Menzies' Journal. 



Nootka. 



119 



some represented Europeans armed with Muskets & Bay- 

 onets, others were dressed as Chinese & others as Sandwish 

 Islanders armed with Clubs & Spears ; the rest were equipped 

 either as Warriors or Hunters of their own Nation. After 

 a party of them armed with long Spears entered & were 

 drawn up at the further end of the House, the Actors came 

 in one at a time & traversed the Area before us, with the 

 most antic gestures. If a Warrior he shewd the different 

 evolutions of attacking an enemy, sometimes crouching 

 down, sometimes retreating, at other times advancing with 

 firm steps &: eyes steadily fixed on the Commanders who 

 were seated in the middle of our group, & to whom all 

 their feigned aims & motions were directed, sometimes with 

 much pointed archness as to occasion some alarm of their 

 intentions being real. The Hunters equipped with various 

 marks & implements, shewd all the wiles & stratagems usual 

 in taking or chasing of different Animals as Deers Bears 

 &c. While those armed with Muskets represented Sentinels 

 or went through various motions of the manual exercise. 

 And those representing the Sandwich Islanders traversed 

 the Area in the different attitudes of wielding their Clubs 

 or darting their Spears, & as each finishd his part he 

 retreated back & took his station among the masked group 

 at the further end of the house. 



Maquinna who sat along side of us / during the first 

 part of this entertainment now stole away as if going to 

 give some orders at the further end of the house. He 

 instantly masked himself behind the group & enterd the Area 

 capering & dancing with great agility, which he performd 

 much to the satisfaction of the whole group, who testified 

 their approbation by repeated & universal plaudits. 



The Natives had hardly finished when Cap* Vancouver 

 anxious to shew them a specimen of our English capering, 

 got some of the Sailors to dance a Reel or two to the Fife. 



Soon after this, our dinner which was Cooking on the 

 outside of the house was announcd to be ready. Maquinna 

 orderd a large Plank to be brought in, which he very dex- 

 terously formd into a Table in the middle of the House 

 sufficiently large for the whole party, with lesser Planks 

 extended on each side for Seats & every thing else that could 

 contribute to luxury & comfort was profusely provided by 

 S"* Quadra, who had brought along with him on this occasion 



1792. 

 .Sept. 5tb. 



