158 NIMKISH VILLAGE. 
siderable distance. This stream is used by the 
Hudson’s Bay traders to reach the western side 
of Vancouver Island. Ascending it in canoes 
as far as practicable, about two days’ walking 
brings them to Nootka Sound. 
At the mouth of the river, I saw the village of 
the Nimkish Indians, situated on a table-land 
overhanging the sea, and inaccessible save by 
ascending a vertical cliff of smooth rock—a feat 
nothing but a fly could manage, unaided; but 
the redskins have a ladder, made of cedar-bark 
rope, which they can haul up and lower at will. 
The ladder up, the place is impregnable. Safe 
themselves, they can quietly bowl over their 
enemies, and sink their canoes. 
These Nimkish Indians speak of another tribe 
that they call Sau-kau-lutuck, who have never 
seen or traded with white people. Their story, 
as interpreted for me by Mr. Moffat, the chief 
trader at Fort Rupert—who told me he quite 
believed it to be true—was as follows :— 
‘In crossing over to the west side of the island, 
on a war-path, the Nimkis discovered these In- 
dians by accident, took several of them prisoners, 
whom they subsequently used as slaves, taking 
also skins, and what other property they had 
worth plundering. They are said to live on the 
