men thi^t 1 ever saw, Iheir complexion being much darker, their stature shorter, and their hair coarser, than that of the other nations, and their dress and appearance dirty in an extreme. They wear their beards long like Jewf, and have a very morose and surly coqntenace* Their usual dress is a Kootsuk made of wolf skin, with a number of the tails attached to it, of which I have seen no less than ten on one garment, bang- ing from the top to the bottom ; though they some- times wear a similar mantle of bark cloth, of a much coarser texture than that of Nootka, the original of which appears io be the same, though from their very great filthiness it was almost impossibly to dis- cover what it had been. . :.$„.. i-\ *;;-tv M. Their mode of dressing their hair also varies es- sentially from that o! the other tribes, for they suffer that on the back of the head to hang loose, and bind the other over their foreheads in the man- ner of a fillett, with a strip of their country cloth, ornamented with small white shells. Their wea- pons are the CheeiooUhy or war-club, which is made from whale bone, daggers, bow and arrows, and a kind of spear pointed with boB« or copper. 95 • They bronght wi^h them no furs for gfile excepting; a few wolf skios, their merchandize oonsistiog principally of the black fihining mineral called pel- peth, and the fine red paint which they carefally kept in close mat bags, some small dried salmon, clams, and roes of fish, with occasionally a little coarse matting cloth. They were accustomed to reniain a much longer time at Nootka than the other tribes, in order to recover from the fatigue of a long journey, part of which was over land, and on these occasions taught their songs to our savages. . ' The trade of most of the other tribes with Noot- ka,, was principally train oil> seal or whale's blub- ber, fish fresh or dried, herring or salmon spawn, clams, and muscles, and the ^ama^ a species of fruit which is pressed and dried, cloib) sea otter skins, and slaves. From the Aitizzarts, and the Caynquets, particularly the former, the best I-whaw and in the greatest quantities was obtained* The Eshquates furnished us with wild ducks and geese, particularly the latter. The Wickiniqish and Kla-iz*zart» brought to ^larket many slaves, the best sea otter skins, gres^t quantities of oil, whale sinew? and eakes of )^\^ yama^ highly ornamented canoes, some I-whaw, red ochre and pelpeth of an inferior quality to that obtained from the Newcbemass, but particularly the so much valued Metamelih^ and an excellant root called by the Kla-iz-zarts Quawnoose. This is the size of a i'll i 1* '.< %* ■:1 ,il ' i;v if i I if i ' .fi 9e if u I ]•' :r ill . ■ ft ' t ' '• '{ ; ^ i m m i. • '■.; 'it:' '■: ?f I -^4 'if ^^4 small onion , bat rather longer, being of a tapering form like a pear, and of a brownish coloar. It is cooked by steam, is always brought in baskets ready prepared for eating, and is in truth a very fine vegetable, being sweet, mealy and of a most agreeable flavour. It was highly esteemed by the natives who used to eat it as they did every thing else with train oil. From the Kla-iz-zarts was also received, though in no great quantity, a cloth manufactured by them from the fur already spoken of, w >?ch feels like wool and is of a grey colour. ' Maty of the articles thus brought, particularly the provisions, were considered as presents^ or tributary offerings, but this must be viewed as little more than a nominal acknowledgement ofsuperio ority, as they rarely failed to get the full amount of the value of their presents. I have known etghteen of the great tubs, in which they keep their provisi- ons, 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 villa|;« men, women, ^and children are generally invited, and I have seen five of the largest tubs employed at such time, in cooking at the king^s house. At these feasts they generally indulge in eating to an excess, making up in this respect for their want of iniebrating liquors, which they know no method of preparing in any form, their only dnnk being water. -if ■■■■(■■■ ■';.!■ 97 Whenever they came to visit or trade, it was their general custom, to stop a few miles distant under the Ice of some bluff or rock, and rig them* selves out in their best manner, by painting and dressing their heads. On their first coming on shore they were invited to eat by the king, when they brought to him such articles as he wantsd, after which the rest of the Inhabitants were permitted to purchase, the strangers being careful to keep them in their canoes until sold, under strict guard to prevent their being stolen, the disposition of these people for thieving being sc great, that it is necessa- ry to keep a watciuul eye npoa them* Thiswas their usual mode oftrafSck, but when- ever they wished to purchase any particular object, as for instance, a certain slave, or some other 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 ambassador or repre- sentative of the king or chief by whom it was sent, dressed in their best manner, and with his hea() covered with the white down, would rise, and after making known the object of his mission in a pom- pous speech, hold up specimens of such articles as he was instructed to offer in payment, mentioning the number or quantity of e^ch, when if the bar- gain was concluded, the exchange was immediately made. !, a ^■' it i t ; 'f i m f 98 OtT their visits of friendship or traffic, the chiefs alone used to sleep on shore, this was generally at the hoQse of the king or the head chief, the others parssing the night on hoard of their canoes, which was done not only for the preservation of their property, but because they were not permitted to remain on shore, lest they might excite some dis- tturbance or commit depredations* " ;■.»* ^H. tf^ [!=-' > All these people generally go armed, the com- mon class wearing only a dagger suspended from their neck behind, with a string of metamelth, and sonnetimes thrust in their girdles. Ths chiefs, in addition to the dagger, carry the cheetolthy or war club 8U8pended in the same msmner 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 dexterous. 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 expands to the breadth of four inches. In the middle, from whence it slopes oflT gradually 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 bead, &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 metamelth 09 Tastencd to it Id order to sliug it over ll>c shoulder. Some of the tribes have alao a kind of Apcar headed with copper or the boDe of the stiog ray, which is a dangerous weapon ; this is, however, not usual, and only carried by the chiefs. The bow aud arrow are still u^ed by a few, but sioce the iniro- d action of fire-arms among them, this weapon has been mostly laid aside. , ^ But to return to our unhappy situation. Though my comrade and myself fared as well, and even better than we could have expected among these people, considering their customs and mode of living, yet our feass lest ho ship would come to our release, and that we should never more behold a Christian country^ were to Us a source of constant pain. Our principal consolation in this gloomy state, was to go on Sundays, whenever the weather would per- mit, to the borders 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 Bible, and the prayers ap- pointed by our Church for the day, ending our devotions with a fervent prayer to the Almighty, that he would deign still to watch over and pre- serve our lives, rescue us from the hands of the savages, and permit us once more to behold a Chris- tian land. J ''f:iL..:^:^^^'i'i ^ — ^;J'v preserve them in a straight position, and prevent any dis- tortion of the limbs, most probably a principal cause of these people being so seldom deformed or crookedi ' ,; i . '- r ^ The long boat of aar ship having been repaired and furnished with a sail by Thompson, Maquina gave us the direction of it, we being better ac- quainted with managing it than his people, and after loading her as deep a« she could swim, we pro- ceeded in company with them to the North, quitting Nootka with heavy hearts, as we could entertain no hopes of release until our return, no ships ever coming to that part of the coast. Passing Coop- tee, which is situated on the southern bank, just within the mouth of a small river flowingr from the east in a narrow valley at the foot of a mountain, we proceeded about fifteen miles up this stream to Tashees, between a range of lofty bills on each side, which extend a great distance inland, 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 honses with the planks we had brought, the frames being ready erected, these people never pretending to remove the timber. In a very sliort time tbe work was 1^1 106 completed, ao(] we were established in our new residence. ., Tashees is pleasantly situated and in a mo?' se- care position from ttie 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 fine, the country in its vicinity abounding with the most romantic views, charm- ingly diversified, and fine streams of water falling in beautiful cascades from the mountains. The river at this place is about twenty rods in width, and, in its deepest part, from nine to twelve feet. This village is the extreme point of navigation, as immediately beyond, the river becomes much more shallow* and is broken into fallaand rapids. The houses here are placed in a line like those at Noot- ka. bat closer together^ the situation being more confined, they are also smaller, in consequence of which, we were much crowded, and incommoded for room. . - . The principal object in comiiig to this place, is the facility it affords these people of providing their winter stock of provisions, which consists princi« pally of salmon, and the spawn of that fish; to which may be added herrings 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 t ,■■ IV" :''''-■ K 3 . : : - :l? 'II (C '■> r'^ i ' ■ ■ -1 '' ' ' ' ! ■! f.;:.i ' : m I <;-;i ^ U'i : J J roe N i'is. •pring and the last of August, they collect d great quantity of piue branches, which they p!ace in dif* fereot parts of the Cove at the depth of about ten • feet, aad secure them by meant of heavy itones. On these the herring deposit their spawn in im- mense quantities ; the bushes are then taken up, the spawn stripped from the branches, and after being washed and freed from the pine leaves by the women, is dried and put up in baskets fof use. It is considered as their greatest delicacy, and eaten both cooked and raw : in the former case, being boiled aid p :en with train oil, and in the latter, mixed up with colJ water alone. m^ m ii»i .1? The salmon are tal'en at Tasiiees, principaHy in poti} or wears. Their method of taking them in wears is thus : — A pot of twenty feet in length, and from four to five feet diameter at the mouth, is formed of a great number of pine tfplinters which are strongly secured, an inch and a half from each other, by. means of hoops made of flexible twigs, and placed abought e:ght inches apart. At the end it tapers almost to a point, near which i^ a small wicker door, for the purpose of taking out the fish. This pot or wear is placed at the foot of a fall or rapid, where the water is not very deep, and the fish driven from above with long poles, are intercep- ted and taught in the wear, from whence they are taken into the canoes. In this manner I have seen more than seven hundred salmon caught in tBe ■rw 107 ;. gpt^ce^of fifleeir Minutes. 1 litlve also Sometimes' koowa.a few of the striped bass taken io this luao'' ner, but rarely. - . ^. ' ^. ' ■ . ', ^ -.. ■ : . , i '< ^ ■ ; .,'.,■■.. . ^ . '. ■■ ■ - • ' • At such times tliefe is great feasting ancT merriment among them. The women and female slaves being bnsily employed in cooking, or in caring the fish for iheir winter stock, which is done by catting off the heads and tails splitting thiem, taking out the back bone, and hanging them up in their houses to dry. They also dry the halibut and cod, but these in- stead of curing whole, they cut up into sma41 pieces for that purpose, and e:tp08e to the sun. The spawn of the salmon, which is a principal articleof their provision, they take out, and with- out any other preparation, throw it into their tubs, ttrhere they leave it to stand and ferment^ for though they frequently eat it fresh, they estfeem it fUtfch more when it hcts ac(]fuired a strong taste, and one of the greatest favours they carr confer on any person, is to invite him to eat Quakamiss^ the name they give this food, though scarcely any thing cafi be miote repugnant to atr European folate, than it is in this state; and whenever they took it out of these large receptacles, which they are alv^ays careful to fill, sUch was the stench Which it exhaled, on being moved, that it was almost impos- sible for me to abide it, even after ha^it, had in a great degree dulled the delicacy of my senses.-^ When; boiled it became less' offensive, though' it .VVtl ! 1 1. i , ' ■■ ■,l ' ' : IS I ! 1 . U ht 108 Mill retained much of the putrid imell and some' tbiug of the taste. T . Such is the immense quantity of these 6sh, and they are taken \iith such facility, that 1 have known upwards of twenty*five hundred t)rought into ]!iilaquma*s house at ouce, and at one of their great feasts, have seen one hundred or more cooked in one of their largest tubs. / T used frequently to go out with Maquina upon these fishios: parties, and was always sure to re- ceive a handsome present of salmon, which I had the privilege of calling mine; I also went with him several times in a canoe, to strike the salmoa, which I have attempted to do myself, but could never succeed, it requiring a degree of adroitness that 1 did not possess. 1 was also permitted to gp out with a gun, and was several times very suc- cessful in shooting wild ducks aud teal, which are very numerous here, though rather shy. These they cooked in their usual manner, by boiling, without any farther dressing than skinning the*^. ■ i- In many respects, however, our situation was less pleasant here than at Nootka. We w^ere 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. Wcf however, did not neglect on Sundays, ■ ' ' ' '■ ' ■ ■■■\ - 109 when the weather would admit) to retire into the woods, and by the side of some stream, after bath- ing, return oar thanks to God for preserving us, and offer up to him our customary devotions. - '■>*"' ' ' ■ " "' ■ • ■ I was, however, very apprehensive, soon after our arrival at this place, that 1 should be deprived of the satisfaction of keeping my journal, as Ma* quina one day observing ma writing inquired of me what I was doing, and when I endeavoured to explain it, by Killing him that I was keeping aa account of the weather, he said it was not so, and ^ that I wa3 speaking bad about him, and telling how he had taken our ship ami killed the crew> SQ as io inform my countrymen, and that if he ever saw me writing in it again, he would throw it into the fire. I was much rejoiced that he did no more than threaten, and became very caatioat afterwards not to let him see me write. < ■■i.