as to overfpread the declivity. The edge o f the platform was fur-
rounded by a barricade raifed by logs of wood placed on each other. In
the vicinity of thefe ruins were many fepulchres or tombs, in which dead
bodies were depolited. Thefe were made with a degree of neatnefs fel-
dom exhibited in the building of their habitations. A wooden frame was
raifed about ten feet from the ground, the upper half of which was in-
clofed, and in the open part below ih many, though not in all of them,
was placed a canoe; the flooring of the upper part was about five feet
from the ground, and above that the fides and top were intirely clofed in
with boards, within which were human bodies in boxes wrapped up in
fkins or in matting. Theft; répofitories o f the dead were of different fizes,
and fome of them contained more bodies than the others; in the Largeft
there were not more than four or five, lying by the fide of each other, not
One appearing to be placed above the reft; they were generally found
near the water fide, and very frequently on fome eonfpicuous point.
Many of thefe facred monuments fcemcd to have been erefted a great
length of time, and the moft ancient of them had evidently been repaired
and ftrengthened by additional fupporters of more modern workmanfhip.
Hence it would appear, that whatever might be the enmity that- exifted
between the feveral tribes when living, their remains when dead were
refpefted and buffered to reft quietly and unmolefted.
Having fatisfied their curiofity in thefe refpeQs, and having gained the
head of the arm, they flopped to dine in a cove a little way from its termination.
Hitherto the party had not feen any of the natives, but at
this time they were vifttéd by feveral who came chiefly from the head of
the arm, where they muil have been fecreted, or they could not have
efcaped being noticed. The number of thefe people accumulated very
fall, and in a very little time, they amounted to upwards of a hundred,
amongftwhom were a chief, and feveral of the Indians feen at the ifth-
mus on the preceding thurfday and funday. Whatever might be the real
intention, or the difpofition of thefe ftrangers, their numbers and general
appearance, induced Mr. Johnftone to defire them to keep at a
greater diftance; this the Indians did not feem inclined to- do, although
every fign to that effefl was made, and our party armed in readinefs for
their
their defence. As their numbers increafed, fo were they encouraged to
advance ;‘ on fome mufkets being fired they flopped for a (hart time, but .— J
foon again followed -the boats as they returned down the arm, keeping
juft without the reach of mulketry. Although thefe people had amongft
them fome guns, and were other,ways well armed with their native wear
pons, Mr. johnftone did not impute to them any hoftile intention, but
attributed the ardour with which they had ftriven to join our party, to a
defire of bartering away their fea otter flans, of which they appeared to
have many, for European commodities. The (ituation of the party on
this occafion was in a very confined place, and being furrounded by fuch
a tribe of armed Indians, with reafon to apprehend there might be others
at no great diftance, it became prudent to avoid, if poflible, a nearer in-
tercourfe, by which alone the true.fpir.it of their defign could have been
known, and in which they muft have been greatly interefted, as they
continued to follow the boats, until after -they had gained a more open
fituation. One Of,the canoes now advanced before the reft, in .which a
chief.flood in the middle of it, plucking the white feathers from the rump
of an eagle, and blowing them into the air, accompanied by fongs and
other exprefiions, which were received as tokens of peace and friendfhip.
The canoe was now permitted to come alongfide Mr. Johnflone’s boat, to
whom the chief inftantly prefented a fea otter fkin, for which Mr. Johnftone
made him a fuitable return, with every expreffion likely to be un-
derftood of his pacific difpofition; the Indians feemed to be fincere in
their profefiions alfo, as they now came to the boats unarmed, and with the
Utmoft confidence in their fecurity. Expreffions of mutual friendfhip
.were now exchanged, and on its being fignified to the chief that as night
was approaching the canoes fhould no longer follow the boats, he returned
to the reft of his countrymen; but they ftill continued to paddle after
our boats until a mufket or two were difcharged, when they all dropped
a-ftern and were no more feen.
However fatisfaftory the latter part of the natives’ conduft may appear
to be, as to their friendly intentions, yet a diftrufl which prudence on fuch
occafions ought always to fuggeft, induced Mr. Johnftone to proceed as far
as he conveniently could before he flopped for the night; but as the fhore
P p 2 was