Mr Scoukr's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 67 



sited us without bringing a present of salmon or berries. 

 As they had their families in their canoes, we had some op- 

 portunity of examining their mode of living. They appear- 

 ed to have a great predilection for all kinds of oily food, and 

 to live principally on fish and marine animals. Seals are very 

 common, and they were very fond of the fat of that animal. 

 In their canoes we observed a kind of square cake which they 

 eat after soaking it in oil. On procuring a few specimens, I 

 found there were two distinct kinds. The one consisted of 

 various species of dulse (Halymenia,) compressed into a cake, 

 and probably used as a substitute for salt. The other cake was 

 of a more firm consistence, and was made from the inner bark 

 of some tree, beaten very fine and then dried. This cake 

 was eaten after soaking it in oil. As this kind of bread is pro- 

 bably similar to that used in times of scarcity in the northern 

 parts of Europe, and prepared from the pine, it may serve to 

 allay hunger without affording much nourishment, like the earth 

 eaten by the Indians of the Orinoco, mentioned by Humboldt. 

 It seems to be very generally used among these tribes, as it is 

 mentioned by Mackenzie in his journey to the Pacific Ocean. 

 5th. — To-day we removed to a small harbour about five 

 miles farther up the inlet than Salmon Cove, but the inces- 

 sant rain and the presence of the Nass Indians detained us 

 on board. As the weather improved, we made a boat excur- 

 sion a few miles farther up the inlet. The country was more 

 verdant and the land less precipitous, and afforded many cu- 

 rious plants. I was particularly anxious to procure a species 

 of lily, which must be very abundant in the woods, as the In- 

 dians eat great quantities of its roots. After some search, I 

 found a few specimens, but unfortunately the season of flower- 

 ing was past, so that we had to rest satisfied with the capsules. 

 From the time of this excursion till the 12th, the constant 

 heavy rains and dense foggy weather confined us in our pre- 

 sent situation, and prevented my wandering far into the woods. 

 On the 12th, the weather became more settled, and on follow- 

 ing the tract of an Indian path for half a mile, we arrived at a 

 spacious bay, bounded on one side by granite rocks, on the 

 other by a sandy beach, and abounding in aquatic fowls. I 

 never was in a situation where more Acotyledonous plants were 