- I Not long after I finished some daggers for him> which I polished highly ; these pleased him macb, add be gave me directions to make a cheetoolth, id which I succeeded so far to hit satisfaction, that he gave me a present of cloth sufficient to make me a complete suit of raiment, besides other things. Thompson, also, who had become rather more of a favourite than formerly, since ire had made a fine sail for his canoe, and some garments for him out of European cloth, about thi« time completed an- -ti mM 15- "J I 110 other, which was thought by the savages a most superb dress. This was a Kootsuk or mantle, a fathom square, made entirely of j^uropean vest patterns of the gayest colours. Ihese were sewed together, in a manner to make the best show, and bound with a deep trimming of the finest otter- skin, with which th^ arm-holes were also bordered ; while the bottom was farther embellished with flive^ or six rows of gilt buttons, placed as near as possi* ble to each other. Nothing could exceed the pride of Maquina when he first put tfn this royal robe^ decorated like the coat of Joseph,^ with all the colours of the rainbow, and glittering with the butioast which as he strutted about made a tink- ling, while he repeatedly exclaimed, in a transport •f exultation, Klew shish Katsuk — wick kum aiack Nootka» A fine garment-^^Nootka can't make them* ?■■*/, ',-uv .,'y-' -:'■'. ¥i. .1 iViaquina, whi knew that the chiefs of the tribea who came to visit as, had endeavoured to per- suade me to escape, frequently cautioned me not to listen to them, saying that should L make the attempt, and he were to take me^ he should cer- tainly put me to deaths While here he gave me a book in which I found the names of seven persons belonging to the ship Manchester, of Philadelphia, Captain Brian, viz. — Daniel Smith, Lewis Gillon, James Tom, Clark, Johnson, Ben and Jack These iueu^ as Maquina informed me, rao away from the 4^ ; m Ill ahip, and came to him, but that six of them soon after went off in the night, with an intention to ^^o to the Wickinninish, bat were stopped by tlie £»h- quiates, 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 men holding one of them on the ground, and forcing open his mouth, whi^e they choaked him by ram- ming stones down his throat. ,>.> '- ' f ' ' i - ■ ' k Wl - ■ ' > As to Jack, the boy, who made no attempt to go off, Maquina afterwards sold him to the Wickin-* ninish. I was informed by the princess YuqiiUy that he was quite a small boy, who cried a great deal, being put to hard labour beyond his strength by the natives, in cutting wood and bringing water, and that when he heard of the murder of our crew, it had such an effect on him, that he fell sick and died shortly after. On learning the melancholy fate of this unfortunate lad, it againav/akened in iny bosom those feelings that I had experienced at the shocking death of my poor comrades. ^^ r The king, finding that I was desirous of learning their language, was much delighted, and took great pleasure in converging with mev On one of these occasions, he explained to me his reasons for cutting off our ship, saying that he bore no ill will to my countrymen, but that he had been several times treated very ill by them. The first injury of .■^ \\ ■1, i' 1 ' 1 ■i m. m II f ','1 1 1 'it I % • . t ifc' I 'i i ti I I f. i!.: H ■ 1 1^ 1 Mi- 112 which he had cause to complain, was done him hy H Captain Tawuiogton, who commanded a schooner which passed a winter at Friendly Cove, where he 'as well treated hy 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 entered tht) house where there were none but women, whom he threw into the greatest consternation, and searching the chests, took 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 Martinez, a Spaniard. That soon after Captain Hanna, of the Sea-Otter in consequence of one of the natives having stolen a chisel from the carpenter, fired upon their canoes w^hich were along side, and killed upwards of twenty of the natives, of whom several were Ti/ecs or chiefs, and that be himself being on board the vessel, in order to escape was obliged to leap from . the qnailer deck, and swim for a long way under water. j^ :' These injuries had excited in the breast of Ma- quina, 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 forgotten, and the want of a favourable opportunity alone prevented 4iim from sooner aveng- .. - ' ■ "- ■,:■"■'■"'' ■>■ . ' 113 iug tliem. liDfortuDately for as, the long wished for opportuuity at length presented itself in our ship, which Maquina findiog not guarded with the usual vigilance of the North West Traders, and feeling his desire of revenge rekindled by the insult offered him by Captain Salter, formed a plan for attack- ing, and on his return, called a council of his chiefs, and communicated it to them, acquainting them with the manner in which he had been treated. No less desirous of avenging this affront offered their king, than their former injuries, they readily agreed to his proposal^ whicTi was to go on board without arms as usual, but under different pretexts, in great numbers, and wait for his signal for the moment of attacking their unsuspecting victims. The execution of this scheme, as the reader knows^ was unhappily too successful. And here I cannot but indulj;e a reflection that has frequently occurred to me on the manner in which our people behave towards the natives. For though they are a theivish race, yet I have Qo doubt that many of the melancholy disasters have principally arisen from th^ imprudent conduct of some of the captains and crews of the ships em- ployed in this trade, in exasperating them by in- suiting, plundering, and even killing them oa slight grounds. This, as nothing is ihore ssicred with a savage than the principle of revenge, and no h h ':* #■ • VK» kVt* ' i Ill '. ■1 i v' hKI ^ ■ ■'. ■ ^wH : * • lift \ ' \\ ' USi ' ' :'• \ K' ■ ; \ ■- • p«' . 'V;^ ' %'• 1^' ' ■ ■ '?■ ^\ i. 'i -- Mfl', ' ' .; " , RRi '. kK| ' J " ,., Rffl '■ mn' ' IB ' i ' ' ■ ^m • i ■ ■ ^- ■ \L '• \ * ' I i- ■ '^■'' , 4 -^ t ■■ " " , r:i ! . \ ) _ ': ' • 1 > 1 : ' B'k ' '. " i' ' ui »'l ■: '■]: 1 W; iiiiyi people arc so iinpationt under insult, iuduces them to wreek their vengeance upon the first vessel or boat':) (rew that offers, makin|^ the innocent too frequently suffer for the wrongs of the guilty, as few of them know how \o discrimiuate between persons of the same general appearance, more especially when speaking the same language. Aa^^ to this cause do I believe, must principally be ascnbed the ^nguinary disposition with which these people are reproached, as Maguina repeatedly told me that it was not his wish to hurt a white man, and that he never should have done it, though ever so much in bis power, had they not injured him. And were the commanders 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 shoold recom- mend to them a confidence in the good faith and friendly professions of tliese people, so as in any degree to remit their vigilance, bat on the contrary, io be strictly on their guard, and suffer but a very few of' them to cpme on board the ship., and admit not many of their canoes along side at a 4ime ; a precaution that would have been the means of pre- venting some of the unfortunate events that have occurred, and if attended to, may in future, pre- ' serve many a valuable life* Such a regulation too, from what I know of their disposition an4 wants^ would produce no ledoai difficulty in trading with 115 the savage^) aud lliey would looo become perfectly KGoncilccI to it. Among the proviiioDi which the Indianf procure at Tasheet, I must not omit mentionlog a fruit that 11 very importaot, as forming a great article of their food. This is what is called by them the Yama^ a •pecies of berry that grows in bunches like currants, upon a busli from two' to three feet high, with a large, 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 companies of women go out on the mountains, accompanied by armed men, to protect them against wild beasts, where they frequently remain for several days, kindling a fire at night, and sheltering themselves under sheds cocltructed of boughs. At these parties, they collect great quantities. I have known Maquina^s queen and her women return loaded, bringing with them upwards of twelve bushels. In order to pre* serve it, it is pressed in the bunches between two planks, and dried and put away in baskets for use. It is always eaten with oil. Of berries of various kiads, such as straw ber^ ries, raspberries, black berries, &c. there are great L 2 1 ' i 1 ' t i .i: 'I ,:>- J r 1 ' ■|'l ^ ;i 116 iIuaDiities in the country, of which fhe natives are very fond, gathering them in their seasons and eat- ing them with oil, but the yama is the only one ihat they preserve. *?!:--; = r* l!*^ Fish is, however, their great article of food, aa almost all the others, excepting the yama, may be considered as accidental. They nevertheless are far from disrelishing meat, for instance, venii^on and bear*8 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 flesh iish whatever, for the term of tv\o months, as they have a superstitious be!ief, that should any of their people after tasting beards flesh, eat of fresh salmon, cod, &c« the iieh, though at ever so great a distance off, would come to the knowledge of it, and be so much offeod(*d thereat, as not to allow themselves to be taken by any of the inhabitants. This I bad an opportunity of observing while at Ta^/hees, a bear having 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 comrade and myself not tasting it, on being told by Maqaina the consequences. M' As there is something quite curious in their ma- nagement of this animal, when they have killed one, 1 simll give a description of it. Aft^r well "... , - f *v 117 cleansiag the iMar from the dirt and blood, with which it is generally covered wlieii killed, it is brought in and seated opposite the king in an upright posture, with a chiefs bonnet, wrought in figures on its head, and its for powdered over with the white down. A tray of provision is then set before it» and it is invited by words aod gestures to eat. This naock c^emony over, the reason of which 1 could never learn, the animal i» taken and skinned, and the flesh and entrails boiled up into a soup, no part, but the paunch being re- jected* >^ ' ' ■■:' '- ''"* ■ . ' ^ . ■■ ' V '- '- " 'i :'- \ ■ This dressing the bear, as they call it, is an oc* casion of great rejoicing throughout the village, all the inhabitants being invited to a great feast at the king*s house, though but few of themy inconse- quence of the penalty, will venture to eat of the fieshy^ hfki generally content themselves with their favourite dish of herring spawn and water. The feast on this occasion was closed by a dance from Sat'Sat'Sak'siiiy in the. manner I have already de- scribed, in the course of which he repeatedly shifted Us mask for another of a different form. I A' few days after a second bear was taken, like the former by means of a trap. This i^had the cu- riosity to go and see at the place where it wan caught, which was in the following manner. On. the edge of a smajl stream of ws^er^in the ou)N»>i' i; '( ! ( c ; ^:';i;l i 1 ■■ ■ , ... ' ' i ■' ' f ■■ I ' M vt 118 fains, which the salmon ascend, and near the spol 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 built of posts and planks with a fiat top, on which are laid a number of large stones or rocks. The top and sides are then carefully covered with turf, so as to resemble a little mound, and wholly to exclude the light, a narrow entrance of theheightof the buiUing 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 suspended by a 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, an J 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 a» to be osable to escape. ^. u - li ■':.• They are always careful to exsimine these traps every day, in order if a bear be caught, to bring 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, briog pieces of it home with them, in a state of •ffensiveaess iasppportable to any thine but a crow. ( i; 119 and devour it with high relish, consideriog it as pre- ferable to that wliich is freglu .iJiu^ Jl ; ,.^nrf r Oo the moraiDg of the 1 3ih of December, com- menced what to U8 appeared a most siogular farce. Apparently without any previous notice, Maquina discharged a pistol olose to his son^s ear, who im- mediately feU down as if kilLed, upon which all the women of the house set up a most lamentable cry, tearing haudfuls .of hair from their heads, and ex- claiming that the priqce was dead, at the same tim< a gjreat ^umher of the inhabitants, rushed in ta the. house artoied with their daggers, muskets, &c. enquiring the ^ause of their outcry, these were im- mediately: followed by two othera dressed in wolf skint, with nsasks over their faces representing the head of that anim^J; the latter came in on their hands and, f^et in the manner of a beast, and taking up the prince carried him off upon their backs, re- tiring m the same manner they entered. We saw nothing more of the ceremony, as Maquina came to us, and giving us a quantity of dried provision, ordered us to quit the house and not return to the village before the expiration of seven days, for that if we appeared within that period, he should kill us. 1 » J r> -^ At any other season of the year such an order would by us have been considered as an indul- gence, in enabling us to pass our time in whajtever ?■',!: -■ M i:-.-^ J . .n (■■( f, . '•■ f ■ 120 way we wished, and evea now, famished as we were, with sufficient provision for that term, it was not very unpleasant to us, more particularly /I'hompson, who was always desirous to keep as much as possible out of the society and sight of the natives, whom he detested. Taking with us our provisions, a bundle of clothes, and oar 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 keep- ing up a good fire, secured ourselves pretty well from the cold. Here 'We passed the prescribed pe- riod of our exile, with more content than much of the. time while with them, employing the day in reading and praying for our release, of in rambling around aqd {Exploring the country, the soil of which ' we found to be very good, and the face of it, beau- tifully diversified with hills and vallies, refreshed with the finest streams of water, and at night en- joyed comfortable repose upon a bed of soft leaves, with our garments spread over u^ to.protect us from the cold. ■ i«< /.I 'it-! 'f^'. -Ai ^^ At the end of seven days we returnedvand found several of the people of A'^i-tiz-zart with- their king or chief at Tashees, who had been invited by Ma- quina to attend the close of this performance, which 1 now learnt was a eelebra-tioa, held by them an- nually, in honour of their god, whom they call Q'^ahootzs^ to ret ura him their thanks fof his past, as w« it was ularly eep as of the IIS our les, we Ihdrew a cabia i keep- tty well bed pe- nuch of day in ambliDg 121 and implore his future favors. It terminated oa the Slst, the day after our return, with a most ex- traordinary exibilion. Three men, each of whom had two bayonets run thro^gh his sides, between jlhe ribs, apparently regardless of the pain, traver- sed the roomi backwards and forwards, singling war songi, and exulting in this display of firm- . 