234 



tainly correct, that the character ascribed to the northwest Indians of 

 America in liis day was, at least so far as these were concerned, unjust. 



The number of Indians encountered by Mr. Puget in exploring the 

 various inlets leading to the sound which now bears his name does not 

 seem to have been greater in proportion than those met with in Admiralty 

 Inlet and Hood Canal, as, though Vancouver speaks of his meeting several 

 tribes, he does not refer to their numbers. The only difficulty had with any 

 of the natives was met with by this gentleman in what is now called Hale 

 Passage, which, however, owing to his prudence, did not proceed to 

 extremities. It is remarkable that on this occasion they showed no surprise 

 at the fire of small-amis, but merely imitated the sound of the muskets by 

 exclaiming poo! poo! and on the discharge of the swivel shotted, instead of 

 flying, merely unstrung their bows, and came forward with demonstrations 

 of friendship. 



In surveying Whidbey Island and the passages lying east of it, Mr. 

 Whidbey met with the Snohomish and Skagit. Of this district, Vancouver 

 says, " The number of its inhabitants is about six hundred, which I should 

 suppose would exceed the total of all the natives before seen." 



Ah'eady the productions of European art had begun to find their way 

 here. Not only were the Indians tolerably well supplied with iron and cop- 

 per arrow-points, but weapons also had been imported. "The chief," says 

 Vancouver, "for so we must distinguish him, had two hangers, one of Span- 

 ish and the other of English manufacture, on which he seemed to set a very 

 high value." From their curiosity to know if he was all white, Mr. Whidbey 

 concluded they had not before seen any Europeans, though from the diifer- 

 ent articles they possessed it was evident a communication had taken place ; 

 probably by means of intertribal trade. 



Mr. Broughton's account of the Columbia River Indians is far less 

 minute. He makes no estimate of their apparent numbers, which do not 

 appear to have sti-uck him as verjr great, merely remarking that the farther 

 he proceeded the more the country was inhabited. It is to be noticed that 

 the deserted villages referred to by Vancouver and his different parties 

 were probably left for the time being. The period of Mr. Broughton's A^sit, 

 the month of December, was one at which most of the bands living- near 



