328 cook's voyage to ^iay, 



more to visit us between one and two the next morn- 

 ing, in both great and small canoes. Some ventured 

 on board the ship ; but not till some of our people 

 had stepped into into their boats. Amongst those 

 who came on board, was a good-looking middle-aged 

 man, whom we afterward found to be the chief. He 

 was clothed in a dress made of the sea-otter's skin ; 

 and had on his head such a cap as is worn by the 

 people of King George's Sound, ornamented with 

 sky-blue glass beads, about the size of a large pea. 

 He seemed to set a much higher value upon these, 

 than upon our white glass beads. Any sort of beads, 

 however, appeared to be in high estimation with these 

 people ; and they readily gave whatever they had in 

 exchange for them ; even their fine sea-otter skins. 

 But here I must observe, that they set no more value 

 upon these than upon other skins, which was also the 

 case at King George's Sound, till our people set a 

 higher price upon them ; and even after that, the 

 natives of both places would sooner part with a dress 

 made of these, than with one made of the skins of 

 wild cats or of martins. 



These people were also desirous of iron ; but they 

 wanted pieces eight or ten inches long at least, and 

 of the breadth of three or four ringers. For they ab- 

 solutely rejected small pieces. Consequently they 

 got but little from us ; iron having, by this time, be- 

 come rather a scarce article. The points of some of 

 their spears or lances were of that metal ; others were 

 of copper, and a few of bone; of which the points of 

 their darts, arrows, &c. were composed. I could 

 not prevail upon the chief to trust himself below the 

 upper deck ; nor did he and his companions remain 

 long on board. But while we had their company, it 

 was necessary to watch them narrowly, as they soon 

 betrayed a thievish disposition. At length, after 

 being about three or four hours alongside the Reso- 

 lution, they all left her, and went to the Discovery ; 

 none having been there before, except one man, who 



