17?S. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 305 



Whether these things be introduced by way of 

 Hudson's Bay and Canada, from the Indians, who 

 deal with our traders, and so successively across from 

 one tribe to the other ; or whether they be brought 

 from the north-western parts of Mexico, in the same 

 manner ; perhaps cannot be easily determined. But 

 it should seem, that not only the rude materials, but 

 some articles in their manufactured state, find their 

 way hither. The brass ornaments for noses, in par- 

 ticular, are so neatly made, that I am doubtful whether 

 the Indians are capable of fabricating them. The 

 materials certainly are European ; as no American 

 tribes have been found, who knew the method of 

 making brass ; though copper has been commonly 

 met with, and, from its softness, might be fashioned 

 into any shape, and also polished. If our traders to 

 Hudson's Bay and Canada, do not use such articles 

 in their traffic with the natives, they must have been 

 introduced at Nootka from the quarter of Mexico, 

 from whence, no doubt, the two silver table-spoons, 

 met with here, were originally derived. It is most pro- 

 bable, however, that the Spaniards are not such eager 

 traders, nor have formed such extensive connections 

 with the tribes north of Mexico, as to supply them 

 with quantities of iron, from which they can spare so 

 much to the people here. * 



Of the political and religious institutions established 

 amongst them, it cannot be supposed that we should 

 learn much. This we could observe, that there are 

 such men as chiefs, who are distinguished by the 



* Though the two silver table-spoons, found at Nootka Sound, 

 most probably came from the Spaniards in the south, there seem 

 to be sufficient grounds for believing, that the regular supply of 

 iron comes from a different quarter. It is remarkable, that the 

 Spaniards, in 1775, found at Puerto de la Trinidad, in latitude 

 41 7' > arrows pointed 'with copper or iron, 'which they understood 

 were procuredfrom the north. Mr. Daines Barrington, in a note at 

 this part of the Spanish Journal, p. 20. says, " I should conceive 

 that the copper and iron, here mentioned, must have originally 

 been bartered at our forts in Hudson's bay." 

 VOL. VI. X 



