17 9 2 .
March.
Monday 1:
particular directions, down towards the water’s edge. I was by no means
j pleafed with this appearance, well knowing that fires are generally re-
forted to by thefe and other rude nations as the fignal for collecting the
diftant inhabitants, when an enterprize or fcheme is meditated to be
carried into effeft.
I defired Rowbottom to attend to the converfation of the Indians who
were near; but he collefted nothing from them in our walk that could
give rife to fufpicion. On joining the fhore party, I alked Nomateehctee
and fome other chiefs, what was the caufe of this extenfive conflagration.
Some replied, it was to announce -the arrival o f the prince, the regent,
and other great chiefs in this neighbourhood on the morrow; whilft
others contended it was for no other purpofe than that o f burning the
weeds. This difagreement in opinion concerning the caufe of fo unufual
an appearance, was far from being fatisfa&ory. The furf ran very high,
and other circumftances concurred to render the embarkation o f our
working party very inconvenient; in addition to which, I did not think
it prudent to manifeft our apprehenfions by a fudden and hafty retreat.
The party on fhore amounting to twenty armed perfons was tolerably
flrong. Mr. Puget had directions to be vigilantly on his guard; and he
was informed that the two launches, armed and provided with falfe fires
to make fignals in cafe of alarm, would be ftationed as clofe to the
beach as the furf would permit during the night, in cafe he fhould need
further afliftance. Having taken thefe precautions I returned on board,
with the hope, that in the event of any tumult little danger was to be
apprehended. During the night, the chiefs who had taken up their lodgings
near our party, frequently vifited the beach near where our boats
rode; and feemed inquifitive as to the caufe of the precautions which
they beheld. The night however paffed without the leaf! interruption ;
and in the morning the natives were again trading in their ufually civil
and friendly manner.
u Our fupply o f water was completed the next day • and the few hoo-s
and vegetables we were able to purchafe were received from the fhore.
As the market no longer afforded provifions, and as our bufinefs was now
finifhed, directions were given for the embarkation of the party in the
afternoon,
afternoon, it being my intention the next day to fail for Onchow. The >79*,- . . . _ . March.
furf having prodigioufly increafed, Mr. Puget, on thefe orders being —
delivered to him, reprefCnted to me, that he was fearful our people would
not be able to reach the boats with their arms without expofing themfelves
to fome danger, Conceiving that with the afliftance of a canoe, which
hitherto had been the general mode of conveyance between our boats
and the fhore, there Would be little hazard, I defired he would ufe his
utmoft endeavours to get off; as the re-appearance of the fires on the
hills, and the non-appearance of either prince or regent, indicated a
poflibility that the natives might have thought proper to difcontinue
their former fervices and good behaviour.
In the evening out boats returned; they had been fome time detained
by the abfence of a man belonging to the Chatham, who had ftrayed
from the party, and whom at length they had been obliged to leave behind.
To • effeft the embarkation, Mr. Puget had procured a large
double canoe, which unfortunately was ftove and fwamped the firft trip ;
but by the exertions of thofe in the boats every perfon had happily been
faved, though amongft them were fome who-could not fwim. By this
accident two mufkets, three-axes, a croft cut faw, and a fet of accoutrements
went to the bottom, but they had recovered one of the muf~
kets. Several articles belonging to the officers who had been on fhore
on duty could not be taken without imminent danger of being loft, as
thofe on fhore after the lofs of the canoe had to fwim to the boats-
through the furf. Amongft thefe were fome arms, and a valuable double
barrelled fowling piece, which were left in the charge of Nomateehetee,
who tabooed them; and, with John Williams, (the Welchman left by the'
Lady Wafhington,)' gave every affurance of their fecurity; to infure
which, they both propofed to fleep in the houfe where the valuables
were depofited. Mr. Puget feemed to entertain great confidence of the
fafety of the articles and of their being all forthcoming; but I muft
own, I expefted that. this neceflity would put their fidelity feverely to
the teft, and might eventually be the means of preventing our interview
with the prince and regent; efpecially as Williams had returned with an
apology for their having broken their engagement, which he faid had
V o l . I. A a been