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 greftest festivity, when our fellow countrymen assembled 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 ravage laud, and slaves to a set of ignorant beings, unacquainted with religion or humanity, hardly Were we permitted to offer up our devotions.by ourselves in the woods, while we felt even grateful for this privilege. Thi- ther 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 gopdaess, would permit us to celebrate the next festival of this kind in some Christian land. ^^ . ...4^*^ i4;v^<^^. ^ -j. . ^ j ii! w I'll Ml h I 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 snpper than . !i -:* • __lJ! i h I 1 1 ')" u % 1 'I i ! ' i: 1 1 •It I 'fil V lis 122 csnal. With this view we bought from one of the natives, 0ome dried clams and oil, and a root eat- led Kleisup^ which we cooked by steaming, and found It very palatable. This root consists of many fibres, of a bout six inches long, and of the size of »^ crow quill. It is sweet, of an agreeable tavte, not unlike the Q{/£ziic(7^& J and it is eaten with oil. The plant that produces it I have never seen. On the 31 st, all the tribe quitted Tashees for Cooptee, wither they goto pass the remainder of the winter, and complete their fishing, taking off every thing with them in the same manner as at Nootka. We arrived in a few hours at Cooptee, which is about fifteen miles, and immediately set about covering the houses, which was soon^ com- pleted^ < Xtiis 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. Though nearly as secure, as Tashees from the winter storms, it is by no means so pleasantly situated, though to us it was a much more agreeable resi- dence, as it brought us nearer Nootka, where we were impatient to return, in hopes of finding some vessel (here, or hearing of the arrival* of one nea^ ? ■» 123 The first snow that fell this season, was the day after our arrival, on New- Years ; a day that like Christmas, brought with it, paiuful recollcctious, but at the same time led us to indulge the hope of a more fortunate year than the last. Ekirly on the morning of the l\h of January, Maquina took me with him in his canoe on a visit to Upquesta^ chief 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 enter- tained at Tashees. This place is between twenty and thirty miles distant up the sound, and stands on the banks of a small river abojui, the size of that pf Cooptee, just within its entrap^^, in a.vajley of much greater extent than tliat of Tashee^ ; it con- sists of fourteen or fifteen houses, built and dispos- ed in the manner of those at Nootka. The tribe, which is considered as tributary to Maquina, amounts ^0 about three hundred warriors, and the inhabitants, both men and women, are among the best looking of any people on the coast. On our arrival we were received at the shore by the inhftbitants, a few of whom were armed with muskets, which they fired, with loud shouts and exclamations of TFocash, wocash. . f . We were welcomed by tbe chief^s messenger, or master of ceremonies, dressed in his best garments^ ,. i', i 11 !■ I ' X ' ■ ■^» ''ll ' : ^n ■ ; ■! H '11 .iJJJiJ^W § € a i*' 124 ^ith his hair powdered with white doWd, and hold- ing in his hand the cheetooith, the baoge of his office. This man preceded as to the chiefs hoase^ uhere he introduced and pointed out to us our re- spective seats. On entering, the visitors took of their hats, which they always weai on similar oc- casions, 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 curiosity to these people, very few of whom had ever ssen a white roan. 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 language, I preserved the strictest silence, Maquina on our first laudiug having enjoined me not to speak, until he should direct. . ■ , ^ • Having 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 were greatly astonished and delighted, and told Maquina that they nr w 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 125 to peraoade me to take off, as they did not like their appearance. Maquina ia the mean time gave an account to the chief> of the scheme he had form- ed for sarprising our ship, and the manner io which he and his people had carried it into execution, with such particular and horrid details of that tran- saction as chilled the hlood in my veins. Trays of boiled herring spawn and train oil were soon after brought in and placed before as, neither the chief or any of his people eating at the same time, it being contrary to the ideas of hospitality enter- tained by these nations, to eat any part of the food that is provided for strangers, always waiting un- til their visitors have finished, before they have their own brought ia. ' I M I I. 'PI!! 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 diffe- rent tribes appearing on these occasions to endea- vour to surpass each other in their proofs of forti- tude 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 per- formers advanced, singing and boasting, was for- cibly drawn back by a person having boW of it. After this performance was closed, we returned to Cooptee, wbich we reached at midaightj our men 'ii t»f; ■I .:'^.^*i M ;i 126 keeping time with their soogs to the stroke of their paddief. t" I, 'Hi • t . The natives now began to take the herring and sprat in immense quantities, with some salmon, and there was nothing hut feasting from morning till night. \:.r , win i^i I: 'i I The following is the method they employ to take the herring: 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 abcut half an inch apart. Provided with this instrument, the fisherman seats himself in the prow of a canoe, which is paddled by another, and whenever he comes to a shoal of herrings, which cover the water in greai quantities, he strikes it with both hands upon them, and at the same mo- ment turning it np^ brings it over the side of the caooe, into which he lets those that are taken drop. It is a^ionishing to see how many are caught by those who are dexterous at this kind of fishing, as they seldom fail when the shaols 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 canght in a similar manner. About the beginning of February, Maquina gave a great feast, at which^were preseat not only 127 , ftll the inhabitants, but one hundred persons from A-i-tiz-zart, and a number from Wickinninisii, who had been invited to attend it. It is customary with them to give an annual entertainment of this kind, and it is astonishing to see what a quan**^ tity of provision Is expended, or rather wasted on such an occasion, when they always eat to the greatest excess. It was at this f^ast that I saw upwards of an hundred salmon cooked in one tub. The whole residence at Cooptee presents an almost uninterrapted succession of feasting and gorman* dizing^ and it wouf J seem as if the principal object of these people was to consume their whole stock of provision before leaving it, trusting entirely to their success in fishing and whaling, for a supply at Nootka.. ■' ^? 'i^' h \ 'v'; On the 25th of February, we quitted Cooptee, and returned to Nootka. With much joy did Thompson and myself again find ourselves in a place where, notwithstanding the melancholy re* collections 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 had become much more apprehensive of our safety, in consequence of ioformation brought Maquina a few days before we left Cooptee, by some of the Cayuquets, that there were twenty ships at the northward, preparing to come against him, with Wf i > Mi ' I !■! :t \ IH 128 an intent of destroying him and his whole tribe, for cutting off the Boston., t . ./ i;i: -» if I \: 1 4i r-«. A. ' This story, which was wholly wlthoat fouuda- ilon, and discovered afterwards to have been in- vented by these people, for the purpose of dis- quieting him, threw him into great alarm, and notwithstanding all I could say to convince him that it was an unfounded report, so great was his jealonsy of us, especially after it had been con- firmed to him by some others of the same nation, that he treated us with much Lurshness, and kept a very suspicious eye upon us. Nothing indeed could be movf* unpleasant than our present situa- tion, when I reflected that our lives were altogether dependent on the will of a savage, on whose ca* prlce and suspicions no rational calculation could be made. •■?. ^• ;, ,: ; !• ■: '; ., r. Not loag after our return, a son of Maquina's Bister, a boy of eleven years old, who had been for some time declining, died. Immediately on his death, which was about midnight, aH the meu and women in the house set up loud cries and shrieks, which awakening Thompson and myself, so disturbed us that we left the house. This lamentation was kept up during the remainder of the night. In the morning, a great fire was kinilled, in which Maquina burned in honour of the deceased, ten fathoms of cloth, and buried with him tea I l' 129 fdthoms more, eight of I-whaw, four prime bsb.] otter skins, and two small trunks, containing our unfortunate captain^s clolties and watch. •' I • V This boy was considered as a Tyee or chio> being the only son of Tootooschy one of their prin- cipal chiel's, who had married Maquina's sister, whence arose this ceremony on his interment ; it being an established custom with these people, that whenever a chief dies, his most valuable pro- perty is burned or buried with him; it is, however, wholly confined to the chiefs, and appears to be a mark of honour appropriate to them. In this in- stance Maquina furnished the articles, in orier that his nephew might have the proper honours ren- dered him. • . - Tootooch, his father, was esteemed the first war« rior of the tribe, and wap one who had been parti- cularly active in the destruction of car ship, having killed two of our poor comrades, who were ashore, whose names were Hall and Wood. About the time of our removal to Tashees, while in the enjoy- ment of the highest health, he was suddenly seized with a fit of delirium, in which he fancied that he saw the ghosts of those two men constantly stand- ing by him, and threatening him, so that he would take no food, except what was forced iuio his mouth. A short time before this he liad lost a d^^ughter of about fifteen years of age, which : I' lis 130 - M* afflicted him greatly, and whether hi^ insauity, a disorder very UQCommon amoDgst these savages, DO instance of the kind having occurred within the memory of the oldest man amongst them, proceeded from this caase, or that it was the special interpo- sition of an all-merciful God in our favour, who by this means thought proper to induce these bar^ barians still further to respect our lives, of that for hidden purposes, the Supreme Disposer of events sometimes permits the spirits of the dead to revisit the world, and haunt the murderer, I know not, bat his mind from this period, unt^ his death, which took place but a few weeks after that of his eon, was incessantly occupied with the images of the men whom he had killed. This circpmstance made much impreision upon the tribe, particularly the chiefs, whose uniform opposition to putting as to death, at the various councils that were held on our account, I could not but in part attribute to this cause, and Ma- quina used frequently in speaking of Tootoosch^s sickness, io express much satisfaction that his hands had not been stained with the blood of any of our men. .''t .i ^- i^ i^' When Maquina was first informed by his sister, of the strange conduct of her husband, he imme- diately went to his house, taking us with him; suspecting that his disease had been cs^ased by us, 131 and that the ghosts of our countrymen had been called thither by us, to torment him. We found him raving about Hall and Wood, saying that they were peshak^ that is, baiK Maquina their placed some provision before him, to see if he would eat. On perceiving H, he put forth his hand to take Home, bat instantly withdrew it with signs of horror, saying that Hall and Wood were there, and wonld not let him eat. Maquina then pointing to us, asked if it was not John and Thampsoa • who troubled him. fVik, he replied, that is, no, ■ John kliishish — Thompson klushish — John and Thompson are both good; then turning in 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. ^ » i r ;»...*?■ At first Maquina endeavoured to convince him that he saw nothing, and to laugh him out of his belief, but finding that all was to no purpose, he at length became seriods, and asked me if I had ever seen any one affected in this manner, and what was the matter with him. I gave Mm to understand, pointing to his head, that his braia was injured, and that he did not see things as for- merly. '" ''"^ ■ ij .-?«,! ^ i lait- Being conviaccd by Tootoosch's conduct, that f. ,"r ' ' ! rl 1 m S ;!,, w m i v., . -'. 'i. 11 - 1 132 \ie had no a<^ency In his indispositioo, on our re- turo home, Maquina asked me what was done in my country in similar eases. I told him that such persons were closely confined, and sometimes tied up and whipped, in order to make them better. After pondering for some time, he said that he should be glad to do any thing to relieve hini, and- that he should be whipped, and immediately gave orders to some of his men to gu to Tootoosch^s house, bind him, and bring him to his, in order to undergo the operation. Thompson was the per- sou selected to administer this remedy, which he undertook very readily, and for that purpose pro- vided himself with a good number of spruce .branches, with which he whipped him most severe- ly, laying it on with the best will imaginable, while Toptoosch displayed the greatest rage, kick- ing, spitting, and attempting to bite all who came near him. This was too much for Maquina, who, at lengh, unable to endure it longer, ordered Thompson to desist, an^ Tootoosch to be carried .hack, saying that if there was no other way of curing him but by whipping, he must remain ■•-■-' .....a ildt jki • --XT ■*' V - -.' ^- ■■ ''^ .-. 'M ■^. ■ .*■ / SI '>?* ;;^.The application of the whip produced no bene- JBcial e£fect on Tootoosch, for he afterwards be- fl^came still more deranged ; in his fits of fury some- times seizing a club, and beating his slaves in a most dreadful manner, and striking and spitiiog 138 at all who came near him, till at length his wife DO longer daring to remain in the house with him, came with her son to Maquina's. The whaling season n6w commenced, and Ma- quina was out almost every day in his canoe, in pursuit of them, but for a considerable time, with DO success, one day breaking the staff of his har- poon, another, after having been a long time fast to a whale, the weapon drawing, owing to the breakiti;; of the shell, which formed its point, with severa/i such like ~ ccideats, arising from the imper- fection of the instrument. At these, times he always returned very morose and out of temper, up- braiding his men with having violated their obliga- tion to continence preparatory to whaling. In this state of ill humour he would give us very little to eat, which added to the v/omen not cooking when the men are away, reduced us to a very lovr fare, • • . I —^ , ■ ■' ■ f.\ ' - ' r -••. >».",■ ^.., • - . , . , ■• ' \' ■'-■ ' ; .-. . k '• » -^ , ," ■.■'.■'•- ' •'' /. , ', -■■.■■ ■;'.'■- J ' ' . T ■•»•,.■ - ♦ ,. ^ Id consequence of the repeated occurrence of similar accidents, I proposed to Maquir,a to make him a harpoon or foreganger of steel, which would be less liable to fail him. The idea pleased him, and ia a short time I completed one for him, with which he was much delighted, and the very next day went out to make a trial of it. He succeeded with it in taking a whale. Great was the joy throughout the village, as soon as it was. known .'