112 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



chamber, all his enemies seemed to shrink no 

 one ventured to intercept him as he advanced to 

 the Empress. She received him graciously, and, 

 extending her hand to him, looked contemp- 

 tuously at those around her, saying, * I wish I 

 might possess such a minister as this British 

 ambassador ; on him, indeed, his master can 

 justly rely for courage and fidelity.' " 



Wentworth guessed the particular word in this 

 interesting anecdote; and a new one having been 

 whispered to him, he begged leave to tell us a 

 traveller's story: 



" Mr. Scouler, in his voyage up the Columbian 

 river, came to a curious rocky hill, called Mount 

 Coffin by Captain Vancouver. These rocks 

 appeared to be the burial place for the natives 

 of an extensive district ; who from dread, as 

 well as respect, the Indians are in the habit of 

 depositing at a considerable distance from their 

 dwellings. The bodies were placed on the rocks 

 in canoes, which served as coffins, and which 

 were covered by boards and secured by great 

 stones. Into these canoes, or more properly 

 speaking coffins, their disinterested relations, 

 unlike hungry heirs in more civilized countries, 

 had crammed all the valuable property of the 

 deceased. Mr. Scouler mentions as a remark- 

 able circumstance, that a large serpent, which 

 you know is the emblem of immortality, issued 

 from one of the coffins as if to warn off all iu- 



