iju i This chief Mr. Whidbey reprefented as a tall thin elderly man. He
i ^“ y'_ i was dreffed in-a much more fuperb ftyle than any chief we had hitherto
feen on this coaft, and he fupported a degree of ftate confequcnce, and
perfonal dignity,, unufual to be found amonglt the chiefs of North-Weft
America. His external robe was a very fine large garment, that reached
from his neck down to his heels, made of wool from the mountain
fheep, neatly variegated with feveral colours, and edged, and otherwife
decorated with little tufts, or frogs of woollen yarn, dyed of various colours.
His head-drefs was made of wood, much refembling in its lhape,
a crown, adorned with bright copper and brafs plates, from' whence
hung a number of tails or ftreamers, compofed of wool and fur wrought
together, died of various colours, and each terminating by a whole ermine
{kin. The whole exhibited a magnificent appearance, and indicated
a tafte for drefs and ornament, that we had not fuppofed the natives
of thefe regions to poffefs.
The very cordial behaviour of thefe new acquaintances did- not, however,
prevent Mr. Whidbey from being on his guard, and knowing that
there were many others in the neighbourhood, he carded every one of
his party to fleep in the boats at their grapnels, a little diftance from the
fhore, and gave particular direftions that the watch Ihould be vigilantly
attentive, as he had reafon to expeft more of the natives would arrive in
the courfe of the night. In this conjefture he was not miftaken, for at
the next dawn of day it was difcovered, that a-nother large canoe, with
three fmaller ones, had found their way into the cove unperceived by
thofe who were on watch, and at the fame time two-other large canoes,
attended by feveral fmaller ones, all full of Indians, were advancing at
no great diftance, and thofe already in the cove; were in motion towards
the boats. On this fufpicious appearance, for they were all armed, and
prepared for hoftilities, Mr. Whidbey took fuch inftant precautions as
were moft likely to repel any attempt that might be in contemplation ;
and by the time our party had increafed their diftance a little from the
fliore, and were prepared to aft- on the defenfive; the chief, who had
{hewn fuch marks of friendly attention during the preceding day and
evening, was, with his followers, alongfide of the yawl, purfuing a mode
o f behaviour very different to that which he had before obferved. He 'm -
now waited for no invitation, , but on his coming alongfide, with an empty <— v~
box in his hand, he jumped into the yawl, feemingly with no other intent
than that of plundering the boat: fortunately, however, the awning
being fpread much impeded .his progrefs, and prevented the reft of his
companions from following his example, before he was obliged to retire,
and put off with his canoe. By this-time the other canoes had divided
their forces, and had gone againft the other two boats, where they experienced
a fimilar repulfe. Notwithftanding that their numbers had
now increafed to at leaft two hundred; yet feeing our boats were fo
well prepared, and ready to aft on their defence, .they declined making
any further attempt, and feemed to content themfelves with vaunting
only. One chief in particular became very valiant,' he was o f the laft
party that had arrived, and was in a large canoe full of Indians, who
were well provided not only with fpears, but with feven mulkets, and
fome brafs blunderbuffes, all in moft excellent order. He advanced, and
hailed the yawl with a fpeaking trumpet, which he held in one hand,
and had a fpying glafs in the other; a powder horn was flung acrofs his
{houlders, and a clean bright brafs blunderbufs was lying near him, which
he frequently took .up and pointed at Mr. Whidbey, in fuch a manner as
evidently {hewed he was no ftranger to the ufe and management of fuch
weapons; and by his adroitnefs in the ufe of the trumpet and tekfeope,
it would feem that he had not been unfuccefsful in copying this part of
maritime education. Little doubt remained with our party as to the hoftile
intentions of thefe people, and it was probably a very happy circum-
ftance that they had not been more aftive in carrying their defigns into
effeft; for, befide the arms already mentioned, each man was provided
with a {hort handy dagger, very conveniently tied round his wrift. Had
they with thefe weapons aflailed our boats, and got pofleffion of them in
the night by furprize, which was evidently what had been meditated,
their projeft might poflibly have been attended with ferious confequences,
if they had poffefled fufficient courage to have maintained a conteft; this,
however, feemed to be very doubtful, as our boats remained for a {hort
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