•»• i ''in m: ii - 5' > ;■, * :f i:.:i ''i' ■' 5 J n r 134 that the king bad secared the whale, by notice from a persoD slatipned at the head-land in the offi ng. All the canoes were immediately launched, and, furnished with harpoons and seal-skin floats, has* tened to assist in buoying it up, and towing it in. The bringing in of this fish exhibited a scene of universal festivity. As soon as the cauoes appeared at the mouth of the Cove, those on board of them singing a^ triumph to a slow air, to which they kept time with their paddles, all who were on shore, men, women and children, mounted the roofs of their houses, to congratulate the king on his suc- cess, drumming most furiously on the planks, and exclaiming Wocash — wocash Tt/ee. The whale on being drawn on shore^ was imme- diately 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 i\8ual to excess. I was highly praised for the goodness of r/iy harpoon, and a quantity of blubber given me, which 1 was permit- ted to cook as I pleased, this 1 boiied in salt water with some young nettles and other greens for Thompson and myst>lf, and in thia way we found it tolerable food. ., , ... ^ - - - , ■•'n;,ni* i?4 V iJi' Their method of procuring the oil, is ;o skim it ft-om the water in which the blubber is boiled, and # 135 when cool, put it up into whale bladders for use, and of these I have seen them so large as, when filled, would require 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 discovering the superiority of my harpoon, that I should make some for them, but this Maquioa would not permit, reserving for himself this improved weapon. He however gave me directions to make a number more for himself which I executed, and also made him several lances, with which he was greatly pleased. ' < 4 . i 1 •t" < As these people have some very singular observ- ances preparatory to whaling, an account of them will, I presume, not prove uninteresting, especially as it may serve to give a better idea of their manners. A short time befcre leaving Tasbees, the king makes a point of passing a day alone on the mountain, whither he goes very privately early in the morning, and does not return till late in the evening. This is done, as I afterwards learned, for the purpose of singing and praying to his God for success in whal- ing the ensuing season. At Cooptee the same cere- mony is performed, and at Nootka after the return thither, with still greater solemnity, as for the next two days he appears very thoughtful and gloomy, scarcely speaking to any one, and observes a most rigid fast. On these occasions, he has always a lu,ii :) :»■; t w. 1 f .■ mi Wi I S ; 136 broad red fillet made of bark, bound around his head, in token of hnmiliation, with a large branch of green spruce on the top, and his great rattle in his hand. In addition to this, for a week before commencing their whaling, both himself and the crew of his canoe observe a fast, eating but very little, and going into the water several times in the course of each day tp bathe, singing and rubbing their bodies, limbs and faces with shells and bushes, 80 that on their returu I have seen them look as though they had been severely torn with briers. They are likewise obliged toabstain 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 houra. As soon as he was dead, the body," according to their custom, was laid out on a plank, having the bead bound round with a red bark fillet, which is with them an emblem of mourning and sorrow. After laying some time in this manner, he was wrapped in an otter skin robe, and three fathoms of I-whaw being put al)out his neck, he was placed in a large coffin or box of about three feet deep, which was ornamented on the outside with two V m^[ lar raws of the small white shells. la this, the most valuable articles of his property were placed with hini, among; which were do less than twenty-fonr t*-^' '*«" '■> i..l prime sea otter skins. ''^'^At night, which is their time for interring the dead, the coffin was borne by eight men with twa poles, thrust through ropes passed around It, to the place of burial, accompanied by his wife and family, with iheir hair cut short, in token of grief^ all the inhabitants joining the procession. I'be 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, ail the at- tendants repaired to Maquina^s house, where a number of articles belonging to the deceased, con- sisting of blankets, pieces of cloth, &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 puts in the several pieces, one by one, poured upon them a quantity of oil to increase ihe flame, in the intervals between, making a speech and playing off a variety of buffoon tricks, and the whole closed with a least, and a daa«e from Sat-sat-sak-sis, the king^i son. ^*5« i'^u'^^I^sV- ... ■.>...■ ;^.m .-,. .^ ,, i- . . . = 'The man who performed the ceremony of boraiog on this occasion, was a very siogular charaelei', named KinnecUmmeis, He was held in highesti* '.f !> * i' 1 1 «l J 1; 1«8 i,.'. ''/I ,jr,.' If'i ' iiTl /!: li' if'!'- 'V ii;:. 3"j!' !■■'■ '■i> ■V. tnatioD by the king; though only of the common cia80, probably from his talent for mimicry and buf- fQOQry, 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 master of cere- mOnieR and public orator to his majesty, as he was ibe one who at feasts alwBys regulated the places of the guests, delivered speeches on receiving or feiuraing visits, besides amusing the company at f^U their entertainments, with a variety of monkey pranks and antic gestures, which appeared to these savages the height of wit and humour, bat would be considered as extremely low by the least polished people. Almost all the kings or head chiefs of the principal tribes were accompanied by a similar character, who appeared to be attached to their digaity, and are called in their language, dimmer^ »!f This man, KinnecUmmeiSy was particularly odious to Thompson, who would never join in the laugh at his tricks, but when he began, would al- most 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 Cltmmer-habbee, used to remark, with much dissatisfaction, asking me why Thomp* son 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. A .. n 136 S< Amoog those perforroances (hat gained him the greatest applause, was his taieat of eating to ex- cess, for I have known him devour at one meal, DO less than seventy-five large herrin^fs; and at another time, when a great feast was given by Maquina, he undertook, after drinking thre^ pints of oil by way of a whet, to eat four dried salmon*, and five quarts of spawn, mixed np with a gallon of train oil, and actually succeeded in swallowing the greater part of this mess, until his stomach became 80 overloaded, as to discharge its contents in the dish. One of his exhibitions, however, had nearly cost him his life ; this was on the occasion of Kla* quak-eC'Tia^ one of the chiefs, having bought him a new wife, ia 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 lents of cloth, muskets, &c« on sueh occasions* v«».<^t;k i?w..;ruji:. r^^ The death of Tootoosch increased still more the disquietude which his Jelirium 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 punishment inflicted ! ' * I) I i !il . i : ;1 i 'J ,^a*? i \m % J- i \ ■ ■M-; :i' m : ' ■ ■ im i^',:. \m 'i 1 'WM IflK ■':■■ ' 1' ■Bl'r 'i ) ; . , Kg. : -, [: Wp 1 '■' m-'\ [■ '• . ,1 ^^5^ 140 00 htnl by Quahooize, tor his craelty id marderiog two ioooceot meo, who had never iojared him. )^ Our Bituation bad now become unpleasant in the cxtKerne. The summer was so far advanced, that we nearly despaired of a ship arriving to our relief, and with that expectation, almost relinquished the hope of ever having it in our power to quit this savage land. We were treated too with less in- dtilgence than bef ire, both Thompson and myself being obliged, in addition to our other employ- ments, to perform the laborious te.ai; ' i) tt« iiitii^* ^\ 1 To add to this, we suffered much abuse from the common 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 cat off, and that they would do the like to us; though they generally took good care at auch times to keep well out of Thompson's reach, as they had more than once experienced, to their cost, the strength of his fist. This conduct was not only provoking and grating to our feelings in the highest degree, but it convinced us of the jil dispa- :m 141 litioQ of these savages towards u.% and rendered us fearful lest they might at 80iri<; ». or other per- suade or force Maquioa and the chiefs to put us to ., We were also often brought to great distress for the want of provisions, so far as to be reduced to collect a scanty supply of muscles and limpets from the rocks, and sometimes even compelled to' part with some of our most necessary articles of clothing, in order to purchase food for our sub- sistence. This was, however, principally owing to the inhabitants themselves experiencing 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 Ihe sea, which with true savage inconsistency, excited their murmurs against Ma- quina, : who bad proposed cutting off our ship. Re- lying on this supply, they had in the most incon- siderate m^ner, squandered ^way their winter stock of provisions, so that in a few days after their r^tom, it was entirely expended, ^ ^^, ^^,^ Nor were the king and chiefs much more fortu- nate in tJ[)ieir whaijqg, even after I had furnjshed MaquitUi vvitl),^ iinproved weapon for that pur- i;!l iii- . I if 1 14^ [I J' •',11 ■' \ . , ■ * i v' V I >: [iV- ' 8 it pvige; but four whales having been taken dnnng the seaion, which closes the last of May, iocliiding 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 putridity. These afforded but a short supply to a population, includ- ing all ages and sexes, of no less than fifteen hun- dred persons, and of a character so very improvi- dent, that after feasting most gluttonously whenever a whale was caught, they were several times for a week together, reduced to the necessity of eating but once a day, and of collecting cockles and R'.ui- cles from the rocks for their food. ' And even after the cod and halibut fishing enti- ineoced, in June, in which they met with tolerable success, such was the savage caprice of Maquina, that he would often give as but little to eat, /finally ordering us to buy a canoe and fishing implements, and go out ourselves and fish, or we shonld have nothing. To do this, we were compelled to part with our great coats, which were not only import- ant to OS as gartnents, but of which we nMfde oar beds, spreading them under us when we slept. From our want of skill, however, iti' this n^w tm- ploy, we met with no success v on ^ifeoyering which, Maquina ordered us to rsmain at home. Another thing, which td teie in fiti^Glblllf , pro^^ed bn almost constant source of Vexation and 4isgust, and which living among them had not in the least 113 reconciled me to, fr«i their exlrcinr illthiness, not only in Jiog fish, especially the whale, wluu in a state of oflTen^ive putridity, but while at their meals, of making a practice of taking the vermin Aroni their heads or clothes, and eating them, by tarns thrusting their fingers into their hair, and into the dish* and spreading their garments over th* tttbs in which the provision was cooking, in order to set in motion their inhabitants. <' rr..r 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 respect, he would laugh and reply, Never minii John, the more good things the luetter. 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 tbem eat any of these animals, but on the contrary they appeared not much to relish this taste in others. Their garments, also, were much oleaoer, Maquina having been accus* tomed to gtve his away when they became soiled, till Hfler he discovered that Thompson and myself kept oetrs clean by washing them, when he used to make Thompson do the same for him. v",i «•;«) , |.,f.y '^latt ' Yet amidst this state of endurance and disap- I ♦ t UH CD: ■: It • i I,' is. |,,, /I » . 144 pointment, in hearing repeatedly of the arrival of saiiB at the north and south, most of which proved to be idle reports, while expectation was almost wearied out in looking f^r them^ we did not wholly de<«pond, relying on the mercy of the Supreme Being, to offer up to whom our devotions on the da) 8 apposiited for his worship, was our chief consolation and support,^ though we were some- times obliged, by our task-masters, to infringe upon the Sabbath, which was to me a source of much regret.^N pH: ..m^-?ii'?>0'^'s'' •T?a--«^f*^t.ef?;h^i^^f . \ We were, nevertheless, treated at times with much kindness by Maquina, who would give us a plenty of the ^'>est that he had to eat, and occa- sionally, some small present of cloth for a garment, promising me, that if any ship should arrive within a hundred miles of Nootka, he would send a canoe with a letter from me to the captain, so that he rjight come to our release. These flattenng pro- mises and marks of attention, were, however, at those times when he thought himself in i^ersonal danger from a mutinous, spirit, which the scarcity of provisions had excited among the natives^ who, like true savages, imputed all their piiblic cala- mities, of whatever kind, to the miscondoct of their chief, or when be was apprehensive of an at- tack from somef>f the otl; ?r tribes who were irri- tated with him for cutting off thp Boston, as it bad prevented sI^ipB from coming to trade with U6 them, and were eoD8(aDtly alarmiag him with idle stories of vessels that were preparing to come against him, and exterminate boUi him and bis people, t ;r: ;/ J • i.JU"n •-•'.n '■■ M • .7J»> ■f'^-^^;. At sach times, he made us keep guard over him both night and day, armed with catlasses and pistols, being apparently afraid to trust any of his own meD« At one time, it was a general revolt of his people that he apprehended ; then three of hi» principal chiefs, among whom was his elder bro- ther, had ccQspired to take avi^ay bis life ; and at length, he fancied that a small party of Klaoo** quates, between whom and the Nootkians, little friendship subsisted, had come to Nootka, under a pretence of trade, for the sole purpose of mnrdi^rbg him and his family, telling us, probably to sharpea our vigilance, that their intention was to kill at likewise ^ and so strongly were his fears excited on this occasion, that he not only ordered oi to keep near him armed by day, whenever he went out, and to patrole at night before bis house while they remained, but to continue the same guard for three days after they were gone, and to fire at oat and at four in the morning, one of the great guns, to let them know, if, as be suspected, they were lurking in the neighbourhood, that he was on his ■.