Mr Scouler's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 233 



then landed at their village but found the chief was absent ; his 

 people however received us with much kindness. The village 

 is finely situated on a small dry plain, surrounded on the north 

 and east by a forest of pine and cedar trees, and exposed to the 

 genial influence of the westerly breezes. The number of 

 houses amounted to twenty, but they were very large. The vil- 

 lage might contain about 250 inhabitants. The houses had 

 sloping roofs of fir and cedar planks, and thatched with mats 

 of Typha latifolia. Nearer the shore there were several large 

 shades for drying fish, and from the immense quantities of dried 

 salmon we saw, there was little probability they would have to 

 encounter the horrors of famine the ensuing winter. The 

 method of preparing the salmon was very simple. The ver- 

 tebrae and intestines are taken out, and the fish is split into four 

 thin slices, which are dried in the sun. To preserve the salmon 

 roe they make bags of the fish's skin, and then fill it with roe 

 and preserve it for winter use. When opened the smell is 

 most disgusting, but this species of caviar is keenly relished by 

 the Indians. After satisfying our curiosity, I wandered through 

 the woods, attended by the little children. It was with satisfac- 

 tion we reflected, that through mild treatment we had gained 

 the good-will of every tribe we had visited. On embarking we 

 found the Indians busy in removing the planks of their houses 

 to their winter abode. While continuing our voyage through 

 the straits, canoes came off from every quarter, bringing plenty 

 of salmon and holibut, and eager to obtain in return, needles, 

 fish-hooks, and small knives. 



The different tribes who inhabit De Fucas Straits, and the 

 Gulf of Georgia differ very little in their habits from the Co- 

 lumbian aborigines. The practice of flattening the heads of 

 their children is universal. They are much addicted to paint- 

 ing themselves, and the paints they use are red ochre, charcoal, 

 and pulverized mica. They make regular lines on their faces 

 with these articles, which gives them a most disagreeable ap- 

 pearance. They apply great quantities of grease to their hair. 

 Their dresses are very various. Some had blankets of dog's- 

 wool, others had robes made of raccoons and elk skins, and very 

 few had English blankets. The women, as in all other places, 

 wore petticoats of straw, or of the prepared bark of the cedar. 



