Mensies' Journal. 



Nimpkish Village. 



1792. 

 July 20th. 



intentions, till their conduct evinced the contrary & we were 

 then happy that good understanding had not been inter- 

 rupted by our unfounded distrust. 



We saw Muskets in several Houses, most of them 

 appeard to be of Spanish Manufactory by the make of the 

 Lock & the manner in which the Barrel was fastend to the 

 Stock by broad hoops. — Cathlagees had no less than seven 

 Muskets in his own House kept in exceeding good order. 



/ The number of Inhabitants in this Village we esti- 

 mated to be about 500 & their commercial intercourse with 

 the Natives of Nootka by some inland communication was 

 pretty evident from their own accounts, for they assurd us 

 of having receivd from thence most of the Articles of 

 European Manufactory in their posession, so that it appears 

 extremely probable that this is the Channel by which that 

 post has been of late years supplied with a considerable share 

 of its fine Fur from the Northern regions, for they are well 

 acquainted with traffic & the value of their own commodi- 

 ities, but in their dealings seem to act fair & honest. 

 Upwards of 200 Sea Otter Skins were procurd from them 

 during our short stay at more than double the value I ever 

 saw given for them on any other part of the Coast, conse- 

 quently many of our Articles of Commerce begin now to 

 lose their intrinsic Value amongst them. Iron though valu- 

 able to most other Indian Nations was here scarcely sought 

 after. The articles they most esteemd were Sheet Copper 

 & coarse broad blue Cloth; Of the former they took 

 from half a sheet to two thirds for a Skin, & of the latter a 

 piece about the square of the Cloth, but they sometimes 

 preferrd Woollen Cloth made up in the form of short 

 Jackets or Trowsers. They likewise eagerly asked for fire 

 arms powder & shot, but both policy & prudence should ever 

 prevent them from being distributed amongst them, as such 

 powerful weapons render them too formidable to neighbour- 

 ing Tribes & be apt to increase the horrors of War between 

 them, they also make them more inclind to ill use or take 

 advantage of any / small Vessel that may be led thither on 

 commercial pursuits. 



This Village is about 20 leagues from the entrance of 

 Nootka nearly in a North direction, & as the interior parts 

 of that Sound have not yet been thoroughly explored, it is 

 probable some of its branches may penetrate nearly across 



