Mr Scouler's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 63 



was alone sufficient to convince any one how superior they 

 were to- the southern Indians in muscular power. Every ar- 

 ticle they had with them indicated a high degree of ingenuity, 

 and the number and distinctness of the figures carved on their 

 clay pipes was admired by every one. Conscious of their su- 

 periority, they treated our interpreter with the most decided 

 contempt. None of their heads appeared to have been com- 

 pressed, from which we inferred that that custom was un- 

 known here. Their conduct was, on all occasions, bold and 

 decided, often approaching to quarrelsome. Their language 

 appeared to have no resemblance to that of the Columbian or 

 Nootka Indians, at least our interpreter did not understand 

 them. 



26th. — We are off Skittegass, a harbour much frequented 

 by the American traders, and where we saw many Indians, 

 all of them clothed in European blankets, and well provided 

 with fire arms. Many of them knew a number of English 

 words, and a young man among them could carry on a con- 

 versation in broken English with tolerable facility. This 

 acute Indian cheerfully agreed to continue with us while we 

 remained in this part of the country, and from him we derived 

 much information. The chief of Skittegass, he told us, was 

 called Eastacanna, and was by no means friendly to white peo- 

 ple, and embraced every occasion of plundering them he could 

 obtain. This hostile disposition is probably encouraged by 

 the unreserved trade in spirituous liquors, which the private 

 adventurers who visit this island carry on, and cannot fail to 

 be productive of the worst effects. At the trading posts of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company, a very different system is pursued. 

 No rum is ever sold, the Indians are peaceable and friendly, 

 and the traders traverse the country with safety. When 

 they commence trading with the Indians, the demand is not 

 for rum, but for that innocent luxury tobacco. At Queen 

 Charlotte's Island, not only rum, but even wine was demand- 

 ed, and they were offended when we refused to give them 

 either. 



On the 29th we were becalmed off Dundas Island, which 

 we took this opportunity of visiting. It was surrounded by 

 steep rocks, which rendered landing rather difficult. We 



