260 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEi' 



about in every direction, and not unfrequently dashing their 

 noses against our canoe, in their headlong course. We met here 

 a number of Indians engaged in fishing. Their mode of taking 

 the salmon is a very simple one. The whole of the tackle con- 

 sists of a pole about twelve feet long, with a large iron hook 

 attached to the end. This machine they keep constantly trailing 

 in the water, and when the fish approaches the surface, by a 

 quick and dexterous jerk, they fasten the iron into his side, and 

 shake him off" into the canoe. They say they take so many 

 fish that it is necessary for them to land about three times a day 

 to deposit them. 



The house in which we sleep to-night is not near so com- 

 fortable as the one we have left. It stinks intolerably of salmon, 

 which are hanging by scores to the roof, to dry in the smoke, 

 and our bed being on the dead level, we shall probably suffer 

 somewhat from fleas, not to mention another unmentionable insect 

 which is apt to inhabit these dormitories in considerable profusion. 

 There are here several young children; beautiful, flat-headed, 

 broad-faced, little individuals. One of the little dears has taken 

 something of a fancy to me, and is now hanging over me, and 

 staring at my book with its great goggle eyes. It is somewhat 

 strange, perhaps, but I have become so accustomed to this uni- 

 versal deformity, that I now scarcely notice it. I have often 

 been evilly disposed enough to wish, that if in the course of events 

 one of these little beings should die, I could get possession of it. 

 I should like to plump the small carcass into a keg of spirits, 

 and send it home for the observation of the curious. 



18th. — Last night the wind rose to a gale, and this morning it 

 is blowing most furiously, making the usually calm water of 

 these bays so turbulent as to be dangerous for our light craft. 

 Notwithstanding this disadvantage, the Indians were in favor of 

 starting for the sea, which we accordingly did at an early hour. 

 Soon after we left, in crossing one of the bays, about three-quar- 



