174 QUEEN CHAELOTTE'S ISLANDERS. 



at Fort Rupert, or to those used by the Coast and 

 Fraser river Indians. The shape was similar to 

 the boats one sees in very old pictures, filled 

 with sailors in armour, the bow and stern 

 carved to represent a neck, bearing on it some 

 hideous grinning monster's head. 



Their chief, named Edin-saw, once saved the 

 crew of a small schooner, the ' Susan Sturges,' 

 from being killed by the islanders under his 

 control. The vessel was wrecked on Queen 

 Charlotte's Island, and the crew subsequently 

 ransomed. This little army of savages reached 

 Victoria safely, having taken four months to 

 make the voyage ; threading all the difficult and 

 dangerous straits, with the risk of capture from 

 other tribes, exposed to all the vicissitudes of 

 weather, in open canoes as easily upset as a child's 

 cradle. 



Reaching Victoria in safety, I proceeded up 

 the Fraser, and for the first time witnessed 

 sturgeon-spearing. 



