NO. lO DRAWINGS BY JOHN WEBBER BUSHNELL 



NOOTKA. MARCH— APRIL, 1778 



The expedition reached the Northwest Coast of xAmerica late in 

 March, 1778, and found safe anchorage in an inlet which was named 

 King George's Sound. Intercourse with the natives later revealed the 

 name hy which it was known to the inhahitants of the villages which 

 stood on its shores and since that day the native name. Xootka. has 

 heen applied to the sound. It is about midway on the west coast of 

 \'ancouver Island. Captain Cook then wrote : *' Were I to affix a 

 name to the people of Xootka, as a distinct nation, I would call them 

 JJ'akashiaiis; from the word i^'okash, which was very frequently in 

 their mouths. It seemed to express applause, approbation, and friend- 

 ship." The name \\'akashan is now applied to the linguistic group 

 to which the Xootka belong. 



During the spring of 1778 there were two native villages on the 

 shores of Nootka Sound. One, and evidently the more important, 

 stood near the entrance of the sound, on the northwest shore, " on 

 the side of a rising ground, which has a pretty steep ascent from the 

 beach to the verge of the wood, in which space it is situated." The 

 second village was far distant from the first, in the northeastern part 

 of the sound. Between the two was the site of another, with many 

 houses in ruins but none occupied. The total population of the two 

 occupied villages was estimated at approximately 2,000. 



Describing the village near the entrance Captain Cook wrote : " The 

 houses are disposed in three ranges or rows, rising gradually behind 

 each other : the largest being that in front, and the others less ; besides 

 a few straggling, or single ones, at each end. These ranges are 

 interrupted or disjoined at irregular distances, by narrow paths, or 

 lanes, that pass upward ; but those which run in the direction of the 

 houses, between the rows, are much broader. Though there be some 

 appearance of regularity in this disposition, there is none in the single 

 houses ; for each of the divisions, made by the paths, may be con- 

 sidered either as one house, or as many ; there being no regular or 

 complete separation, either without or within, to distinguish them by. 

 They are built of very long and broad planks, resting upon the edges 

 of each other, fastened or tied by withes of pine bark, here and there ; 

 and have only slender posts, or rather ]:)oles, at considerable distances, 

 on the outside, to which they also are tied ; but within are some larger 

 poles placed aslant." Such was the construction of the native habita- 



