1787. tHe head is. put into a fquare box, the body in a kind of oblong
'J**"8' , cheft. At each end of the cheft which contains the body, a thick
pole, about ten feet, long, is drove into the earth in a flanting po-
fition, fo that the upper ends meet together, and are very firmly
lathed with a kind of rope prepared for the purpofe.
About two feet from the top of this arch, a ffnall piece of timber
goes acrofs, and is very neatly fitted to each pole : on this piece
of timber the box which contains the head is fixed, and very ftrongly
fecured with rope; the box is frequently decorated with two or
three rows of fmall fhells, and fometimes teeth, which are let into
the wood with great neatnefs ancf ingenuity; and as an additional
ornament, is painted with a variety of colours ; but the poles are
uniformly painted white. Sometimes thefe poles are fixed upright
in the earth, and on each fide the body, but the head is always fecured
in the pofition already defcribed.
What ceremony is ufed by thefe people, in depofiting their dead
in this manner, we never could learn, as nothing of the kind happened
during our ftay in the harbour.
Befides the fkins I have mentioned already, we purchafed a few
bears, and fome land beaver j but I rather think, that the marmot
cloaks were procured by thefe people from fome neighbouring
tribe.
Toes were the article of trade held in the firft eftimation here,
and next to thefe, pewter bafons were belt liked.
Beads ferved to purchafe pieces of fkins that were of little value;
but the deep blue, and fmall green, were the only forts that would
1 be
be taken in barter: indeed our traffic at this place was fo very cir- 1787.
cumfcribed, that there was not the Ieaft occafion to fhew the people — vmmm
any great variety of articles, as it only ferved to dillract them in
their choice, and made their flow method of trading ftill more tedious.
I have now given thee fiich an account of this place, and its inhabitants,
as my obfervations from time to time furriifhed me w ith:
thou art not to expect them methodical, or well digefted ; however,
the perufal may ferve thee for a momentary amufement, and I perhaps
may have an opportunity of adding a kind of fupplement previous
to our leaving the coaft. We are now getting ready for fea.
Adieu.
W . B,
S’ok.t Mul.GRAVI:. J
3d June. 3
L E T T E R XXXII.
THERE being no farther profpect of any trade in Port Mul-
grave, Captain Dixon determined to leave it the firft opportunity
; and a breeze at South Eaft fpringing up at four o'clock in
the morning of the 4th of June, we carried a fmall anchor a-head,
-and warped out of the harbour. At eight we made fail, and flood
out of the found. At noon, the South point of the entrance into
Port Mulgrave bore South Eaft, and the North point North 85
•deg. Weft j the Southern bluff about five miles diftant.
Z During