PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. I53 



what they thought perfectly correct. They all seemed 

 determined to be pleased, and were apparently quite 

 happy in being permitted to indulge their curiosity, 

 which was very great, and bespoke them a people ex- 

 tremely desirous of information. It was amusing to 

 observe which objects attracted the particular attention 

 of each individual, which we thought always accorded 

 with the trade or profession of the party ; for, as we 

 had at different times all the population of Napa on 

 board the ship, we nuist have had persons of all occu- 

 pations. We observed two of these people, after 

 having gratified their curiosity about the deck, seat 

 themselves in their canoes, and commence drawing a 

 picture of the ship— one selected a broadside view, 

 and the other a quarter, each setting at defiance all 

 rules of perspective. The artist on the quarter had of 

 course the most difficult task, and drew the stern as a 

 continuation of the broadside, by which it appeared 

 like an enormous quarter gallery to the ship. That 

 they might make an exact representation, they took 

 their station at the distance of twenty feet from the 

 side of the ship, and commenced their drawing upon 

 a roll of paper about six feet in length, upon which 

 they pourtrayed not only the outline of the ship, but 

 the heads of all the bolts, the but ends of the planks, 

 and before it was finished, no doubt, intended to trace 

 even the grain of the wood. Whatever merit might 

 have been attached to the drawing, the artists were en- 

 titled to commendation for their perseverance, which 

 overcame every difficulty ; and they had some few to 

 contend with. A little before sunset they rolled up 

 their paper and paddled on shore. 



We were scarcely up the following morning before 

 our ears were assailed by the choruses of the boatmen 



