^792- in general low and well wooded. About eight in the evening, attended
—<-— > by fome of the natives in two canoes, they landed for the night. Thefe
people could not be invited nearer our party than about an hundred
yards, where they remained attentive to all the operations until the tents
were pitched, when it became neceffary to difcharge fome loaded muf-
kets, the noife of which they heard without any apparent furprize, and
exclaimed poo ! after every report. They foon afterwards paddled away
to the weftward. The next morning Mr. Puget proceeded up the arm,
which took a n . e . direftion about a mile wide, narrowing as they advanced
to one fourth of that width ; the foundings were found regular
from 8 to 13 fathoms. In this fituation they faw a canoe making towards
them, on which they relied on their oars to wait its approach.
The canoe fuddenly Hopped, and no offers of prefents, nor ligns of
friendly inclinations, could induce the Indians to venture near the boat.
In order to remove their apprehenlions, Mr. Puget faftened fome medals,
copper, and trinkets, to a piece of wood which he left floating on
the water; and when the boat was at a fufficient diftance, the Indians
picked it up. After repeating this twice or thrice they ventured, though
not without fome trepidation, alongfide the boats. In their perfons
they feemed more robuft than the generality of the inhabitants; moft of
them had loft their right eye, and were much pitted with the fmall-pox.
They now attended the boats for a Ihort time, and having received fome
additional prefents, returned to the Ihore. The whole of their condufi
exhibited much fufpicion and diftruft. When any queftion was endeavoured
to be put to them, they replied by poo! poo! pointing at the
fame time to a fmall ifland on which the party had breakfafted, and
where fome birds had been Ihot. They feemed well acquainted with
the value o f iron and copper, but would not difpofe of their weapons,
or any other article in exchange for either. About noon the party
landed to dine ; and whilft they were preparing to haul the feine before
a frelh water brook, fix canoes were feen paddling haftily round the
point of the cove they were in, and direfling their courfe towards the
boats. The fufpicious behaviour of thofe whom they had parted with
in the morning, rendered it highly expedient that they Ihould be upon
their
their guard againft any hoftile defign of thefe people; on whofe ap- J79a-
proach, a line on the beach was drawn, to feparate the two parties from *■ —
each other; which was readily underftood, and obeyed. They now
divided their numbers into two fets, one remaining on Ihore with their
bows and quivers, the other retiring to their canoes, where they quietly,
feated themfelves.
Thus, with every appearance of good order being eftablilhed, the
officers went to dinner, on an elevated fpot a few yards from the
water-fide, where the crews were dining in their refpeftive boats, and
in readinefs to aft in cafe of any alarm. On a feventh canoe joining the
Indian party, thofe on the beach immediately embarked; and the whole
number, amounting'to twenty-four perfons, evidently entered into a con*
fultation, during which they frequently pointed to thofe in the boats, as
well as to the officers on the hill. This conduft tended to increafe the
fufpicions that their inclinations were otherwife than friendly, however
imprudent they might deem it, on the prefent moment, to carry their
intentions into execution. But as our party could not be furprized,
and as they were ready to aft immediately on the defenfive, Mr. Puget
and the other gentlemen did not confider their fituation alarming, and
preferred quietly finifting their repaft, to that o f indicating any figns of
diftruft or apprehenfion, by a precipitate retreat. Towards the con-
clufion of their conference, three of their canoes were Healing near to
the boats ; but, on finding they were difcovered by the officers, inftantly
returned. A t this time, an eighth canoe joined the party; on which all
of them paddled to the beach, jumped on Ihore, and lining their bows.
This was manifeftly preparing for an attack, as they had not ever been
feen, on any former occafion, with their bows ftrung. The very man
who appeared the principal in the canoe, they had met in the morning,
and with whom fo much trouble was taken to obtain his good opinion,
now feemed the leader of this party; and, with an arrow acrofs his
bow in readinefs for immediate ufe, advanced towards the ftation of the
officers, whilft others of the party were moving that way. Such mea-
fures however were prudently reforted to, without proceeding to extremities,
as obliged them all to retreat to the line of reparation, where
they