Mensies' Journal. 



Nootka. 



117 



Roots every year, though till this moment we ascribed such 

 digging to their searching after the Sarane or Roots of 

 Lilium Camschatccnsa which we knew they collect & use as 

 food here / & on other parts of the Coast. 



The novelty of our Encampment indued a number of 

 the Natives to flock round us, but they behavd very quiet & 

 peaceably, & in the dusk of the evening very orderly retired 

 to their own habitations, leaving us to spend the evening 

 with our new friends in social hilarity & mirth. 



After breakfast next morning we all enibarkd in the 

 Boats & made a kind of martial parade with our little 

 musical Band before the Village of Tashees, where we 

 landed amidst the noisy acclamations of the Natives. 

 Maquinna together with his Brother & Attendants received 

 us on the Beach, & we were conducted to the Chief's House 

 which was large & spacious & occupied by himself, his 

 Brother & other families of distinction. Here we found the 

 Women decently seated on Mats spread on little risings on 

 each side of the House & Benches were placed at one end 

 coverd over with rich Furs & clean Mats for the party to 

 set down on. We first advancd to the Royal Mat to pay 

 our respects to the Chiefs Wives & Daughter, the latter was 

 a young Girl about thirteen years of age named Apinnas, 

 who the Spaniards informd us had been lately recognizd & 

 inaugurated in a most pompous & solemn manner by the 

 whole Tribe as the Sucessor of her Father. 



When the Natives were assembled on this occasion, a 

 Throne was erected on which the young Princess was seated 

 by her Father, & from thence Copper Iron Beads &c. & 

 every other / article of any value the Chief posessed was 

 thrown down & scatterd in the most profuse manner 

 amongst the people, who scrambled for it & expressed their 

 approbation by continual plaudits. After this ceremony they 

 continued their rejoicing by feasting singing & dancing for 

 some days, till the Chief with respect to riches was brought 

 almost upon a level with the poorest of his Tribe. 



On turning to those seated on the other side of the 

 house I instantly recognizd in the Wife of Maquinna's 

 Brother an old acquaintance the daughter of an elderly Chief 

 who had a numerous family & lived in the North East 

 corner of the Sound & to whose friendship I owed much 

 civility & kindness when I was here about five years ago. 



1702. 



.Sept. 4tb. 



Saranne 



(FrttillaHa 



camtchatcen- 



Hin I . See 



Appendix. 



Sept. 5th. 



Apenas of 

 S|ianlard8. 

 For her puberty 

 ceremony at 

 Copti (Cooptee 

 of Jewitt) see 

 Sutil y 



Mexlcana, Vty., 

 142-5, and 

 Mozino, 

 Notlcias, 

 2S-30. Tlie 

 scene at Copti 

 Is illustrated 

 by Plate 10 lu 

 the Atlas of 

 tlie Voyage of 

 the Sutll and 

 Mexlcana. 



