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as if such vessels had been famiHar to them, and unworthy of their atten- 

 tion. On the lowland of New Dungeness were erected, perpendicularly and 

 seemingly with much regularity, a number of very tall straight poles like 

 flag-staves or beacons, supported from the ground by spars. Their first 

 appearance induced an opinion of their being intended as the uprights for 

 stages on which they might dr}^ their fish ; but this, on a nearer view, seemed 

 improbable, as their heights and distances from each other would have 

 required spars of a greater size to reach from one to the other than the 

 substance of the poles was capable of sustaining. They were undoubtedly 

 intended to answer some particular purpose ; but whether of a religious, 

 civil, or military nature, must be left to some future investigation." 



A liberty pole or a gallows, probably, would have filled the alternative 

 suggested. The object of these erections is mentioned by Captain Wilkes 

 as serving to suspend the nets with which the Indians catch wild fowl. 

 Vancouver was gi-eatly disgusted at the small importance attached to his 

 visit. He says further that on Mr. Whidl)ey's landing to seek for water, the 

 Indians continued to fish, "without paying any more regard to the cutter 

 than if she had been one of their own canoes." The circumstance was 

 certainly remarkable, and can only be explained by the fact that the nov- 

 elty had worn off, as there is no doulit, although Vancouver sujiposed him- 

 self to be the first who had penetrated thus far up the straits, that Kendrick 

 and others had preceded him. At Port Discovery, he says, " a few of the 

 natives in two or three canoes favored us with their company, and brought 

 with them some fish and venison for sale." "These people, in their persons, 

 canoes, arms, implements, &c., seemed to resemble chiefly the inhabitants of 

 Nootka, though less bedaubed with paint and less filthy in their external 

 appearance. They wore ornaments in their ears, but none Avere observed 

 in their noses ; some of them understood a few words of the Nootka lan- 

 guage ; they were clothed in the skins of deer, bear, and some other ani- 

 mals, but principally in a woolen garment of their own manufacture, 

 extremely well wrought. The}' did not appear to possess any furs. Their 

 bows and implements they freely bartered for knives, trinkets, copper, &c., 

 and, what was very extraordinary, they offered for sale two children, each 



