»79*" the Chatham, confirmed thofe of Mr. Baker, as to the time' of high
I ' j water;' but the rife and fall of the tide with him did not exceed fix feet,
and the greateft ftrength of the tide was about four knots;
“ This Bay, befides affording good and fecure anchorage, is convenient
for procuring wood and water ; and, by keeping upon good terms with
the-natives, who feemed much inclined to be friendly, afupply of filh, and
other refrelhments, may eafily be obtained. The heavy and confufed
fwell that in bad weather conftantly rolls in from the fea over its {hallow
entrance, -and breaks in 3 fathoms water, renders the fpace between
Baker’s bay and Chenoke point a very indifferent roadftead. Cape
Difappointment is formed by high fteep precipices, covered with coarfe
grafs, the fides and tops o f the hills with pine trees. Point Adams being
the fouth-eaft point of entrance is low and fandy, from whence the
country rifes with a gradual afcent, and produces pine and other trees.
Any further nautical information that may be required will be better obtained
by reference to the fketch.
“ With refpeft to its natural produflions, and other, interefting matter
; the weather experienced on board the veffel having uniformly been
fimilar to that afterwards encountered at fea, precluded any competent
knowledge being acquired. The trees principally compofing the
foreft,. were pines of different kinds, growing to a large fize, but were
unequal to thofe of Nootka. Near the water-fide were found’maple,
alder, and afh, and at fome diftance.up the river, befide thefe, the oak,
poplar, and oriental ftrawberry tree were produced,, with many other
foreft trees, unknown to the gentlemen, who made a fhort excurfion
into the country, and who were only able to judge o f the indigenous,
quadrupedes or animals, by the fkins the natives wore or brought to
barter ; thefe were fimilar to thofe found on other parts of the coaft.
The birds' that were procured, were large brown cranes, white fwans,
white and brown geefe, ducks, partridges, and fhipes; a variety of
others were feen, that could not be taken. . All that were brought on
board, excepting the brown cranes, proved excellent at table. The
river feemed to abound with fifh, from the fupply the natives provided,;
confi fling
confuting of two forts o f falmon, both very good; fturgeon of a large
fize and very fine flavor, with filver bream, herrings, flat fifh, and foir-
dinias; of thefe four lafl forts fome were caught in'the.feme. The fkirts
o f the woods afforded a molt excellent green vegetable, refembling in appearance'
and tafte the turnip-top when young. A bulbous root, about
the fize, and not. unlike the crocus, that ate much like mealy potatoe,
wild mint, ground ivy, and wild lavender, all thefe the natives make
great ufe of, together with berries of various kinds, particularly the
cranberry, of a molt excellent flavor, and the firfl we had feen on this
coaft.
. “ The natives differed in nothing very materially from thofe we had
vifited during the fummer, but in the decoration o f their perfons; in
this refpeft, they furpaffed all the other tribes with paints o f different
colours, feathers, and other ornaments. Their houfes feemed to be
more comfortable than thofe at Nootka, the roof having a greater inclination,
and the planking being thatched over with the bark of trees.
The entrance is through a hole, in a broad plank, covered in fuch a
manner as to refemble the face o f a man, the mouth ferving the pur-
p o feo f a door-way. The fire-place is funk into the earth, and confined
from fpreadmg above by a wooden frame. The inhabitants are uni-
verfally additled to fmoking. Their pipe is fimilar to ours in fhape;
the bowl is made o f very hard wood, and is externally ornamented
with carvings ; the tube, about two feet long, is made of a fmall branch
o f the elder. In this they fmoke an herb, which the country produces,
of a very mild nature, and by no means unpleafant; they however
took- great pleafure in fmoking our tobacco; hence it is natural
to conclude, it might become a valuable article of traffic amongft
them. In moft other refpefts they refemble their neighbours, as to
their manners and mode of living, being equally filthy and uncleanly.
The foil of the low ground was moftly a ftiff, rich clay, capable
to all appearance of being made very produftive ; that on the high land
amongft the pme ’trees, a black mould, feemingly compofed of decayed
vegetables.”
Having