TI1E INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 57 



distinguished and marked, among a crowd of Flatheads, as a Chinaman among 

 white men. That the northern tribes have originated from wandering hordes from 

 the Asiatic side of the Pacific, coming by way of the Aleutian Islands and Behring 

 Strait, is in my opinion the most probable hypothesis, for there is as strong a resem 

 blance to each other among all the Indians north of Vancouver Island, as far as 

 Sitka, as there is among the so-called Nootkan family. Whether the Flatheads 

 originally travelled by the same route, cannot be shown, either by their own tradi 

 tions, or any other evidence that I have been able to get, during a very careful investi 

 gation among them, and the truth respecting their origin, if ever found, must be by 

 evidence derived from other sources. The only tradition that I have heard respect 

 ing any migratory movement among the Makahs, is relative to a deluge or flood 

 which occurred many years ago, but seems to have been local, and to have had no 

 connection with the Noachic deluge which they know nothing about, as a casual 

 visitor might suppose they did, on hearing them relate the story of their flood. This 

 I give as stated to me by an intelligent chief; and the statement was repeated on 

 different occasions by several others, with a slight variation in detail. 



&quot; A long time ago,&quot; said my informant, &quot; but not at a very remote period, the 

 water of the Pacific flowed through what is now the swamp and prairie between 

 Wiiatch village and Nceah Bay, making an island bf Cape Flattery.. The water 

 suddenly receded, leaving Nceah Bay perfectly dry. It was four days reaching its 

 lowest ebb, and then rose again without any waves or breakers, till it had sub 

 merged the Cape, and in fact the whole country, excepting the tops of the moun 

 tains at Clyoquot. The water on its rise became very warm, and as it came up to 

 the houses, those who had canoes put their effects into them, and floated off with 

 the current, which set very strongly to the north. Some drifted one way, some 

 another ; and when the waters assumed their accustomed level, a portion of the 

 tribe found themselves beyond Nootka, where their descendants now reside, and 

 are known by the same name as the Makahs in Classet, or Kwenaitchcchat. 

 Many canoes came down in the trees and were destroyed, and numerous lives were 

 lost. The water was four days regaining its accustomed level.&quot; 



The same tradition was related to me by the Kwilleyutes, who stated that a por 

 tion of that tribe made their way to the region in the vicinity of Port Townsend, 

 where their descendants are known as the Chemakum tribe. I have also received 

 the same tradition from the Chemakum Indians, who claim to have originally 

 sprung from the Kwilleyutes. There is no doubt in my mind of the truth of this 

 tradition. The Wiiatch prairie shows conclusively that the water of the Pacific 

 once flowed through it ; and on cutting through the turf at any place between 

 Necah Bay and Wiiatch, the whole substratum is found to be pure beach sand. 

 In some places the turf is not more than a foot thick ; at others the alluvial deposit 

 is two or three feet. 



As this portion of the country shows conclusive evidence of volcanic action, 

 there is every reason to believe that there was a gradual depression and subsequent 

 upheaval of the earth s crust, which made the waters rise and recede as the Indians 

 stated. Fossil remains of whales are said by the Indians to be found around a lake 



8 July, 1800. 



