m51' were over-run with weeds; amongd which were found feveral human
t i fculls, and other bones, promifcuoufly fcattered about.
Thurfday 3. On thurfday morning we fat ferioufly to work on board, and on fhore
where the fail-makers were repairing and altering the fails ; coopers in-
fpeCting the calks; gunners airing the powder ; and parties cutting wood,
brewing fpruce beer, and filling water: whilft thofe on board were as
bulily employed, in neceflary repairs about the rigging ; getting the pro-
vilions to hand ; clearing the main and after holds for the reception of
fhingle ballad:, of which we had for fome time dood in much need;
fome of our carpenters were dopping leaks about the bows, and the red
aflifled in caulking the Chatham’s ddes. The ferenity of the climate
and feafon was extremely favorable to the execution of their feveral duties,
as alfo to our adronomical inquiries. The part o f the coad that we
had now reached being nearly deditute of inhabitants, few circumdances
occurred to divert our attention, or interfere with the purfuits in which
we were all engaged.
So little leifure or red had been afforded in the feveral ports we had
hitherto vilited dnce we left the cape o f Good Hope, that it was not
Sunday 6. until this morning that our people could be indulged with a holiday,, for
the purpofe of taking fome recreation and exercife on fhore.
A few of the natives in two or three canoes favored us with their company,
and brought with them fome filh and venifon for fale. The latter was
extremely good, and very acceptable, as we had not obtained any ; though
on our fird arrival we had entertained hopes of procuring a fupply,
from the numerous tracks o f deer which appeared frelh, and in all directions
Thefe people, in their perfons, canoes, arms, implements, &c. feemed
to refemble chiefly the inhabitants of Nootka; though lefs bedaubed with
paint, and lefs filthy in their external appearance. They wore ornaments
in their ears, but none were obferved in their nofes ; föme of them un-
derdood a few words of the Nootka language ; they were clothed in the
fkins of deer, bear, and fome other animals, but principally in a woollen
garment of their own manufacture, extremely well wrought. They
did not appear to poffefs any furs. Their bows and implements they
freely
freely bartered for knives, trinkets; copper, &c. ; and, what was very ^9*-
extraordinary, they offered for fale two children, each about fix or feven t--- ,—
years of age, and, being fhewn fome copper, were very anxious that the
bargain fhould be clofed. This, however, I peremptorily prohibited,
eXpreffing, as well as I was able, our great abhorrence of fuch traffic.
As our feveral employments, on board and on fhore, would dill require
fome time before they could be fully completed; and as I was
defirous of obtaining fome further knowledge of this inlet, in order that,
when the veffels fhould be ready, we might extend our refearches without
fear of interruption; I directed the Difcovery’s yawl and launch, with
the Chatham’s cutter, properly armed, and fupplied with dores for five
days, to be in readinefs early the next morning. I committed to Mr.
Broughton the charge: o f the fhips, and to Mr. Whidbey that of the ob-
fervatoiy and encampment, with directions to make a furvey of the
port, and fuch further neceflary obfervations as circumdances would
admit during my abfence.
Mr. Menzies, with two of the young gentlemen, accompanied me in the
yawl, Mr. Puget commanded the launch, and Mr. Johndone the Chatham’s
cutter. With this arrangement, about five o’clock on monday Monday 7,
morning we took our departure for the purpofe o f becoming more intimately
acquainted with the region in which we had fo very unexpectedly
arrived, The day did not promife to be very aufpicious to the commencement
of our examination. That uninterrupted ferenity of weather
that we had experienced the lad feven days, feemed now to be materially
changed; the wind which, in the day-time, had condantly blown
from the N.w. with light fouthwardly airs, or calms, from fun-fet until
eight or ten o’clock in the forenoon, had now blown, fince the preceding
evening, a moderate gale from the s .e . ; and, before we had proceeded
a mile from the fhip, brought with it a very thick fog, through
which we deered keeping the darboard, or continental fhore, on board,
truding that towards noon the fog would difperfe itfelf and clear away.
On our arrival in port Difcovery, we paffed to the s.w. o f Protection
ifland; another channel, equally as fafe and convenient, we now
found to the s . e . of it. Having rowed againd a drong tide along the
fhore