>■•• '■ t^ < ■'•-'? t^t^s*. While he was thus favourably disposed towards 1^. : u I t m ■ I i iy-i ('■■ ■i V '> i f . f U6 as, I took an opportuDity to inform him of the ill treatment that we frequently received from his people, and the k suits that were offered us by some of the stranger tribes in calling us white slaves, and loading us with other opprobrious terras. He was much displeased, and said that his subjects should not be allowed to treat us ill, and that if any of the strangers did it, he wished us to puniish the offenders with death, at the same time directing as, for our security, to go constantly armed. . H, This permrssioD was soon improved by Thompson to the best advantage; for a few days after, having gone to the pond to wash some of our clothes, and bknket for Maquina, several Wickinninish who were th^n 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 v^hers. walked over the i^ilanket Thompson was highly incensed^ and threatened the Indian with death if he repeated the offence, but he; in contempt of the threat, trampUd upon the blanket, when drawing his cutlass, without farther ceremony, Thompson cut off bis head, on seeing which the others ran off at fall 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 highly 147 commeaded his conduct. This had a favourable effect lor us, not only on the stranger tribe?, but the inhabitants themselves, who treated us after- wards, with less disresi)ect ^s!ii^^,f>v,,/^>w,, ,7 In the latter part of July, Maquiua iofoniied me that he was going to war with the A-y^charts, a tribe about fifty imles to the souih- on account of some controversy that had arisen the preceding fummer, and that I mast make a number of daggers for bis men, and cheetoolihs for his chiefs, which having completed, he wislied me to make for his own use a weapon of quite a different form, in order to dispatch his enemy by one biow on the head, it being the calculation of these nations on going to war, to surprise their adversaries while asleep. — This was a steel dagger, or more properly a spike, of about six inches long, made very sharp, set at right angles in an iron handle of fifteen inches long, terminatitig at the lower end in a crook or turn, so as to prevent its being wrenched from the hand, and at the upper, in a round knob or head, from whence the spike protruded. This instrument I polished highly, and the more to please Maquina, formed on the back of the knob, the resemblance of a man^» head, with the mouth open, substituting for eyes, black beads, which i fastened in with red sealing wax. This pleased him much, and was greatly admired by hia chiefs, who wanted me to make similar ones 'i.?" m ; 1 1 i- If f ;! l^ '■\ n ::1 'I'! *%*■ ii-"^| .lU' ,!f ^'I'ii'n 7t:*t ■^MA ?1i tfi.i^>l=i«« . if ' If ■ ,. !| «!, , /?iv:^^ When these people, have finally determined on war, they make it an invariable practice for three or four weeks prior to the expedition, to go into the water five or six times a day, when they wash and scrub themselves from head to foot with bushes in> termixed with briars, so that their bodies and faces will often be entirely covered with blood. During this severe exercise, they are continually exclaim* iug, *'^ Wocash Quahootze^ leechamme ah zcelth^ wik'€tish tau-ilik — Kar-sab-maiemas — Wik-sisk to hauk matemas — / ya-ish k ah skittle — As'SmoO" iish warich matemas;^'* which signifies good or great God, let me live — Not be aiek — Find the enemy — Not fear him — Find him asleep^ and kill * a great many of them. ' ,iv! After having put to death all the old and infirm of either sex, as is the barbarons practice of tliese people^ and destroyed the buildings, we re-embark- ed with oar booty in our canoes, for Nootka, where we were received with great demonstra- tions of joy by the iiirotn^n and children, accompa- nying^ 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 victory, which was terminated as nsusil with a dance by Sat-sat-sak-6is. 11 ; ■ • 1 ,: Repeated applications had been made to Maqui- na, by a number of kings or chiefs, to purchase me, especially after he had sheMed them the harpoon I had made for him, which he took much pride in, but he constantly refused to part with me on any terms. — Among these, the king of the Wickinninish was particularly solicitous to obtain me, having twice applied to Maquina for that purpose, once in a very formal manner, by sending his messenger with four canoes, who as he approached the shore, decorated in their highest .Ml 152 Btyle, with the white dowii on his head, &e, declai-ed that he came to buy To.iteyoohamiis^ the Dame hy which I was known to them, for his master, and that he had brought for that purpose four youDg male slaves, two highly ornamented ca- noes, such a number of the skins of metamelth, and of the quarilack, or seaolter, and so many fathoms of cloth and of i-whaVv, while as he mentioned the dif- ferent articles, they were pointed out or held up by his attendants, but even this tempting oifer had no influence on Maquina .; who in the latter part of the iiummer, was again very strongly urged to sell me hy Ul&tilla. or as he is generally called Machee Ulatilla, chief of the Klaizzarts, who had come io Nootka on a visit. :>^>.' I -ill.. Thi^ chief, who could speak tolerable English, had much more the appearance of a civilized man, than any of the savages that I saw. He appeared to be about thirty, was rather small in his person, hut extremely well formed, with a skin almost as fair as that of an European, good features, and a countenance expressive of candour and amiableneeig, and which was almost always brightt^ned with a smile. He was much nen^ter both in his dress a*, d person than any of the other chiefs, seldom weariug paint, except upon his eye-brows, which after the custom of his couLtry, were plucked out, aL:d a few strips of the ptlpeltli on the lower part of his face. He always treated me with much kindness, ■ . .' ', u ^i 163 was fond of conversiog with hie in EDglish and in his own language, asking me many questions relative to my cduntry, its manners, customs, Set, and apjieared to take a strong interest in my fate, telJing roe, that if he could persuade Maquina to part with me, he would pot me on board the first ship that came to his country; a promise, which from his subsequant conduct, I have good reason to think he would have performed, as my delive* ranee at length, from captivity and suffering was, under the favour of divine providence, wholly owing to him, the only fetter thai ever reached an Euiropean or American vessel, out of sixteen that I Wi^ote at di^erent times, and sent to various pAtlB of the coast, '^ving been delivered by him iu person. So much pleased was I with this man^s behaviour to me while at Nootka, that I made for him a Chtietoolth, which I burnished highly, and engraved with figures; with this he was greatly delighted, I also would have made for him a harpoon would Miaqaina have consented. With hearts fall o(^ dejection and almost lost to hope, no ship having appeared off Njotka this season, did my companion and myself accompany the tribe on their removal in September, to Tashees, relinquishing in consequence, for six months, even tiife remotest expectation of rdief. v^^v "^ SoofH after our establishment there, Maquina O 3 'ii • ' i t '■! : i ^* * ■i 154 i' Lf infnnned me, that he and his chiefs had held couDcil hotb before and after quitting Nootka, in which (hey had determined that I roust marry one of their women, Uiglsor as a reason to induce me to consent, that as there was now no probability of a ship coming to Nootka to release roe, 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 render me more contented and satisfied with their mode of living. I remon- strated against thi? decision, but to no purpose, for he told me that should I refuse, both Thompson and myself would be put to death, telling me however, that if there w^re none of the women of his tribe that pleased me, he would go with me to some of the other bribes, where i\e would purchase for me such a one as I should select. Reduced to this sad extremity, with dtath 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 be married, on condition, that as I did not fancy any of the Nootka women, I should be permitted to make choice of one from some other tribe. ^ ■■ , ' This being settled, the next morning 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 c^oth, a number of muskets, sea otter M 1 w w sUiDS, <&c. forthe purchaee ofmy bride. With the aid of our paddle§ aod sailn, being favoured with a fair breeze, we arrived some time before sun set at the village. Our arrival excited a general alarm, and the men hastened to the shore, armed with the weapons of their country, making many warlike de- monstrations, and displaying much Zealand activi- ty. We in the mean time remained quietly seated 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 eare to leave a sufficient number in the boats to pro* tect the property. When we came to the house, we were ushered in with much ceremony,, and our re- . spective seats pointed out to us, mine being next to Maquina by his request. After having been regaled with a feast of herring spawn and oil, Maquina asked me if I saw any a- mong the women who were present that I liked, I immediately pointed out to a youn^ ^irl of about seventeen, the daughter of Upqu . «, the chief, who was sitting near him by her mother. On this Ma- quina making a sign to his men, arose and taking me by the hand, walked into the middle of the room, and sent off two of his men to bring ihe boxes coDtaining the presents from the canoes. In the mean time Kinneclimmets, the master of cererao- I > I I- 9 ■ *,' 1) *' -'V ! fcJ n^ i! li; y 156 uicd, whom I have already spoken of, made himself ready for the part he watt to act, by powdering bis hair with white down. — When the chests were brought in, specimens of the several articles were . taken oat, and shewed by oar men, one of whom held up a nnosketi another a skin, a third a piece . of clotb, <&c. On this, Kinneclimroets stepped forward, and addressing the chief, informed him that all these belonged to me, mentioning the nnmber oi each kind, and that they were offered to him for the purchase of his daughter Ewstoch'ee'ex' qua, as a wife for me. As he said this, the men who held op the various articles, walked up to the chief, and with a very stern and morose look, the complimentary one oa these occasions^ threw them at his feet. Immediately on which, all the tribe, ' both men and women, who were as jmbled on this occasion, set up a cry of Klack-ko-Tyee, that is, Thank ye chief. His men, after this ceremony, having returned to their places, Maqoina rose, and in a speech of more thaff'haif an hour, said much in my praise to the A-i-tiz-zart chief, telling him that I was as good a man as theinselves, differing from them only in being white, that I was besides acquainted with many things of which they were ignorant; that I knew how to mak« daggers, cheetoolths, and harpoons, and was a very valoa- rble person, whom he was determined to keepahmys with him; praising me at tiie same time for the goodness of my temper, and the manner in which . ; 157 I had condiiclcd myself sioce I had been will) them, observiog that all the people of Nootka, and even the children, loved me* While Maquina was speaking, his master of cere- monies was continually skipping about, making the most extravagant gestures, and exclaiming fVocash. 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 qua- > lities and accomplishments of his daughter i that he -f' loved her greatly, and as she was his only one, he could not think of parting with her. He spoke (i in this manner for some time« but finally concluded J by consenting to the proposed union, requesting ?t that she might be well used and kindly tseated by ' her husband. At the close of this speech, when the chief began to manifest a disposition to consent ' to Otfr union, Kinneclimmets a<;ain began to call , out as loud as he could bawl, Wocash, cutting a .;a thousand capers and spinning himself around on ^,hls heel like a top. .,: When Upquesta had finished his speech, he di- y rected his people to carry back the presents which i Maquina bad given him, to me, together with two young male slaves, to assist me in fishing. These, , after having been placed before me, were by Ma- ' quina^s men taken on board the canoes. This cereriiony being over, we were invited by one of i ■i ; 168 the principal chiefs to a feast, at his house, of Klussamit^ or dried herriog, where after the eating was over, Kinneciimmets amosed the company very highly with his tricks, and the evening^s en* tertainraent was closed by a new war son sprightly disposition. I used to take a pleasure in decorating him with rings, bracelets, ear jewels, &c. which I made for him of copper, and orna- mented and polished them in my best manner. I was also very careful 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 to the child, who delighted in being kept neat and clean, as well as in being dressed off in his finery, but was highly gratifying ''i\ \ , 5 \ h i h'') III m ' 160 both to Maqaina and his queen, who used to ex- press much satisfaction at my care of him. In making my domestic establishment, I deter- mined, as far as possible, to live in a more com- fortable 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 1 found much more comfortable than sleeping on the floor amidst the dirt. Fortunately \\ found my Indian princess both amiable and intelligent, for one whose limited sphere of observation must necessarily give rire to but a few ideas. She was extlremely ready to agree to any thing that I proposed relative to our mode of living, was very attentive in keeping her garments and person neat and clean, and appeared in every respect, solicitous to please me. She was, as I have said, about seventeen, her person was small, but well formed, as were her features, her complexion was, without exception, fairer than any of the women, with considerable colour in Ler cheeks, her hair long, black, and much softer than is usual with them, and her teeth small, even, and of a dazzling whiteness, while [.