230 Mr Scouler's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 

 i 



were about eighteen or twenty feet in height, and were sup- 

 ported by three shorter ones. We were at a loss to conjecture 

 the use of these sticks, and our inquiries among the Indians 

 produced but little information on this subject. The most 

 probable opinion is, that they expose the heads of their van- 

 quished enemies on them. This opinion is supported by Cap- 

 tain Vancouver, who saw human heads affixed to them near 

 Port Townshend ; and I think it is probable, that these people, 

 notwithstanding their peaceable and friendly conduct towards 

 us, are extremely revengeful. In most of the canoes, we saw 

 spears about ten feet long, furnished with iron points, and or- 

 namented with the hairs of their enemies. If these poles be 

 the monuments of savage vengeance, it is at least pleasant to 

 know, that the practice is confined to a very limited district, 

 and that a motive of avarice will generally prevent these tribes 

 from using their prisoners cruelly, as slaves constitute their 

 principal source of wealth. The Klallums of Port Discovery 

 were much less covetous than the people of Nootka, and the 

 numerous presents of provisions they gave us, supported the 

 ship's crew, and they were grateful for every thing we chose to 

 give them in return. When we consider the abundance of 

 provisions this beautiful country affords, we shall not be sur- 

 prised at the great population it maintains ; and, probably, no 

 Indians in North America have less difficulty in procuring 

 their food than the tribes from the Gulf of Georgia to the 

 Columbia River. The sea yields an abundant supply of fish- 

 es of the most delicious kinds, as various^ species of mullet, 

 turbot, and cod ; every rivulet teems with myriads of salmon ; 

 and the meadows and forests produce an endless variety of 

 berries and esculent roots. The collection of the latter forms 

 the occupation of the women and children, while the men are 

 occupied in procuring the former, and both are carefully dried 

 for winter stores. About the end of September, they quit their 

 summer residence on the coast, and retreat into the interior of 

 the country, where, in addition to their winter stock, they kill 

 abundance of otters, beavers, and elks, whose skins afford them 

 clothing, or the means of obtaining European articles. They 

 return to the coast again in the beginning of April. 



14th. — We left the friendly Klallums of Port Discovery, and 



