to the Norih-JVest Coast of Arner'tca. <? 



and silky furs, which arc much sought after in China. Oi* 

 this account they have lately been aa object of spcculatioa 

 to all those who carry on trade w ith that country. This 

 competition could not fail of raising the price. It taught 

 the Indians on the north-west coast the value of these ani- 

 mals. At first they disposed of the skins for a trifle. But 

 for some years past thev have endeavoured to give the law 

 instead of submitting to it. An English captain, therefore, 

 complained to the Spaniards in 1 792, that the trade in otters' 

 skins, ^^ hich at first was so productive, appeared to him to 

 have become much less so. 



But it is time that we should follow the two Spanish fri- 

 gates in their expedition, of which Nootka was the central 

 point, and the results of which, combined with the ac- 

 counts of captain Vancouver, leave nothing to be wished 

 for in regard to that portion, hitherto so little known, of 

 the north-west coast of America. 



It has been already said that Macuina had offered up 

 prayers to obtain a favourable wind to the Spaniards, who 

 were tired of their long and useless stay at Nootka. Tiie 

 wisbed-for breeze at length took place, and Macuina had at 

 least the merit of informing them -that it was propitious to 

 their designs, w ith w hich they had made him acquainted. 



Having sailed from Nootka on the 4th of .lune I7g2, 

 they landed at the port of Nunez Ganoa, situated at the 

 entrance and on the southern edge of the straight of Fuca. 

 i'idalgo, captain of the Spanish frig\ate La Princessa, had 

 begun to form there an establishment like that of Nootka. 

 'i"he tais of the district, named Tetacus, received the Spa- 

 niards with the sincerest cordiality. Under his auspices 

 they explored in the creeks several interior channels of the 

 Strait de Fuca. He even attended them as a guide, and 

 when their course was opposed by calms or contrary winds 

 he ofiered up prayers for them. He seemed to be held in 

 great consideration along the whole coast, and to deserve 

 it by his character, which exhibited a mixture of dignity 

 and goodness ; but, like his subjects, he participated m that 

 superstition to whirh all uncivilized nations arc so nmch 

 attached. He really believed in the strangest jnodigies, 

 and endeavoured to make the Spaniards believe then; also. 

 He one day wished to persuade them that he had seen, not 

 in a dream, he said, an eagle dart from the clouds, seize a 

 whale, and carry it up into the air. 



From the eastern shore of the Strait de Fuca thev pro- 

 ceeded to the nortlicrn, followed it from west to cast, ex- 

 plored several small islands,, and entered into various small 



cliannel'i. 