* II /'f 161 (heexpressioQ of her coanteriaace, iadicated sweet- ness of temper aod modesty. She would, indeed, ctave been considered as very pretty in any country, ind excepting Maqnina's queen, was by far ^he liandsomest of any of their women. I M : With a partner possessing so many attractions, many may be apt to conclude, that I must iiave found myself happy, at least comparatively so; but far otherwise was it with me, a compulsory marriage with the most beautiful and accomplished person in the world, can never. prove a source of real happiness; and in my situation, I could not but view this connexion as a chain that was to bind me down to this savage land, and prevent my ever again seeing a civilized country; especially, when in a few days after, Maquioa inrormed me that there had been a mcetiug of his chiefs, in which it had been determined, that as I had married one of their women, I must be considered as one of them, and conform to their customs, and that in future, neither myself nor Thompson should wear our Eu* ropean clothes, but dress in Kutsaks like them- selves. This order was to tne most painful, but I persuaded Maquina, at length, so far to relax in it as to permit me to wear those 1 had at present, which were almost worn out, and not to compel Thomp-^on to change his drtss, observing, that as he was an old ma:i, such a change would cause his death. • . . *• P • '} It 162 /' : , Their religions 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 themi instead of being ordered to the woods, Maqoina 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 Maquina*s. house, in their plainest dresses, and without any kind of ornaments about them, having their heads bound around with the red fillet, a token of dejection and humiliation, and their countenances expressive of seriousness and melancholy. The performances during the conti- Daance of this celebration, 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, and rising at the first appear- ance of dawn, ayd even interrupting this short period of repose, by getting up at midnight and singing. _ .,^ ^^x The ceremony was terminated by an exhibition of a similar character to the one of the last year. 163 but atill more cruel. A boy of twelve years old, with six bayonets r> l iato his flesh, one through each arm and thigh, and tWoiig^h each side close to the ribs, was carried around the room, suspended upon them, without manifttting any symptoms gf .pain. Maquioa, on my enquiring the reason of this display, informed me thai it was an ancient custom of his nation, to sacrifice a man at the close of this solemnity f in honour of their God, but that his father had abolished it, and* substituted this in Its place. The whole closed on the even- ing of the 29th, with a great feast pf salmon ipawn and oil, at which the natives, as usual, made up for their late abstinence. A few days afler, a circumstance occurred, which, from its slngtiUvity, I. cannot forbear mentioning^ I was sent for by my neighbour YeaUhloweri the king's elder brother, \o file his teethe which operation having performed, he in- formed Bie^ that a new wife, whom he had a Uttle time before 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 determined, and in fact, performed his savage threat that very night, saying that since she would not be his wife, she should not be that of any other, and in the morning sent her back to her father. . !i' 164 This inhunaaa act did oof, however, proceed from any innate cruelty of dispositioo, or malice, as he was far from being of a barbaroas temper; but such is the despotifni exercised by these savages over their women, that I e no doubt considered it as a just punishment for her offence, in being so obstinate and perverse; as he aftcTwards told me, that in similar cases, the husband had a right, with iiiem, to disfigure his wife in this way, or soiTie other, to prevent her ever marrying again. .1 *' : ^ \'j 'H\ f r:'i € Iv n About the middle of December, we left Tashees for Cooptee. As usual at this season, we found the herrings in great plenty, and here the same scene of riotous feasting that I witnessed fast year, was renewed by our improvident natives, who, in addition to their nsnal fare, had a plentiful supply of wfld geese, which were brought us in great quan- tities by the Esquotes. These, as Maquina in- formed 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 pos- sible, to the place where the geese are collected, who, dazzled by the light, suffer themselves to be approached very near, when the net is thrown over them, and in this manner, from fifty to sixty, or even more, will sometimes be taken at one cast. "•lit 165 ' / Oa the 15th of Janattry, 1805, about midnight, I was throvva into coosiderable a'larm, in conse- qaeace of ao eclipse of the mooa, being awakened from my sleep by a great outcry of the inhabitants. On going to discover the cause of this tumult, I found them all out of their houses, bearing lighted torches, sieging and beating upon pieces of plank, and when I asked them the reason of this proceed- ing, they pointed to th^ moon, and said thct a great cod-fish was endeavouring to swallow her, and that they were driving him away. The origin of this superstition I coukl not discover. Though, iff some respects, my situation was rendered more comfortable since my marriage, as I lived in more cleanly manner, and bad my food better and more neatly cooked, of wkiich, besides, I had always a plenty, my slaves generally fur- nishing me, and Upquesta never failing to send me, an ample supply by the canoes that came from A-i-tiz- zart; still, from my beipg obliged at this season of the year, to change my accustomed 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 suffered more than I can express from the cold, especially as I was compelled to perform the laborious task of cutting and bringing the fire wood, which was rendered still more oppressive to me, from my comrade, fur P 3 :Si i! :li «i ' I! 166 a considerable part of the winter, not having it in his power to lend me his aid, in consequence of a:^ attack of the rheamatism 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 un- der the necessity to leave the house. t' ^ u *■) ' .1 ':i , ' ii .'J U. : k. \ This state of suffering, with the little hope I now had of ever ^^rs^aping from the savages, began to rrnder vi V If' 'k> jme tr me, sill, however, I lost not nry 'i nr^wvi^^'^nce in the aid of the Supreme Being, to whom, ^enever the weather and a suspension from the tasks imposed on me, wonid permit, I never failed regularly, on Sundays, to retire to the wood to worship, taking Thompson with me when he was able to go. On4he 20tb of Febraary, we returned to our summer quartehi at Nootka, but on my part, with far different sensations than the last spring, being now almost in despair of any vessel arriving to release u&, or our being permitted to depart if there should. — Soon after o«r return, as prep^ara- tory to the wbalilig season, Maquina ordered aie to make a good number of barpoons for bimfelf and his chiefs, several of which I had completed with gome lances, when on the 16th of March, I was taken very ill with a violent cholic, caused, I pre- sume, from having suffered so much from the cold, in going withont proper clothing. For a nnmber of 167 houra I 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 ilie day following, a slave belonging to Ma- quina died, and was ir naediately, as is their cos- ;om in sjch cases, tossed unceremoniously out of doors^ tron whence he wa» taken by some others, and thrown into the water. The treatment of this poor creature made a melancholy inipression upon ray mind, as i could not but think, that such proba- bly, would be my fate should I die amOi../; t- -^se heathens, and so far from receiving a decer. bu J, that I should not even be allowed thv. roimon privilege of having a little earth throwr ovor my lemainck J The feebleness in which the violent attack of my disorder had left me, the dejection I felt at the almost hopelessness of my situation, and the want of warm clothing and proper nursing, though my Indian wife, as far as she knew how, was always ready, even solicitous, to do every thing for me she could, still kept me very much indisposed, which Maquina perceivings he finally told me, that if I did not like living with my wife, and that was the cause of my being so sad, I might part with her. This proposal I readily accepted, and the next day Maquina sent her back to her father. I pi I ; li 41 22 1^ 168 Ob parting wilh me, she dUcovered mach emo- tlon, baggiug me that I woald suffer her to remaiu till I had recovered, at there was do ooe who would take so good care of me as herself. But wheu I told her she must go, for that I did not think I should ever get well, which in tiuth I but little expected, and that her father wosid 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 get better, and left her two slaves to take care of me* . 1 ' ' - J 1 - . ■ • ■ / - 5.'; <>•' Though I rejoiced at her departure, I was greatly affected with the simple expressions of her regard for me, and could not bat feel strongly interested for this poor girl, who in all her conduct towards me, had discovered so much mi)dne««, and attention to my wishes; and had it not been that I eonsidered her as an almost insuperable obstacle to my being permitted to leave the country, I should no doubt have felt the deprivation of her soetcty a real loss» After her departure, 1 requested Maquis na, that, as I had parted with my wife, he would permit me to resume my European dress, at, other* wise, from not having been accustomed to dress like them, I should certainly die. To this he consented, and I once more became comfortably clad. 7? ■ Change of clothing, hut more than all, the hopes which I now began to indnlge, that in the €oaffe<^ lopes the summer I shoal J be able to escape, in a short lime restored me to health, so far, that I could again go to work in making harpoons for Alaquina, who probably, fearing that he should have to part with me, determined to provide himself with a good stock. tit I shall not, however, long detain the reader with a detail of occurrences that intervened between this period, and that of my escape, which, from that dull uniformity tliut marks the savage life, would b« in a measure, but a repetition, nor dwell upon that mental torture I endured, from a constai^t oonflict of hope and fear, when the former, almost wearied out with repeatpd dtsHppointment, 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 tiie common people, who in the various councils that were held this season to determine what to do with Ha, in case of the arrival of a ship, were almost always for putting us to death, expecting by that means to conceal the murder of our crew, and to throw the blame of it on some other tribe These barbarous sentiments were, however, universally 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 I ^ I i W ill* l'« V 170 mentioned, I shall proceed to give an accoant of theoi. The oiBce of king ur chiefs if, with those people, hereditary, and descends to the eldest son, or in failure of male issue, to the elder brother, who in the regal line, is considered as the second person in the kingdom. At feasts, as I have observed, the king is always placed in the highest, or seat of hon* our, and the chiefs according to their respective ranks, which appear, in general, to be determined by their afi&nity to the royal family, they are also designated by the embellishments of their mantles, or Kutsaks. The king, or head Tyee, is their leader in war, m \i» nMuiA«:emeDt of which he is perfectly absolute. He ia also president of their councils, which are almost alwaya regulated by his opinion. But he has no kind of power over the property of his subjects, nor can be require them to contribute to his wants, being in this respect, no more privileged than any etiier person. He has in common with his chiefs, the right of holding shivesi which is not enjoyed by private individuals, a regn* lation probably arising fron their having been orig'- Daily captives taken in battle, the spoils of war being understood as appertaining to the king, who receives and apportions them among his several chiefs and warriors, according to their vmA and de- serts. 171 In coDformity with this idea, the plunder of the Bostoo, was all deposited io Maquioa'd house, who distributed part of it tmong his chiefs, accordinj^ to their respective ranks or degree of favour with him, giving to one, three hundred muskets, to anothc^r, one hundred and fifty, with other things in like proportion. The king is, however, obliged to sup- port bis dignity by making frequent entertainments, and whenever he receives a large supply of previ- sion, 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 as conducting like a Tyee, and would be no more thought of than a common man. With regard to their religion — They believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, whom they call Qtiahootze^ and who, to use Maquina's expression, was one great Tyee in the sky, who gave them their fith, and could tfi ke them from them, and was the greatest of ail kin;;?. .Their usual place of worship, ap>>eared to he the water, for whenever they bathed, ihey addrt'Ssed some words in form of prayer to the God above, intreating that he would preserve them in health, give them good success in fishing, &c. These pra ers were repeated, with much more ener- gy, on preparing for wbaiing or for war as I have already mentioned. . ,^ • Some of them would sometimes go several imlnF I i1 H 172 II h lit. ''•.: w ;f' 'd: I*. 6'': to baihe, io 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 pri-^ vate 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 women, who might also, have been prompted by a sentiment of decency, to retire for the purpose of bathing, as they Are remarkably modest. I I once found one of our women more than two miles from the village, on her knees in the woods, with her eyes shut, and her face turned towards heaven, ottering words in a lamentable tone, among which I distinctly heard, H'ocash Ah-welth* mean- ing good Lord, and which has nearly the same signification with Quahootze. Though ] came very near her, she appeared not to notice me, but continued her devotions, and I have frequently seen the wdhien go alone into the woods, evidently for the purpose of addressing themselves to a superior being, and it was always very perceptible on their return, when they had been thus employed, from ^ their silence and melancholy looks. ' ' . '" They have no belief, however, in a state of fu- ture existence, as I discovered, in conversation with Maquina, at Tootoosch^s death, on my at- Xer ^.ting to convince him that he still existed, and 173 that he would agaio see him after bis death : bnt he could comprehend nothing of it, aud poiuting to the ground, said, that there was the end of him, and that he was like that. Nor do they believe in gho8t8, 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 performed over the sick, it is very apparent that they believe in the agency of spirits, as they attribute diseases to some evil one that has entered the body of the patient. Neither have they any priests, unless a kind of conjurer may he so considered, who sings and prays over the sick, to dr.ve away the evil spirit. 1 On the birth of twins, they have a most singular custom, which, I presume, has its origin in some religious opinion, but what it is, I could never . satisfactorily learn. The father is prohibited for the space of two years from eating any kind of meat, or fresh fish, during which time, he does no kltid 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 obliged to conform to the seme abstinence, wi(h their children, live entirely separate from the others, a smaH hut being built ' for their accommodation, and he is never inviied to any of the feasts, except such as consist wholly of dried provision, where he is treated witu g^-uc U [ I ''M'^m 1 >' 1 ^1 ^ mi y|j; i:- 'I 4 1 j I'l k'M 174 respect, and aeated among the chiefs, though no more himself than a private individual. Such births are very rare among them ; an iq- stance of the kind, however, occurred while I was at Tashees the last time, but it was the only one known since the reign of the former king. The fa« ther always appeared very thoughtful and gloomy ^ never associated with the other inhabitants, 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 commenced. 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 practice to repair to the mountain, with a chiefs rattle in his hand, to sing and pray, as Ma((uina informed me, for the fish to come into their waters. When not thus em- ployed, he kept continually at home, except when sent for to sing and perform his ceremonies over the sick, being considered as a sacred character, and one much in favour with their gods. 