1792.
..June. abode until an opportunity was afforded them to barter their commodities
for the more valuable productions of Europe, which are afterwards
difpofed of to the inhabitants of the interior country at a very exorbitant
price. This circumftance tends, in fome degree, to corroborate an
-opinion hazarded on a former occafion to this effeft.
On the boats being ordered in fhore to receive Mr. Whidbey and the
gentlemen who had attended him in his walk, the launch grounded, which
was no fooner perceived by the Indian chief, than he was foremoft in
ufing every exertion to fhove her off. This being effected, and the
gentlemen embarked, mofl of thefe good people took their leave, and
feemed to part with their newly-acquired friends with great reluftance.
The chief, and a few others, accompanied our party, until they had advanced
about fourteen miles from the entrance, when they, very civilly,
took their departure; here the arm branched off from its former direction
of about n .n .w ., to the weftward, and n . e . The latter being the
objeft of their purfuit, they foon arrived off another extenfive and populous
village, whence feveral canoes came off with not lefs than feventy
of the natives in them ; and feveral others were feen coming from the different
parts of the fhore. Thofe who approached the boats condufted
themfelves with the utmoft propriety, fhewing, by repeated invitations
to their dwellings, the greateft hofpitality, and making figns, that they
had plenty of food to beftow. In thefe intreaties the ladies were particularly
earneft, and expreffed much chagrin and mortification that their
offers of civility were declined. As the boats failed pafl the village
thofe in the canoes returned to the fhore.
The direftion which, the land took to the n . e . conduced them to a
confiderable branch whofe outer points lie from each other n. 20 w .,
about a league afunder. From its eaftern fhore a fhallow flat of fand,
on which are fome rocky iflets and rocks, runs out, until within half a
mile of the weftern fhore, forming a narrow channel, navigated by
them in nearly a n . n .w . direction, for about 3 leagues. The depth, at
its entrance, was 20 fathoms; but gradually decreafed to four, as they
advanced, up the channel which is formed by the weftern fhore, and the
fand-bank, continuing with great regularity, about half a mile wide,
to
to the latitude of 48° 24', longitude 2370 45', where it then ceafed to be
navigable for veffels of any burthen, in confequence of the rocks and
overfals from 3 to 20 fathoms deep, and a very irregular and difagree-
able tide. On meeting thefe impediments, the party returned, with intention
of exploring the opening leading to the weftward. As they repaired
the village, they were again vilited by their friendly chief, attended
by two or three canoes only, who prefented them with a moft welcome
fupply of very fine fmall fifh which, in many refpefts, refembled,
and, moft probably were, a fpecies of the fmelt. He accepted, with apparent
pleafure, an invitation into the launch, where he remained with
Mr. Whidbey until the evening, ate and drank of fuch things as were
offered with the greateft confidence, and on being made acquainted that
the party was going to reft, bad them farewell with every mark o f re-
fpe'Cl and friendfhip.
In the morning, the examination of the weftern branch was pttrfued, and
found to terminate in a very excellent and commodious cove or harbour,
with regular foundings from 10 to 20 fathoms, good holding ground. Its
weftern extent fituated in latitude 48° 17', longitude 237“ 38', is not more
than a league from the eaftern fhore of the main inlet, within the ftraits.
On each point of the harbour, which in honor of a particular friend
I call P e n n ’s C o v e , was a deferted village; in one of which were
found feveral fepulchres formed exaftly like a centry box. Some of
them were open, and contained the fkeletons of many young children
tied up in bafkets; the fmaller bones of adults were likewife noticed,
but no one of the limb bones could here be found, which gave rife to
an opinion that thefe, by the living inhabitants of the neighbourhood,
were appropriated to ufeful purpofes, fuch as pointing their arrows,
fpears, or other weapons. The furrounding country, for feveral miles
in moft points , of view, prefented a delightful profpeft, confifting chiefly
of fpacious meadows, elegantly adorned with clumps o f trees ; amongft
which the oak bore a very confiderable proportion, in fize from four to
fix feet in circumference. In thefe beautiful paftures, bordering on an ex-
panfive fheet of water, the deer were feen playing about in great numbers.
Nature had here provided the well-ftoeked park, and wanted only the affift-
ance of art to conftitute that defirable affemblage of furface, which is fo much
fought
179*«
June.