286 



COOK S VOYAGE TO 



APRIL, 



sidering, whetlier it could be of use to them or no. 

 The novelty of the object, with them, was a sufficient 

 motive for endeavouring, by any indirect means, to 

 get possession of it ; which marked that, in such cases, 

 they were rather actuated by a childish curiosity, 

 than by a dishonest disposition, regardless of the 

 modes of supplying real wants. The inhabitants of 

 Nootka, who invaded our property, cannot have such 

 apology made for them. They were thieves in the 

 strictest sense of the word ; for they pilfered nothing 

 from us, but what they knew could be converted to 

 the purposes of private utility, and had a real value 

 according to their estimation of things. And it was 

 lucky for us, that nothing was thought valuable by 

 them, but the single articles of our metals. Linen, 

 and such like things, were perfectly secure from their 

 depredations ; and we could safely leave them hang- 

 ing out ashore all night, without watching. The 

 same principle which prompted our Nootka friends to 

 pilfer from us, it was natural to suppose, would pro- 

 duce a similar conduct in their intercourse with each 

 other. And, accordingly, we had abundant reason 

 to believe, that stealing is much practised amongst 

 them ; and that it chiefly gives rise to their quarrels ; 

 of which we saw more than one instance. 



