The Home of tJie Woh-ereiie and Beaver. i8l 



been engaged in former voyages along the coast, 

 and was acquainted with the languages of the 

 various tribes, the supercargo, Mr. McKay, asked 

 him to accompany the vessel, to which he agreed, 

 and his scanty effects having been transferred from 

 the canoe to the Tonquin, Captain Thorn weighed 

 anchor and stood to the northward. In a few days 

 the harbour of Newcetu, in Vancouver's Island, was 

 reached, and, contrary to the advice of Lamazu, 

 who knew the treacherous character of the natives, 

 the captain brought to for the purpose of trading. 

 Numbers of canoes soon surrounded the ship ; but 

 as the day was too far advanced to commence 

 business, Mr. McKay and the interpreter (Lamazu) 

 went ashore to the village of the chief, Wicananish, 

 where the former was received with great hospi- 

 tality, and passed the night on a bed of sea-otter 

 skins especially prepared for his accommodation in 

 the lodge of the chief. Lamazu returned to the vessel. 

 So far the Indian was unwavering in his story; 

 but at this point he gave two different accounts of 

 the insult offered to the natives by which their 

 vengeance was drawn down upon the fated Tonquiu, 

 Which of the man's statements is correct there is 

 no means of knowing, either or both might be 

 partly true, and by recording each the reader can 

 judge for himself. 



