N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T OF A M E R I C A .
we kept up this friendly intereourfe by every method in our 1786.
power, being perfectly convinced, that a kind and mild treat- , July-
ment was the fureft means of procuring what we wanted from
thefe lavages.
Towards evening, the wind blowing frefh, no canoes ventured
to come near u s ;, but the weather proving moderate on the 30th, .
a number of final! canoes, and two large ones, came along-fide,,
from whom we purchafed every thing they had worth picking up.
By our obfervation to.-day at noon, , the place where we now lay.
is in, 60 deg, 48 min. North latitude; and 152 deg. 11 min. Weft
longitude. From this'to the 3d of Auguft, the weather was moderate
and fine : our friends kept bringing us Ikins of varidus kinds,.
but gave us to underftaod, that their own were all fold, and that
they were obliged to trade with tribes in diftant parts of the country,
in order to fupply us. They alfo brought us great plenty of :'
excellent frefh falmon, which we bought very cheap, giving a fingle:
bead for a large fifh ; indeed they were fo plentiful, that at any'
time if' we refufed to purchafe, they would throw the fifh on board,,
fooner than be at the pains to take: them back. The falmon
come into the river, in innumerable fhoals, at this feafon of'
the year, and are caught by the natives in wears, with the;
greateft eafe; they are fmoked and dried in their huts, and make
a very confiderable part of their food during the Winter. What a
frefh inftance this of the goodnefs of Divine Providence towards his,
creatures ! How bountifully he hath provided for thefe poor
wretches, in this barren and inhofpitable part of the world! Surely,.
after this no one can alk with the difcontented Ifraelites, “ Can ,
God fpread a table in the wildernefs.”
On