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 which is friction, a person rubbing the bowels of the sick violently, until the pain has subsided, while the conjuror, or holy man ii e^ ^^oyed, in the mean 17o time, io making his gestures, singing, and repeating certain words, and blowing off the evil spirit, when the patient is wrapped apin a bear skin, in order to prod nee perspiration. I Their cure for the rheamatism, or similar pains, which I saw applied by Maqulna, In the cato of . ThompioD, to whom it gave relief, is by catting or •carifyiog the part affected. In dressing wounds, they aimply wash them with salt water, and bii4 * them up with a strip of cloth, or the bark of a tree* They are, however, very expert and sunce^fQl Id the care of fractured or dislocated limbs, reducing them very dexterously, and after binding them up with bark, supporting them with blocks of wood, 80 as to preserve their position. During the whole time I was among them, but five natural deaths occurred, Tootoosch and his two infant children, an infant bon of Maquina, aud the slave whom I have mentioned, a circumstance not a little remarkable in a po^ alation of about fifteen hundrecU and as respects child-birth, so light do they make of it, that I have seen their women the day after, employed as usual, as if little or nothing had happened. I : 1 1 ; but this,^ if he could avoid it, by no means appeared to ac- cord with Maquina^s wishes. Having mentioned Toowinnakinnish, I shall briefly observe, that he was a young man of about twenty-three years old, the only son of Toopee- shottee, the oldest and most respected chief of the tribe. His sou had always been remarkably kind and friendly tor me, and I httA in return frequently made for him daggers, cheetoolths, and other things, ia my best manner. He was one of the handsomest men among them, very amiable, and much milder in his manners than any of the others, as well as neater both m bis person and house, at M'l I ! k 'I' i . 180 least his apartment, without even excepting Ma- quma. • With regard, however, to Maquioa^s going on board the vessel, which he discovered a strong inclination to do, there was but one opinion, all remonstrating against it, telling him that the captain would kill him or keep him prisoner, in consequence of his haviug destroyed our ship. When Maquina had heard their opinions, he told tLcm that he was not afraid of being hurt from going on board the vessel, but that he would, however, as it respected that, be guided by John, w'lon lie had always found true. He then turned to tne, and asked me if 1 thought there would be any danger in his going on board. I answered, i 'lat I was not surprised at the advice his people had given him, unacquainted as they were with the manners of the white men, and judging them by their own, >at if they had been with them as much as I had, or even himself, they would think very different. That he had almost always experienced good and civil treatment frojin them, nor bad he any reason to fear the contrary now, as they never attempted to harm tho.t Ijnovvn me to lie ?'* *' No." " Then how can you , suppose I should tell you a lie now, siace I have never done it." As I was speaking, he still con- tinued looking at me with the 8an;e piercing eye, but observing nothing to excite his suspicion, he told me that he believed what I said was true, and that he would go on board, and gave orders to get ready his canoe« His chiefs again attempted to dissuade him, using every argument for that purpose, while his wives crowded around him, begging him on their knees, not to trust himself with the white men. Fortunately for my companion and myself, so strong was his wish of going on board the vesssl, that he was deaf to their solicitations., and making no other reply to them, than, " John no lie," left the house, taking four prime skins with him as a present to the captain. Scarcely had the canoe put off, when he ordered his men to stop, and calling to me, asked me if I did not want to go on board with him. Suspect' ing this as a question merely intended to ensnare me, I replied that I had no wish to do it, not having any desire to leave them. On going on board the brig, Maquira imme- mediately gave his present of skins and my letter to the captain, who on reading it, asked him into tl e cabin, where he gave him some biscuit and a glass of rum, at the same time, privately directing his 185 maie to go forward, and retara with fi^e or six of the men armed. WheL they appeared, the captaia told Maquipa that he was his prisoner, and should contlntieso, until*the (women, whom he knew to be on shore, were released, at the same time order- ing him to be put in irons, and the windows secur- ed, which was instantly done, and a couple of men placed as a guard over him. Maquina was greatly surprised and terriGed at this reception ; he howe- ver, made no attempt to resist, but requested the captain to permit one of his men to come and see faim. One of them was accordingly called, and Maquina said something to him which the captain did not understand, but supposed to be an order io release us, when the man returning to the canoe, it was paddled off with the utmost expedition to the shore. As the canoe approached, the inhabitants, who had all collected upon the beach, manifested some uneasiness at not seeing their king on board, but when on its arrival, they were told that the cap- tain had made him a prisoner, and that John had spoke bad about him in the letter, they all both mea and women, set up a laud hawl, and ran back- wards and forwards upon the shore like so many lu- natics, scratching their faces, and tearing the hair in handfuls from their heads. n ' 'i i After they had beat about in this manner for some time, the men ran to their huts for their weapons, as if preparing to attack an invading enemy •, while iW" i I !■'!'' ,t J. ;,: : i. til!. m it 186 Maqaioa's wives and the rest of the womeD, came around me, and throwing themselves on their knees^ begged me with tears to spare his life, and Sat-sat- sak-sis, who kept constantly with me, taking me by the hand, wept bitterly, and joined his entreaties to theirs, that 1 wonld not let the white men kill his father. I told them not to afflict themselves, that Maqaina's life was in no danger, nor would the least bann be done to him. ; . ., • •• ■-• , r^ . The men were however, extremely exasperated with me, more particularly the common people, who oame mnning in the most furious manner towards me, brandishing their weapons, and threatening to cut me in pieces no bigger than their thumb nails, while others declared they would burn me alive o- ver a slow fire, suspended by my heels. All this fury, however, caused me but little alarm, a» K felt convinced they would not dare to execute their threats while the king was on board the brig. The 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 captain intended to kill him. I told them that if they would silence the people, so that I could be beard, 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 only in order to make them release Thompson and 187 , came ■ kDeeSt 3at-8at- ing xne treaties kill his is, that uld the sperated pie, who towards ening to nb nails, alive o- All this m, as I ate their g- conduct, son why e captain if they )e heard, nediately hem that done it ipson and myself, as he well knew we were with them, aod if they wonld do that, their king would receive no injury, hot be well treated, otherwise be would be kept a prisoner* ^■: i, •-.,•> ■ -. ;-V- ■/■.-. .■--^-;.:^- •:" "! ■;*. As many of them did not appear to be satisfied with this, and began to repeat their murderous threats — Kill me, said I to them, if it is year wish, throwing open the bea.r skin which I wore, here is my breast, I am only ooe among so many, and can make no reiistaace, but unless you wish to see your king banging by bis neck to that pole, pointing to the yard-arm of the brig, and the sailors firing at him wilh bullets, yon will not do it. O no, was the general cry, that m^st never be; but what must we do? I told them that their best plan would be, to send Thompson on board, to desire the captain to nse Maquina well till I was released, which would be soon. This they were perfectly willing to do, and I directed Thompson to go on, board. But he objected, saying that he would not leave me alone with the savages. I told him not to be ander 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 captain and request him to keep Maquina close till I was released, as I was in DO danger while he had him safe. When I saw Thompson off, I tisked the natives V R 2 ■-%- I i\ 1 188 'I Ui If. , h by h m ■ i^ f> • what Ihey intended to do with me. They said I must talk to the captain again, in another letter, and tell him to let his boat come on shore with Ma- quina, and that I should be ready to jump into Ihe boat at the same time Maquiua should jump on bhore. I told them that the captaic, who knew that they had killed my shipmates, would never trust his men so near the shore for fear they couid kill them too, as they were so much more numerous, but that if they would select any three of iheir num- ber to go with me in a canoe^ when we came with- in hail, I would desire the .captain to send his boat with Maquina, to receive me in exchange for him. This appeared Xo please them, and after some whispering among the chiefs, who from what words I overheard, concluded that if the captain should refuse to send bi& boat with Maquina, the three men would have no difficulty io bringing me back with them, they agreed to my proposal, and select- ed three of their stoutest meo to convey me. For- tunately having been for some time accustomed to see me armed, and suspecting no design oo my part, ' they paid no attention to the pistols that I had a- bout me^ J ■ ■ ". '?? As I was going into thfe canoe, little Sat&satrw^- sis, who could not bear to part with me, asked me, ^ with an affecting simplicity, since I was going a- way to leate him, if the white mea would not let I- !4 said I letter, th i\Ia- ntu (he mp oQ ivv that r trust M kill nerou8» ir Hum« e with- tiis boat r him* ■> - * r some t words should three e back felect- For- med to y part, had a< .1): Ifi '■' ' atrsc^k- led me, oing a- QOt let 189 his father come oo shore, and not kill him. I told ^ him Dot to be concerDed, for that no one should in- jure his father, when taking an affectionate leave of me, and again begging me not to let the white men hurt his father, he ran to comfort his mother, who was at a little distance, with the assurances I had given *>im. / ^. ,„ . • ]^ i Oil entering the canoe, I seated myeelf in the ^prow facing the three men, having determined if it was practicable, from the, moment I found Maquina was secured, to get on board the vessel before l)e was released, hoping by that means, to be enabled to obtain the restoration of what property, belonging to the Boston, still remained in the possession of the savages, which I thought, if it could be done, a duty that I owed to the owners. With {eeljngs of joy impossible to be described, did I quit the savage shore, confident now that nothing could thwart my •scape, or prevent the execution of the plan that I had formed, as the men appointed to convey aod guard me, were armed with nothing but their pad- dlea. r . L ^" ■ ■ . . . ' ' • The captain appeared to be convinced from what I said, of the impolicy of taking Maquina^s 'iife, and said that he would leave it wholly With roe whether to spare or kill him, as he was resolved to incur no censure in either case. I replied that I most certainly should never take the life of a man 19« ' who had preserved mine, had I no other reason, but as there was some of the Boston's property still remaining on shore, I considered it a duty that I owed to those who were interested in that ship, to try to save it for them, and with that view I thought it would be well to keep him on board till it was given np. He concurred in this proposal, saying if there was any of the property left, it most certainly ought to b« got. Daring this conversation Maquina wi in great anxiety, as fi'om what English he knew, he perfectly comprehended the subject of our delibera- tion; constantly interrupting me to enquire what we had determined to do with him, what the captain said, if bis life would be spared, and if I did not think that Thompson would kill him. I paeified him as well as I was able, by telling him that he had nothing to fear from the captain, that he would not be hurt, and that if Thompson wished to kill him, be would not be allowed to do it» He would then remind me that I was in- debted to him far my life, and that I ought to do by him, as be had done by me. I assured him that such was my intention, and I requested him to remain quiet* and not alarm himself, as no harm was intended him. But I found it extremely difficult to convince him of this, as it accorded so little with the ideas of revenge enterlained by them, I told him however, that he must restore i.'Ii i -iiJ r^ i TjVr ^MI _ — ^. •■i I, r^ Fi W' ■ Hll Wflf: L^BS' } ^■Vi' Kw ■! ^H I f 194 all the property still in his possession, belouglog to the ship. This he was perfectly ready to do, happy to escape on smh terms* * But as it was now past five, and too late for the articles to be collected, and brought off, I told him that he must content himself to remain on board with me tt>at night, and in the morning he should be set on shore as soon as the things were delivered. To this he agreed, on condition that I wotild remain with him in the cabin. I then went upon deck, and the canoe that brought roe having been^ sent back, I hailed the inhabitanti, and told them that their king had agreed to stay on board till the next day, when he would retnrn, bat that no canoes must attempt to come near the vessel during the night, as they would be fired ■pon. They answered, Woho^ woho-^xex^ well, very well. "Tfi I then 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 when, you was alone, and more than five hundred men were yoar enemies, I was Jour friend, and prevented them from put- ting you and 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 whiUt the proper* t ■. >Iougiag f to do, late for r, I told maio GO -niog he igs wpre ion that I then light me abitantfi, t stay OQ I r«tarD, near the be fired ry wclJ> eat were o sleep, one, and IS alone, enemies, om pat- )W I am a de the rould be i proper* ty was released, and that as soon as it wau done, he would be set at liberty, ^ At day break I hailed the natives, and (old them that it was Maquioa^s order tlmt (hey should bring oflTthe cannon, and anchors, and whatever remain- ed with them of the cargo of the ship. This they set about doing with the utmost expedition, trans- porting the cannon and anchors by lashing together two of their largeitt canoes, and covering them with planks, and in the course of two hours, they delivered every thing on board that I could recol- lect, with Thompson's and my ebestj containing the papers of ihe ship, &c f ii ;«v,'" / When every thing belonging to the ship had been restored, Maquina was permitted to rettirn in his canoe, which had been sent for him, with a present of what skins he ht:id collected, which were about sixty, for the captain, in acknowledge^ ment of his having spared his life, and alloweu him to depart onhurt. ,^ ^^^ ,. .,.^,^ j# !--, 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 consisted of four of the very best skins, and g'.ve it to him, as a mark of his jgratitude, in return for which, the captain presented him with a ne^ great * „»•■. »' if '! .' 1 I u , ri' i f ^ii> ''!■ 196 noat and hat, with which he appeared mueh delight- ed. The captain then desiied me to iafbrm him li ' he should retarn 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 Ma- quina promised, saying tome at the same time, ^^ John, you know I shall be then at Tashees, but when you come meike pow, which means, fire a gun to let me know, and I will come down.