H * A V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R Y
J79=- pofe o f ; and being anxious to leave no doubt concerning a further in-
v. aa,- _i land navigation by this arm of the fea, and wilhing to eftabliffi, as far
as poffible, a friendly intercourfe with the inhabitants of the country,
which from the docile and inoffenfive manners of thofe we had feen appeared
a talk o f no great difficulty, we proceeded to a low point o f land
that forms the north entrance into the cove. There we beheid a number
of the natives, who did not betray the fmalleft apprehenfion at our
approach; the whole aflembly remained quietly feated on the grafs, excepting
two or three whofe particular office feemed to be that, of
making us welcome to their country. Thefe prefented us with fome
fiffi; and received in return trinkets o f various kinds, which delighted
them exceffively. They attended us to their companions, who amounted
in number to about fixty, including the women and children. We
Wefe received by them with equal cordiality, and treated with 'marks of
great friehdffiip and hofpitality. A ffiort time was here' employed in
exchanges of mutual civilities. The females on this occafion took a very
a Save part. They prefented us with fiffi, arrows, and other trifles! in a
Way that convinced us they had much pleafure in fo doing. They did
not appear to differ in any refpeft from the inhabitants we had before
feen; and fome of our gentlemen were o f opinion that they recognized
the perfons o f one or two who had vifited us on the preceding thurfday
morning; particularly one man, who had fuffered very much from the
fmall pox. This deplorable difeafe is" not only common, but it is greatly
to be apprehended is very fatal amongft them, as its indelible marks
were feen on many; and feveral had loft the fight of one eye, which was
remarked to be generally the left, owing moft likely to the virulent
effefts o f this baneful diforder. The refidence o f thefe people here was
doubtlefs of a temporary nature; few had taken the trouble of erefting
their ufual miferable huts, being Content to lodge on the ground, with
loofe mats only for their covering.
From this point, which is fituated nearly at the fouth extremity of the
canal in latitude 470 21', longitude 237° 6% little doubt exifted of the
cove terminating its navigation. T o afcertain this, whilft I remained
with thefe civil people Mr. Johnftone was dire&ed to row round
the projection that had obftruCted our view of the whole circumfer
e n c e
R O U N D T H E W O R L D . 243
rence o f the cove, which is about two miles ; and, i f it were not clofed,
to purfue its examination. Our former conjectures being' confirmed, i---- >
on his return we prepared to depart; and,' as we were putting off from
the ffiore, a cloak of inferidr fea otter fkins was brought down, which I
purchafed form fmall piece of copper. Upon this they made figns, that
if we would remain, more, and of a fuperior quality, ffiould be produced;
but as this was not our objefi, and as we had finiffied our pro-
pofed talk fooner than was expefted this morning, to the no fmall fatis-
fafiion of our whole party we direfted our courfe back towards port
Difcovery, from which we were now about 70 miles diftant.
- A freffi northwardly wind, and the approach of night, obliged us to
take up our abode about two miles from the Indians, fome of whom
had followed us along the beach until we landed, when they potted
themfelves at the diftance of about half a mile, to obferve our different
employments; at dark they all retired, and we neither heard nor faw
any thing more of them. The rife and fall of the tide, although the
current conftantly ran down without any great degree of rapidity, appeared
to have been nearly ten feet, and it was high water 3h 50 after
the moon pafled the meridian.
- Early on funday morning we again embarked; ffireffing our route Sunday .3.
down the inlet, which, after the Right Honorable Lord Hood, I called
H o o d ’ s C a n a l ; but our progrefs homeward was fo very flow, that
it was monday afternoon before we reached Foulweather bluff. This Monday .4.
promontory is not ill named, for we had fcarcely landed when a heavy
rain commenced, which continuing the reft of the day, obliged us to remain
ftationary. This detention I endeavoured to reconcile With the
hope, that the next morning would permit fome examination, or at
leaft afford us a view of the great eaftern arm, before we returned to
the (hips ; but in this I was difappointed. After waiting until ten o’clock
in the forenoon of tuefday without the leaft profpea of an alteration for
the better, we again fat out with a freffi breeze at s . s . e ., attended
with heavy fqualls and torrents of rain; and about four in the afternoon
arrived on board, much to the fatisfaftion I believe of all
parties, as great anxiety had been entertained for our fafety, in con-
* ’ j ; 2 fequence
r