Tune' mg-Only,, and iweré compelled, by this unfavorable circumftance, to
I------— < remain and fleep in the boats.
Wednef. 13. About five, on wednefday morning, we again direeled our courfe to
the eafterri Ihore, and landed about noon, on the above-mentioned low
bluff point.' This, 'as was. fufpected, formed the fouth point of a very
extend ve found, with a final! arm leading to the eaftward: the fpace,
which feëmëd to be its' main direction, and appeared very extenfiye,
took a, northerly,courfe. The obferved latitude, here was 49° 19', longitude
'a g yS !, making.this point ..(which, in compliment to my friend
Captain,Georgfj.Grey .of ,the. navy;' was' called Po in t G a r y ) 7 leaguès
from point Roberts:, The' intermediate fpace is occupied, by very low
land, apparently a fvathpy flat, that retires feveral miles, before the
country rifes.to ijiedt the rugged fnowy mountains,, which we found ffill
continuing in a direflion nearly along the coafti , This , low flat being
very much inundated,,/ and .extending behind point Roberts, to join the
low land in the,hay to the.eaftward of that points gives its high land,
when fegn at a diftance, the appearance o f an illand : this; however, is
not the ..cafe,; notwithftanding there axe two, openings between this point
and point Grey. Thefe can only be navigable fori canoés, as the lhoal
continues along the coaft.to the diftance of feven dr eight miles from the
Ihore, on which were lodged;, and efpecially before thefe openings, logs
o f wood, and flumps of trees innumerable. ‘
From point. Grey we proceeded firft up the eafterri branch of the
found, where, about a league within its entrance, we pafled to. the northward
of an illand which nearly terminated its extent, forming a palfage
from xo to 7 fathoms deep, not more than a cable’s length in width.
This illand lying qxaftly acrofs the canal, appeared to form a fimilar
palfage to the fouth of it, with a fmaller illand lying before it. From
thefe iflands, the canal, in width about half a mile, continued its direction
about eaft. Here we were met by about fifty Indians; in their
canoes, who conduced themfelves with the greateft decorum, and civility,
prefenting us with feveral fi{h cooked, and undrefled, o f the fort already
mentioned as refembiing the finelt. Thefe good people finding we were
inclined
inclined to make feme return for their hofpitality, Ihewed much under- j79*
Handing in preferring iron to copper. l— <—
For the fake o f the company of our new friends, we Hood on under
an eafy fail, which encouraged them to attend us feme little diftance up
the arm. The major part of the canoes twice paddled forward, affem-
bled before us, and each time a conference was held. Our vifit and
appearance were moft likely the objects of their confultation, as our motions
on thefe occafions feemed to engage the whole o f their attention.
The fubjeft matter, which remained a profound fecret to us, did not
appear of an unfriendly nature to us, as they foon returned, and if pof-
fible, expreffed additional, cordiality and refpeft. This fort of conduft
always creates a degree of fufpicion, and Ihould ever be regarded with a
watchful eye. In our Ihort intercourfe with the people of this country
we have generally found thefe conlultations take place, whether their
numbers were great or fmall; and though I have ever confidered it prudent
to be cautioufly attentive on fuch occafions, they ought by no
means to be confidered as indicating at all times a pofitive intention o f
concerting hoftile meafures ; having Witnefied many of thefe conferences,
without our experiencing afterwards any alteration in their friendly difi-
pofition. This was now the cafe with our numerous attendants, who
gradually difperfed as we advanced from the ftation where we had
firft met them, and three or four canoes only accompanied us up a navigation
which, in feme places, does not exceed an hundred and fifty
yards in width.
We landed for the night about half a league from the head o f the inlet,
and about 3 leagues from its entrance. Our Indian vifitors remained
with us until by figns we gave them to underftand we were: going to reft,
and after receiving feme acceptable articles they retired, and by means
o f the fame language, promifed an abundant fupply of fiflx the iiext
day ; our feine having been tried in their prefence with very little fuc-
cefs. A great defire was manifelled by thefe people to imitate our actions,
efpecially in the firing o f a mufltet,. which one o f them performed,
though with much fear and trembling. ■ They minutely attended to all
our tranfaftions, and examined the colour of our Ikins with infinite curiofity.