l792- fnecl of Mr. Broughton paffing the winter, with the afliftance of the
September. 1 6 r s
t__ — ) natural productions of the country, not very uncomfortably.
The orders under which I was to receive thefe territories, on the
part of His Britannic Majefty, were intirely filent as to the meafures I
was to adopt for retaining them afterwards. Prefuming, however, that
the principal objeft which His Majefty had in view, by direfting this
expedition to be undertaken, was that of facilitating the commercial advantages
of Great Britain in this part of the world; and for that pur-
pofe it might not be impoflible, that a fettlement was in contemplation
to be made at this important ftation, which had become the general
rendezvous for the traders of almoft all nations ; I had determined,
on leaving this port, to commit it to the charge and direction- of Mr.
Broughton, who would retain the pofleffion of it, and whole prefence
might reftrain fuch improper conduct as had already been manifefted on
the part of the feveral traders ; whilft I lhould proceed to execute* the
remaining part of His Majefty’s commands, until I lhould be furnilhed
with further inftruftions for my future government.
Having fatisfactorily arranged thefe matters, I gave directions for
clearing the ftore-lhip, which was fet about accordingly.
The politenefs, hofpitality, and friendlhip, Ihewn on all occafions by
Sen' Ouadra, induced Mr. Broughton and myfelf, with fevesal of the
officers and gentlemen of both veflels, to dine at his table almoft every
day, which was not lefs pleafant than falubrious, as it was conftantly
furnilhed with a variety of refrefhments to molt of which we had long
been intire ftrangers.
Sen'- Galiano informed me, that he intended to take advantage of the
prefent ferene weather, which without interruption had prevailed line©
our arrival, and fail for the Spanilh ports to the fouthward, either in
the courfe of the night or early the next morning; and* obligingly undertook
to forward a Ihort letter to the Lords of the Admiralty, containing
a brief abftraft of tranfaftions lince our departure from the
cape of Good Hope.
I had the honor of Sen'- Quadra’s company on monday morning at
breakfaft. He omitted no opportunity of impreffing on the minds of
the
Monday 3 .
R O U N D T H E W O R L D .
' 79**
September. the natives the higheft and inoft favorable opinion o f our little fquadron ;
and the more effectually to infure a good underftanding in future, he
propofed a vifit of ceremony to Maquinna ; to him it would be grateful,
and on my part he recommended it as effentially requilite. It was
agreed we lhould fet out thé next morning for his royal refiderice, which
was about 7 leagues up the found, at a place called Tahlheis.
In the evening I received from Sen'- Quadra, a letter in reply to mine
of the lit of feptember.
Agreeably to appointment, about eight the next morning, Sen'- Qua- Tuefday 4.
dra accompanied me in the Difeovery’s yawl, which, with our own and
a Spanilh laupch, and the Chatham’s cutter, containing as many Spanilh
and Englilh officers as- could be taken, we departed for Tahlheis ; a
melfage having been fent the preceding day to announce our intended
vilit.
The weather though cloudy was very pleafant, and having a favorable
breeze, we reached Tahlheis about two in the afternoon ; Maquinna
received us with great pleafure and approbation, and it was evident
that his pride was not a little indulged by our Ihewing him this attention.
He conduced us through the village, where we appeared to be
welcome guefts, in confequence perhaps of the prefents that Were dif-
tributed amongft the inhabitants, who all conduced themfelves in the
moft civil and orderly manner. After vifiting molt o f the houfes, We
arrived at Maquinna’s refidence, which was one o f the largeft, though
it was not intirely covered in ; here we found feated in feme kind of
form, Maquinna’s daughter, who not long before had been publicly
and with great ceremony proclaimed foie heirefs to all his property,
power, and dominion. Near her were feated three of his wives, and a
numerous tribe of relations. The young princels was of low ftature,
very plump, with a round face, and fmall features* ; her Ikin was clean;
and being nearly white, her perfon altogether, though without any pre-
tenfions to beauty, could not be confidered as difagreeable. T o her
and to her father I made- prefents fuitable to the occafion, which
were received with the greateft approbation by themfelves, and the
throng which had affembled ; as were alfo thofe I made to his
3 E 2 wives,