280 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



rately morticed on, the length of the canoe was 30 ft., 

 the width 5 ft., the thickness of the sides 3 ins., 

 and of the bottom rather more. The interior was 

 painted vermilion, and the exterior black. On the 

 bows were white marks, which seemed as though 

 they were intended to represent mouth and eyes, as 

 one finds on all Chinese boats. The Indians had 

 omitted to bring oars, which I consequently deter- 

 mined they should make on the first opportunity ; our 

 progress, therefore, with the paddles was slow. A sail 

 had to be manufactured out of a large tent, and 

 was intended to be hoisted on a strong mast in 

 the bows, and was only suitable for running before 

 the wind, and I immediately set one of the men to 

 work at it. 



When we reached the extreme west cape of Texada 

 Island, after several hours' paddling, the wind had died 

 quite away, and presently commenced to blow gently 

 from the contrary direction, enabling us to set sail 

 across the few miles of open sea which intervenes 

 between Texada and Harwood Islands, which latter 

 is reserved for the Indians. Coasting along the shore, 

 we made good another ten miles before the breeze 

 dropped, and reached the mainland just as darkness 

 descended, and there we prepared to camp. Jack 

 usually anchored the canoe at night in some sheltered 

 bay by dropping a heavy weight over the stern 

 attached to a rope, and making fast ashore a long line 

 from the bows. The slope of the beach was always 

 regular and gradual, and the length of rope by which 