** When he came to the side of the' brig, he shook me cordial- ly by the hand, and told me that he hoped I would come to see him again in k big ship, and brin^ much plenty of blankets, biscuit, raollasses and rum, for him and his son who loved me a great deal ; and that he would keep all the furs he got for me, observing at the same time, that he should never more take a letter of recommendation from any one, or ever trust himself on board a vessel unless I was there. Then grasping both my hands, with much emotion, while the tears trickled down his cheeks, he bade melEire- wtflU and oitept Into the canoe, which immediately paddled him on shore. r ■< ,'] ' M *'Es U Notwithstanding my joy a my deliverance, and the pleasitig anticipation I ff i. of oifce more behold- ing a civilized country, and again being permitted to offer up my devotions in a Christian church, I could not avoid experteticiog a painful sensation on paring with the savage chief, who had preserved ^; 1^7 elight- ovem- (iD8 he is Ma- B time, ;», but e a gun When cordial- woaid g much oim, for tnd that iserving take a er trust Thea while ne l»i^- >diately liny life, and Id general treated me with kindueM^ and considering their ideas and manners, much better than could have been expected. •.;••:■■!■ - !i, ,,'.;■■'. • My pleasure was also greatly damped by an un- fortunate accident that occurred to Toowinnakin- nish. That interesting young chief had come on board in the first canoe in the morning, anxious to see and comfort his king. He was received with much kindness by captain HilL from the favourable account I gave of him, and invited to remain on board. As the muskets were delivered, he v«as in the cabin with Maquina, where was also the cap« tain, who on receiving them, snapped a number in order to try the locks; unluckily one of them happened to be loaded with swan shot, and going off, discharged its contents into the body of poor Toowinnakinnish, who was sitting opposite. On hearing the report, I instantly ran into the cabin, where I found him weltering in his blood, with the captain, who was greatly shocked at the accident, endeavouring to assist him. W Ml :e, and behold- mitted rch, I ion on jserved We raised him up, and did every thing in our power to aid and comfort him, telliog him that we felt much grieved at his misfortune, and that it was wholly unintentional; this he told me he was per- fectly satisfied of, and %^hile we dressed and bound Qp his wounds, in the best manner we could, he bore the pain with great calmness, and bidding me S IN U 1 t^x I .1'. r.. ! i . i; w|^tr , < ii^K^>>i ' ! K i m 1 K ^ 'wi f s fjH? ftlfJH* n Sgi 198 farewelj, was put on board one of the canoes, and taken on shore, \i here after languishing a tew days, he expired. To me, his misfortune was a source of much affliction, as he had no share in the mas- sacre of our crew, was of a most amiable character, and had always treated me with the greatest kind- ness and hospitality. , • ^ ^ it. t The brig being nnder weigh, immediately on Maquiua's quitting us, we proceeded to the north- ward, constantly keeping the shore in sight, and touching at various places for the purpose of trading. , , . Having already exceeded the bounds I had pres- cribed myself, I 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 whom were a people of a very singular appearance, called by the sailors the Wooden4ips, They have many skins, and the trade is principally managed by their women^ who are not only expert in making a bargain, but are as dexterous in the management of their canoes, as the men are else- where. . ,■ - ' > / V.4; . * u ; ■ • ■ After a period ^f nearly four months from our leaving Nootka, we returned from the northward to Columbia river, for the purpose of procuring masts, &c. for our brig, which had suffered consi- ^ u » ^ ^ • . , and days, lource i inas- pacter, k kind- ,>..'••* ely on Dorth- [it, and )Ose of id pres- ;ount of of the - le of it, singular den-lips* Qcipally y expert 18 in the are else- Trom our lorthward procuring red CODSi- \ 199 derably io her spars .f .' From this place, after providing ourselves with spars, we sailed for Noolka, where we arrived in the latter part of November. The tribe being absent, the agreed signal was given, by firing a cannon, and in a few hours after a canoe appeared, which landed at the village, and putting the king on shore, came oflf to the brig.— Enquiry was immediately made by Kinneclimmits, who was one of the three men in the canoe, if John was there, as the king had some skins to sell them if he was. I then went forward and invited them on board, with which they readily complied, telling me that Maquina bad a number of skins with him, hut that he would not come on board unless I would go on shore for him. This I agreed to, provided they would remain in the brig in the mean time. To this they consented, and the captain taking them S S i;! I, « '< 200 into the cabin, treated them with bread and molas- ses. I then went on shore in the canoe> dotwith- ■tanding the remonstrances of Thompson and the captain, who, thongh he wanted the skins, advised . ine by no means to put myself in Maqaina^s power; but I assured him that I had no fear as long as those men were on board, sny Tsi IM I. «»* ' ^ •*::•» * .11 j>'; Vif^'^flvf As T landed Maqaina came up and welcomed me with much joy : on enquiring for the men, I told him that tkey were to remain till my return. *' Ah John," said he, " I see yon 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 yon go on board of another vessel/^ He then took his chest of skids, and step- ping into the canoe, I paddled him along-side the brig, where he was received and treated by Cap- tain Hill with the greatest cordiality, whobonght 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; 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.; i ijpi? 'si As soon as Maquica had quitted us, we got^ under weigh) and stood again to the northward. iOl inolais- twith- id the dvised aioa^s Bar as :;^:|/ corned nen, I return, aid to should taken Dother d step- ide the f Cap- }oaght I with )0D8 it to see ep all , who litable id for , J ■' e got' iward. We continued on the coast until the eleventh of August, 1806, when tiaving completed our tradet we sailed for China, to the great joy of all our crew, and particularly so \o me. With a degree of satisfaction that I can ill express, did I quit a coast, to which I was resolved nothing should again tempt me to return, and as the tops of the mountains sunk in the blue waves of the ocean, I seemed to feel my heart lightened of an oppres- sive load.... .M-.\':',{u ■:■> '7'-. ,'yK- f'*;: ■•.<.' We had a prosperous passage to'Chiua, arriving, at Macao in December, from whence the Brig pro- ceeded \o Canton. There i had the good fortune to meet a townsman and an old acquaintance, in the mate of an English East India man, named John Hill, whose father, a wealthy merchant in Hull, in the Baltic trade, was a next door neighbour to mine. Shortly after our arrival, the captain being on board of an English ship, and mentioning his having had the good fortune to liberate two men of the Boston^s crew from the savages, and that one of them was named Jewitt, my former acquaintance immediately came on board the brig to see me. Words can ill express my feelings on seeing him. Circumstanced as I was, among persons who were entire strangers to me, to meet thus in a foreign land, with one between whom nod myself ftr^coosiderabU iutimacy had subsisted, was a plea* ' ^ S3 202 11 i 11 'I ) ft ^ \t!. i^.< ' V I: I Ml f ^ ■ r sure that those alone who have beca ia a simi- lar sitaation can properly estimate. He appear- ed oa his part, no lesfr happy to see me, whom he sapposed to be dead, as theaccdnnt of our cap* tnre had been received in England some time before his sailing, and all my friends sapposed me to have been murdered. From this young man, I received every attention and aid that a feeling heart, inte- rested in the fate of another, could confer. He supplied me with a new suit of clothes^ and a hat« a small sum of money for my necessary expences, and a number of little articles for sea stores on my voyage to America. I also gave him a letter for my father, in which I mentioned my wonderful preservation and escape, through the huknanity of captam Hill, with whom I should return to Boston. This letter he enclosed to his father, by a ship that was just sailing, in consequence of which it was received much earlier than it otherwise would have-been. ■'■'• V'^^ ■f!^iin^.i.l-rr;i1^*ln:W«ic^ds(i We left China in Febrnvry, 180Y, andaftier a pleasant voyage of one hundred and fonrteen days, arrived at Boston. My feelings on once more finding myself in a Christian country, among .a people speaking the same language with myself, may be more ' readily conceived thi^a expressed. In the Post Office in that place^ I fonnd a letter for me froni my mother, acknowledging the receipt of mine from Cbiiuiy expresiing the great joy of my simi- ppear- whom r cap* before have 'ceived , iote- r. He a hat« leQces, on my ter for aderfal nity of So8ton« El ship hich it weald ifter a 1 days, more lODg a nyself, ressed. letter receipt of my .( i . 203 s^ ^'i faiifji'.y on hv^ariog of my beiag alive and well, j , '» whom they had for a long time given up for dead, ..'V and requesting me to write to them on receiving her ^^ letter^ which I accordingly did. While in Bostony I was treated with much kindness and hospitality \ by the owners of the ship Boston, Messrs. Francis ^ and Thomas Amory of that place, to whom I feel \i " myself nnder great obligations for their goodness to ^^ ihe, and the assisance which they so readily aflford*'** ed a stranger in distress* ;{ .i , «- ..!'.!> ^i u..,:&-j«i) ,f.i)j v;> '^' ojtJ<7 * L I » • 1 . * * * i"^ ■* .'•'.■iiuS] n^ihii ■ I . <' ' ■ ' >V •#1. ?4| J ; *'* < ! ^-1 !■ l.r.'-: H> i iii>i :i;; i: St," :■; '3 ?■ Chief Mate of New York, l^i'^it^ jffx Second Mate ot Hl^th (Kngland) of tiull diltb of Cambridge, (Mass) of Situate, ditto of Philadelphia, of Penton, (tngland) John Wilson, (blackman) of Virginia, William Caldwell, Joseph Miner, William Robinsan^ Thomas Wilson, Andrew Kelly, Robert Burton, ' James M' Clay, Thomas Plat teui Thomas Newton, Charles Bates, John liall, Samuel Wood, Peter Alstrom, Francis Marten, of Boston, of Newport* of Leigh, (Scotland) of Air, ditto Ditto, ditto of the Isle of Man of Dublin, of Blackney, Norfolk, Eng Ditto of Hull, do. Ditto of St James Deeping d6. Ditto of Newcastle do. Ditto of Glasgow, (Scotland) Ditto Norwegian, Buai swain Carpenter Joiner ' Blacksmith Steward , Tailor Cook. Seamam Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto *'''' Sail Maker, Portuguesf, Jupiter Senegal (blackman) ' John Thompson, Philadelphia, ,„> i . i; who escaped— since dead John R. Jewitt, ' of llufi,( England) -. Armourer, the writer of the Journal f» om w hence this Narrative is taken, and who at present, March 1816, resides in Middletowo,in the State oC Connecticut. ■ f..^ - .v ; and T. f". whoniy 03, bar- I tain ef Mute Olid Mate iisfvaia penter ler *'* cksmith lard or .J > > ) laker, edead urer, ;en, and State of ; 205 VVARSONG OF THE NOOTKA TRIBE. Commencing with a Chorus repeated at the end of .'\f. 4* .» . » each line. I. ^ii\ : * . Hah-yee hah yar har, he yar hah. Hah-yah hee yar har — he yar hah. le yie ee yah har — ee yie hah. le yaree yar hah — ee yar yah. le yar ee I yar yar hah — Je yar ee yee yah I ^ f I-ye ma hi-chill at-sish Kla-ha — Hah-ye-hah. '^f^ Que nok ar parts arah ^aw — le yie- yar. Waw-hoo naks sar haach — Yar-hah. I-yar hee lyar. Waw hoo naksar hasch yak-queeta sish ni-esOf'^A Waw har. Hie yee ah hah, f' Repeated over and over with gestures aad braodish- ing of weapons. :n^A. ,^^u , i NOTE. le-yee ma hi chill, signifies. Ye do not knowi It appears to be a poetical mode of expression, the common one for you do not know, being, AF/^- Icum-atash; from this, it would seem that they have two languages, one for their songs and ano- ther for common use The general meaning of this first stanza appears to be. Ye little know ye men of Kiahar, what valiant viarriors we are. Poorly can our foes contend with us, when we come on with our daggers, &:c. The Nootkians have no sonss of an historical nature, nor do they appear to have any tradition respecting their origin. :'Vti H:i il'iy ** J> (; .r-.' \ ri i If i i ;i ■ ;i ' ?'R I In ^-t ■•'I ' ■'; foil ; ■ ■•, i i; ;: ! y 206 '.M t. . f*» - V 1 -♦ •■#•?■%• I « - <• ^•' A LIST OF WORDS //* (he Nootkigtn Language, (he most in use, » - t ^.i it*-. .iUiii ' */ **' mt^-m Check-u|>, Klnotzinuh, Noowexa, Hooma-hexa, Tanassis, -" ; Kallahtik, r» ;, Kioot'chem-up, Tanassis check-up, TaDa88i8-kloot8-mat)> Tau-hat-se-tee, Kassee, Hap-se up, ^eetsa, Parpee, Cbee-chee, Choop, Kook-a-nik'fa> ^ Klish-kiin, Oop-helth, jf^a*» t Tar-toot»e, ^*^:^*' ^^no"^ Sie-yah, -^ "'■^^^'■ Toop elth, h-m^^\'fr Cha-hak, nil frt .• Meet la, il>^w 't^ < Queece, ^i i^t;w i/O-^ Nool-chee, ;Kla-turmi8s, .KeD'Quk-see, Mook-fiee, Muk-ka tee, Wik Mhd. M ■( I <{ *=^f»'''U«l Father.'^"; ^^V^-***^^'; •^*:i Mother. ^IIBVM -c,,i,j^ ; • i* ■• i-n3»"'tr/^ '-l Brother, t:,,;^!^.,., ;4 Sifter. '■. !• ? '. > '.' ' ' •^•^ *'■• .^y. Son. ^. r Daughter. Head. £ye8. Haic. Nose. '■iri''..-3 trtf^.^j^n Ears. ■ .*• ':^:^{v;>;f7 lo'-pn? Teeth. . !, ToD£ue. Hands. Vv'te?^ Feet. 'f Sun or Moon. - Stars. -^rta:^ Sky. '^'^^ Sea. ■•'•hJv ■( T9.!i Freih water.^'* '^^^ *^^^ Rain. ^^ ^'^'^ Sdovt. ' "*" **«^" 't^"^^^^ Mountain or hill; ^ ^^*^^^ Earth. . . Fire or fuel. aV'^s^nf^m Rock. r^i Hou?e. . ^^' V * No. ■■ ' % 2or. .f. '.nil .;i -^,\ '■< ; t ♦»'■! Jtr; .ff He-bo, Kak-kotflth, Mah-hack, Klack-e-misi, Quart lak, Coo-coo-ho-sa, iMoo-watch, Su-har, Too8cb-qua, Pow-ee, Kloofl a-mit, Chap-atz, Oo-wha-pa, Chee-me-na, Chee-men, Sick-a-minny, Toophelth, Cham'mass, Cham-mas-sishy M00t-8U8, Chee-pokes, Hah-weiks, Nee-aim-mer-hise, Cbat-ta-yek, ^ Klick-er yek, Quishar, Mar met-ta, Pook shit-tle, Een^a-qui'shittle, Ar-teese, Ma-mook sa mah, A smootish cbeck-ap, Cha-alt-see klat-tur wah,Go off. or go away. Ma-kook, To sell. Kah-ah'pahchiltt Give roe somethiog. Oonah; How maoy. ly ah-ish, Much. |i[o mrae-tak, I understand. ■J ih U[ Slave. Whale. Oil. Sea otter. Seal. Bear. Sdlrnoo. Cod. Halihut. Herring. CitDoe. Paddle. A fish hook. Fish-hooks* Iron. Cloth. Fruit. C Sweet or pleasant to the I taste. Powder. Copper. Hungry. Enough. Knife or dagger. Kings. Smoke, Goose or duck. To blow. To kindle a fire. To bathe. To go to fish. A warrior. » i^ :. i. > '/i> *W|f' <*it: I 208 III ki V I n w I' I I ; 1) >. Ili i-^ f i.yce ma liak, Em-ma*chup, Kle-wtiar, •;• j Mac-kam-inah-sishy Kah-uh'Coh, ,r Sah-uauk, «> I do not understauil* ,'HH To play. I.)' K ?* /*^^ ^i Att-la, Kat-sa, Mooh, Soo-vliah, NoO'poo, At-tle-poo, At-lah-qoelth, Saw-wauk-quelthy Hy-o, Sak-aitz, Soo-jewk, Hy-e-oak, sir ' V . /?',» Odo. •> Two. V ,t t) Three, -f Four. Five, Six. t ' 1* Seven, ,'AW Eight. 1 H Nine. ^t,M:,d i^i Tea. q,^" Twenty. To laugh. Do you wabtto bny. Bring it. .^' i .-' P .tlrii One hundred. !;Uhh;»'/i' jvv! One thousand, nift iu^ri** , *»"■ FINIS. •/i 'v;0i3 Rowland Hurst, Printer, Wakeheld. ^rfoaii-flM Oil. I' ^ i^. A .' 'iUt 1'. bny. » vi ■tf.'j *lfi -{I ■ I