1787. apparently did with marks of wonder and furprize. This we looked
u July' 1 on as a good omen, and the event ihewed, that fo r once we were
not miftaken.
After their curiofity, in fome meafure, fubfided, they began to
trade, and we prefently bought what cloaks and fkins they had got,
in exchange for toes, which they feemed to like very much.
They made ligns for us to go in towards the fhore, and gave us
fo underftand, that we Ihould find more inhabitants, and plenty of
furs. . ~~ ■ ,
By ten o’clock we were within a mile of the fhore, and faw the
village where thefe Indians dwelt right a-breaft of us : it confifted
of about fix huts, which appeared to be built in a more regular
form than any we had yet feen, and the fituation very pleafant, but
the fhore was rocky, and afforded no place for us to anchor in.
A bay now opened to the Eaftward, on which we hauled by the
wind, which blew pretty frefh from the Northward and Eaftward,
and fteered diredlly for it. During this time, feveral of the people
whom we traded with in the morning, had been on fhore, probably
to fhew their newly acquired bargains ; but on feeing us fleer for
the bay, they prefently pufhed after us, joined by feveral other
canoes.
As we advanced up the bay, there appeared to be an excellent
harbour, well land-locked, about a league a-head; we had foundings
from ten to twenty-five fathom water, over a rocky bottom,
but unluckily, the harbour trended right in the wind, and at one
o’clock the tide fet fo flrongly againft us, that we found itirmpofli-
ble to make the harbour, as we loft ground every board, on which
we
we hove the main top-fail to the maft, in order to trade with the
Indians.
A fcene now commenced, which abfolutely beggars all defcrip-
tion, and with which we were fo overjoyed, that we could fcarcely
believe the evidence of our fenfes. There were ten canoes about the
fhip, which contained, as nearly as I could eftimate, 120 people;
many o f thefe brought moft beautiful beaver cloaks; others excellent
fkins, and, in (hort, none came empty handed, and the rapidity
with which they fold them, was a circumftance additionally
pleafing; they fairly quarrelled with each other about which
fiaould fell his cloak firft ; and fome actually threw, their furs on
board, if nobody was at hand to receive them ; but we took particular
care to let none go from the veffel unpaid. Toes were almoft
the only article we bartered with on this occafion, and indeed they
were.taken fo very eagerly, that there was not the leaft occafion to
offer any thing elfe. In lefs than half an hour we purchafed near
300 beaver fkins, of an excellent quality; a circumftance which
greatly raifed our fpirits, and the more, as both the plenty of fine
furs; hnd the avidity of the natives in parting with them, were convincing
proofs, that no traffic whatever had recently been carried
on near this place, and confequently we might expect a continuation
of this plentiful commerce. That thou mayeft form fome
idea of the cloaks we purchafed here, I fhalljuft obferve, that they
generally contain three good fea otter fkins, one of which is cut in
two pieces, afterwards they are neatly fewed together, fo asto form
a fquare, and are loofely tied about the Ihoulders with fmall leather
firings fattened on each fide.
At three o’clock, our trade being entirely over, and the wind ftill
againft us, we made fail, and flood out of the bay, intending to
C c try