NORTHWEST COAST OF AMI RICA. 235 



ing, and they assured us that they inhabited the mountains, 

 and were now paying a visit to their friends the Socomish. 

 All these tribes, in their habits and manner of living, re- 

 semble those about Nisqually. On leaving the ship we were 

 warned to be on the watch for them, as they were arrant 

 thieves, but I am not aware that they ever attempted to take 

 anything from us, except one of the eye-pieces belonging to the 

 Theodolite. This seemed to excite their attention more than 

 anything else connected with the expedition, and they fre- 

 quently asked us if it could speak, and whether it had not 

 something to do with the " Great Spirit."* The women are 

 not very good-looking, and the whole burden of domestic occu- 

 pation is thrown upon them. 



They have no permanent settlements ; and there were 

 several families who followed us wherever we went, and became 

 familiar with some of the sailors. The men possess muskets, 

 spears, and bows, and arrows. The bows are short and small, 

 but have great elasticity, and when in their hands will do 

 good execution. 



The Canal does not terminate where Vancouver's charts 

 would lead one to suppose, but extends ten miles further to the 

 northward and eastward, and approaches within two miles of 

 the waters of the Puget Sound, from which point we communi- 

 cated with the " Vincennes," the second week out, and obtained 

 a fresh supply of bread and other provisions. There is plenty 

 of fresh water along the shore, and we found several streams 

 large enough to turn mills. Generally speaking, the soil is not 

 rich, and the climate is similar to that experienced at this place. 



* The eye-piece was finally recovered through the kindness of Mr. Anderson, the 

 principal agent of the Hudson's Bay Company at Nisqually, by threatening the tribe 

 who had it, the Socomish, with the destruction of their villages and canoes, if they 

 ! did not give it up by a certain day. 



